2.5 Jigen no Ririsa

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"* Based on a romantic cosplay comedy manga by Hashimoto Yuu.

"I have no interest in real girls!" So claims Okumura, the president of the school's manga club. He's your typical otaku, obsessed with a sexy (fictional) 2D manga character known as Liliel. Then the new school year starts, and a (real!) 3D girl named Ririsa whose passion is cosplay joins the club. Ririsa convinces Okumura to become her photographer–and guess who her favorite manga character is? Not only that, but Ririsa is into modeling the fetishy stuff! The boundaries between 2D and 3D start to blur as this hot-blooded romantic comedy unfolds.

Source: Seven Seas Entertainment"

Genre(s): Cosplay, Romance

Research

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I know there is discussion of this already in the seasonal thread (I'm a bit behind), but here's my two cents. I've read much of the manga, and when I began this, I was immediately annoyed by the otaku exchanges that rolled my eyes in the manga. I almost immediately thought that while I enjoyed the series, this wasn't a story I needed to experience again... But by the end of episode 2, with the introduction of Mikari, a glimmer of hope shone through. Not because she is some great waifu (all the girls are, of course), but because I need some counterbalance to the otaku Lilliel worship- it's just tiring for me.

Setting aside if any of this is realistic or weather Ririsa is a manic Pixie Dream girl (a conversation we had during Dress up Darling as well), I am confident to call this story utterly contrived. Otaku-kun hates 3d girls- introduce a girl who is basically 2d! Model comes to school- surprise, she knows Otaku-kun from before and has a mega-crush! We suspect these may not be the last coincidences in 2.5d seduction. Nothing is earned and nobody learns anything above shallow platitudes so it (the story) just doesn't mean anything or have weight like DUD at least tried to.

Animation is serviceable, character designs on point, and the pacing isn't half bad. There's plenty to like here, I just don't fully jive with otaku celebrations in anime as I grow increasingly disillusioned by Otaku culture in general, but that's another conversation.

I'm actually on the other side, completely.
without getting into manga spoilers, I believe that if you're gonna do an otaku celebration, do it big, go wild, 200% and beyond.

which is what I'm looking forward to, I think the normal girls are fine, but I really like the full melodrama arcs.

That is what I'm looking forward to more- melodrama to propel the romance. Anime (even bad anime) can sell melodrama more often than not.

The whole 'that's what otakus do, tee hee!' schtick doesn't resonate with me like it once did, and you're right: I think I would be more entertained if they went more over the top into complete absurdist territory, but the show comes off as pandering as is; taking the wrong parts too seriously. "My whole personality is just how much I love this obscure thing!" hasn't aged too well, but I do remember that isn't the complete driving force of the show.

episode 5, the cosplay community part. I'm pretty sure those are all things that happen to people.

also, mega-zoned. both of them.

episode 6. it's nice how he's acting when Mikari is in cosplay.

now there's some school drama.

(in other note, I was supposed to be at some convention last week, but I had to skip out because my back hurt. NGL, pretty disappointed)

episode 7:
was that a fist of the north star reference on the board when he's talking to the gay-coded teacher? or just the ursa major constellation? it's also in the club-room whiteboard.

I like how everybody is actually positive, nobody is out to get them, there aren't any obstacles for the sake of drama obstacles. I can totally understand why the teacher wouldn't want to continue cosplaying or be reluctant to engage with them.
I do know some cosplayers which did Disney/marvel characters and would do hospital visits. they were all very beautiful and outgoing people, so it worked out fine. no idea if Disney legal team would allow it, though.

episode 9: some feelings drama. but still nice.

episode 10, the most feels to ever be felt. best so far.

episode 11, this one had my favorite line.
"I said I'd love all cosplayers, but I didn't include myself"

episode 12, wholesome all around.

It's weird that their teacher is so young, that means all her cosplay "war stories" are four years old at most. and she's already retired. that's some quick churn.

but it's always weird for me that there are teachers, or professionals of any kind, which are under the age of 25, never makes sense.

episode 13, new OP. I liked the song at first one more, but this one tells a story.
New ED, old school, like something from 30 years ago, I guess it's also telling a story (maybe it'll evolve over the episodes), but I miss the dance from the previous.
Nagomi is also great. Mayuri is hot. Lilial skin is also great.
new girl is a wreck, it's great. it's a combo of charming, anxious and relatable. basically driving the fact that cosplay can be lots of things for people. her behavior makes sense.

episode 16, my favorite storyline.

episode 17: I feel like that "heroes are eating" scene is from Dragon Ball Z, but maybe my mind was poisoned by playing "spot the reference" too much.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Death BOO Z

episode 16, my favorite storyline.

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Which one? I haven't watched the anime in a while, but if its the arc I'm thinking of, we may agree.

It's the fourth girl, Aria. she has the whole deal with her dad.

Yes, easily best girl.

episode 19: it's a trap.

group photos are really hard. getting a clear shot from a distance without people walking in, getting everyone in focus, and choosing which photo makes everyone look good before to upload.

episode 21: the most corny and melodrama episode so far. super cringe. still best story.

Melia is the easiest in-universe cosplay to do, I guess she's going to be popular as a low-skill option.

with three episodes left and all the cover girls accounted for, I guess we're going into a final arc of the season.

episode 23: best girl is easily best girl.

next week is the last episode for the season, I hope it gets another one.

episode 24, season end:
some drama cleanup, and some insight into his mental state, which is kind of related to whole thing. a surprisingly mature viewpoint on the topic of love, loving and feeling loved.

season 2 confirmed, I always assumed it would get another one, so not much of a surprise. and it has a few strong arcs.