Anime titles can be quite the mouthful, often requiring abbreviations just to be properly labeled at a glance. Sometimes, these lengthy titles hint at exactly what you’re getting into, but can also be easily overlooked if you’re not paying close attention. Take for instance, “Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta?”, or as it’s more simply known in English, “And You Thought There Is Never a Girl Online?” (shortened to “NetoYome”). On the surface, it appears to be another addition to the ever-growing catalog of “high school ecchi romance comedy light novel” adaptations, seemingly tailored for a specific audience that eagerly consumes them each season, often overlooking the generic tropes that plague the genre. Yet, surprisingly, “And You Thought No Girl Online?” manages to be one of the more palatable entries in this category. It avoids being offensively bad, while also not quite reaching the level of exceptional that would make it truly stand out from its ecchi light novel brethren. Think of it as the wallflower at the anime dance – noticeable in the periphery, but perhaps not compelling enough to immediately ask for a dance. However, maybe, just maybe, this time it’s worth making an exception, giving it a chance, or at least acknowledging its presence with a friendly wave.
STORY: Our protagonist, Hideki Nishimura, is a dedicated player in the MMORPG “Legendary Age.” He plays as a knight with the in-game name “Rusian” and has been part of several guilds throughout his online adventures. In one particular guild, he developed feelings for a player and, with virtual courage, confessed his love and proposed in-game marriage. The player behind the avatar, however, shattered his romantic illusions by revealing himself to be a man in real life. Traumatized by this digital deception, Hideki vowed to never trust another female character online again. Fate, or perhaps matchmaking algorithms, had other plans. He soon encounters “Ako,” a charming cleric, and despite his past vow and inner turmoil, he finds himself marrying her character in-game. One day, the guild leader of their current guild, the Alley Cats, suggests a real-life meet-up. To Hideki’s utter astonishment and disbelief, he discovers that all three of his party members (including the two he believed were male characters) are actually girls attending his high school. Even more surprisingly, Ako is indeed Ako Tamaki in real life, and her in-game affection for Rusian translates directly into real-world infatuation with Hideki, largely because she struggles to differentiate between the online fantasy and offline reality. Thus begins a somewhat unusual high school life for Hideki, alongside the tsundere Akane “Schwein” Segawa, and the composed student council president Kyou “Apricot” Goshouin. Together, they form a club with the somewhat misguided goal of helping Ako navigate the real world, all while the in-game romance between Rusian and Ako blossoms into something tangible in their everyday lives.
Alt: Ako Tamaki’s in-game avatar, a cute cleric with pink hair and innocent eyes, kneeling in a fantasy MMORPG setting.
The premise of “And You Thought No Girl Online?” is refreshingly simple, and the synopsis pretty much lays out the entire narrative foundation. The anime thrives on character interactions, both within the virtual world of “Legendary Age” and in the mundane reality of high school. These interactions cleverly highlight the similarities and subtle differences between their online personas and their true personalities. While the series introduces a rotating cast of side characters – and perhaps unrealistically skews the gamer demographic towards females – the core focus remains on the central quartet. It’s undeniably a romance, a genuinely sweet one at that, which is almost a prerequisite for an ecchi rom-com light novel adaptation. The anime embraces its genre conventions without pretense, understanding its own limitations and strengths. However, this simplicity and sweetness are precisely where its charm lies, making it a surprisingly refreshing experience within the often predictable ecchi landscape. Interestingly, despite being categorized as ecchi, “And You Thought No Girl Online?” deviates from the typical tropes of the genre. It’s not saturated with the usual sexual slapstick mishaps and gratuitous cheesecake shots that are common in similar anime. The closest it comes to this is the obligatory beach episode, but even then, the roles are subtly reversed, focusing more on genuine character interactions and fun rather than overt fanservice.
Alt: The main characters of And You Thought No Girl Online? enjoying a beach day, showcasing their camaraderie and lighthearted interactions.
The primary conflict throughout the series revolves around Ako’s difficulty in distinguishing between the immersive world of online gaming and the nuances of real life. However, the narrative introduces a brief but engaging subplot involving a hacker who infiltrates Hideki’s account. This incident creates a temporary rift between Hideki and Ako while simultaneously causing significant in-game damage – the hacker practically wipes Rusian’s character and sells off all his hard-earned inventory for a quick profit. While Rusian’s character is eventually restored, the lingering loss of his items and subsequent in-game remarriage to Ako become recurring points of discussion. The hacker subplot resolves in a surprisingly amusing and clever manner, adding a touch of intrigue to the otherwise lighthearted narrative.
Perhaps the most significant narrative element that seems to dissipate rather quickly is Hideki’s initial trust issues with online girls. This premise, which initially sets the stage for the anime, largely fades away as Hideki relatively early on accepts that online identities don’t always reflect real-world personas. Consequently, his trust issues aren’t as pervasive throughout the series as one might expect, which could be viewed as either a positive or negative aspect depending on viewer expectations. It’s not akin to an exaggerated allergy to girls, like in “Girls Bravo,” where the protagonist’s condition fuels constant comedic scenarios. Akane becomes the primary source of playful antagonism towards Hideki, but this stems more from her carefully cultivated public persona as a popular and unapproachable beauty at school – a facade she maintains to conceal her secret identity as a passionate gamer and to uphold her reputation.
CHARACTERS: Speaking from personal preference, Ako stands out as one of the most endearing and precious characters of the season, both in terms of her personality and character design. While her naiveté might test the patience of some viewers (and given her pronounced moé traits, this is a valid concern), there’s an undeniable innocence and sweetness in her perception of her relationship with Hideki. Her affection for him is genuine, even if she primarily sees him as “Rusian” and habitually addresses him by his in-game name, much to his mild exasperation. The other members of the group express concern for Ako’s limited social life and genuinely want to help her integrate more smoothly into the real world. Ironically, Ako is depicted as a strikingly pretty girl, leading one to assume she would be popular among boys at school. However, she remains largely unnoticed due to her extreme timidity and possible lack of attention to self-presentation. She could be described as a sweeter, less socially awkward counterpart to Tomoko from “Watamote,” but one who is new to the world of video games.
Alt: Close-up of Ako Tamaki’s radiant smile, highlighting her innocent and charming personality in “And You Thought There Is Never a Girl Online?”.
Hideki embodies the archetypal male protagonist – a nice guy devoid of any truly distinctive personality traits, particularly as he is portrayed as a typical otaku, often teased by his school friends for his hobbies. He demonstrates genuine care for his guildmates, extending this concern into their real-life interactions, especially towards Ako, who is the newest and most vulnerable member of their group. Yet, despite his somewhat generic characterization, there’s an inherent charm to Hideki. Individually, he might blend into the background, but in his interactions with Ako, he gains a brighter presence, allowing his more appealing qualities to surface. While this might not represent the pinnacle of character writing, the dynamic between Hideki and Ako is undeniable and forms the very heart of the series, making it impossible to overlook without undermining its core appeal.
Akane and Kyou largely conform to their respective anime archetypes, but they integrate well into the dynamic with Hideki and Ako, preventing them from becoming mere background figures. Kyou, as the guild leader (mirroring her real-world role as student council president and affluent background), is the most level-headed and pragmatic of the group, though she is not without her own quirky moments. Akane’s sharp-tongued and assertive nature leads to frequent playful bickering with Hideki, a classic tsundere trope. However, as there is no romantic tension between them, their interactions remain purely comedic and good-natured. In the guild, Akane is portrayed as their ace player, despite Hideki possessing arguably better in-game items, and she is typically the first to charge into battle.
While other characters appear throughout the series, Nekohime and Sette are the only ones who achieve recurring status. These characters, even after becoming regular members of the Alley Cat guild, don’t develop significantly beyond their initial introductions. However, there’s a genuinely humorous punchline associated with Nekohime’s true identity, particularly effective if you’re not paying close attention to subtle clues.
ART/ANIMATION: Among the anime releases of its season, “NetoYome” distinguishes itself with a vibrant and appealing art style that makes the characters visually striking and attractive. This is especially evident in the character designs, which are credited to Akane Yano, who clearly understood how to bring out the charm. The anime is visually rich with color, and surprisingly maintains a consistent level of animation quality throughout its run, avoiding noticeable dips in production. The color palettes are also cleverly differentiated between the real world and the online game environment. The real world is depicted with a broader, more saturated range of colors, while the in-game world leans towards a slightly grayer and more muted palette. This contrast is likely intentional, as much of the in-game action takes place in dungeons or the dimly lit pub where the guild members hold their meetings. However, when the characters venture out into the game’s fields or villages, the world brightens considerably, incorporating a subtle rainbow filter in the backgrounds, making it distinctly different from the real-world visuals. The overall tone also shifts more dramatically within the game compared to the consistently calm and normal atmosphere of the real world, punctuated only by occasional encounters with rival guilds challenging Rusian to PvP battles and well-animated boss fights.
Alt: An action-packed scene from “And You Thought There Is Never a Girl Online?” showcasing an in-game battle with vibrant colors and dynamic character animation.
While some viewers might overuse phrases like “too good for this world” or “must protect that smile,” in this case, making an exception for the latter feels warranted. The characters in “NetoYome” are drawn with distinct and expressive lips, and their frequent, adorable smiles genuinely enhance their sparkling eyes, which are already quite prominent to begin with. Protecting those smiles almost becomes a viewer imperative – they are a defining and precious characteristic of this particular anime.
SOUND: Admittedly, the sound design in “NetoYome” isn’t particularly attention-grabbing, making this section somewhat brief. A FUNimation English dub is available, but hasn’t been evaluated for this review. The original Japanese audio is perfectly adequate, but lacks standout elements beyond Rina Hidaka’s performance as Ako. She masterfully captures the soft-spoken character’s adorableness, making her voice the most memorable aspect of the show’s audio. The rest of the voice cast performs competently, with no significant criticisms. The musical score, while present, doesn’t leave a lasting impression outside of its use of violins, chimes, and electronic beeps. It’s not bad, but not particularly memorable. The opening theme is suitably sugary-sweet, effectively setting the tone for a “1st Love Story,” and the ending theme incorporates calming beeping sounds that subtly evoke an “Internet” feel, which is a nice touch. While song titles might fade from memory, the specific musical cues are recognizable and thematically appropriate for the series.
One noteworthy sound design choice is the censorship of swear words in the MMO world with oinking sound effects. Initially, one might attribute this to the “Schwein” character (German for “pig”), but the censorship applies to all characters, even though Akane is the most frequent swearer. This adds a layer of quirky humor to the in-game dialogue.
ENJOYMENT: The adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is often repeated, and while it holds considerable truth, there are always exceptions. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what initially drew attention to “NetoYome,” but the appealing art style likely played a significant role. Coming in with no preconceived expectations, especially with a degree of skepticism towards light novel adaptations (particularly after some less-than-stellar experiences with ecchi rom-com adaptations), “And You Thought No Girl Online?” managed to pleasantly surprise. It’s not even the top anime of its season, but it somehow managed to worm its way into my affections and establish a comfortable niche. Its endearing nature makes it difficult to question its presence or appeal. It’s an anime that is easy to simply enjoy, and its company becomes welcome. While its long-term impact might be debated, it’s likely to linger in memory alongside other modestly appreciated series that unexpectedly resonate. A second season, if the creators choose to produce one, would be a welcome prospect. Witnessing Ako’s continued social development and the further evolution of her relationship with Hideki would be genuinely interesting, especially since anime series rarely dedicate screen time to the growth of a couple’s relationship before the final act.
But seriously, protect that smile. Take a chance on “And You Thought No Girl Online?” and let Ako charm you. Sometimes, the wallflowers reveal the most captivating beauty when they finally open up.
