REVIEW: ‘365 Days To The Wedding’ Episode 1 — “Why Don’t We Get Married?”

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Tamiki Wakaki and adapted by Ashi Productions from director Hiroshi Ikehata, 365 Days To The Wedding is cute in theory. Fake dating storylines have a lot of mileage as long as the pair in question are charismatic, and there’s always room for adult romance in anime — even if they’re not actually in a relationship. Episode 1 doesn’t quite deliver where it should in terms of solid characterization, though it gets by through some zippy banter and relatable moments of introspection.

The series follows Takuya Ohara (Kentarō Kumagai) and Rika Honjoji (Saori Hayami), who work at the same travel agency. One day, they’re told by upper management that a member of the staff will be relocated to Alaska to lead a new branch. The catch is that the company will be looking mainly at unmarried individuals for a stint that could last up to four years. Honjoji suggests to Ohara that they pretend to be engaged to avoid selection.

While that’s the crux of the story and the primary setup in 365 Days to the Wedding Episode 1, it’s not what makes it interesting. Instead, the characterization — or hints of it — drives the plot forward. This isn’t just a random setup. Honjoji and Ohara both suffer from their own brands of social awkwardness. Honjoji is prone to staring, has an icy demeanor, and cherishes her alone time. Meanwhile, Ohara struggles with eye contact and responding to questions when directly asked. Both of them need buffers in social situations.

Kentarō Kumagai and Saori Hayami make for inspired choices as voice actors for these roles. The former voices Laios in Delicious in Dungeon, while the former is Yor in Spy x Family. Both are playing diluted, grounded versions of those characters here. Ohara, who rightfully prioritizes his cat over his job, and Honjoji, whose personality clashes with her demeanor. The two bring enough life and spirit to their characters to help overcome some of the slow beginnings as they get to know one another.

While the pair’s plan at the start is to announce their engagement to their boss and then keep it under wraps, that plan is immediately dismissed. Their boss and their entire office throw them a surprise party to celebrate. Once people either ignored or were openly hostile towards the two, they’re now cheerful and welcoming. In a funny bit of writing, Honjoji accurately realizes that she can’t let this party or the group set the pace for the “relationship.” However, her fix isn’t quite as sound, drinking quickly to reach her peak excitement, resulting in a somber karaoke performance.

And it’s this that leads to another engaging character moment. While she beats herself up internally over the decision, Ohara views it as heroic and something he never could’ve mastered. He can see her perceived weakness as a strength. These two social insecurities are valid and relatable, so it will be interesting to see if the series digs further into them. So far, the show doesn’t seem intent on vilifying them for struggling with communication, which is a plus.

Unfortunately, the animation itself is pretty flat, with inconsistent character designs. Some moments land, such as the faux proposal atop the Ferris wheel. The lighting is suitably pretty and romantic, though it works mainly since the scene is stationary. The visuals are best in moments of comedy where it purposefully utilizes that flatness for the sake of humor, such as characters zooming in and out of frame. It’s nothing new or fresh, but it gets the job done.

365 Days To The Wedding Episode 1 is ultimately harmless, though not necessarily memorable. At its best, it shows promise with the two main characters and their own internal struggles with fitting into the roles society expects from them. Those instances where they grapple with their insecurities deliver necessary depth to the series, which, for now, seems like it could rest on the surface. Here’s hoping, though, that those beats of insights carry through throughout the series.

365 Days To The Wedding Episode 1 is out now on Crunchyroll.