- Episodes : 12
- Genre : January 2020 – currently airing
- Airing Date : Comedy, Supernatural, School
- Producers : Lerche
Despite its scatological name, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun isn’t a gag series full of potty humor. It’s actually the charming tale of how an occult-loving high schooler named Nene meets Hanako-kun, a ghostly boy with a mysterious past who keeps the rest of the school’s apparitions in line with his wicked cunning and trusty kitchen knife. When she becomes indebted to him, Nene agrees to be his assistant—thus begins her new life of investigating supernatural rumors, saving her friends from wayward spirits, and learning more about the elusive Hanako-kun himself. This show has been criminally underwatched so far, so let us show you why you NEED to watch Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun!
Contains Spoilers
Gorgeous Motion Manga Inspired Animation
This anime is absolutely gorgeous, courtesy of Studio Lerche, which brought us last year’s Kanata no Astra as well as other hard hitters like Assassination Classroom and Danganronpa the Animation. The rich colors and thick lines make the simple chibi-esque characters stand out against the subtly surreal backgrounds, and even minor players like Nene’s friend Aoi have memorable designs. But the best part is the animation, which embraces style over frame-count by emulating motion manga. The visible sound effects, panel transitions, and elegantly bordered frames make for a unique experience that complements the supernatural storybook style of the show.
Engaging Characters That Capture Your Heart
It should be illegal for a ghost to be so charming that he sweeps not just the main character, but the audience off their feet. Hanako-kun’s smooth voice, mischievous demeanor, and commanding presence when facing apparitions give him a cool “bad boy” vibe that neither we nor Nene can resist. Hanako seems ignorant of Nene’s feelings (which she herself also tries to deny), but after he pretends to confess to her to lure out a matchmaker ghost and she breaks down crying in embarrassment for daring to get her hopes up, he sincerely apologizes and holds her until she calms down. Nene is such a precious, utterly relatable cinnamon roll and we only want the best for her. Hanako/Nene is the best ship of 2020 so far—change our minds.
A Richly Detailed World with Layers of Mystery
Nene’s high school is absolutely crawling with ghosts and spirits, most of which get their power from rumors spread by the students and change their behavior to suit whatever is being said about them. Each apparition has its own backstory and personality that relates to the school or surrounding area, which Nene and Hanako must keep in mind to placate them. There are also human exorcists crawling around the campus whose goal is to exterminate all supernatural phenomena no matter what, and they seem to know more about Hanako-kun than they let on. The ghosts’ backstories combined with the present mysteries and the overall strange nature of the school make for a richly detailed world that we love exploring week to week.
Final Thoughts
We don’t yet know how Nene and Hanako’s story will end, but we’re excited to see whatever comes next in their ghostly adventures. Check it out for yourself on Funimation.com!
What did you think of our overview? Have you been watching Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun this season? Let us know in the comments, and thanks so much for reading!
Author: Mary Lee Sauder
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