Are you looking for a cute boys’ love anime that isn’t completely safe for work? Twilight Out of Focus (or Tasogare Out of Focus) might be the perfect pick for you! It’s a boys’ love anime centering around the film club at an all-boys high school, and around the gay relationships that form between the members of this club. It’s a “slice of life” anime, so there are no supernatural or fantasy elements, but it is a well-told story about the everyday lives of these young men in the film club.
While it does show “intimate scenes”, it doesn’t show anything graphic, so it was never off-putting for me to watch. Additionally, I really enjoyed the dialogue and storytelling style of this anime.
If you want to know more about Twilight Out of Focus with light spoilers ahead (there are no real huge plot twists in the anime to begin with), then read further to see if it’s something you might want to watch.
Synopsis
The story follows three main couples throughout the twelve episodes of the anime: following each couple’s unique dynamic and personalities, it gives a little taste of each relationship so that the viewer doesn’t get bored. With around three episodes devoted to each couple, how they start dating and what their relationship is like, this anime highlights the different expressions of love at Midorigaoka High School.
All three of these couples are members of the school’s film club, in which the first, second, and third years are competing to see which year can create the best short film. The second years happen to be creating a “boys’ love” film themselves, so this anime does become a little bit self aware at times. During the creation of this film, two out of the three couples meet and start dating, having been brought together by the long hours making the film.
The anime also focuses on characters’ futures, what they plan to do after high school, and whether each couple will be able to stay together. The looming question of “what happens after high school ends?” remains present throughout the anime, and although it’s basically figured out by the end, this question still pulls at my heart strings while watching.
What I Like About the Anime
What I like about this anime is that it often portrays love and dating in a realistic light. The viewer gets the chance to see into the mind of many of the characters, and witness their worries and doubts about their partners and love lives. This makes the anime relatable, and makes the characters down-to-earth and never intimidating.
Another thing I like about this anime is how each relationship out of the three is a little bit different. They all have their own quirks, and each relationship takes its own unique path to get to where it is at the end of the anime. No relationship is copied and pasted. But rather, the writers and anime creators put time and effort into developing the intricacies and uniqueness of each one.
Another thing I like is that the writing sometimes hits me over the head with how good it is. At any point, I could be watching as normal, and then one character says a line, or reads a diary entry that almost moves me to tears. This attention to detail when it comes to writing is part of what adds to the realistic, comforting feeling of the anime.
Lastly, I like that this boys’ love anime is centered around a hobby: filmmaking, and doesn’t rely on romance alone to move the plot along. This way, there isn’t just a “will they or won’t they” plot involving each couple, but also suspense around which class year is going to win the film contest.
What I Don’t Like About the Anime
There isn’t much to add to this section, but I did find myself drifting away to other things while watching the anime a few times. This is because it’s definitely a “slice of life” anime that doesn’t have any major plot twists, suspense, or action. So, if you’re looking for a thrilling watch, Twilight Out of Focus is definitely not the best choice. However, if you’re looking for a comforting anime that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, this is absolutely the anime for you!
LGBTQ+ Portrayal in the Anime
As far as I can tell, the portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships in this anime is pretty good. It never feels fetishistic, or like the same-sex relationships aren’t authentic. All of the characters are believable (for an anime at least) and have their own unique quirks and personalities.
Of course, this anime only focuses on gay male relationships, and others in the LGBTQ+ acronym aren’t really represented. But, it does take place at an all-boys school so this makes sense. When it comes to what the anime does portray, I think they do a really good job.
Conclusion
Overall, I would definitely recommend Twilight Out of Focus. It has an engaging plot, likable characters, and a good eye for poetic writing when it comes to romance. It’s an anime with a cute premise that gives the viewer a cozy vibe and leaves them with a feeling of both joy and melancholy when it’s finally over.
