Kimi ni Todoke follows Sawako’s journey from being excluded by others for her resemblance to the character from The Ring to finding meaningful relationships after meeting Kazehaya, standing out for its refreshingly lighthearted story with interesting themes that represents a change of pace from other shojo.

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You is a universal love story that has proven to be even more moving with its new season and a must-watch even for those viewers who aren’t fans of the genre.

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Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You Is More Than Just a Simple Love Story

The Anime Is Also a Slice-Of-Life About Friendship and Prejudice

While the central axis of Kimi ni Todoke is certainly love, something usual in shojo anime, that isn't the only theme addressed in the story. By being a great slice-of-life anime, Kimi ni Todoke develops in each episode the everyday life problems of the characters, showing how Sawako and other characters are misunderstood for their appearance, which showcases how people perceive and judge others without knowing them, serving as a critique of prejudice in society.

Also, Sawako has to deal with her painfully shy and awkward personality, as she doesn’t know how to communicate with others. However, she still remains positive and tries every day to make friends, showing her personal growth and perseverance as she slowly learns to socialize, express her feelings, and understand love.

Additionally, other elements reinforce the plot and make romance take a back seat, giving importance to themes like family, acceptance, and self-esteem. But these themes are expressed through an innocent lens, as the story uses humor to avoid the drama becoming too overwhelming, keeping the lighthearted feeling in the anime.

The Endearing Characters Make This One of the Most Popular Shojo

Kimi Ni Todoke’s Popularity Has Increased Recently Thanks to the Streaming Services

Kimi ni Todoke gained even more recognition upon its release on Netflix, leading to not only a new season for the series but also a second live-action adaptation, which premiered in March 2023. However, the story has always been popular, with the original manga by Karuho Shiina being one of the highest-selling shojo manga to date. Kimi Ni Todoke is also considered a pioneer in the genre by developing its characters even further than just romance, showing how they keep growing and finding their way in life together.

The reason behind Kimi ni Todoke’s popularity is its compelling and likable characters. Sawako has the best character development in the story, inspiring her to change Kazehaya, who she sees as an idol; however, despite having a carefree and cheerful facade, he also has his own insecurities. Additionally, the way they both and try to understand each other by describing their emotions makes their relationship more moving.

Also, the ing characters are the charm of the series: Ayane, Chizuru, Ryu, and even Professor Pin. They not only serve as comic relief, but each character has their own circumstances and motivations, such as unrequited love, age-gap relationships, and existential problems, which give them realism and can be familiar to fans, making it easy to identify with them.

Is Kimi NI Todoke: From Me to You Season 3 Worth the Watch?

The reason Production I.G. has animated a new season of Kimi ni Todoke instead of a remake is because of the quality of the early adaptation. The studio returns with season 3 to deliver a faithful adaptation that doesn’t feel out of place. Instead, it elevates the story with its soft color palette and soundtrack that delightfully conveys the emotional scenes.

While season 3 deepens Sawako and Kazehaya's relationship, showing important milestones for them but also some problems, this new installment gives the spotlight to the love stories of the ing characters Chizuru and Ayane, delving more into their feelings and decisions. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You season 3 is all about first times, dates, deciding what to do in life, self-doubt, and confessions, bringing a roller-coaster of emotions that will keep viewers enthralled.

Also, there is still more story to tell since Kimi ni Todoke Season 3 covers until chapter 75, and the original manga ends in chapter 123. This means that, unlike at the end of season two, when the story was still ongoing, fans can now refer to the manga to learn the ending. Kimi ni Todoke is the best romance anime for those who enjoy stories about personal relationships, everyday life, and friendship, with a sweetness that overflows the heart and will appeal to even new viewers.