My Senpai is Annoying – Episode 1

By: ThatNerdyBoliviane October 10, 20210 Comments
Harumi patting Futaba on the head

Content Warning: some fanservice (boob jokes)

What’s it about? Igarashi Futaba is a hardworking salesperson who wants to be taken seriously, but she sometimes feels like her reliable co-worker, Takeda Harumi, treats her like a child.  Despite her mistakes at work, Harumi is a good superior to her and genuinely wants her to succeed at work, but it seems Futaba is starting to have deeper feelings for her annoying senpai.


Okay, here’s the thing.  If I close my eyes and pretend Futaba doesn’t exist, then there really isn’t anything wrong with this show.  It’s a fairly simple and quirky office series with no notable characters except for vodka lady (I love her) and Harumi, since he’s so big and jolly.  This series has all the ingredients to be a competent feel-good office anime, but it’s immediately soured when I have to acknowledge the fact that Futaba exists.

To be fair (I’m being generous here), Futaba is a sweet girl and wants to do her job well, BUT the fact that she looks like a literal child is so distracting that it’s impossible for me to relate to her adult troubles.  There is a huge difference between being a short person or even someone who looks young for their age and looking like a child, so I don’t want to hear that excuse in the comment section.  I seriously don’t understand why she couldn’t be made to look even slightly more like an actual adult? Have we forgotten that we had a perfectly good office rom-com a few years ago? (I’m talking about Wotakoi).  Why can’t we have nice things like that? 

Co-worker showing her vodka bottle at work
She’s lying. Anyways, this is the only time I can celebrate her character.

It doesn’t help that that show continues to reinforce the fact that she looks like a child and also acts like one most of the time.  Even Harumi admits the reason he looks out for her so much is because he sees her like a child and can imagine his future daughter looking exactly like her.  I wish their relationship would remain professional, but the series is committed to developing a romance between the two of them (which given the line I just mentioned, GROSS). 

It’s important to remember that the narrative constantly compares Harumi’s fully grown adult body to Futaba’s body, which makes it incredibly uncomfortable to root for them as a couple, especially knowing the implied nuances to their relationship (YUCK). I really hate lolicon characters and frankly, I don’t have the energy to get into that discourse; just know that I hate it exists at all. 

Harumi saying he can imagine his future daughter looking like Futaba
I DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT FROM YOU!!!!!

 The side characters aren’t worth mentioning, but based on the ending credits it looks like another love story is waiting to happen–if only it wasn’t soured by zoning in on the woman’s employee’s boobs and treating it as a joke.  I could go on a long hate rant, but I think it’s best that I stop here.  

This show is a NO for me. 

Futaba asking Harumi why can't she be his wife
ABORT!!! I SAID ABORT!!!!!

About the Author : ThatNerdyBoliviane

ThatNerdyBoliviane was originally born in New York City and essentially lived there until the age of 17 when they had to move to Toronto for reasons. They are currently struggling to survive in this weird-ass world that does not celebrate awesomeness enough. They self identify as Queer Quechua (Mestize) Bolivian-American and are involved with social justice work of all kinds. Aside from that, they are an avid lover of anime, manga, cartoons, (on rare occasion live-action TV shows if it’s good), and having amazing discussions with other folks about nerdy things. You can visit their blog Home to my Bitter Thoughts or follow them on Twitter @LizzieVisitante.

Read more articles from ThatNerdyBoliviane

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