Yes, no, or maybe half: BL Anime Movie Review | Plot and ending analysis (2023)

history of duality

I liked the story of Yes, No, or Maybe Half, although you have to put aside a bit of logic to get into the game. Only in the fictional world of anime does a person become unrecognizable after putting on a mask and glasses. Kei is here in an even more flashy disguise than the tuxedo mask, but Ushio is still unaware of his secret identity. Maybe Ushio is the one who has to wear glasses after all? 🇧🇷

Anyway, mebuild on the theme of duality explored in Yes, No, or Maybe Half🇧🇷 Kei literally wears a mask when impersonating Owari. However, he still wears a token mask even when posing on camera under his real name. He presents different versions of himself in his public persona and in his private life. In a way, their character resembles the LGBT experience before coming out or even your everyday life where you are expected to behave differently at work. Her character is identifiable with anyone who is forced to hide part of their identity in order to blend in with their surroundings.

Ushio's character has the reverse personality of Kei. Warm, honest and transparent, it reads like an open book. With no secrets to hide, Ushio encourages genuine communication and is open about his feelings. His character is almost overwhelming, like the best version of ourselves we should strive for. Ushio goes well with Kei, motivating the host to live unreservedly, without character or pretensions. When they are together, Kei finally feels comfortable enough to be himself.

There's a surprisingly deep narrative built into Yes, No, or Maybe Half. EITHERThe story is actually very thoughtful and philosophical, even if it hides under the facade of a light novel. I just wish the anime was longer to allow these themes to reach their full potential.

Kei y Ushio

As a couple, Kei and Ushio are cute characters who look great together. There's a scene in the restaurant where they exchange looks, which makes my heart skip a beat. It's so indescribableVibrationBelow are all the reasons why I watch BL.

Just mewish the yes, no, or maybe half spent more time writing their novel🇧🇷 It feels a bit lackluster at the moment as it's missing some extra scenes that could have clearly defined the relationship between them. The spark is there, but it just needs time to develop into a passionate flame.

I like the dynamic between the two characters. Ushio is genuinely supportive of Kei and shows genuine admiration for his skills, career and personality. At the same time, he also accepts Owari's weirdness and finds the beauty behind his character flaws. With so much patience and understanding, Ushio FAST is the perfect friend. I use the word "almost" because in the end the illusion is destroyed. 🇧🇷

good visual effects

The character designs in Yes, No or Maybe Half are gorgeous. Both leads are handsome, well drawn and display a variety of vivid emotions. However, some scenes can seem a little boring at times due to the lack of visual interest or background detail. The film definitely could have had thatinvest more effort in terms of art and animation.

However, the artwork is aesthetically pleasing and this anime is easy on the eyes. Also, I love how we were able to see the little stop-motion animation project that Kei put together. I thought that was a very nice gesture.

NO MEANS NO!!!

Even the sex scene, yes, no, or maybe half, was in such a good place after thata moving confession of love that resonates with the story's main narrative themes🇧🇷 Ushio tells Kei that she loves both versions of him, including the good and bad sides of his personality. I liked when he said his love doubled when he found out about the two identities. This is a romantic sentiment that shows that Ushio Kei's personality doesn't divide into "good half" and "bad half", but actually clearly encompasses both sides of him.

Despite the wonderful confession followed by a beautiful kiss,Their sex scene felt like a sledgehammer in the nice atmosphere🇧🇷 Maybe this scene wouldn't have looked so bad if I watched it without subtitles, but the dialogue is terrible. Kei is trapped in bed with tears in his eyes and screams:"No! I don't! You can't! I said no! That doesn't make me happy at all!"Ushio ignores these tearful pleas and still forces her body against Kei.

I know there is no classic example of non-consensual dating, but there has to be and this sex scene is it. Consent is by no means a “yes, no, or maybe halfway” scenario. If someone repeatedly tells you no during sex, they mean it.

Watching this sex scene was uncomfortable, which made me completely reevaluate Ushio as a character. I thought he was a cute boy, not a troublemaker, and then the endexposed his predatory behavior among a nice person🇧🇷 I really wish Yes, No or Maybe Half didn't equate lack of consent with sensual sex because this scene could have been written so much differently. The sex scene made the ending so thorny and ruined what had been a very solid anime up to that point.

Sim

My answer to best character.it would have been Ushio until the sex scene happened🇧🇷 I thought he was a nice humble guy but not anymore. Kei's personality is a bit picky for me, but I think he's an interesting character, especially when he's in Owari mode. Every time Kei pretends to be Owari he takes his tsundere to the extreme which of course I LOVE. 🇧🇷

To Kei's inner voice

I love Kei's sarcastic inner voice., I'm sorry, I'm not sorry. A lot of these comments are mean, so they don't make you appear like the nicest or most honest guy. His meanness is what I like about him. 🇧🇷

It's also important to note that Kei didn't do anything malicious during the anime. Sure, she occasionally has bad thoughts about people out of frustration, but her character doesn't plot or conspire against others. Kei isn't someone with ulterior motives trying to bring down those around him to advance his career. His worst crime is complaining to the people in his head and never telling them how he really feels. But we all feel guilty about it sometimes, right?

sex scene

The sex scene at the end was clearly branded as fanservice., but how you actually react to it is another story. Nothing graphically explicit is seen during the scene, but the dialogue is cheeky. You also see a picture of the lube, as well as Ushio's muscular torso. How does he get that physique when the guy sits in a room all day making clay models? 🇧🇷

non-consensual sex

Heua non-consensual sexual encounter in the final minutes of the film.Kei repeatedly says, "NO, I DON'T WANT IT, DON'T PUT IT IN ME!" no doubt about it, but Ushio is still trying. Kei cries after penetration. In a way, yes, no, or maybe half idealizes this violation of personal boundaries, as if someone saying “no, no, no” is part of sexual foreplay. 🇧🇷

the sex scene

I'm sorry I hit a dead horse. I know I spent half of the review talking about this topic butThe sex scene is so amazing I can't ignore it🇧🇷 You have this very solid anime in almost every way, and there is one gigantic flaw that sticks out like a sore thumb.

Don't get me wrong, I love it when characters consummate their love in a BL story. We stand for positive sexual narratives here at BL Watcher! However, the sex scene in Yes, No, or Maybe Half was unnecessarily gross. What bothers me is that they have ALL creative liberties to depict sex anyway, but kind of end up choosing to do it.

The non-consensual element was added on purpose, presumably to make the scene "sexier" which is so problematic. Hopefully yes, no or maybe half didn't feel the need to spice up the sex scene,continuing a toxic trope that has always plagued BL anime🇧🇷 This genre needs to respect consent in romantic relationships and starts to be more responsible in the way you depict sex between healthy and loving couples. Do better, be better.