The Dangers in My Heart is a series I’ve always wanted to get into but just couldn’t get around to watching it, for one reason or another. When The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie was first announced as a compilation film, I felt like this was going to be the perfect opportunity to see what the series is all about in one sitting. After watching The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie in full, I can safely say the buzz around this romance-comedy series is well warranted. It’s a beautiful tale about how love can spring from the most unlikely of places from the most unlikely of people, and it’s cliche, but it’s quite a compelling watch.
The story of The Dangers in My Heart focuses on the budding relationship between nihilist and troubled teen Kyotaro Ichikawa and fellow classmate and school idol Anna Yamada. Kyotaro is seriously into murders and other thrilling true crime content, while Anna is exactly the kind of girl a high school boy would dream about—beautiful, radiant, classy, and any other positive adjective you can through in there. At first, their paths couldn’t be any further away, but a single note brings the two together in ways that befuddles Kyotaro. Opposites attract right? Well, Anna is also really odd in her own ways, but it’s through that shared awkwardness and underlying chemistry that brings the magic.
Spoiler warning: there will be slight spoilers for The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie and some of its scenes.
The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie Hooks You in From the Start
The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie adapts the two seasons of the TV anime and adds some new scenes on top of that. Although the series is condensed into a compilation film, it’s been expertly adapted for the one hour and 42-minute runtime. The series’ focus is honed in and doesn’t skip a beat, and the animation quality ranges from really good to seriously memorable and stunning, so it’s really consistent overall. I was intrigued from the very first minute, but once Kyotaro intervened in Anna and Nanjo’s weird exchange by sending that bicycle down the street and into the river, I knew I was hooked.
This movie doesn’t waste time showing how Kyotaro rises from his inner depths and adapts as a character. Kyotaro is an antisocial and awkward loner, but he’s not unrealistic by any means. When he begins to talk to Anna, he doubts himself and is quite stubborn, and he wants to be set in his ways. However, there’s still that hope inside of him to be more than what he is now. That hope comes to the surface through his interactions with Anna, and that’s really what romance is about. It’s not only about two souls coming together, but it’s how one makes the other better and vice versa.
The first half of the film focuses on how Anna and Kyotaro get closer together at school through smaller but well-timed encounters that become much more. I really enjoyed seeing Kyotaro let his feelings guide his actions, such as helping Anna get over her bloody nose from a distance. The small gestures brings them closer, and it doesn’t take long to see that Anna helps bring the real Kyotaro out of him. Anna has an interesting sense of humor that sets her apart, but she’s also caring and accepting in a ditzy and charming way. She’s typically the one that takes initiative when it comes to Kyotaro, too, but he’s not clueless, which makes this romance anime really refreshing.
When Kyotaro injures his arm from a bad fall in Akita, Anna instinctually helps him without question. What really hooked me from this point on was how naturally Kyotaro began to adapt and feel more confident in himself in a realistic way, allowing him to express his appreciation for Anna. The fears of being seen as lowly compared to Anna begin to slip away, slowly but surely. Kyotaro’s handsome inner self, which serves as comedic relief and an inner monologue for the character, is also another highlight. Character development is constant and steady, and it kept me glued to my seat, especially in the second half when feelings really come to the surface.
Beautiful and Consistent Animation
The animation work by Shin-Ei Animation in The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie is top notch and consistent for the most part. The character designs by Masato Katsumata do a great job emphasizing Kyotaro and Anna’s differing qualities from the narrative and adapting them into the anime in a clear and contrasting way. I’m sure this was also true for the weekly anime series, but in a movie setting, I think this is especially heightened in the most pivotal scenes.
CGI was used for the concert performance segments of the movie, which happen after the events of the second season. Although the CGI contrasts stylistically with the rest of the film, I thought the scenes that accompanied it were really great. Seeing Anna with that new outfit was great, and I thought the movie being Kyotaro’s account of all the events that happened between himself and Anna leading up to the end was really interesting. The payoff was very much worth it at the end.
The animation is bolstered by an incredible soundtrack from celebrated composer kensuke ushio. There wasn’t a single tune that I didn’t enjoy during the movie, and the single “Madder” by yorushika was also really great and memorable. This is in addition to the unforgettable performances by the cast members, including Shun Horie as Kyotaro and Hina Yomiya as Anna. The chemistry between Kyotaro and Anna felt alive because of their performances, along with the supporting characters around them.
The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie is Compelling for First-Time Watchers and Returning Fans
Without any doubt, The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie is a fantastic film, and it’s certainly an anime I would have recommended this past Valentine’s Day if it had came out any sooner. What makes The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie truly special is how engaging, realistic, and wholesome the relationship between Kyotaro and Anna evolves from the beginning to the very few seconds before the credits roll. I can’t recommend The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie enough to those who enjoy romance comedy, and if you watched the anime before, this movie is a chance to experience how great it really is in a more convenient and focused format.
The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie began screening on February 16 with English subtitles, but there’s one more chance to watch the film in theaters on February 18 with the English dub. For more information on participating theater locations and screening times, be sure to visit HIDIVE.com to get tickets.
Disclaimer: HIDIVE provided The Dangers in My Heart: The Movie for review purposes.
