Star Rating:
Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro is a high school comedy anime about Naoto Hachiouji, or “Senpai,” who is regularly teased by first-year Hayase Nagatoro, whom he met in the library. They form a bond that may blossom into something more over time.
This anime is difficult to get into at first. Nagatoro’s taunting begins harshly, and while I was expecting it, it can become a little too much at times. It’s so excessive at times that I wondered if I’d even enjoy the anime, and Nagatoro’s beauty seemed to be the only thing she had going for her.
However, it turns out that this is just an anime that you have to keep watching in order to get into. By episode 3 or so, it’s clear that Nagatoro has some gentler sides. As the story progresses, she seems to consider Naoto Hachiouji a friend, and vice versa. She dislikes it when other people make fun of him. In fact, she encourages him to stand up for himself more.
However, the main focus of the anime remains that Nagatoro teases him, so if someone teasing someone else isn’t your thing or offends you in any manner, you’re probably not going to enjoy this anime. But keep in mind that her teasing doesn’t always go as planned, and it can sometimes backfire on her.
Nagatoro’s friendship with her senpai progresses at a nice pace, and it’s entertaining to watch how they act around each other. It feels natural and well-written, especially since it begins with harsh teasing.
The anime isn’t as humorous as I had hoped, but there are some hilarious moments. I’m not going to spoil things, but there was one joke that stuck out from the rest of the anime. However, I will say that it was a reference joke that was executed perfectly.
The character designs are fantastic, particularly Nagatoro’s. The facial expressions they selected to draw her with really bring out her personality. They are one of the anime’s best parts.
Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro is not an anime for everyone. The teasing is tough at first, and it’s probable that it will turn people off. But if you keep watching, you’ll notice the well-paced change. Nagatoro suddenly grows on you, and you end up rooting for the developing relationship between her and senpai. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re willing to put up with some harsh teasing in the beginning and continue through the episodes, it’s worth checking out. I was thoroughly enjoying it by the end and am looking forward to the release of the second season.
Check out my review of Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro season 2 or my other anime reviews.
What you do think of Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.