If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.

The quote from German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is referenced in the anime “Too many losing heroines!” as “When you peek at the losing heroine, the losing heroine is also peeking at you…”. The phrase “Losing Heroine” (負けヒロイン), refers to female characters who cannot win over the male lead or refuse to admit defeat in the pursuit of a boyfriend. The main story of “Too Many Losing Heroines!” stars those “heroines.”

“Too Many Losing Heroines!” originated as a light novel (a type of popular literature novel from Japan usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting teens to twenties or older) by Takibi Amamori. It quickly gained popularity as a romantic comedy. Published as a manga and released in April of 2024, its first season was animated and released between July and September of 2024. A second season was announced and is currently in production.

Like many animes, it takes place in a Japanese high school, but it also brings up a very interesting perspective that isn’t usually under the spotlight: the losing one in a love triangle. 

All begins as Yanami Anna (八奈見 杏菜), during her confession, she realizes she lost her childhood friend/crush to a transfer girl who also liked him. Coincidentally and unfortunately, Nukumizu Kazuhiko (温水 和彦) saw the incident and recognized her. Embarrassed, she started complaining to him and the two developed a friendship. (Of course it’s not that easy; Nukumizi paid for all the food she ordered and they made a deal on how Yanami could pay back by daily Bento.)

Instead of following an ordinary high school romance story to be in love very quickly or even after experiencing things, Nukumizu and Yanami kept the sense of being in a “relationship” to themselves only as they got closer and developed dependence for each other.

Despite staying together, and going through such as the Bunkasai (文化祭), where students showcase their arts, and hanged out with Yashiyoku Remon (焼塩 檸檬) and Komari Chika (小鞠 知花), whose in the same lovestuck situation; they never stopped prioritizing their friendship, and they both refused to step forward.

It is refreshing to see an anime where the plot subverting traditional romance, and it definitely wasn’t boring directly opposing, as just say they never had any thoughts of each other; it is obvious they have feelings for each other, also for those two girls after Yanami but it’s sensibly lesser than Yanami with Nukumizu. The struggling and the effort they spent to maintain friends was well written and is considered one of the specialties for the story.

The most impressive part of the anime is how it showcases different characters’ microexpressions towards their crushes after they get rejected. The feeling of awkwardness, embarrassment but with the willingness to communicate is acted very well by the voice actors, and the animation is quite expressive. This directly passed down those feelings, penetrating their sensation through the screen to the audiences.

Also what’s shining in the anime is how these girls dealt with their “failure.” They all have similar but different “solutions” due to the differences in their love triangles. There is one thing in common for Yanami, Yakishiyo and Komari: they all gave their final confession to their crush.Though as their “proof” for moving on, it felt repetitive and too much to be a settled goal; but considering it’s an anime and this helps progress the story, it doesn’t detract from the viewing experience.

Contradicting what Nukumizu said at the very start, he is actually having a colorful experience—even if it was not as perfect or as shabby as expected.

This anime is well-suited to those holding the same thoughts as Nukumizu: how he was pessimistic about relationships, how he eventually dealt with it and moving on to life to know other people. (Well, what happened to him is like a miracle) Watching it in every phase of life brings out totally different feelings: single, in love, losing love or as the one rejecting someone. But even if you are a complete bystander who just wants to watch something entertaining, the comedy tag of “Losing Heroine” won’t fail you.