Rent-a-Girlfriend
“Season Three”
Is there something you want to do for your loved ones before their time is up? Perhaps you want to fulfill a long-standing dream, where you or they reach a long-awaited moment. In a daze of obligation, we may strive towards those goals while even sidelining our personal wishes, which can be quite a dangerous route to take. Because by the end of it all, who's to say your own dreams are still standing? Were you able to become what you wanted to be, or have you simply become what others wanted you to be? Such a scenario could lead to lifelong regret, and it may even affect the next generation, so it is important to be aware of the path you’re treading…
“Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 3,” also known as “Kanojo, Okarishimasu 3rd Season” or simply “Kanokari,” is a 12-episode TV Anime series that aired from the 8th of July until the 30th of September in Summer 2023. It was produced by Mainichi Broadcasting System, Kodansha, and DMM.com and brought to life by Studio TMS Entertainment. The main staff behind it includes Hiroaki Yamazaki, Yoshiyuki Matsuzaki, Kou Tachibana, and Kakizaki Taiki as producers. Targeting the Shounen demographic, it features the genres of Comedy and Romance alongside the themes of Adult Cast and Harem. Each episode has a runtime of 23 minutes and received a rating of PG-13 for teenagers 13 years or older. In anticipation of this installment, a stage event was held at the AnimeJapan 2023 festival on the 25th of March, which featured the main cast of VAs. The series was also released on Blu-ray as two volumes from the 29th of November until the 20th of December 2023, which features chapters 104 through 167 of the original Manga.
The anime is based on a manga series of the same title, which began publication on July 12th, 2017, and is still ongoing. Author and artist Reiji Miyajima built the anime around the School theme, serializing it in Shounen Magazine (Weekly). It was also published in English by Kodansha Comics USA starting on June 2, 2020, and was simultaneously published via K Manga. Finally, it was published in Brazilian Portuguese via Panini Comics on the 21st of June 2021. The first season of the Anime series “Rent-a-Girlfriend” began airing from the 11th of July until the 26th of September in Summer 2020, and was done by the same Studio.
This season was followed by the direct prequel “Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 2,” which began airing from the 2nd of July until the 17th of September in Summer 2022. Done by the same studio and licensed by Crunchyroll, it also followed the Manga storyline and was released on Blu-ray in Japan from the 26th of October 2022 until the 25th of January 2023. The sequel anime series “Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 4” features a total of 12 episodes set to air from the 5th of July until the 16th of September in Summer 2025. Done by the same studio and following the manga as usual, each episode is 24 minutes long.
The story picks up after the ending of Season 2, with Chizuru Mizuhara reliving the inspiring words of her late grandfather in her mind. Despite the challenges she faces, she collaborates with her friend Kazuya Kinoshita to launch a crowdfunding campaign for an amateur film production. The ultimate goal is for Chizuru to honor her grandparents' wishes before the passing of her grandmother; thus, the success of this project is crucial to them both. Joining them in their adventure are Kazuya's clingy "trial" girlfriend, Ruka Sarashina; the meddling next-door neighbor, Mini Yaemori; and even the shy work friend, Sumi Sakurasawa. Despite their chance encounters and odd relationships, they all collaborate to achieve the campaign goal so that production may begin. To call the third season an ambitious endeavor is an understatement, but the process is sure to bring all those involved closer to each other, particularly protagonists Kazuya and Chizuru. With one giving his all for the other’s dream, and the other receiving so much from a man who isn’t her real boyfriend, the duo starts to struggle with their mutual feelings.
Compared to the two prequel seasons, this Season 3 has drastically improved in the story department. I found it difficult to believe as well, but a very specific moment actually brought a tear to my eye this time, and I would credit it to a certain level of character development as well. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a very cringeworthy and predictable story, but at least something of substance happened this time, and it can be traced back to Kazuya’s unhealthy decision to support Chizuru regardless. For the first time, the MC showed some admirable traits by going to great lengths for this production, and the best part is that he is driven by a cohesive narrative instead of “fate” being on crack. At the same time, the very unhealthy relationship between the co-protags is finally tackled, a prick that I agonized over for too long. The story is more mature and better executed this time, but it also clashes with the series' usual flow. The plot explicitly focuses on the development between Kazuya and Chizuru, so I could no longer laugh at the absurdity of it all. Perhaps this is a good thing, because we finally seem to be in serious territory. Meanwhile, the introduction of Yaemori Mini was also a refreshing narrative choice because there was finally someone to give our spineless MC the push and support he needed to amount to anything in life.
In terms of character development, I thoroughly enjoyed Mini's presence; she is a vibrant, humorous, and enjoyable character who is not in love with Kazuya. Instead, she is an avid supporter of the main couple and even drives its development this season. Meanwhile, Chizuru actually got some development beyond being a "perfect girl" this season, and the story takes time to show us her struggles and weaknesses, so I can safely say they made her more relatable and likable. Sumi Sakurasawa and Ruka Sarashina; Sumi also bagged some memorable moments this time, though I can’t say they contributed much to the plot. Though she is featured in promotional material, Mami Nanami is hardly there this season, and I must say I missed her focal point of logic and reason. Last but not least, Kazuya had his moments, but it’s not nearly enough for all the screentime he gets. Plus, the more focus he gets, the more likely he is to mess up, and by the end, I found him to be irritating still. Credit where credit is due, he gives his all for the project, ulterior motives or not, so a part of me does want to see his sacrifices rewarded by the one he “loves.”
As always, the Art and Animation department is very solid and a treat for the eyes. The color palette remains consistent and vibrant, infusing each frame with liveliness and energy. At times, the art elevates to a high level, and I appreciate how the lighting enhances each moment, highlighting its exaggerated beauty. All the character expressions and reactions were expertly done, backed by a beautiful background that never disappointed. The character designs are more prominent yet fitting this time; I could feel each character’s personality oozing out of their wardrobe, while Kazuya remains plain but determined again. Animation is fluid and easy on the eyes, too. I honestly have no complaints here because this show will always be a visual feast.
The Sound and Music department is decent once again, but I will commend the OSTs for being more varied and enjoyable this time. The Opening theme is "Renai Miri Film" by halca, and the Ending theme is "End Roll" by Amber's, both of which are fine, but I enjoyed the latter more due to there being a Ballad version as well. Voice Acting is superb across the board as well; kudos to the entire cast for bringing out their characters’ development to the maximum because they really needed it.
Overall, “Rent-a-Girlfriend Season Three” is a massive improvement over its predecessors. The characters no longer react in the most nonsensical ways to the ridiculous situations brought on by fate. There is finally a proper narrative line pushing them ahead and clear motivations for all the characters to call their own, even if some remain brainless. If anything, I came to dislike the main duo less this season, and I can only hope they keep improving in the sequels. As usual, if this show is one of your guilty pleasures and you enjoy the absurdity of it all, this season is quite rewarding, and I recommend it openly. If not, walk away and save yourself from further anguish that is surely lying ahead….
