5star
Ürünstar 5.0
Itazura na Kiss
Give Itazura na Kiss a try - it's a classic romance anime that's all about the klutzy Kotoko falling for the super-smart Kinnick. You'll get your fair share of sweet moments, plenty of laughs, and a heartfelt high-school drama that'll keep you hooked from start to finish. If you're a fan of love stories or romantic comedies, this anime is a must-watch.
chevron_right
Two takes ten years apart—one's blown away, the other's wondering how they ever got this on screen.
summarizeEditor's Summary
I fell for the anime "Mischievous Kiss" right after high school, and even ten years later I still get that flutter of teen romance and goofy hijinks. But the Taiwanese drama "It Started with a Kiss" hits harder – the chemistry feels real, the jokes land, and the sequel "They Kiss Again" actually adds depth instead of dragging. The anime’s bright art style and catchy soundtrack are nice, yet the pacing drags and it romanticizes some unhealthy dynamics. Both versions have charm, but the drama gives you more value for money with a broader story and moments you can really relate to.
settingsSpecifications
Kararİyi
Hikaye8/10
Nostalji9/10
Animasyon7/10
Karakterler8/10
I first stumbled onto the anime "Mischievous Kiss" about ten years ago, fresh out of high school and binge‑watching rom‑coms nonstop. That show lit the spark for my love of Asian pop culture. I got so hooked I re‑watched every adaptation that existed back then—the Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese versions. Spoiler alert: the Taiwanese drama "It Started with a Kiss" feels the most alive and grounded, and it even got a sequel, "They Kiss Again". I’m writing this now and can’t wait to dive back into that Taiwanese series.
Now, back to the anime “Mischievous Kiss”…
What my review sounded like five or ten years ago:
The story kicks off in high school.
The main heroine, Kotoko Aihara, is a sweet, upbeat girl stuck in class F—the lowest‑grading class. She lives with her dad, has solid, loyal friends, and one of them, Kinose Kinnosuke, has been hopelessly in love with her forever.
From day one, Kotoko’s crush is Naoki Irie, a top‑scoring student from class A who constantly tops the charts not just at school but across Japan. Naoki breezes through his studies, comes off as arrogant, and looks down on the F‑class crowd.
Kotoko is a day‑dreamer, constantly picturing scenarios that never seem likely to happen. Her fantasies about Naoki get pretty wild…
…but some of those dreams actually come true.
Because of her innocence, Kotoko pines for Naoki from afar for ages, and eventually, following an old Japanese custom, she writes him a love letter and hands it over. Naoki publicly rejects her and doesn’t even bother to pick up the note.
Then, thanks to a "lucky" twist, Kotoko and her dad lose their house and end up staying temporarily at a friend of her dad’s place – who, as fate would have it, turns out to be Naoki’s family head.
From there, the rest of the anime’s drama unfolds.
Kotoko is strong, kind, and totally confident. Even when a lot of her plans fall apart, she never gets down—she’s always ready to start over. She fights for Naoki till the very end, and she’ll only walk away when she knows it’s what Naoki needs for the future.
She’s always got his back, nudging him onto the right path.
Naoki is arrogant and cold. Everything comes easy to him, so life just feels boring. He’s the exact opposite of Kotoko.
Out of sheer boredom, Naoki constantly teases Kotoko, saying she just makes his life harder and telling her to stay out of his way. But it’s Kotoko who ends up softening his heart.
Since high school, Kinno has been relentless about Kotoko—he practically stalks her. He’s always sparring verbally with Naoki, and he never wins.
He’s the one who steps in to protect, but eventually he’s the one who needs rescuing.
His obsession with Kotoko ends up leading him to his dream and his life’s work.
Kotoko’s loyal girlfriends.
Naoki’s parents, his younger brother, and Kotoko’s dad.
Naoki’s mom adores Kotoko—she always wanted a daughter, and the family only has two sons. She’s eager to match Naoki and Kotoko.
Naoki’s dad runs his own company. Kotoko’s dad is a pro Japanese chef.
Naoki’s little brother looks up to him for everything, even how he deals with Kotoko.
Yuko Matsumoto—Kotoko’s rival for Naoki at university, one of Japan’s top students.
Kotoko and Naoki’s senior teammate at the tennis club. He’s got a crush on Matsumoto.
Chris is a foreigner and, technically, Naoki’s would‑be ex‑fiancée. At first she comes off as a tough rival to Kotoko and a bit of a bitch, but as the story goes on you see her real personality and her very particular taste in men.
The anime spans a huge chunk of the characters’ lives—high school, college, career‑choice dilemmas, internships, jobs, cheating, having kids, the whole lot. Every character eventually finds their footing. Only a few series actually follow people from school all the way into their thirties. Most of the time, the story ends right where it started—in school or university.
What hooked me on the first watch? The emotional roller‑coaster. Almost every episode gave me a laugh, and other times I was right there feeling what the characters felt. No part of their lives drags on. Episode 24 crammed a ton of events together, each one flipping the pace. Still, I missed saying goodbye to the familiar school and campus scenes and the characters I’d grown to love.
It’s not just the funny bits.
There are plenty of touching moments, too.
The series runs 25 episodes total. The 25th is a bonus episode that jumps back a bit, showing Kotoko meeting Naoki’s family after the wedding.
"It’s the kind of anime that makes you wish you could erase your memory and watch it all over again," I said a few years back.
So, just a little while ago, bored out of my mind, I gave my favorite series another go. A lot of scenes had started to blur, but the feelings just weren’t the same…
First off, the obsessive mania is front and center. Aside from craving attention and love from their crush, everything else falls to the wayside. They’ll do anything to win that affection—stalking, spying, and Kinnosuke even comes close to crossing the line into violence.
Giving up your own interests just to please your parents—treated as a given by the parents themselves. Naoki’s little brother grows up thinking he has to step into his dad’s shoes at work.
Naoki the narcissist. What used to make me chuckle about his behavior now honestly scares me. You can’t humiliate someone or toy with their feelings. He’s a full‑blown abuser.
Just think about his kiss—when Kotoko finally saw what kind of person he is and was ready to walk away from her feelings.
That’s how it went over and over. Whenever Naoki sensed he was pushing too far and might lose Kotoko, he’d pull a stunt to give her a glimmer of hope so she wouldn’t give up trying to win him over. He’d let her in one moment, then shove her away the next.
As for Kotoko, her self‑sacrificing stance becomes glaringly obvious toward the end of the series. Early on she could push back against Naoki’s teasing, but later she seems to exist only to please her husband.
To avoid bothering her husband while he’s working on his research, Kotoko brushes off her own poor health—even though she’s deep into her pregnancy.
Every request tossed at Naoki comes with an apologetic tone; she already expects a no. And Naoki flips out all the time, even though he’s been married for ages and tries to convince us he’s happily hitched. Whatever Naoki does, he treats it as the most important thing, while everything else feels like trivial nonsense to him.
Kotoko’s frustration and Naoki’s hidden aggression swing back and forth with moments of acceptance and tenderness.
And the cherry on top.
And also.
And also.
Physical contact is off‑limits.
Ten years ago I figured a slap was a fine way to bring someone back to reality. Not so now. The only moment in the anime where I could even think violence made sense is the one where she hits back.
This right here.
Matsumoto is a strong, smart woman. She doesn’t stay quiet and knows how to stand up for herself.
I have to call out Naoki’s mom. She obsessively stalks the kids and snaps photos of every personal moment. She also traumatized Naoki when he was a kid. Just as Naoki finally made peace with his childhood, his mother blabbed to everyone about the things she did to her little son, reopening old wounds for the adult Naoki. She even tried to “confess” at his wedding, in front of all the guests, saying it would lift a weight off her soul. Throughout the series, Naoki’s mother consistently puts her own wants ahead of her older son’s feelings, making him dance to her tune.
One thing I love about this anime is the killer soundtrack—both the openings and endings. They evolve as the story does, matching the characters' growth and the situations they go through.
I especially enjoyed spotting how the photos in the frames changed as the plot unfolded.
The photo frame ended up becoming a sort of symbol for the “Mischievous Kiss”.
Psychologically, this series is a tough watch. But if you don’t overanalyze the characters, it’s hilariously funny and occasionally touching. Just don’t try to copy the characters.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What are the main differences between the anime and the Taiwanese drama?
The anime sticks to bright, stylized visuals and a faster pace, while the Taiwanese drama offers more grounded acting, deeper character arcs, and a sequel that expands the story. Both follow the same core plot, but the drama feels more realistic.
Is "Mischievous Kiss" suitable for someone new to the series?
Absolutely. New viewers can jump in at episode one and still enjoy the romance and comedy, though they should be aware of the occasional unhealthy relationship tropes.
How many episodes does the anime have compared to the drama?
The anime runs for 25 episodes, while the Taiwanese drama "It Started with a Kiss" has 30 episodes plus a 20‑episode sequel "They Kiss Again".
Should I watch the sequel "They Kiss Again"?
Yes, if you liked the drama’s characters. The sequel deepens their relationship and adds new challenges, making it a worthwhile continuation.
Does the series romanticize abusive behavior?
Unfortunately, both versions include moments where controlling actions are presented as cute, which can be unsettling. Viewers should watch with a critical eye.
Where can I stream the anime and drama?
The anime is available on Crunchyroll and Funimation, while the Taiwanese drama streams on Viki and Netflix in select regions.
How does the soundtrack compare between the two versions?
The anime features upbeat J‑pop tracks that match its bright style, whereas the drama uses softer Mandarin ballads that enhance its emotional scenes.
Is the animation quality consistent throughout the anime?
Not entirely. Early episodes are crisp, but later seasons show noticeable drops in detail and color vibrancy.
Are English subtitles reliable?
Subtitles are generally solid on major platforms, though occasional mistranslations happen, especially with idiomatic Korean or Mandarin phrases.
What makes the drama feel more grounded than the anime?
The drama’s live‑action format, natural acting, and realistic settings give it a tangible feel, while the anime leans into stylized exaggeration.
check_circlePros
- •Fun, upbeat vibe that nails high‑school romance vibes
- •Clear, engaging plot that follows the characters through school and beyond
- •Strong chemistry between the leads, especially in the Taiwanese drama
- •Nostalgic soundtrack that sticks in your head after each episode
- •Covers a full timeline, letting you watch the characters grow over years
- •Faithful adaptation of the manga’s key moments
- •Relatable high‑school setting that feels authentic to many viewers
- •Well‑executed comedic timing in both versions
cancelCons
- •Romanticizes abusive behavior, making some scenes uncomfortable
- •Early episodes suffer from pacing issues and filler moments
- •Animation quality dips in later seasons of the anime
- •Predictable tropes and melodramatic dialogue can feel cringey
- •Side characters get little development, leaving them flat
- •Inconsistent subtitle translation quality across streaming platforms
- •The anime’s ending wraps up too quickly, leaving loose threads
- •Some cringe‑worthy scenes try too hard to be dramatic
