Masamune-kun's Revenge


Masamune-kun's Revenge is a Japanese manga series written by Hazuki Takeoka and illustrated by Tiv. The series is published by Ichijinsha and serialized in their Monthly Comic Rex magazine in Japan from October 2012 to June 2018. The series is licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment in the United States. An anime television series adaptation by Silver Link aired from January to March 2017.

Plot

Masamune Makabe was a chubby boy who had a close relationship with Aki Adagaki, a beautiful wealthy girl, until one day she cruelly rejected him and gave him the nickname "Pig's Foot". Seeking revenge against his tormentor, Masamune changed his name, began dieting and working out everyday to become a fit and handsome, albeit vain, high school student. When he encounters Aki once again, she doesn't recognize him and he commits to seduce her into falling in love with him before embarrassingly rejecting her to exact vengeance. Masamune ends up allying with Aki's classmate and servant Yoshino Koiwai, who seems to know Masamune's nickname as well.

Characters

Media

Manga

Writer Hazuki Takeoka and Korean female artist Tiv began serializing the manga in the December 2012 issue of Ichijinsha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Comic Rex on October 27, 2012. Ten volumes were released between April 2013 and July 2018. A spin-off titled "Masamune-kun's Re??? )" is drawn by Yūki Shinichi and is serialized on Gekkan ComicREX starting from November 2016 issue. North American publisher Seven Seas Entertainment announced their license to the series on September 4, 2015. The series concluded in 2018, with the final chapter being released on June 27. Takeoka and Tiv launched a spinoff manga in Monthly Comic Rex on September 27, 2018. The short manga, titled Masamune-kun no Revenge After School, is a series of after-stories focusing on various characters.

Light novel

A light novel adaptation by Hazuki Takeoka, with art by Tiv, has been published by Ichijinsha in a single volume released on December 20, 2013.

Anime

On June 23, 2016, publisher Ichijinsha announced that the series would receive an anime television series adaptation. The anime is produced by Silver Link and directed by Mirai Minato, with Michiko Yokote and Kento Shimoyama written the scripts, and Yuki Sawairi designed the characters. Toshiki Kameyama is the series' sound director while Lantis produced the music. The opening theme is "Wagamama Mirror Heart" performed by Ayaka Ohashi, and the ending theme is "Elemental World" performed by ChouCho. The AT-X broadcast uses the song "Manazashi Silent" as its ending theme; it was sung by Ohashi and Suzuko Mimori under their respective character names Aki Adagaki and Neko Fujinomiya. The series aired from January 5 to March 23, 2017. It was broadcast on Tokyo MX, AT-X, and BS Fuji. The anime ran for 12 episodes and released across six BD/DVD volumes. Crunchyroll streamed and licensed the series, while Funimation produced an English dub. An OVA of the series has been released and tells an "after story" for the manga.
Official English title
Original Japanese title		Original air date

Reception

Reviewing the first volume, Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network stated that the combination of revenge comedy and romance was "working thus far." She felt that Aki's servant was the most interesting character, but also enjoyed Masamune, especially how he had to "think about the correct response for each situation he finds himself in". She called Aki "utterly detestable", and noted that it would be difficult for the series to turn around and make her a romantic interest. She wrote that the art was attractive, but noted that the drawings of women were often anatomically incorrect.
ANN editor Lauren Orsini chose Masamune-kun's Revenge as her pick for the Worst Anime of 2017, criticizing its "excessive cruelty" being delivered by the two main leads and the rest of the cast, concluding that, "This anime should only be viewed as an example of how not to win friends and influence people. The best revenge is a life well lived, as in, not Masamune's approach."