I've Always Liked You

About I've Always Liked You

I've Always Liked You (ずっと前から好きでした。～告白実行委員会～) blends drama, romance and slice of life by Qualia Animation (2016). Below is a fresh retelling of what the story is about. In short: This is the last time I’m going to practice… Natsuki Enomoto, a third-year student at Sakuragaoka High School, has feelings of unrequited love for her childhood companion, Yuu Setoguchi.

Next up: Unable to be true to her own feelings, Natsuki tells Yuu that she is merely using him as a stand-in to practice confessing her love to. As Natsuki continues to pretend not having any feelings for Yuu, her classmate Koyuki Ayase asks her out on a date. Will Natsuki ever be able to stop “practicing” and actually confess her love to Yuu?

With drama at the core, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Haruki Serizawa (Kenichi Suzumura) and Miou Aida (Aki Toyosaki) are two of the characters you will meet early. This one is best suited to viewers who prefer story and feelings over flashy action. With 1 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

Qualia Animation is the studio behind I've Always Liked You, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Because it leans on drama, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. With a 6.9/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. Voice casting, including Kenichi Suzumura as Haruki Serizawa, adds to the appeal for fans who follow seiyuu. It aired in 2016, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.