Unveiling the Genre-Bending Delights of a Refreshing Romance Anime

Warning: Spoilers for The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague episode 3 A lighthearted romantic anime, The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague, brings an unexpected twist to the usual cute trope. Along with its dry humor, the show revolves around Fuyutsuki-san and Himuro-kun, who have emotionless personalities. However, Himuro-kun's internal reactions to Fuyutsuki's adorable actions or possible romantic interest add a touch of humor. Even their work friend, Saejima-kun, provides dry and amusing observations. Not to mention, Himuro-kun's endearing ice powers unintentionally manifest when his emotions become too intense.

Himuro Experiences Something Worse Than an Embarrassing Baby Photo

In episode two, it is revealed that Himuro-kun has the ability to "melt" when exposed to excessive heat. His melting process involves transforming into his younger self. Fuyutsuki-san witnesses this phenomenon firsthand and, once she realizes that he is not in any danger, she cannot help but be captivated by his adorable childlike appearance. She secretly takes a picture of him without his knowledge.

In episode three, it is revealed that Fuyutsuki-san has made the picture her phone's background and she actively conceals it from him one evening while they are both working late at the office.

This unexpected twist deviates from the usual romantic comedy trope where the girl swoons over baby pictures of her love interest. Typically, it is the older sibling or the parents who share these photos. The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague's interpretation of this trope feels unsettling for various reasons, not just because the photo is being kept a secret. The act would still be considered adorable if Fuyutsuki-san simply treasured the baby photo by keeping it hidden in her purse, for instance. However, in this case, Himuro-kun's younger self is still a part of him and appears whenever he is in danger. Despite this, Fuyutsuki-san derives so much enjoyment from it that she ensures she can easily access the photo whenever she desires. It gives the impression of finding pleasure in something that should be painful or embarrassing.

Fuyutsuki Should Have Focused On the Snowmen

A more adorable alternative could have been if Fuyutsuki-san found the charming snowmen that pop out of Himuro-kun incredibly endearing, prompting her to actively encourage him to create more. Of course, for this to be completely innocent, Fuyutsuki-san would also need to do it solely to bring him happiness. Nevertheless, even with such pure intentions, this gesture resembles the typical attempts made by characters to make their love interests smile simply because they find it cute.

However, even in a lighthearted anime series, there must be some form of tension. In this case, it was a clever choice to introduce a unique element that is directly linked to The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague, setting it apart from other anime romantic comedies. Although slightly unsettling, it adds to the overall effectiveness of the story.

The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague is streaming on Crunchyroll.