Twilight Out of Focus – Anime Review & Episode Guide

Mao is a second-year high school student who shares a dorm room with his classmate, Hisashi. When they first met, the two roommates didn't get along. Hisashi seemed aloof and barely socialized with anyone at school. He rejected Mao's attempts to socialize with him. While Mao mingled with others and made friends, he kept his distance from Hisashi. Still, he noticed his roommate acting anxious and gloomy. Mao secretly worried about Hisashi's well-being.

One night, Hisashi broke down in their room. As Mao comforted him, it marked a turning point in their relationship. Hisashi opened up and came out as gay. Mao responded positively by showing him a lot of support. Moved by his kindness, Hisashi began to warm up to his roommate. They talked more often, grew closer, and eventually became close friends. Mao and Hisashi filmed a video testimony together, making three promises: 1.) Mao will not reveal Hisashi's sexuality, 2.) Hisashi will not show a romantic interest in Mao, and 3.) They will give each other privacy to jerk off in the room.

Mao is part of the film club, where he handles the camerawork. He's friends with Giichi, an aspiring director who plans to film a short movie for the school festival. Giichi's film will be a BL romance. One of the leads is Honjou, a drama club member. Giichi wants to cast Hisashi for the other role due to his handsome looks and brooding demeanour. Mao pushes back on the idea, thinking his friend won't be comfortable portraying a gay role. Nonetheless, Giichi convinced Hisashi to participate in the project.

That evening, Mao and Hisashi enjoy a movie in their room. Hisashi explains that he took the lead role to spend time with Mao in the film club. He thinks it would be a fun way for them to bond. They spend the rest of the night reading lines from the script. Hisashi gets into character and recites the romantic passages. As he does so, Mao suddenly feels his heart fluttering. Although he tries to deny it, Mao realizes he may have developed a secret crush on his roommate.

Giichi has an intense rivalry with Jin, the film club president. They constantly argue, especially over Jin's filmmaking skills. Giichi, a film snob, looks down on the president for making pedestrian movies. Despite the feud, their relationship changes once they become dormmates. Jin's best friend is Rei, an antisocial slacker. Rei clashes with Shion, the perky first-year student who joined the club recently. Rei and Shion have total opposite personalities. They don't share anything in common, but an unlikely romance forms between them.

Twilight Out of Focus is a gorgeous anime with an enchanting atmosphere. Bright colours, warm lighting, and dreamy aesthetics dazzle the viewers in every episode. The imagery shines the most during romantic moments. Whether the characters gaze into each other's eyes or share tender embraces, the series conveys their affection beautifully. It also showcases physical intimacy, including long kisses and tasteful lovemaking scenes. I appreciate Twilight Out of Focus for its abundance of BL-friendly visuals.

Twilight Out of Focus appeals to fans who enjoy sensitive love stories. Although this anime doesn't have an eventful plot, it explores deeply beneath the surface. The characters are all introspective, so they talk about their feelings, share any insecurities, and make themselves vulnerable. Their journeys occur inside the heart as they contemplate life and relationships. Some scenes can be exhilarating because the protagonists struggle with inner turmoil. They agonize over regrets, wrestle with doubts, and confront their desires. Twilight Out of Focus captivates you through its intense emotions.

The story isn't too angsty or overly serious, but a few moments can be theatrical. In one scene, Mao suddenly collapses on the ground! In another episode, a phone falls dramatically from his hand! Mao also delivers overwrought monologues like the modern-day Hamlet. "Hisashi, pick me!", "Loving you is turning me into an awful person!", and other corny lines induce massive eye rolls. Mao and Hisashi are the worst pair when it comes to heightened melodrama. I prefer the lighthearted tone with the secondary couples, even if their storylines are less complex.

This anime also suffers from a bad case of verbal diarrhea. The protagonists always ramble about their feelings in long-winded explanations and nonstop soliloquies. While I like hearing their inner thoughts, the constant introspection dominates the narrative and overwhelms me with wordiness. When the couples talk, some dialogue lacks a natural rhythm. Instead of short exchanges with quick responses, the conversations become one-sided. The characters launch into lengthy spiels or deliver schmaltzy speeches. They sound like keynote speakers at a seminar.

Despite these critiques, I still adore Twilight Out of Focus. The strength of the romances overpowers the narrative flaws. The series has three pairings, each with their unique charms. Mao & Hisashi depict the friends-to-lovers journey, Giichi & Jin represent the enemies-to-lovers trope, and Rei & Shion illustrate how opposites attract. Each dynamic gives a different flavour of romance. Although the couples fall in love too quickly, all the relationships reach exciting climaxes. The BL fan within me gets giddy whenever they confess, kiss, and consummate their love.

Each couple has time in the spotlight, but Mao & Hisashi receive the most development. The last episode wraps up their relationship arc on a hopeful note. The visually spectacular finale stuns me with its cinematic artistry, especially that gorgeous scene by the sunset. Overall, I enjoyed my time with Twilight Out of Focus. While the story may not be perfect, the messages are thoughtful and well-meaning. Since homophobes tried to sabotage the anime's success by leaving negative reviews, I want to counter their hatred. This sweet, sensitive BL series deserves our support.