Cool Doji Danshi

This short half-length episode series is the epitome of: "Week XX of saying I hate how damn relatable this anime is." Because it's really a lot of fun, and a hell lot better than we've ever bargained for.

We have the CGDCT genre: Cute Girls Doing Cute Things. But have you ever stopped to think of what's on the opposite side of the spectrum, with guys? And boy, do I have the answer for you, it's (also) CGDCT: Cool Guys Doing Clumsy Things! And no, it's not BL.

Female mangaka Kokone Nata's comedic slice-of-life, web manga-coloured series Cool Doji Danshi a.k.a Play It Cool, Guys, is the ... half-episode length short that never in my life, have I needed such mesmerizing 11-minute moments ogling at cute, cool, yet clumsy guys just doing their own thing, much more so other than their likability that touches and throbs the hearts of not just the original demographic of the Josei audience from the manga, but also anime-onlies too. And within the space of its adapted 24 episodes covering all of the 4 volumes and 24 chapters released (with the 5th just released at the time of the anime's premiere), don't expect a Season 2 for this to come anytime soon, but think of this show has like the near-perfect open-and-shut case manga adaptation that'll satsify not just the manga readers, but anime-oniies as well.

These are the case files for the 5 guys:
- Hayate Ichikura, the Blue normal bear type who reflect on the past in embarrassment. The 20-year-old university student majoring in economics. He loves animals and enjoys reading.
- Shun Futami, the Yellow spiked hair bear stoic type that pretends to be tough. The 17-year-old high school student who is athletic. He enjoys playing sports and is supported by his older sister Asami by her own café.
- Takayuki Mima, the Pink glasses bear type that is unaware and affected by their clumsiness. The 27-year-old salaryman who is seen as a mascot by his co-workers. He is childhood friends with Motoharu Igarashi.
- Souma Shiki, the turquoise cap-laden bear type that is accepting and positive. The 19-year-old vocational student studying at a vocational design school.
- Last but not least, Igarashi Motoharu, the grey one-sided eye-covering hair bear type that is the genius and self-sufficient type. The 27-year-old author and a friend of Mima's from elementary school.

The 5 guys here are VERY likable, VERY relatable, and above all, shows in who they are as young men: COOL. Read any description/synopses and you can see the similarity that it's all but in good heart, because: They may even exist around you -- Guys who are cool, handsome, but a little...clumsy. This is a story about their lives and how they will always look cool, no matter how clumsy they are. And that is a recipe for success in my book, that makes for an entertaining watch from start to finish in record time that will not cost you a lot of time: a little total of just under 4 hours (give or take if you add in the OP/ED theme songs).

Studio Pierrot, par for the course of shows under their belt, and I can tell you that this show doesn't show an inch of the credibility of the studio's low-budget production. In fact, I would say that the show has been produced very nicely, even with little animation that's subtle with the cool guys' clumsy action, that is nothing but a delight to watch, while following the manga in a relative 1-to-1 perfect replication of the pacing and art style. Good job to the Clown.

The OST is very much desired for the show, it seems like it's tailored fit just for this purpose, and I can say that what came out of it, is very good. Starting with Mafumafu's "Seishun Kippu" (lit. Youth Ticket) for the 1st Cour's OP, I knew that it would not just be an song that fits the show to a T, but an outstanding and highly engaging song that's worth many listens on repeat outside of the show, especially if you can get around to watching the MV for the song (which is available in YouTube), which is symbolic and emotionally heavy. I simply LOVE Mafumafu's song to bits, but when it came time for the seasonal refresh to the 2nd Cour, Syudou's "Warau na!" (lit. "Don't Laugh!")...was kinda of a disappointment to be honest. It still retains the excitement factor, but something about the song just doesn't gel quite as nice and in tune with the show's thematics, which is a shame. For both EDs, the cool guys (minus Igarashi's VA) under the PICG unit helm the songs, and I really like the contrast between both "Flash!" and "Taisetsu" (lit. "Precious") for both cours, the 1st being in the same cool fashion as the show, and the 2nd being a more cohesive approach to friendship and bonds, not to mention both songs being just as fantastic in their own right.

Really, if there is an underrated short of the modern day that wholly BEGS for people to watch, it's this show. Seriously, this show is diabetes to the heart, that earns smiles and chuckles onto the face, which gives it so much appeal that whether male or female, anyone could pick this up and have a good time. I know I have, and that's why I promote this with my entire being that while the manga is good, the anime is even better.

I'm really going to miss this half-episode short with all my heart, gaining nothing but happy pleasures with hilarity for the past 6 months, that's for sure.

Play It Cool, Guys is a true comfort show to me. Like a warm and cozy blanket, I feel at home.

Iyashikei anime, also known as shows that focus on healing the audience, are amongst some of my favorites. Play It Cool, Guys goes a step further by introducing us to a bunch of cute guys of varying ages that are just super clumsy in their own way. And let me tell you that every one of their interactions with each other is truly entertaining to watch. In fact, I don’t have a favorite amongst the boys because they’re all so special in their own way. ... This may sound like a reach but in a way, this is similar to the found family trope to me. The guys in this show feel supported and happy while they're together. They motivate each other, do fun stuff together and have good conversations. Even when another character is added later on, they are always so friendly. It feels like they've known each other for years, their bond is beautiful to watch. They're truly themselves while together. The show also excels at both the funny moments and the more serious moments. It discuses expectations for the future, living in the moment and what a certain friendship means to you.

There’s definitely more to this show than the amazing characters. The studio behind it also invested much time and effort into bringing these characters to life and provide the show with a warm and sincere atmosphere. I'm honestly really surprised as I was not sure if they were going to nail it, but they sure did! The color palette is comforting, and the soundtrack is tranquil. Both OPs and EDs are amazing and tell a story in their own way. Furthermore, the animation is smooth, and the comedic timing is well done. All in all, a feast for the eyes!

The episodes are quite short, you’ll feel sad once they are over. Though, I would say that there’s still a cohesive plot going on and different episodes are interconnected. I was truly NEVER bored.
To be honest, I’m sad while writing this. Having been watching this show since October 2022 and it suddenly being over is making me feel melancholic. That’s how much I loved Play It Cool, Guys. I think this show will entertain many different people so if you’re in need of something comforting and relaxing please give it a try. As for me, I'm going to miss my boys tremendously. I’m going to be reading the manga to fill the void!

I feel like whenever it comes to anime that hope to appeal to some people, it's always going to have viewers that vibe with it and viewers that don't vibe with it - like comedy animes, you either find it funny or not. I am usually a huge fan of the feel-good, chill, let's-showcase-some-cute-moments type of anime, and I had high hopes for this one as well, but it seems like that this one in particular (so far) seems to be a miss for me. It feels like being force fed a delicious cake - yes I like cake, yes it's delicious, but being force-fed ... kinda ruins it.

In my previous experience, one of the cool things about anime is that even if they decide on a theme (e.g. cool boys doing cute things), Japan just somehow manages to make it feel authentic, genuine, and sensible. It doesn't feel like a student writing an essay on a topic, but instead it feels like a story that they want to tell from their heart and THEN they wrap it up in that theme. However, Cool Doji Danshi somehow doesn't seem to be able to do that. There is such an emphasized deliberacy as they showcase each moment that it feels like that moment when someone tells an okay joke but the way they wait for you to laugh at the end just makes it so much worse. I think it partially has to do with the pacing of the animation, but also some of the moments they decided to showcase just really don't make me go "ohh haha that's cute yeah", it just makes me go "... well yeah that happens i guess".

That being said, if you DO happen to vibe with it, then it can be a really nice anime. The animation, the art style, the voice acting all make for a really nice bundle of an enjoyable experience, and it surely warms you up from the inside. I would especially like to emphasize the voice acting, I think that's a crucial part for this genre and they did a really good job with that. I would also like to add as another advantage that the show is quite episodic, and each episode (so far) seems to focus on a different individual, so even if you didn't vibe with one of them, there's a possibility that you'll enjoy the next one!