[Anime Review] - Kowloon Generic Romance

This is my review of an anime called Kowloon Generic Romance

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(This review contains heavy spoilers; proceed with full caution.)

Man, I can't believe what I just watched. I actually finished this anime twice now, just to have a conclusive mindset. It's remarkable what I've finally gathered from watching this anime.
And after that time, I finally understood that I essentially watched a man coping with his deceased wife. It is a wild ride for sure, and absolutely a great one.

How did I find this?
Through scrolling on Twitter/X. I found this out and immediately fell in love with Reiko. She is my kind of type. I love her design so much.
But funny enough, that's not the reason I went into this anime.

Appealing (Why did I get into the anime?)
I've said that I love Reiko's design, and it makes me want to watch it, but the real reason why I want to watch it is that they announced two projects: an anime and a live-action. I was like, "Why? Why do you need to make them?" Then I found an article that said, "The story will be concluded in one season, and to understand the story in depth, the live action will get you covered." I... I was shocked. They make it sound like both are as important as a whole.
I will surely check the live action just because of that statement.

Platform
The anime is available on Anione Asia's YouTube channel, but unfortunately, it is locked behind a paywall. I still watch it there, though, don't worry, I give Anione my full support.
It is also available on Bilibili Global, Crunchyroll, and Netflix.

The review;
Plot/Story
I have given you guys a warning in the beginning, so I'll be a full-blown storyteller mode here. Be prepare.
Okay, we'll start with the premise.
Throw away all romance... Yup, there is absolutely nothing screaming romance in this anime whatsoever. They baited you into thinking there would be romance by the title. Upon watching and finishing the anime, you will probably be left with an unfulfilling desire and so many questions.
This is why this anime is great. You literally have to focus on every single story bit from every angle. Learn from everyone's interaction, and pay attention to every detail that they left in each episode.
Just saying, you might want to watch this anime with a binge-watching style. I'm sure you would be frustrated that you forgot a detail from the last episode, and you expected a recap.
They don't do that here. You have to be on the edge of your seat to understand. Lock the fuck in.

I've mentioned that I essentially watched a man coping with his deceased wife. That's not wrong. It is really like that, but more into it. The story is set on a loop of summer in Kowloon, Hong Kong. A destroyed city, but somehow still standing in some people's eyes. The story also revolves around a clone of oneself and a machine capable of replicating things or people.
You see how complicated this story is? By that statement alone, how do you feel about going into this anime?
I don't want to tell the story further, but when you watch this, just keep these facts in mind.

Character
You follow a woman named Kujirai Reiko, who is questioning her existence in the world. She felt deja vu, but couldn't quite figure out what it was. Her story in this anime was quite fascinating, and her character development is amazing.
Then there is the man of misery, Hajime Kudo, the guy who lost his beloved just after they got married. But... the woman... of his life... looked just like Reiko. How?
Yeah, this is where you had to piece together a giant puzzle. Like, I get the premise, but I swear, man, the story was wild.

All characters in this anime are a driven plot device for both the MC, especially Miyuki Hebinuma. He is a person who has the least interaction with the MCs, yet his... her... You know what, I'm just going to call he/him/his. Yet his story tight sooooo much with the MCs. I am beyond flabbergasted. Gwen and Xiaohei are also very important to the plot, though they are felt like late bloomers, since they're important in the last arc of the anime.

Basically, what I'm saying the characters in this anime are all amazing in their own way, and it is nice that we got to see they're characteristics and daily life through the anime.

OST/SFX
It's so insane how the OP and ED felt so much like Chinese music. Kudos to the band that did the OP and ED. I love your work.
Even in the anime, you can hear the old-style Chinese SFX. The love and care that went into the music and song are magnificent. And I love every bit and piece about it.

Animation
This anime has animation that I haven't seen before, but when I check their records, they have made anime that I have watched before, which is "We Never Learn."
Huh, I guess Arvo Animation got upgraded, huh? But seriously, though, the animation and art direction on this anime are spectacular.

VA
I love them all, 2 thumbs up.

The conclusion;
The good
I'm glad I checked this anime out, it is worth it to watched it twice.

The bad
Now, I had to wait for the live action. 🙃

Gratitude
Thanks to Anione Asia for providing this anime on YouTube. Though it is a member-only anime, I'm still glad I can watch this with easy access.

Overall, 9.6/10
Very complex, but it is an easy-to-digest story once you watch the anime again.

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