Slimepress
Like many people, I was completely blindsided by Kowloon Generic Romance. There I was, having my breakfast when suddenly a beautiful woman with messy black hair, glasses and smoking on a balcony filled up my Twitter feed. Streaming on Crunchyroll, Kowloon Generic Romance seems to have a simple premise- it’s an office romance about Kujirai, [...]
Like many people, I was completely blindsided by Kowloon Generic Romance. There I was, having my breakfast when suddenly a beautiful woman with messy black hair, glasses and smoking on a balcony filled up my Twitter feed.
Streaming on Crunchyroll, Kowloon Generic Romance seems to have a simple premise- it's an office romance about Kujirai, a real estate agent in the city of Kowloon who has a crush on her coworker. Yet somehow, its first episode kicks off in such a fascinating way.
I don't want to say it's dramatic because it isn't- she gets coffee and also accidentally kisses her coworker. Not exactly saving the world, you know?
Nostalgia Is The Same Feeling As Falling In Love- Kowloon Generic Romance
Yet, there's an air of melancholy in the first episode, a very earnest introspection that just pulls you in. To me, that's the magic of Kowloon Generic Romance and its first episode- it's very adult in the sense that it sits there and ponders its own premise.
It's backed up by tipping its hand just a little on the series themes- the first few minutes ask some really interesting questions. Love cannot exist without the world that creates it, and it feels very much like the ongoings of the world around Kujirai are a part of the story of her.
I don't want to promise too much for fear of overhyping- I myself am refusing to read the manga it's based off because I want to stick to the anime's pacing. But episode 1 ends in such a fascinating way that hasn't had its hold on me since Rascal Does Not Dream of a Bunny Girl Senpai.
I do have a bit of a gripe with the presentation, though: in line with what appears to be a running theme of nostalgia, the anime is going for this 90s aesthetic. But some of the stiffer animation moments can undercut what are otherwise great scenes. They're not bad per se, I just wish that some of the shots in the anime looked a bit more interesting than just straight side profiles.
Still, as long as it maintains this consistent pace I'm very excited to be locked in for Kowloon Generic Romance. The series is streaming now on Crunchyroll, so be sure to check it out if you're in the mood for a proper adult romance story.