Hyperventilation – Anime Review

Myongi has a collapsed lung, also known as pneumothorax, which causes him to hyperventilate uncontrollably. Along with Myongi's quiet personality, his disruptive medical condition makes him a social outcast in high school. He sits out during P.E. lessons and excuses himself from class lectures. His classmates even gossip that Myongi can skip military duty because of his lung problem.

Myongi is a loner in school with no friends. However, his classmate Sunho sometimes tries to converse with him. Sunho is the class president. Popular and sociable, he is almost the exact opposite of Myongi in their personalities. Sunho is also a stellar athlete with a ripped body and rock-solid abs. His physique captures Myongi's eye and makes him blush.

Years later, Myongi and Sunho meet again in a high school reunion. Now adults, seeing each other again has rekindled the repressed feelings from their youths. However, their encounter also brings back painful memories and personal insecurities from Myongi's past.

Hyperventilation is a stylish and elegant BL series that tells a simple love story in fifteen minutes. This anime achieves a lot in a short amount of time, building palpable sexual tension between the main characters. Their interactions are compelling and keep you intrigued to learn more about the relationship. Best of all, Hyperventilation is rich with exquisite ambiance, using colours, lighting, and visual cues to cultivate a sexy atmosphere. The results are stunning, taking my breath away with how smoothly all the elements come together.

The anime begins at a high school reunion, where old feelings reignite between two former classmates. Later, there are flashbacks of their time together as teenagers, offering insights into what transpired between them. Each episode reveals a new dimension to their relationship, unfolding layers upon layers to form a complex dynamic. Despite the simplicity of the narrative, Hyperventilation feels thoughtful, sophisticated, and emotionally nuanced. The well-crafted plot is presented by an artistic storyteller, conveying a cohesive message in every scene.

Hyperventilation features a captivating romance that gets my heart pumping. The more I learn about these characters, the more compelled I am by their chemistry. The sexual tension between Myongi and Sunho builds up like a crescendo, which finally unleashes in a sizzling scene. It should be noted this 18+ anime has explicit encounters, not shying away from physical intimacy. Yet, the sex is merely treated as part of the story, so any eroticism doesn't overpower the plot.

I go back and forth on how I feel about the art, which varies in its consistency. Some scenes are drawn better than others and the same quality isn't maintained throughout the anime. At times, the characters don't look particularly appealing with their sharp angular lines. However, Hyperventilation can appear gorgeous when it tries, showcasing atmospheric visuals that help to accentuate the story. By the way, the epilogue special looks sensational, making me wish that's the art style used in the main series. 

Hyperventilation is limited by its short length. The story gets told excellently in fifteen minutes, but it couldn't hurt to add more content, expand on the characters, and build upon their romance. Nonetheless, this anime makes a positive impression in its current state, including a lovely conclusion and a beautifully drawn epilogue special. Overall, Hyperventilation is an outstanding product in the BL genre, highlighting a successful love story with sensitivity and flair. This impressive series is a perfect example of indie excellence.