Romantic Killer dropped on Netflix without making much noise. No hyped up, not making into the top list category – just another adaptation added to the catalogue. It’s unlikely that you stumbled upon this one without exploring other anime in the same lineup. If, however, you found this one, it is soon going to be one of your favourite shoujo-style rom-com anime. A high school girl with no interest in romance, forced into a real-life dating sim by a mischievous wizard!
Produced by Netflix and based on the manga by Wataru Momose, this anime tries to flip the traditional shōjo rom-com plot. Successful or not, it surely provides a good story to watch along.
Plot :
Anzu Hoshino is living her best life, enjoying video games, chocolate, and her cat, Momohiki. But everything changes when a little wizard named Riri decides that Anzu is the perfect test subject for a “romantic heroine program and throws her into this magical “romance game” experiment, designed to make her fall in love. Basically, forcing her into stereotypical romantic setups with attractive male leads straight out of a dating sim or those otome games. She forces Anzu into a romance-focused life, and confiscates her three favourite things: video games, chocolate, and her cat, Momohiki!
Riri selects her for a bold mission. The goal? – to increase the romance rate in Japan, in a way, revitalise Japan’s declining birth rate… and secure their job security in the magical world. (Don’t ask why, just enjoy!)
And Anzu’s mission? Resist every romantic setup that Riri get her into! Yet the longer she stays in this magical simulation, the more the emotional undercurrents grow real blurring the line between a silly game plot and genuine feelings.
(Hi there! feel free to scroll down to the Rating & Staff & Studio Notes for a quick summary and score! )
What Makes It Different?
Romantic Killer undeniably feels fresh when it comes to storylines in the rom-com genre. Its biggest strength? Anzu Hoshino herself, she is the MVP. She’s not your typical romance-driven heroine; she’s a high schooler with completely different priorities: video games, chocolate, and her beloved cat. She is like most teens, except for the clueless parents part!
Her own personality and charm draw people towards her, proving Riri’s romance schemes are only a manipulated setup that can’t develop genuine feelings.
Anzu’s VA, Rie Takahashi (also known for Emilia from Re:Zero) is cherry on the top. She did justice in matching Anzu’s energy.
Also, ‘Romantic Killer’ takes the opportunity and turns this shoujo-style rom-com anime into a hilarious genre that somehow feels subtle social commentary on the current lifestyle.
Characters :
Riri : The little wizard who sets everything in motion, switching between cute and menacing depending on the scene. This magical cupid constantly stirs up hilarious scenarios while breaking the fourth wall.
Tsukasa Kazuki : A cool, closed-off guy with a backstory. Honestly, too good to be true guy!
Junta Hayami: Childhood friend material with an athletic aura, sincere yet not too mature for his age.
Hijiri Koganei : The rich tsundere boy with switching persona.
Saki & Makoto : Anzu’s friends who keep the tone grounded and supportive.
Community Reactions :
On Reddit’s r/anime, fans praised Anzu for being “the most relatable rom-com heroine in years” and loved how she constantly defied the genre’s clichés.
Twitter/X memes supported Anzu’s obsession with chocolates and games, declaring her “the realest anime girl of 2022.”
Others debated the show’s ending choice, with some appreciating the open-ended parody and others frustrated that there wasn’t a conclusive romance path.
Why You’ll Love It?
The anime plot is good, if we ignore a bit of sense here and there, still, the randomness of some events is truly bizarre, even Anzu calls them out. Again, this anime shouldn’t be taken too seriously and the more chaos it creates, the more interesting it becomes!
The characters, especially the boys, come across as teens figuring things out, and that keeps it grounded. The humour hits more often than it misses, and visually, the anime is clean and gives off cozy, nostalgic vibe. While the tone does shift a bit midway it never strays too far from its plot. It’s definitely binge-worthy, even if a few episodes feel a bit stretched. Still, as a weekend watch, Romantic Killer hits the right spots.
Also, keep in mind that it was released around 2022, faced tough competition from hit anime like Chainsaw Man, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, and Spy x Family Part 2. It was quite expected that it may go unnoticed, but some viewers gave it a chance, and it didn’t disappoint them. That’s much good of anime we are talking here!
What Holds It Back?
The shift from comedy to drama might not be liked by viewers who are expecting it to be a rom-com. All the characters except Anzu follow a traditional rom-com trope. Riri’s backstory feels underdeveloped, like nothing much is shown, just a flashy intro here and there!
A Personal Pet Peeve :
Anzu being a schoolgirl doesn’t fit with the vibe of Riri’s goal. Had she been in college, the setup might feel more believable. Riri strips Anzu of her joys in life to force her into a real-world otome game… all in the name of love, Japan’s future, and her own salary!
It sounds comical and somehow humorous, but the anime cheekily hints at societal pressures – the low birth rate, the burden of romance on teens, and expectations about what young people should prioritise. Yet, the lack of any child-parent dynamic makes the premise feel disconnected from reality. Romance as a solution for national issues? That’s quite the stretch, especially when forced upon a high schooler.
*Again, in the world of anime, bizarre things & plots happen, so there shouldn’t be any surprise. The anime was still good, yet certain stuff just stung a bit as an adult! We need Riri for ourselves, you know!!! 😅
The Final Rating: 3.5/5 – “THIS IS NOT A DATING SIM!”
2022 / 12 Episodes / U/A 13+ / Genres – Rom-Com, Shoujo, Otome, drama, reverse harems
Romantic Killer is a rare case of Netflix getting a shoujo-style rom-com adaptation right. The digital animation by DOMERICA is simple but effective and successfully captures the plot, humour and energy perfectly. The soundtrack, while not particularly standout, still gives that bouncy energy typical of 2000s shojo comedies. Pacing-wise, the 12 episodes move quickly but don’t compromise the slow buildup of emotions between characters. Not flawless yet bingeable over the weekend and quite a good one-time watch.
Recommended if you like :
- Parody-heavy rom-coms (Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, Ouran High School Host Club)
- Light bingeable series with no heavy plot.
- Otome tropes make your heart flutter.
Skip If :
- Prefer straightforward romance
- Not into rom-coms
- Doesn’t prefer Otome tropes.
Staff & Studio Notes*
- Original Creator: Wataru Momose (manga).
- Director: Kazuya Ichikawa.
- Animation Studio : Domerica Studio
- Series Composition: Sayuri Ōba and Hiroko Fukuda.
- Character Design: Arisa Matsuura.
- Music: Ryo Kawasaki and Tomoyuki Kono
- Opening Theme (“ROMA☆KiRA”): Performed by YURiKA
- Ending Theme (“Romantic Love Renai Shimasen ka?”): Performed by Mikako Komatsu, who also voices Riri.
- Starring: Rie Takahashi, Mikako Komatsu, Yuichiro Umehara, Gakuto Kajiwara, Natsuki Hanae, Kenjiro Tsuda, Manaka Iwami, and Hiro Shimono
*All information presented in this section of the article has been compiled from publicly available sources and official materials to the best of my ability. However, some details may be incomplete or subject to change. If you notice any inaccuracies or have verified updates, feel free to share them. Your input is always welcome.
Over to You!
- Did you find Anzu’s “anti-romance” journey as good as fans claim?
- Or do you think the rom-com parody wore off too quickly?
- Have you read ‘Romantic Killer’ manga already?
Let us know in the comments! 🚀 SYA!
Animexon 
