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[otakuapproved]

Otaku Approved

Your one-stop shop for anime, manga, and manhwa recommendations! Complete with my OWN PERSONAL reviews, rating, and complete synopsis!

Feel free to visit my blog for more similar content!

[otakuapproved]

I Became the Wife of the Monstrous Crown Prince

Synopsis

Ancia Raelle Bellatian is the wife of the monstrous crown prince. In the original story Ancia is meant to jump into the lake after witnessing the shocking appearance of her husband, Blake- but just as she blacks out, another soul takes her place. This transmigrated soul recalls reading an R-19 romance novel where Blake is the second lead, she also recalls how he was meant to be a beast with an exquisite façade after his curse was broken in the original.

Yet the current Blake is more like a cute bunny than a dangerous beast. The plot of the story has changed with her arrival, but the present Ancia cannot help but fall for the cute prince. Will she stay by his side despite knowing that only his fated love can break his curse or will she break her promise and leave him behind?

Rating

3.5/5

Genres

Adventure, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy, Shoujo

Status

Ongoing

Episodes

64

Type

Manhwa

Notes

Its cute! I like the main characters. But there aren’t enough characters to love or hate.

Its kind of basic so I would recommend it as a casual read. Especially cause the art is beautiful and Blake is so cute! And the main female lead is very sweet and smart.

I couldn’t find a good translation for this though.

PS: Thank you for all the translating! Ya’ll really are angels that walk amongst men to be translating all you do for free T-T I really really appreciate it!

[otakuapproved]

In/Spectre

Synopsis

Kotoko Iwanaga, a quick-witted 17 year old girl, acts as the mediator of all sorts of yokai. Using her skill for creating rational fiction she quells supernatural calamities before they can reach humankind, maintaining the fragile peace between the two races.

At a local hospital, our spitfire of a main character meets Kurou Sakuragawa, a seemingly ordinary young man who had recently broken up with his fiancé. She immediately confesses her love for the young man and is rejected just as quickly. But there is more to Kurou than even Kotoko could’ve ever imagined.

Rating

3.5/5

Genres

Action, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural

Status

Complete

Episodes

12

Type

Anime

Notes

I love the premise of the show and the animation is spectacular! The main characters themselves were quite interesting too.

But the progression of the story felt very rushed. And the world building could’ve been worked on a lot more. You kind of just find out random tid bits of information now and then about how a 17 year old kid is flying around the world on her own solving problems. And the climax of the main conflict fell a little flat for me.

The winning parts of this anime is definitely Kotoko who is kind of the perfect balance between a teenage girl and the ‘wisdom of the yokai’ that she’s supposed to embody. The animation (especially with the action scenes) were very nice! And Kurou was a pretty fun character to understand (He comes off super aloof, but you later realise why that is and it’s a whole ‘holy heck that makes total sense’ moment).

Overall, it’s a fun one-time watch! PS: I have not read the manga fully yet, but the art of what I did read was gorgeous! Ya’ll could check that out for better continuity and world building.

[otakuapproved]

Under the Aegis

Synopsis

It has been 1000 years since the first wielders who were meant to bring peace to all races perished, leaving their work unfinished. Since then, 49 generations of wielders have come and gone all unable to fulfil their purpose- till the most recent generation. Follow the young chosen ones as they strive to find the missing piece to complete the sacred ritual to bring peace - while trying to stay alive as assassins constantly attempt to take their lives.

Rating

5/5

Genres

Drama, Action, Fantasy, Romance, Comedy, LGBTQ+

Status

Complete

Episodes

93

Author

VIMEDDIEE

Type

Webtoon

Notes

This is another work of art I can talk about forever! I’ve reread this so many times and I will most definitely reread it again!

Under the Aegis may seem like a typical fantasy drama at first glance, but it is so much more than that. It tackles very real situations like stereotyping people on the basis of their nationality or race. It also presents compassion and understanding as a basis of world peace, which I know is quite obvious but the way it is written makes me want to believe that this could someday be possible. That humans could see beyond religion or nationality and see the person beneath all that. That kindness and compassion can help us understand one another enough to not want to hurt each other anymore.

Same-sex couples are also represented very nicely! And the ending is SO satisfying! It has an epilogue that is an instant serotonin boost! The art is also so pretty! And the couples are so cute <3

[otakuapproved]

Stars Align

Alternatively

Hoshiai no Sora

Synopsis

The story centres around the boy’s soft tennis club at Shiratori middle school. Constantly outperformed by the girl’s soft tennis team, the boy’s team have lost all motivation to seriously commit to soft tennis. Their lax existence comes to an end, however, when a new rule requires every club to present some accomplishment in their field or face disbandment. This forces the boys to recruit more fresh talent to join their club.

When the clubs very passionate captain, Toma Shinjou, sees the newly transferred student, Maki Katsuragi’s, great reflexes, he immediately attempts to recruit him. Maki’s innate talent and great game sense rekindles the clubs team spirit and love for the sport.

The story essentially follows a group of young boys as they navigate through the difficulties of life as a middle schooler all while discovering their own potential, capabilities and interests. It brings to light their interactions with adults to show how those experiences shape the boy’s young minds and spirits.

Rating

5/5

Genres

Slice of life, Sports, Drama, LGBTQ+

Status

Complete

Episodes

12

Type

Anime

Trigger Warning

Abuse (Physical and Verbal)

Notes

This is such a beautiful anime! It handles very serious topics like abuse and abandonment extremely well. It encourages emotions in boys which is always appreciated (cause the patriarchy sucks). And openly discusses things like gender identity and being gay in such a normalised manner! There is seriously so much, so many people can learn from this anime!

The characters are all very well fleshed out and dynamic. You learn more about each boy through the series and there is not one person who is uninteresting or just there to fill space.

The content is also presented in a very palatable way, as the seriousness of the problems each boy is facing is juxtapositioned with wins and losses at various soft tennis games. It adds some respite to the intensity which keeps you hooked throughout!

Now, I can go on and on about this anime but I’ll stop here I think XP

Bonus

1. The ending song is super fun! (This anime does this fun thing where the fast song is at the end and the slow emotional song is at the beginning)

2. Stay tuned for post credit scenes

3. It ends on an insane cliff-hanger that strangely doesn’t make you feel agitated? Just excited for what’s to come!

[otakuapproved]

The Duke of Ashleyan’s Contractual Marriage

Synopsis

After Rubiana’s parents were unjustly killed by the ‘Tyrant King’, she decided to protect her younger sister Callena the only way she could- by transferring her right of succession to Callena. Although Rubiana did not want to pursue revenge, Callena was filled with ambition to become not just a king- but an emperor.

Rubiana, who couldn't refuse her sister (not sis-con!),supported her sisters campaign after which she was deemed the duke of the treacherous beast-infested Northern territory. With peace restored Rubiana just had one more task left to complete-honouring the Oath she made to God by offering her first born child to the church. To do so the fearsome ‘Duke of Blood’ Rubiana has to first find a husband. But she could’ve never imagined that husband to be the illegitimate son of the Tyrant King himself!

Rating

5/5 (Rating may change as the Manhwa progresses)

Genres

Action, Adventure, Romance, Drama, Fantasy

Status

Ongoing

Chapters

41

Type

Manhwa

Notes

This was so fun to read! It does this very cool thing where the gender roles that are typically assigned to ‘Duke’ and ‘Illegitimate Child’ are reversed. So, the Duke is a badass female and the Illegitimate Child is a kind, smart, gentle man. It was very interesting to read how that dynamic could be different when the genders are switched. And it’s done in a non-satirical way, which I love! The characters surrounding the main couple are also dynamic and fun to follow! Especially Callena- who I am both scared of and in love with.

Overall the dynamic between the two is also so cute!

[otakuapproved]

Love So Life

Synopsis

Shiharu Nakamura (aka the sweetest creature to ever exist) is a high school girl who loves children. She works a part-time job at a nursery and aspires to run a day-care of her own someday! She meets the most precious twins Akane and Aoi Matsunaga at said day-care following which she meets their uncle Seiji Matsunaga.

Having only recently taken charge of the twins, Seiji is at his wits end. When he notices the strong attachment the twins had formed with Shiharu he jumps at the opportunity to get some help. He offers her twice the amount she currently earns at the day-care to work as his personal nanny.

The story follows the wholesome bond that forms between this makeshift family while also alluding to a potential romance between Shiharu and Seiji.

Rating

52739393638/5

Genres

Slice of life, Romance, Comedy, Drama, Shoujo

Status

Complete

Chapters

111

Authors

Kaede Kouchi

Anime

N/A (I’m still holding out hope tho! Even if it did finish publishing in 2015 T-T)

Notes

This manga is the cutest thing you will ever read! I will admit that the age gap is a tad steep but *spoiler alert* they wait till she is well beyond legal age to finalise anything!

Other than that, this is the most wholesome thing ever! You will be smiling from start to finish!

The art style is so cute too! I love those babies with my whole soul T-T

Bonus: Check out Life so Happy after you're done with Love so Life. You can thank me for the serotonin rush later <3

[otakuapproved]

How Otaku Approved was Born...

Some of my favourite anime reactions! XP

Recently I’ve been feeling a tad useless.

My routine has consisted of college, home, sleep, friends, and watching anime or reading manga for hours. I am honestly surprised I have not merged with my bed with how much time I spend on it (Reading manga or watching anime, I must reiterate).

Therefore, to feel less like human trash and more of an asset to society I’ve decided to use my

Otaku powers for good!

I will be posting at least one blog post about an anime or manga that I have watched along with an accurate synopsis and MY OWN, PERSONAL, rating about the show.

Now I do recognize the potential for ‘cancellation’ for posting about such controversial topics as my opinions on beloved shows, but;

I hope this can help the baby otakus not be traumatized by some of the… more intense anime/manga out there. I would like to facilitate the growth of this glorious community.

I would like to add some much-needed trigger warnings on some manga and anime that I think desperately needs them. Looking at you Goblin Slayer.

I really doubt enough people would read this blog for it to get to the point of cancellation, and I wont really be posting about more mainstream content as they already have enough attention!

Anyways! That’s about it from me!

I hope y’all enjoy the posts! And that they’re useful!

Please feel free to check out my blog for more similar content!