The Quintessential Quintuplets is a 12 episode anime that follows high school student Futaro. The first two things we learn about him are that he’s poor, and he’s really into studying and getting good grades. These are also the two things that most define him. He’s quite proud of his knowledge but he’s socially alone as he spends all his free time studying instead. His dad had gotten into debt and that’s why he is poor, struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis.
There was a new transfer student, a beautiful girl, and one that he was snobbish against. Unfortunately, that new gig that he got, the one that pays well and help him out of debt, is to tutor her. However, he finds out that it is not only her, but… five of them. They’re the Nakano quintuplets: Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t make a great first impression on all five of them, but somehow, he still manages to keep his tutor role.
You’ve probably already gotten a good idea of the type of anime that this is, but if not, the Japanese title is much more literal, roughly translating to Quintuplet Brides. Yes, this is a pretty much a harem comedy where in the very first episode, we see Futaro marrying one of the quintuplet sisters, we just don’t know which one given that they are identical. The anime uses a lot of the same comedy and tropes in the genre, although manages to avoid being too stale and repetitive.
The anime is basically on how Futaro works to change the negative impressions that the quintuplets have on him. How he will slowly impress them with his qualities, which while aren’t completely virtuous, isn’t something to be hated for either. Futaro also sees how each of the quintuplets are academically terrible and makes it his mission to improve their grades, even if they don’t want him to. While most of the sisters eventually easily warm up to Futaro (too easily in fact, especially considering that the quintuplets should be quite popular themselves), therea re two troublesome ones that Futaro has to work extra hard to gain their trust. There’s a reason for this, given the sisters’ naturally tight-knitted relationship.
As expected of a comedy harm, Futaro will find himself in lucky situations with each of the quintuplets. Whether that is one hugging him, another sharing a bed, or some sort of close contact with yet another, these are all of course “accidental” occurrences. To be fair, it’s not as egregiouis as it could have been. Futaro is tolerable, although he doesn’t have too much going for him so he doesn’t stand out too much. He’s normal apart from his good grades and fixation on studying.
We later learn more on how Futaro and the quintuplets’ lives are intertwined, and just how fated they were. Or at least, one of them. The anime plays around with how the quintuplets are identical sisters and that one can easilyi pass for the other if they assume each other’s clothing and hairstyles. Their personalities are completely different though. Once you get past the midpoint of the season, all the sisters, will in one way or another, begrudgingly or not, accept Futaro. Even if it is funny how Futaro doesn’t consider their relationships to be close enough to be called friends. There are also plenty of teases between Futaro and each of the five sisters.
The animation quality fluctuates. Sometimes it is fine, at other times, the characters have cruder outlines. The fan service stuff is also surprisingly restrained. The animators could have definitely gone much further than they have but didn’t in order to focus a bit more on the plot, even if the plot is quite barebones. As it is, the plot doesn’t really go anywhere for the whole season, so it’s kind of like a slice-of-life anime in this aspect.
The last part of the season forgoes most of the tutoring aspect (not that it was a high focus anyway), for a more generic school camp trip. It was still fun though. By this point, each of the quintuplets have varying levels of affection for Futaro and the anime handled it well. Instead of a melodramatic drama filled set of scenes where each character is confused and fighting against each other, it’s done in a more palatable way. Futaro is still clueless during the whole process. The season ends with a nice bookend, calling back to the first episode. Of course, given that it’s nowhere near the end of the show, it only teases and doesn’t fully reveal who Futaro will end up becoming with.
Overall, while the plot line and style has been done to death before, The Quintessential Quintuplets isn’t too bad. It helps that Futaro is not the more awesome guy, nor is he the most pathetic guy. He’s average and normal, apart from his intense fixation on studying, and the scenarios work well. It’s funny when it needs to and not too dramatic overall. It can step into generic and cliched territory from time to time, but toes the line just enough that it doesn’t become overly generic and cliches.
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