Citrus Episode 1 Review

By: ArliThe 2018 winter anime season kicks off with a steamy start thanks to the anime adaption of the popular manga Citrus. I never had a chance to check out the manga, however, I have been told by countless friends of mine that Citrus is one of the most popular yuri manga. With that said, I’ve been very excited to watch the anime adaption since the teaser trailers were released and I am very hyped to review this series. Note: Spoilers ahead! Read at your own risk.

Citrus Episode 1 - love affair

The first episode introduces our main character high school student Arihara Yuzu. Within the first couple minutes of the anime, it’s evident Yuzu is a huge fan of gyaru style. Gyaru, for those who don’t know, is an umbrella term for women’s Japanese street fashion. One of the styles known in the west is ganguro style noted for the bleached hair and heavily tanned skin. Although ganguro style has fallen out of popularity, different styles of gyaru are thriving in Japan.  I really hope we get to see different styles of gyaru in Citrus as the anime progresses. I’m a total sucker for fashion.Yuzu is starting high school in a new neighborhood because her mom remarried over the summer. It also happens to be an all-girls academy, much to Yuzu’s dismay.  It’s revealed Yuzu never had a boyfriend or experienced her first kiss and daydreams about a shoujo romance. Before she can step into the academy, Yuzu is already in trouble with the student council for violating dress codes. After arguing with one of the student council members, Student Council President steps in and viewers are giving a first taste of some real fan service. After Yuzu cleans off her makeup we meet Amamiya-senpai and much like every other girl in the universe who watched this episode I fangirled at his introduction. I can’t help but wonder thanks to other... not-exactly-safe-for-work anime... if this teacher has an ongoing relationship with any of the students. H-hey! Don't judge me! It’s a guy working at an all-girls academy! If I'm wrong, I will not listen to K-POP for a whole day. Next, we are introduced to Tanigachi Harumi who instantly befriends Yuzu. Much like Yuzu, Harumi transferred to Arihara Academy in high school. She even admits she wears gyaru in secret! How exciting! Does this mean we will see her in gyaru later on in the anime? I can’t wait! Harumi explains the academy is an escalator school which means most of the girls are fairly sheltered. If you’re not sure what an escalator school is I would have to say the best way to describe it is a private school where it offers elementary to high school education up until university without having to pass an entrance exam. It’s an easy way for an anime to give an explanation to why students with different ages all appear at the same educational institution. We also learn Mei is the granddaughter of the chairman of the school and is rumored to be betrothed to a teacher. I’m very intrigued to learn more about Mei’s past. But before I could think on that more, the plot thickens because Yuzu stumbles upon…Amamiya-senpai kissing Mei!? I KNEW IT. WHO ELSE ARE YOU KISSING AMAMIYA-SENPAI?And why aren’t you kissing me!?Wait. What?But then the plot thickens even further! Yuzu returns home to help her mom with their move to this new apartment hoping to meet her new father, only to find out her new father has not only decided to travel the world but he also has a daughter. That daughter is none other than Arihara Mei and she is moving in with Yuzu and Yuzu's mom. Surprise!How is Yuzu not angry? I remember my days as a teenager and if I was in her shoes I would have definitely thrown a tantrum in front of my mother. Even though Yuzu is described as stubborn, her character gave me the impression of a level-headed and independent free-spirited girl.The episode ends with Yuzu trying to get along with her new stepsister, only to be ignored by Mei. You have to give Yuzu credit here. Throughout the episode, it’s made evident Mei and Yuzu do not get along. You could even say they might be enemies if that tickles your fancy. That is… until… well... Mei kisses her! What's happening?!I have too many questions that need answering! Why is Amamiya-senpai kissing Mei? Where did Yuzu’s new father go? Wait, why hasn't Yuzu met him in the first place? If Yuzu is now an Arihara will she also inherit the all-girls academy?Damn it, Citrus. You reeled me in. 

Final Thoughts

Although some of the art felt rushed in some scenes, the Citrus is very pretty. The landscapes are very luscious and there is a dreamy, ethereal aesthetic throughout the episode. It is a shame some of the art quality lacks in a few scenes. I’m sure if there is a Blu-ray version ever released, scenes will get redrawn just like other series have done in the past. Rushed scenes really take away from the quality of the viewing experience in my opinion and I personally dislike having to wait for the Blu-Ray version for a more polished version. There are a lot of sexual overtones to Citrus, and ecchi would probably be a safe word to describe some of the scenes. It’s no question why Citrus airs at 11:30 pm in Japan. Don’t be surprised if you feel parched by the end of episode one. As of right now, the anime has a good balance of story and fan service. However, Citrus needs to be careful. A Yuri romance is more than sexual. Yuri is all about the love and emotions too. If you are part of the younger crowd, I wouldn’t recommend watching this anime in front of your parents unless you have a pair of headphones.Overall, I’m hooked and I really need the next episode since yesterday! What did you think of the episode? If you're a fan of the manga, does episode 1 hold true to the manga? Let us know in the comment section below so we can discuss! Want to watch Citrus as well? You can either catch it on Crunchyroll or as a SimulDub™ version on Funimation!