Dance Dance Danseur

[MFauli]

Junpei is happily snoozing away during his sister's ballet recital when a male ballet dancer steps onto the stage. Moved by the strength and skills the dancer displays, the boy discovers his love for this art.

But after a certain tragedy happens, he vows to leave his past behind and turn into the epitome of manliness! What will he do when his love for ballet reignites?!

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Episode 1:

What gives, I'll keep watching this anime, so here's a thread!

What makes me enjoy this is the drama intrigue as well as the presentation that manages to get me pumped even when all that happens is a guy jump high up. I also want to see how that "romance" plot goes lol. It's also interesting that the anime straight on tackles the issue of ballet and masculinity, giving Junpei even an additional reason for his "manliness" attitude.

Things I don't like: The dumb line in everyone's eyes. Just a dumb attempt to be unique, dear Mr Mangaka. Also the first 20 seconds or so were hard to watch. A little boy getting flushed red faced over watching a half-naked man jump around. Could have done more tactfully.

Looking forward to more.

[MFauli]

Episode 2:

This is probably my favorite anime of the season, lol. The entire episode was interesting and I could keep watching for hours. It's just so interesting to see where things going, be it the ballet, be it the romance, be it the other activities of Junpei's.

The ballet on stage we got to see looked actually more impressive than that at the beginning of episode 1.

Not sure how I feel about the cousin romance. Afaik it's not considered incest in Japan (same as Germany) and happens quite frequently, but is this the right show to have it? Eh. Hope it doesn't distract fromm ballet too much, because I actually watching Junpe's training and progression.

That he mustn't train muscles because it'd hinder his growth is frustrating, that means he won't ever do the lift up, unless the series does a time skip.

I loved the whole "hold her waist" scene, because that's totally me, lol. Sorry, but as someone who's not used to touching women, I'd feel exactly as awkward as he did.

The train crossing scene gave me some short anxiety. I wasn't sure whether Miyako was standing outside or inside the rails section. Considering the relatively realistic tone of the anime, I wouldn't have been too surprised if Miyako was killed by the train. I'm glad they didn't take that direction, though >_>

[MFauli]

Episode 3:

Ugh, this was hard to watch :/ Disappointed that Junpei never intervened in a grand manner. Even when he kinda did at the end, he didn't call out his friends to the bullying shitheads they were towards Ruou. Fuck them. This was really frustrating. Not just Junpei, but everyone. How about NOT everyone supporting the bullying when a student on stage is clearly about to commit suicide ... Made me very angry.

Honestly, I hope this is adressed in the next episode and not just ignored. It wasn't ok, at all.

[MFauli]

Episode 4:

It wasn't a boring episode, because I didn't feel bore, but ... the plot felt a bit too "by the numbers" this week. When the girl found out about his torn shoes, it felt as if they were fasttracking his growth as a ballet dancer, telling us about it instead of showing it. Admittedly, I'm not sure if I had preferred 2-3 episodes of him doing training at night, but it feels slightly rushed. When I was watching "Welcome to the Ballroom", I didn't have the feeling that the hero made jumps in skill, it alway felt like a natural progression of skill, ofc accompanied by massive talent. In Danseur, it feels like we keep seeing the end result of Junpei's efforts, but not the effort itself.

Him and Luou seem to start a relationship of sorts, too, finally. But I'm still not happy about the bullying last episode. It was simply too severe, too mean-spirited, especially being made a fool on stage in front of the whole school. That was "I'm gonna commit suicide"-level of bullying, and I still hope that we will see some consequences here in upcoming episodes.

Btw. this is my anime of the season so far and I'm the only one watching it? Come on, guys ;>

[MFauli]

Episode 5:

Okay, this episode is now the peak of this anime season. Wow. Both the animation as well as the artistry and choreography of the swan song play was amazing. WTF did I just watch. 0_o It was as if I saw a different version of the Eclipse from BERSERK. Could have kept watching this for much longer.

That the episode started with the performance felt a bit sudden, but honestly I don't feel like anything important was skipped, so no feeling of rushed-ness.

Ofc, in reality, Junpei would have ruined the play for everyone else, lol, but I'll forgive that level of lack of realism because of how amazing the performance was. "Improvised ballet", felt like this could only work when everyone involved is at a high level and even higher level of understanding the situation. Luou was amazing, too.

And uhoh, some nasty woman was introduced at the end. Drama incoming :>

On a sidenote, the little girls doing their ballet performance was the cutest thing ever.

[MFauli]

episode 6:

Wth, I didn't expect this anime to open up like this suddenly. Feels like I'm watching the Hunter exam now

Really loving the current trajectory of the story, but if this really only gets 11 episodes .... bummer. Definitely my favorite anime of the season rn.

[MFauli]

Episode 7:

Nice episode again. The competition was great. Although it feels strange when you think about it: In this world and that environment, ballet is cool and everyone is in on it "Let's dance off those calories" and off the boys go, dancing in a public park. rofl. In the real world, they'd probably be beaten up by some punks.

Only part I didn't like was that one guy googling Luou's mom, judging from his sinister expression, he's planning something bad.

[shinta|hikari]

In the real world, they'd probably be beaten up by some punks.

Do you live in a ghetto? All the parks near (and even far) from me are mostly empty and even if they aren't, there are no random punks that will beat anyone up, much less a bunch of kids dancing. If anything, they'll get an audience and applause.

[MFauli]

Episode 8:

OMG!!!!111

We have kiss AND (successful!) confession BEFORE the end of the story! Nice. I always hate how teased couples in anime only ever get together at the climax of the story, as if it's impossible to be a couple AND have adventure.

The scene was super cute and well animated, too. Omg. Not that the details are comparable in any way, but it very much reminded me of my own first kiss xD Really nicely done.

Now, what I hate is what might follow. PLEASE let Luou not become a psychopath because a girl he liked chose someone else :/ Dude, she's your cousin, get over it, okay? Still, expecting the worst reaction next week, ugh.

Speaking of bad things: As much as I enjoyed most of the episode, two questionable things:
1.) Talking about visible nipples when ... no nipples are visible was just bad. Japan, please grow up and allow female nipples in anime, especially when it's just their shape, not even exposed. Having flashbacks to the later BERSERK adaptation with fully visible boobs ... lacking nipples.
2.) But actually, it was bad to talk about nipples anyway, when it took place in the context of elementary schoolers >_> And then they even put an "ero" misunderstanding in their. That really is one of those reality checks that Japan is a different culture after all. Although I also wondered: The girl didn't look like an elementary schooler at all. Anime can be weird. Anyway, looking online now if there's outrage somewhere lol.

Having said all that: This remains my favorite anime of the season.

[MFauli]

episode 9:

Best anime romance I'Ve ever seen. It's so refreshing to see two characters being openly in love with each other, behaving like actual, real people, and not stretch it out for drama purposes.

Damn, I almost expected Luou's dead corpse to be in his room at the end >_>

[David75]

I just hope there's no triangle starting... I hope the sparkles were purely dance related.

[MFauli]

Episode 10:

Luou was abused his whol childhood. And now he's emotionally abusing Miyako by guilt-tripping her into staying with him. WTF

I swear, if Junpei and her truly break up, I'll hate everything.

Edit: Luou should be in a mental institution, he needs actual help, not a gult-tripped slave.

[Buffalobiian]

I just hope there's no triangle starting...

Yeah... about that.

[MFauli]

Episode 11/Final:

Oh wow, I almost cried when Junpei started dancing before Oikawa and it became that he's using classical ballet as a literal protection shield against all the misery that happened hours before. That dramatic entrance when he slammed the door frame, though, lol.

Congrats to Luou,I guess. Successfully guilt-tripped Miyako into becoming his girlfriend. Not toxic at all /s. She'll be miserable her whole life, he won't ever learn to be a normal, functioning human being. Honestly feels gross how that played out. Highlight moment: When Godai told Junpei: "This is a family matter now.". I literally screamed at the screen: "WE KNOW", rofl.

Also, when Junpei told Oikawa to beat him into shape and she accepted, that felt like Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader, LOL. Literally joining the evil side But I love it, because it's so surprising, really nice.

Now pls, PLS give us season 2, and sooner rather than later. Easily my favorite anime of the season.

[Buffalobiian]

I couldn't watch a lot of the earlier episodes. It felt a bit cringe. The middle stuff (I watched after they started training at Oikawa) was enjoyable. The final bit makes me feel bitter.

I'd be interested in an S2, but I won't say I'm eager. Curiosity > Enjoyment, if you will.