Second-year high school students Mao Tsuchiya and Hisashi Otomo have a very interesting living arrangement at their all-boys school dormitory. The two boys live within three rules: Mao never reveals that his roommate is gay and has a boyfriend; Hisashi never develops romantic feelings for Mao; and if either of them needs…ahem…personal time…they will offer up the appropriate warnings. These rules have worked well for the two guys over the past year. However, when the director of the film club decides that Hisashi would be PERFECT for a role in a new BL production he wrote, Mao has to wrestle with the problem of trying not to out his roommate while coming to grips with his budding romantic feelings. As the production of the student film gets underway, will Mao and Hisashi’s relationship go to production, or will their boundaries call “cut” before they even start? Cue the shenanigans!
Honestly, there was a lot I liked about this first episode. I found it very relatable and the characters to be quite realistic. This feels a lot like Sasaki and Miyano—the dark-haired, demure character who has to come to grips with his feelings not only for who he is from a sexuality standpoint but also in falling for his taller and more “experienced” friend. (And yes, before you start typing, I know…keep reading. I’ll mention it later.) I also like the fact that the show starts with them being roommates for a while and reasserting their boundaries from the jump—that gives us an insight into their relationship before the start of all the shenanigans involving the film club.
If the animation quality of this one looks familiar, it’s because this is a Studio Deen production. Yes, the same studio that brought us our first Omegaverse anime Tadaima, Okaeri and 2022’s BL hit Sasaki and Miyano also brings us this production. Told ya I would mention it. Studio Deen knows how to put out a good product, especially when it comes to BL anime. This show looks great from a visual standpoint, with one exception. When it comes to the OP, “Crank Up” by Ikusaburo Yamazaki, I’m unimpressed. It just feels like your stereotypical BL anime OP set over a generic J-pop singer, just so willowy and light and boring. I much prefer the ending theme, “UnchainXUnchain” by Amber’s. Heck, I wish that was the OP! Lastly, before I close out, Crunchyroll, can we PLEASE…get a dub of this show? I mean, it just seems so wrong that a lot of the LGBTQ+ anime that get loads of positive responses from viewers get looked over for dubs…yet the most random and unimpressive shows get full ADR productions (looking at you, A Condition Called Love). Please don’t overlook this one, guys! I know of loads of LGBTQ+ voice actors who would be chomping at the bit to join in the dub cast for this one!
So where does that leave us with Twilight Out of Focus? Well, I think this one is going to be interesting and well worth a follow. This is a compelling story with very realistic circumstances that guys find themselves in all the time: what happens when the status quo gets turned on its head and you have to meet what you’re feeling head-on? What happens when your heart says “Ready to roll!,” but your head says, “Wait, let’s have another rehearsal!”? Twilight Out of Focus, it’s time to report to the stage—lights…camera…action?
Twilight Out of Focus is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. If you wonder why we’re covering yaoi and yuri anime while being an “anime ministry” committed to Biblical reading and teaching, check out this article on how we approach such series. And for a different viewpoint on this opening episode, check out the additional thoughts in our first impressions master post.
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