Horimiya
Episodes: 13 (Season 1), + OVA and prequel episodes in Horimiya: The Missing Pieces
Aired: January 10, 2021 – April 4, 2021
Studio: CloverWorks
Genres: Romance, Slice of Life, Comedy, School
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, Netflix (availability varies by region)
On the surface, Kyouko Hori is a bright, popular high school girl admired by her classmates for her beauty and charisma. Izumi Miyamura, on the other hand, is quiet, gloomy, and seemingly the type who keeps to himself. However, outside the classroom, both lead very different lives from the personas they maintain at school. Hori is a responsible homebody who takes care of her younger brother while managing household chores, and Miyamura hides his tattoos, piercings, and a gentler personality behind his gloomy facade.
Their seemingly opposite worlds collide when Miyamura unexpectedly helps Hori’s brother and ends up visiting her home. The two quickly form a bond over their shared secrets, and a unique relationship blossoms as they begin to spend more time together. Horimiya explores the hidden sides of people, the warmth of unexpected connections, and the journey of love, friendship, and self-acceptance among a group of high schoolers. It’s a heartfelt slice-of-life romance that celebrates authenticity over appearances.
Main Characters
Kyouko Hori
- Age: 17
- Birthday: March 25
- Height: 163 cm
- Japanese VA: Haruka Tomatsu
- English VA: Marisa Duran
- Description: A popular and capable student at school, Hori is admired for her beauty and academic excellence. However, at home, she reveals a more grounded side, taking care of household chores and her younger brother due to her parents' busy schedules.
Izumi Miyamura
- Age: 17
- Birthday: April 17
- Height: 169 cm
- Japanese VA: Kōki Uchiyama
- English VA: Alejandro Saab
- Description: Initially perceived as a gloomy and introverted student, Miyamura surprises others with his multiple piercings, tattoos, and kind-hearted nature outside school. His relationship with Hori unveils his true personality.
Supporting Characters
Toru Ishikawa
- Age: 17
- Birthday: October 1
- Height: 174 cm
- Japanese VA: Seiichirō Yamashita
- English VA: Zeno Robinson
- Description: A close friend of Hori and Miyamura, Toru initially harbors feelings for Hori but gracefully steps aside as her relationship with Miyamura develops. He remains a supportive and loyal friend.
Yuki Yoshikawa
- Age: 17
- Birthday: July 22
- Height: 161 cm
- Japanese VA: Yurie Kozakai
- English VA: Anairis Quiñones
- Description: Yuki is cheerful and friendly, often bringing energy to the group. She grapples with her own feelings and insecurities, especially concerning her relationships with Toru and Akane.
Souta Hori
- Age: 7
- Birthday: October 18
- Height: 110 cm
- Japanese VA: Yuka Terasaki
- English VA: Emily Fajardo
- Description: Hori's younger brother, Souta is the reason Miyamura and Hori meet. He quickly forms a bond with Miyamura, viewing him as an older brother figure.
Kakeru Sengoku
- Age: 17
- Birthday: May 9
- Height: 170 cm
- Japanese VA: Nobuhiko Okamoto
- English VA: Clifford Chapin
- Description: The diligent student council president, Sengoku is intelligent but often anxious. He is dating Remi Ayasaki and shares a childhood friendship with Hori.
Remi Ayasaki
- Age: 17
- Birthday: June 6
- Height: 158 cm
- Japanese VA: MAO
- English VA: Celeste Perez
- Description: A member of the student council and Sengoku's girlfriend, Remi is bubbly and outgoing. Despite her ditzy demeanor, she cares deeply for her friends.
Sakura Kouno
- Age: 17
- Birthday: January 20
- Height: 163 cm
- Japanese VA: Reina Kondo
- English VA: Y. Chang
- Description: The vice president of the student council, Sakura is quiet and studious. She harbors feelings for Toru and navigates her emotions with grace and maturity.
Shuu Iura
- Age: 17
- Birthday: February 7
- Height: 172 cm
- Japanese VA: Daiki Yamashita
- English VA: Dallas Reid
- Description: A classmate known for his energetic and carefree nature, Shuu brings humor to the group. He is a childhood friend of Toru.
Akane Yanagi
- Age: 17
- Birthday: December 28
- Height: 168 cm
- Japanese VA: Jun Fukuyama
- English VA: Aaron Dismuke
- Description: Handsome and polite, Akane is admired by many. He develops feelings for Yuki and, despite his popularity, remains humble and kind-hearted.
Honoka Sawada
- Age: 16
- Birthday: December 31
- Height: 150 cm
- Japanese VA: Momo Asakura
- English VA: Sarah Wiedenheft
- Description: A younger student with a crush on Hori, Honoka initially clashes with Miyamura. Over time, she forms a sibling-like bond with him, finding comfort in their friendship.
Kouichi Shindou
- Age: 18
- Birthday: April 2
- Height: 173 cm
- Japanese VA: Taku Yashiro
- English VA: Daman Mills
- Description: Miyamura's first friend from middle school, Kouichi is cheerful and supportive. He plays a pivotal role in helping Miyamura open up and connect with others.
Makio Tanihara
- Age: 17–18
- Birthday: April 16
- Height: 168 cm
- Japanese VA: Shouya Chiba
- English VA: Bryson Baugus
- Description: Once a bully to Miyamura in middle school, Makio seeks redemption in high school. He attempts to make amends and integrate into the friend group.
Chika Ichijou
- Age: Unknown
- Birthday: September 8
- Height: 154 cm
- Japanese VA: N/A
- English VA: N/A
- Description: Kouichi Shindou’s devoted girlfriend, Chika stands by him despite challenges, including disapproval from her parents.
Kyousuke Hori
- Age: 36
- Height: 180 cm
- Japanese VA: Daisuke Ono
- English VA: J. Michael Tatum
- Description: Hori's father, Kyousuke is often absent but brings a playful energy when present. His interactions with his family add comedic moments to the series.
Yuriko Hori
- Age: 38
- Japanese VA: Ai Kayano
- English VA: Michelle Rojas
- Description: Hori's mother, Yuriko is a calm and gentle presence. Her work keeps her busy, leading Hori to take on many responsibilities at home.
Motoko Iura
- Age: 15
- Birthday: May 14
- Height: 150 cm
- Japanese VA: Hisako Kanemoto
- English VA: Natalie Rose
- Description: Shuu Iura’s younger sister, Motoko is shy and reserved. Her interactions with her brother and his friends showcase her growth and increasing confidence.
Animation & Art Style
Horimiya was animated by CloverWorks, a studio known for its crisp, clean visuals and emotionally expressive character animation. CloverWorks has built a strong reputation for delivering anime with polished production quality and visually rich storytelling.
Visual Aesthetics
The art style of Horimiya leans toward soft, warm color palettes and detailed character expressions. Instead of relying heavily on fantastical elements or action-heavy sequences, the animation highlights small, meaningful gestures, subtle expressions, and slice-of-life realism that enhance the romantic and emotional aspects of the story.
Backgrounds are typically grounded in realism — clean classrooms, cozy homes, and everyday cityscapes. These spaces are rendered with soft lighting and gentle gradients to emphasize mood rather than distract with intricate detail.
Character Design
The character designs are faithful to the manga's updated look, originally adapted from HERO’s webcomic and re-illustrated by Daisuke Hagiwara. The characters feature clean lines, natural movement, and unique personal styles that reflect their personalities — from Miyamura’s evolving appearance to Hori’s dual-life visuals (polished at school, casual at home).
CloverWorks made subtle changes to facial animations to elevate character interactions. Eye movements, slight smiles, and body posture often say more than dialogue, adding layers of subtext to romantic scenes and internal conflicts.
Animation Quality
Although Horimiya is primarily a slice-of-life series, it doesn’t cut corners. Transitions are smooth, character acting is expressive, and scenes flow naturally. Emotional peaks, like confessions, arguments, or vulnerable moments, are treated with cinematic direction — well-timed camera angles, lighting shifts, and close-ups intensify the emotional beats.
Montages and flashbacks are also creatively used, with artistic filters or slowed-down animation adding depth to character backstories or moments of self-realization.
Music & Soundtrack
Composer
The soundtrack for Horimiya was composed by Masaru Yokoyama, a renowned composer known for emotionally evocative scores. His work adds depth and nuance to every scene, blending soft piano melodies, acoustic strings, and light electronic touches to create a heartfelt atmosphere. He has also worked on:
- Your Lie in April
- Fruits Basket (2019)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
Yokoyama’s music in Horimiya enhances the slice-of-life storytelling, subtly underlining emotional shifts without overwhelming the scene. The background music is used sparingly but effectively, often creating a warm, comforting vibe or underlining a moment of tension or tenderness between characters.
Opening Theme (OP)
Title: "Iro Kousui" (色香水)
Artist: You Kamiyama (神山羊)
The opening theme sets the tone perfectly: upbeat, emotional, and slightly bittersweet. The song combines catchy instrumentals with emotionally resonant lyrics about longing, connection, and identity—reflecting the series’ themes of vulnerability and self-discovery.
Visually, the OP features dynamic transitions between scenes from the characters' everyday lives and symbolic snapshots that reflect their hidden emotions. It also plays with color tones and lighting to show contrast between outward appearances and inner realities.
Ending Theme (ED)
Title: "Yakusoku" (約束 / "Promise")
Artist: Friends (フレンズ)
The ending song shifts into a more reflective and calming tone. “Yakusoku” has a dreamy, melodic sound that winds down each episode with a sense of closure and warmth. The lyrics focus on promises, emotional closeness, and the quiet comfort of companionship—fitting for a series built around intimate relationships.
The ending animation is more subdued, showcasing soft lighting and snapshots of the characters in peaceful, personal moments—like looking out windows, walking alone, or smiling gently—highlighting how far they’ve come emotionally.
Soundtrack Highlights
Some tracks in the original soundtrack stand out for recurring during important scenes, like:
- Tender piano solos during vulnerable conversations
- Light-hearted guitar melodies during comedic or daily-life moments
- Strings-driven pieces for romantic scenes, giving them cinematic weight without being melodramatic
The music never dominates the dialogue but rather follows the emotional beats of each character, making their quiet moments feel more impactful.
Personal Thoughts
In my opinion, Horimiya is one of the best romance anime out there, and it's best enjoyed without overthinking. Sometimes, you just need a sweet, heartfelt love story, and that's exactly what Horimiya delivers. The series doesn’t try to complicate things with unnecessary drama or convoluted emotional arcs. It's simply a beautiful, easy-going romance that showcases the tender moments of daily life and the development of a sweet, genuine relationship.
For anyone who loves sweet romance Horimiya will be right up your alley. It’s not about deep, complex emotional turmoil that leaves you questioning everything like some other series (Domestic Girlfriend, for example). Instead, it’s about the warmth of love, the simplicity of spending time with someone who truly understands you, and the beauty in the little moments that make life worthwhile.
If you're looking for something that will leave you with a smile on your face, a warmth in your heart, and a sense of joy in witnessing a wonderful romance, then Horimiya is a must-watch. It’s not just an anime; it’s a heartwarming experience.
Rating: 9/10
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