Kamisama Kiss
Kamisama Hajimemashita or Kamisama Kiss is a 13 episode anime about a girl who becomes a god and gets a bishie fox demon as her guardian. Let’s look at the plot in detail and review the show together to find out if it’s worth watching.
Nanami Momozono dreams of living an average school life like the rest of her schoolmates; instead, she deals with a gambler’s father and the debt he has accumulated in her name. As she struggles to pay the rent, the debt collectors kick her out of the apartment, and the girl becomes homeless. She continues to remain kind despite all of that.
She meets a strange man named Mikage hanging from a tree who a dog was chasing. Nanami helps him out and tells him about her situation. He offers Nanami his home as a token of appreciation, and she accepts the offer. Upon arriving at the house, she realizes it’s not a house but a shrine. She is greeted by shrine keepers Onikiri and Kotetsu, and Tomoe.
Later on, she finds out that Mikage used to be the shrine’s earth deity and has bestowed a mark on her forehead, making her the new god.
Like any other person, she is reluctant to accept this position, but she takes it as she spends time with others in the shrine.
The Twist
Did I mention she has an extremely handsome fox demon as a guardian who is reluctant to accept her as his new master?
There is a twist, Nanami falls in love with Tomoe, who refuses to accept her love because she’s his master. Also, it is taboo for a human and a yokai to be together. So it’s a Shoujo, which I am sure will excite many to watch it. These two characters get along nicely, and their relationship builds up slowly. Tomoe has a soft spot for her already, so you know what that means!
It’s not just a Shoujo; it’s a supernatural anime! Nanami, an average human being, turns into a land god, and other supernatural beings don’t approve of her. Also, the former land god was more spectacular.
Be prepared to experience heavy romance. The only turn-off for me was the development of the characters. Halfway through, the story’s execution becomes poor. You may lose interest because nothing significant happens in the story. A few of the characters were stalling. Also, the anime takes us to Tomoe’s past, which does not add up to the story either.
The Likeable Parts
Now you must be wondering is this anime even worth watching. I would say yes because there are so many right things. Such As:
There is No Bad Guy
Unlike other anime where the protagonist becomes the god and becomes a pro and defeats the antagonist, things take a different turn. In this story, the protagonist becomes an earth deity (which happens quite quickly) who takes the time to master her powers. Supernatural references, romance, and comedy together complete the story.
Also, there is no bad guy or rival in the story. You may think Kayako Hiiragi is a bit of a devil when she kisses Tomoe in front of Nanami, fueling her jealously but later on, we find out Kayako is in love with Kirihito.
The Wedding
(Spoiler Alert)
Yes, Kamisama Kiss’s extended scene shows that Tomoe and Nanami get married. The anime ends with a quick flash to the future with a wedding scene, and fans couldn’t have asked for anything else.
In most anime adaptions, details such as backgrounds, rooms, and buildings are missed. But not in this anime!
The Kagura dance scene was just perfect for me. In the manga, Nanami gets to wear a men’s kimono, which is too big for her, and a wig, but the outfit she wears is just perfect in the anime.
There is a Bit Of Time Travel
As I mentioned, magical moments are involved; there is a bit of time travel as well. It turns the whole series upside down, to be exact. It reveals that Tomoe’s first love wasn’t Yukiji; it was Nanami who traveled back in time. Mind-blowing! I must say the anime did an excellent job simplifying the event, and it makes sense.
These two characters have a tumultuous relationship. Mizuki comes out of nowhere and becomes Nanami’s familiar. He is a bit immature, so he is always inviting trouble.
The Flashback to the past shows that Mizuki finds Tomoe guarding a Shrine. He Would visit Tomoe in snake form eave him divine sake.
Short Series
The series is short, with no dozens of episodes to watch. The manga has 25 volumes, which can be time-consuming to read. The anime, on the other hand, is short. And the best part is no details are skipped.
Nanami is a teen who is mocked for her poverty. Her life takes a turn when she becomes the local land god. She continues to go to school, though. Soon, she learns how to juggle her human life and sacred duties.
Nanami is a bit impulsive. On many occasions, she takes action without thinking about the consequences. Her simple mindset offers the gods and yokai a different perspective on things, and they change for the better.
Mamoru, is her Shikigami. His base form is that of a monkey. With him, she can fight evil and do various things. Mamoru remains with her even after she marries Tamoe. She even gets pregnant!
Tomoe was a fox yokai who served as Mikage’s familiar. When Nanami takes his place, she makes him her familiar. Initially, he is hostile and condescending towards the girl but his attitude changes as the series progress.
Tomoe has a mocking and cynical demeanor. This is because he doesn’t trust others, but deep down, he is charming. He treats Nanami like a child but deeply cares for her.
He can transform himself with enhanced leaves. Initially, he has condescending views of humans except for Nanami.
When he realizes his feelings for Nanami, it results in an old death curse. Don’t worry; the protagonist herself saves him. She travels through time to save him and helps him discover some truths about his past.
Finally, Tomoe decides he will become a human. How? To learn that, you will have to watch the show.
Kurama is a crow tengu with a bad boy attitude featuring Goth makeup. He wishes to become the land god by taking the heart of a protagonist. He eventually gives up on his scheme and becomes friends with Nanami.
Kurama and Tomoe have dislike for each other. You will find them insulting one another whenever they meet.
He has feelings for Nanami and tries flirting with her time and again. Eventually, he accepts Tomoe and Nanami’s relationship and moves on.
Mizuki is a lonely snake who also falls in love with Nanami when she saves his life. He ends up abducting her and intends to marry her. Mizuki hates Tomoe and tries his best to deter Nanami’s feelings towards him.
He saves Nanami’s life from the sea demon when she sacrifices herself to save her lover. He continues to have feelings for her even though the two marry. The scene where Nanami and Tomoe come back to the shrine to visit him after getting married explains that. Mizuki rushes to meet them!
Music Sound and Animation
The music is very catchy. I enjoyed listening to every bit of it. The sound effects and character designs are significant too. The characters are Shoujo-like. When it comes to animation, it’s simple. There are a couple of fight scenes, but they don’t stand out.
The biggest stand out for me was the kissing scenes.
Summing Up
Kamisama Kiss is a heartwarming show indeed. The animation is excellent, and the timing of the comedic scenes is impressive.
The anime isn’t perfect, but it’s worth watching. Many questions are left unanswered, such as the disappearance of Mikage, but they can be ignored, and to be honest, there’s no other way about it.
I would recommend reading about Youkai, in case you don’t know what they are. Having background information is essential to understand the Japanese gods and other mythical creatures.
The anime contains lots of folklore which you will end up googling like me throughout the show. But hands down, everything is intriguing. You may find the story being dragged in some scenes. In moments like these, I would suggest you hold on because the ending is satisfying.
Please Like, Comment, Share or click one of the links below to read another post.
https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/random-thoughts-because-mondays-suck
https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/on-screen
https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/flashbacks
Kamisama Kiss Trailer (Crunchyroll)
