Partner's Territory – Anime Review

Partner's Territory has two episodes. The first episode is called "Prologue". It introduces Chuck and Yije, who have dated for a decade. They dated since high school, breaking up multiple times before getting back together again.

Currently in his early thirties, Chuck faces tremendous pressure from his family to marry a woman. He feels unhappy and stressed. Chuck comes up with a plan to find a beard, marry her, and get a divorce shortly afterwards. He believes this false marriage will alleviate the expectations of his family. His boyfriend Yije supports his decision.

The second episode jumps forward in time, showcasing the couple at a happier moment in their relationship. There is no mention of marriage or divorce. Instead, Chuck gives Yije a tour of his lavish home. The couple plans to live here temporarily until they find a permanent house to call home. Chuck and Yije enjoy plenty of steamy encounters after moving in together. They also plan to adopt a dog.

Partner's Territory feels like an overlooked gem, not widely discussed outside South Korea. I couldn't find much information and had to dig deeply into researching the background. If I understand correctly, the original novel was about a man who enters a contract marriage to hide his gay relationship. Then, the story got adapted into a lengthy Korean webtoon. Later, the illustrator took a small section and made this short animation video singlehandedly.

The Partner's Territory anime is impressive for a solo effort. Drawing, colouring, and animating every frame of a thirteen-minute series by yourself is a herculean undertaking. I'm in awe of the time, effort, expertise, and commitment required to bring this vibrant BL tale to life. Best of all, the storyteller celebrates passion and affection openly. Partner's Territory isn't shy about displaying romantic moments between the couple, including several encounters that get racy and raunchy.

Undeniably, Partner's Territory runs into some limitations as a one-person project. The visuals don't always look smooth, cutting corners with the plain backgrounds or the stiff animations. While the characters look pretty, this raw anime lacks polish compared to a professional production. It should be noted that the artwork improves over time. As the series progresses, the backgrounds become more vivid and the imagery shows refinement. You can tell the illustrator develops confidence animating the work, which results in a higher degree of creative expression.

Partner's Territory suffers because it isn't a full-fledged story. This partial retelling covers a limited scope of the source material, unable to build an overarching narrative. The audience wants a cohesive journey that flows from start to finish, whereas this anime offers disjointed relationship moments. You get almost no context to the characters with vague backstories and superficial personalities. There's virtually zero plot other than having sex and adopting a dog. The minimal content isn't enough to feel satisfying, not even for the casual slice-of-life genre.

Despite the mundane storyline, I appreciate the anime for depicting the sweet domestic bliss between two boyfriends. Chuck and Yije seem happily in love. Their interactions convey warmth, tenderness, and a commitment to a long-term relationship. Adopting a pet emphasizes the theme of settling down with your partner, painting a bright future for the characters. Maybe I'm a sucker for sentimentality, but I like seeing this picturesque portrayal of a gay couple. The generous amounts of fanservice are a bonus, solidifying my enjoyment of Partner's Territory.

Ultimately, I wish the anime showed more nuance beyond a cute and cozy romance. Give me an actual plot instead of this lightweight slice-of-life teaser. While I understand the difficulties of remaking the original story in its entirety, the current adaptation is too bare and simplistic. I need more complexity, more drama, more character development, and more of everything. Overall, Partner's Territory is an admirable passion project from an ambitious individual. Yet, the series lacks significance and doesn't leave a lasting impression.