Note: I havent read neither of the source materials yet this review based solely on the context of the anime. Well this is a hard one to assess I should be honest. Dreaming Boy Is A Realist offers you a seemingly simple yet smartly done trope that makes it stand out from the heap of SOL slice of life high school romance genre. Usually Id refrain from writing a review for a series that hasnt been majorly impactful to me. Still I feel like this story has something special mixed in that might resonate with the audience. What is it you might wonder. Giving that special someone you sought to have a more intimate relationship with than just being friends is the special message of this series. The characters may feel familiar because they are. An ordinary boy falls in love with that one girl whos out of his league or so Wataru Sajou thinks. His earnest and frequent efforts to woo Aika Natsukawa had been going on from middle school to the first year of high school. Hes a determined boy whos lacking a bit of selfesteem. But what he lacks in that department he makes up for with his genuine aspiration to improve himself to be worthy of the one he loves. However his blind and constant advances leave a bad taste in everyones mouths yet he does not listen to those disdainful comments from others until that one fateful day when he... Dodges a football? https://i.ur.com/LNbdtGy.png Yeah it sounds a bit offhanded but I think it can be classified as one of those what the hell am I doing? moments that you might have experienced in your life too. And strangely it works. But why it works is largely dependent on one seemingly secondary yet charming character Kei Ashida a friend to both Aika and Wataru. She somehow sees Watarus relatively good intentions and genuine admiration for Aika. She acts as a wise intermediary to both of them to help them navigate through their conflicted feelings. She honestly is a good character. If I have to be honest Aika initially comes off as an unpleasant character due to her rapid change in demeanor after Wataru distances himself from her. Her frustration at not receiving the attention she seemingly disliked leaves a bitter taste. Conversely Wataru takes a serious step a step that is undoubtedly painful for him by putting distance between Aika and himself. He thinks hes the reason shes not more popular than she is because of him and his antics after Kei points this to him. He does this recognizing he may have pushed too far with his advances. This poignant moment reflects the shows greatest strength its portrayal of the bittersweet realization that change was needed even if it meant shouldering the blame. Its genuinely heartwrenching. I must admit I was able to feel how caustic of a feeling that was and it was really heartbreaking. I feel like that portrayal was by far the biggest feat of this show. So if youre still on the fence about whether to watch Dreaming Boy Is A Realist or not heres the gist: Its an easy watch with an immersive storyline. Character art is decent but the same cannot be said for animation and environment. Voice acting is pretty good it was pleasant to experience. Although its a pretty overused genre and trope it offers a fresh insight into interpersonal relationships. It will not change your outlook on life or leave a lasting impact. https://i.ur.com/eV2aKrh.png I hope reading this will help you make up your mind or youll find something you missed while you watched the show. Best regards Jerkov.