Love Stage!!

 

Love Stage!! (Anime) – ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10

Cute, Chaotic, and Very Much Yaoi-Style Throwback

The anime adaptation of Love Stage!! delivers exactly what it promises: over-the-top humor, glittery chaos, and boys falling in love under the most dramatic circumstances possible. It's a classic fujoshi-core piece from the early 2010s era of BL anime—full of miscommunication, exaggerated reactions, and a flamboyant art style that screams nostalgia.

Izumi, the reluctant actor from a famous entertainment family who just wants to draw manga, and Ryouma, the smitten celebrity who realizes the "girl" from a decade ago is very much a boy—together, they create a wild, whirlwind romance. The confusion, the denial, the push-and-pull—it’s all there in true yaoi fashion.

What works:
✅ The pacing is snappy and doesn’t drag.
✅ The chemistry is solid once they actually get going.
✅ The humor and absurdity are very on-brand for fans of older BL tropes.

What doesn’t:
❌ Some moments haven’t aged well—especially around consent.
❌ The dramatic tone shift from light to intense romance may feel jarring to newer viewers.
❌ It's not very deep—it’s more fun than thought-provoking.

That said, Love Stage!! is one of those anime that introduced a lot of fans to the BL genre, and for that, it holds its own little legacy. It’s charming in its chaos, and while it may not be perfect, it’s memorable for its iconic premise and glittery absurdity.