We all love a little toilet humor from time to time but never quite like this. Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun (Toilet-bound Hanako-kun) sure has some pretty hilarious lighthearted moments… and then it has some rather dark moments as well. The question is whether or not if anything it does is interesting. After watching the first episode, I now know the answer to that question!
Let’s Go!
First Episode Synopsis
There is a bunch of myths surrounding a school. The seventh myth is that if you go into the girl’s bathroom and head to the third stall from the right, you can summon Hanako-kun… a girl who will grant your wish. For Nene Yashiro, this seemed like the perfect chance for her to get someone to like her. So, she does the requirements and summons not a girl but a boy. She also discovers that Hanako-kun is also a ghost that only the summoner can see.
Hanako states that he can grant her wish but he needs something in return. Rather than casting a spell to help her win over the guy she’s interested in her, instead, offers her generic dating tips… all of which backfire of her. It is then that she realizes that Hanako isn’t all that he’s cracked up to be. After not believing that Hanako has any powers, she discovered this little container of mermaid scales that he has and eats one before Hanako can finish explaining what they do.
They’re supposed to be eaten by two people in order to share a bond between them. One person eating them grants them a curse and turns them into a fish in which a giant mermaid will come to claim them. Hanako ends up eating one of the scales, thus breaking the curse (temporarily) and ends up granting her two wishes… the first is for someone to return her feelings, the other… to turn back into a human. The thing Hanako asks for in return is for her to pay with her body…. Not in that way, mind you. He wants her to be his assistant. And thus our story begins.
Worth Watching?
YES – The first episode was highly entertaining and unlike Boku no Tonari, the humor had a great balance to it. Plus, the voice acting on Hanako is PHENOMENAL. I had to look up the seiyuu and saw that it was the legendary Megumi Ogata doing Hanako’s voice. In case you don’t know her, she had a pretty small role in Neon Genesis Evangelion playing Shinji! She has also played Haruka in Sailor Moon S, Jun in Captain Tsubasa, Nagito and Makoto in the Danganronpa series, and many others. The art style on this show is also very unique, vibrant, and just pleasing to look at. The premise is a little on the weak side but the great writing and humor make up for it. I think this is going to be a very entertaining series!