Osamake Author Admits Disappointing Anime Adaptation Left Him Unable to Write

Osamake: Romcom Where The Childhood Friend Won’t Lose author Shuichi Nimaru opened up on his dark experience following the anime adaptation. In a post to X (formerly Twitter), he said, ” I watched episodes 1 and 2 of the anime, despaired, and gave up watching it at least once. With the support of a friend, I watched episodes 3 and 4, but gave up. I was in shock for 6 months and unable to write, drinking regularly.“

Nimaru continued, “Volume 1 alone was reprinted 19 times in 22 months (54 times for all volumes), but zero in 3 years after the anime. I am still fighting to write a better and complete my work, even though the amount of damage and slander is painful!“

Immediately following the airing of the Osamake anime from April – June 2021, the original light novel series went from regular publication in 1-4 month intervals to an 8-month gap from June 2021 to February 2022 with Volume 9. This was followed by 8 months between volumes 9 and 10, volumes 10 and 11, and 9 months between Volume 11 and the latest Volume 12, released on March 8, 2024.

Nimaru’s admission was sparked by a fan who quote-tweeted his post on the My Senpai Is Annoying anime, which was well adapted in comparison. Despite both series being done by Doga Kobo, Nimaru said about the latter, “Wow, this opening was fantastic! When I watched this, even though it’s a story about an annoying senior and a junior in an office romance where the dance isn’t part of the plot, the OP had more impressive movements than Osamake with regards to dance and CM production. I truly remember being surprised.“

Doga Kobo animated Osamake, which, despite attracting many viewers (ranking in the top 3% of the most viewed anime on MyAnimeList), the anime proved fairly unpopular with fans with a 6.1 score on the site. Crunchyroll streams the series, describing it:
“She smiles just for me. Her name is Kachi Shirokusa and she’s even an award-winning high school girl writer! And she’s beautiful! I know that she’s totally out of reach for me, a normal high school kid named Sueharu Maru! But I think something’s there… No, there’s definitely something there! Or so I thought… but Kachi has a boyfriend?!

Seeing me depressed, my friend ever since we were little who’s cute, cheerful, and loves to look after others, Shida Kuroha… who also apparently had no problem telling me that she likes me for some reason just suggested, ‘Let’s get revenge.’“

Source: Shuichi Nimaru via X (formerly Twitter)
© 2021 Shuichi Nimaru/KADOKAWA/Osamake Anime Production Committee