Senpai Is An Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used To Be Friends”: Relationship Revival [Review]

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends” isn’t just about friendship. As you watch this episode, you will realize that the central theme is about the revival of relationships in general. It’s a nice bit of fluff to prepare us for the heavier stuff that’s due in the next episode.

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends”: Details

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends” is the 11th episode (you can read my reviews of Ep. 1, Ep. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Ep. 5, Ep. 6, Ep. 7, Ep. 8, Ep. 9, and Ep. 10 here) of this LGBTQ+ romantic comedy anime series. Said anime is the anime adaptation of the manga of the same name by Pom. Project No.9 (Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!, Love After World Domination) is the animation studio behind this anime. Crunchyroll is the company licensing this anime in NA region.

Production Cast

Shigeki Awai is the director behind Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends”, with Seiko Takagi as the writer, Keiichi Ishikura as the storyboarder, and Shōto Shinkai, Eri Ogawa, and Yuta Masaki all collectively claiming credit as the chief animation director. As for Senpai is an Otokonoko as a whole, Shinsuke Yanagi is the director behind the anime. Yoriko Tomita is the writer behind the same, with Yukari Hashimoto as the composer for the music you hear in that anime.

Speaking of music: the opening theme song is “Wagamama” (我がまま, “Selfishness”) by Kujira. Meanwhile, “Are ga Koi Datta no kana” (あれが恋だったのかな, “I Wonder If That Was Love”) by Kujira feat. Nishina is the ending theme song.

Voice Cast

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends” features the voices of Shūichirō Umeda as Makoto Hanaoka, Akira Sekine as Saki Aoi, and Yuma Uchida as Ryuji Taiga. Other notable voice roles in this episode include Azusa Aoi as Kaede Hanekawa, Ai Kakuma as Ai Hayase, Gakuto Kajiwara as Jun Saotome, Hitomi Ishikawa as Chihiro Ishikawa, and Mai Nakahara as Mika Hanaoka.

When and Where to Watch

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends” made its airing and streaming debut (read: simulcast) on September 19, 2024. You can watch this episode only on Crunchyroll. In fact, you can watch the anime as a whole only on Crunchyroll due to it being an exclusive there.

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends”: Synopsis

Alas, Senpai is an Otokonoko is an ongoing anime series. In fact, Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends” only just made its debut five days ago as of this writing. Thus, I will present to you Crunchyroll’s official synopsis for this episode instead of a spoiler-filled plot summary. You can read that synopsis below:

Makoto tells Saki and Ryuji of the he’s set after the trip is over. In parallel, another person also gathers their courage and asks Makoto to “Please come with me for the free roaming time”…

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends”: The Good

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends” continues the trend of this anime‘s best quality being its story. All because of its fluff combined with the more serious themes, as befitting a LGBTQ+ romantic comedy anime. This episode does feature a lot more of the former than it does the latter. However, the two do intertwine quite a bit in order to form quite the complex yet relaxing story. I would still say that this is a milk chocolate of an episode, with just that hint of darkness to the angst that Makoto’s backstory brings to make it into a more complex flavor. Complete with some rather uncomfortable depictions of bullying as well. Honestly, Pom is doing a wonderful job here with the writing.

On top of that wonderful story is the animation from Project No.9. All due to their usual wonderful mix of high quality animation for the serious and everyday scenes and adorable chibi animation for the more light-hearted scenes. As you might guess though, there’s quite a bit more of the latter in this episode than the former. I do love that chibi animation though. It does enhance the humor of the lighthearted moments, and make them more heartfelt in my opinion. Even when the chibi-ness is coming from some highly inconvenient stampedes keeping Makoto from having a chat with their former and now current friend.

Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends”: The Bad

Alas, there is not a speck of action in Senpai is an Otokonoko Ep. 11 “Used to Be Friends” other than some comedic moments. It’s a LGBTQ+ romcom. Not an action-packed shonen anime. If you want that, then might I suggest Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, The Elusive Samurai, and/or DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION? Those anime should have more than enough action to satisfy any action junkie.

Oh, and I still wish to point out that a very rude and vocal minority are review bombing this anime purely because it has LGBTQ+ themes in the story. If you enjoy Senpai is an Otokonoko and wish to combat this, then please do so by giving this anime a high rating.

Tune back in to THS to find out more about Senpai is an Otokonoko and other anime when we do.