Oh dear, a mysterious melancholic man is struggling to find his purpose in life and just needs a nudge in the right direction to make all his dreams come true! Well, Anzu Hoshino isnotthe solution. She may look themanic pixie dream girlpart which is only emphasized by her highly energetic and eccentric characteristics, but do not be fooled, for beneath the surface lies a strong independent woman!
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The following tropes are generally used to leadthe manic pixie dream girlseamlessly through a narrative while ensuring the male lead maintains ownership of the spotlight and becomes the ultimate hero at the end of the day. If Anzu were playing her part correctly, they would be well suited toRomantic Killer’sstoryline; however, the stubborn heroine refuses to cooperate and undermines the expectations laid upon her at every opportunity.
The following article contains spoilers fromRomantic Killer, currently streaming onNetflix.
7The Ultimate Cheerleader (Self-Love Edition)
Manic pixie dream girls essentially exist to improvethe Hero’s quality of life(and maybe teach him a valuable life lesson or two along the way). She has a limited independent storyline away from her beloved suitor, existing without her own dreams and aspirations, wanting nothing more than to see him succeed, and having little concern for following her own ideals.
While Anzu certainly elevates Kazuki, Junta, Hijiri, and even Riri’s lives for the better, she does not have tunnel vision when it comes to helping others succeed. She may get slightly distracted along the way; however, Anzu remains dedicated to her mission of restoring her vices and does not simply drop everything for the sake of making a boy happy (her own pleasure is way too important to shove aside for insignificant romance!)
6(Happily) Single Woman Seeks Good Man
A lead character trapped in this cliché will look for the virtues in a person when seeking love, as opposed to thosewho desire a bad boyto fawn over. The main protagonist generally has corresponding characteristics and is usually respectable and upstanding too, so much so that they can’t help but attract a swarm of admirers without even trying.
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Anzu is initially put off by Kazuki’s seemingly foul attitude but slowly warms up when she realizes what a good guy he actually is (and the same concept applies to Hijiri). However, not only does she do very little to cultivate these relationships (the exact opposite, in fact), but she also doesn’t possess the strongest moral compass herself and will happily take the selfish route if it leads to gaming and kitties. Anzu may be at the center of an Accidental Harem, but it has little to do with her admiral qualities as a girlfriend (and everything to do with Riri’s intervention.)
5Foul Gonk Faces
Every manic pixie dream girl is quintessentially cute and quirky, which Anzu undeniably is; however, she tries her very bestnotto look the part. Herfashion sense may be unique,but not in that bizarre-yet-chiche way, rather involving juvenile crazy cat-lady “uniforms” instead. Her tucked-in, kitty-adorned T-shirts and tracks may turn heads (but for all the wrong reasons) but do little to improve her sex appeal.
Similarly, Anzu downplays her physical attributes whenever necessary, opting to wear a gonk face in place of her naturally beautiful features. Her favorite time to pull out this trick is when the awkward romantic tension is on the precipice of getting too affectionate, and Anzu feels the need to remind the boys how undesirable she truly (thinks she) is.
4Hero(ine) Obsessed
The typical manic pixie dream girl spends every waking moment pining after her paramour, incapable of enjoying life without him by her side because everything apparently improves significantly when there is a boy around! Anzu, however, couldn’t disagree more with this warped perception, and she is not afraid to admit it (loudly!)
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Sure, Anzu may be quirky and not very approachable; however, that is not the explanation for her single status. This redheadedotaku pays no interest in the opposite sexbecause she has all she will ever need at home, with her video games, chocolates, and Momohiki, her one true love! In contrast, the boys are rather smitten with Anzu and actually help her make significant personal progress, as opposed to just leaching life lessons from her for their own cause.
3Denying The Damsel Errant Duty
This particular plot device works as a guide of sorts by showing the heroic hunk where to get in on the action (while dishing out unnecessary giggles and eyelash fluttering for added perks). Although the damsel errant rarely overflows into the love interest category, she does influence the protagonist’s mission greatly, and, more often than not, for the better. Riri often leads Anzu into scenarios whereby she should seduce one of the gorgeous guys into fulfilling their romantic quest but is devastatingly countered at every turn.
Anzu attempts to avoid additional social interactions but eventually concedes; however, she refuses to get all gushy about things and makes little effort to bolster any of the boys' egos (unless all they need is afriendlyconfidence boost). She does essentiallysteer the plot towards Kazuki’s stalker, forcing him to confront the issue instead of hiding, but Anzu is essentially Kazuki’s savior once again (even though she is the one who technically needs rescuing). Confronting Yukana Kishi effectively becomes Anzu’s victory, undoubtedly assisting the male lead, however, without relinquishing her heroine title for the sake of conforming to gender stereotypes.
2The (In)Considerate Chaperone
The manic pixie dream girlcatering to an Isekai adventureis regularly reincarnated to accompany the honorable Hero through his travels across a strange land, offering support whenever necessary (so, almosteveryfemale Isekai character design). Anzu topples this trope by proudly dominating in the headliner position, and Riri creates a Harem around her to lure the nearly-NEET into a romantic relationship.
Junta, in particular, is “reincarnated” purely for Anzu’s benefit, as he would have reunited with his dear friend eventually if things took a natural progression; however, the impatient wizard has no time to waste! His main purpose is to enrich the romantic tension (and add more eye candy to the mix), but he suffers greatly for his unreciprocated affections while flirting with the manic pixie dreamboytrope in the process.
1The Anti-Heroine
Romantic Killer’sself-proclaimed anti-heroine does not stretch the truth by assuming this title, as Anzu does everything in her power to reject her role as the lead female love interest in the Isekai nightmare that has become her life. Although not an outright villainess, this redheaded rebel is not primarily focused on improving the lives of others but will also not play with their feelings in order to efficiently “win the game.”
Anzu also possesses limitedstereotypical characteristics that often accompany her gender, with her unruly hair, unladylike dress sense, poor cooking skills, and aversion to cringe-worthy Shojo, which is just fine because she always prefers to hang out with the boys in any case. Without her vices, Anzu may be in distress, but she is no damsel and has proven to be a truly loyal friend (who would like to remain in that zone for as long as possible, thank you!)
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