The Dangers in My Heart is as Sweet as Honey

Ah, February. A single person’s least favorite time of the year. Provided you’re not some kind of sadist who enjoys pouring salt into open wounds.

We’ve discussed more than a few rom-coms over the years. Funny shows, cute shows, horny shows, and boring shows. You name it, we’ve done it. So, what do we have on our hands today?

Schedule an appointment with your dentist. Your molars might not survive with how sweet this show is.

‘The Dangers in My Heart’ is one of the most surprising shows I’ve ever seen. I watched the first episode when it came out, and I thought it was just okay. But as the show went on, I was shocked to realize how much I’d come to love it! ‘Just okay?’ This show quickly became a favorite!

Our story begins in the classroom. Our protagonist, Ichikawa Kyotaro, sits at his desk alone, reading a book on murder. But his eyes wander to the corner of the room, to the prettiest girl in class: Yamada Anna. His goal: to murder her and perhaps do… unspeakable things to her body.

No, Ichikawa isn’t some kinda serial killer/sex offender. But he’d sure like to think he was.

This was the first sign of something I found intriguing about this show. Being set in middle-school, our leads are pubescent teenagers in the early stages of figuring out things like sex and romance. As such, it doesn’t shy away from the more uncomfortable aspects of one’s first love.

So, no. Ichikawa isn’t a lunatic. He’s just a kid exploring his first fetish.

This show is wholesome, I promise!

Heading to the school library, Ichikawa is met with a surprising sight. Yamada herself sits alone at a table, casually snacking like they hadn’t just had lunch. Once her little feast is complete, she begins work on a class project. But paper needs cutting, and she has neither scissors nor cutters. Ichikawa, however, has got his own prized murder cutter.

Which he awkwardly lends to her before darting off behind the nearest bookshelf. In trade, Yamada gives him her family-sized bag of chips. But not before finishing its contents.

That seems like a good note to start talking about the show’s best aspect: it’s leading man and lady.

Ichikawa is one of my favorite rom-com protagonists. He’s a little emo kid with a grim and overly-active imagination. Beneath his grim façade, he’s got a heart of genuine 24 karat gold. Shun Horie‘s performance is fantastic, perfectly capturing the kid’s shy and awkward nature as well as his would-be sinister side. It’s a refreshing change of pace from your usual white bread anime boys.

Yamada is one of the most adorable anime characters I’ve ever seen. A child in a giant’s body, her bright and bubbly personality contrasts Ichikawa’s dark and angsty disposition about as starkly as white on black. Hina Yomiya delivers a cute and energetic performance, which makes it all the more upsetting when Yamada breaks into tears.

Which she does often. Girl is something of a crybaby. Yet it never becomes annoying. That’s good writing, right there.

The development between these two characters is far and away the best part of the show! Their shared growth feels as natural and interesting as it is awkward and earnest. It’s so good that I’ll be writing an article on it alone!

As for the rest of the characters, they’re pretty good. When you first meet them, they all seem pretty one-dimensional and annoying. But as Ichikawa gets to know them better, we and he both realize they’re more complex than they first seemed. Moeko may seem like an annoying gyaru, but she’s actually pretty chill and supportive. Adachi may seem like a tiny dog in heat, but he’s just an clueless dork who doesn’t know how to process puberty. The supporting cast is consistently solid.

Also, Ichikawa’s sister is by far the best character in the show. Every scene she’s in immediately makes things better.

The animation goes a long way in bringing these characters to life. Being a slice-of-life romcom, there’s no need for massive explosions of sakuga. Instead, the animators highlight the little expressions and mannerisms of the cast. Tiny little gestures, like Yamada stamping her legs when she’s excited or Ichikawa nervously closing in on himself when he sits, that make the characters feel real.

Don’t get me wrong, though. There are plenty of fantastic looking shots in this show. If the brightness increases, chances are you’re in for a treat.

Even more so thanks to the music. Kensuke Ushio works his magic yet again. Whenever the piano kicks in, you know the scene is gonna be a banger. Although the OP and ED are just okay; makes me wish Hidive had a ‘Skip Intro’ button.

‘The Dangers in My Heart’ is peak rom-com anime. It looks great, it sounds great, and the writing is top notch. More still, season two has kept the ball rolling smoothly forward, maintaining the same level of quality. If you’re looking for a good Valentine’s show, I can think of few better.

Because what else are we all gonna do on the 14th? Go on dates?

Don’t any of you answer that question.