Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Mangameow
From the get-go, Ganbare Nakamura Kun tells you exactly what it is- a wildly hilarious depiction of the awkwardness of being a teenager with a crush on his classmate in exaggerated proportions. More than anything, Nakamura wants to become closer to Hirose and encounters many mishaps along the way that make you laugh out loud, never knowing what to expect next. Ganbare is a perfect blend of lightheartedness, comedy, and originality.
A lot of series make main characters aspirational almost to the point of unbelievability for someone going through the messiness of adolescence. Ganbare highlights how larger than life and awkward this time in life feels, and infuses it with so much fun and goofiness that you never know what's going to happen next, you're just locked in for the ride, going 10…
Read at the sourcek-0da
Go for it, Nakamura-kun!! is an extremely cute, light-hearted rom-com that warmed my cold dead heart. It’s not a perfect work, but its love for young queer boys shone through at every moment.
Go for it, Nakamura-kun!! looks pretty good, which makes it a animation masterpiece by BL standards. The colors are light and bouncy without feeling faded, oozing classic 90's romcom feelings. The series art copies a lot of nineties character design aesthetics, and while usually I take issue with nostalgia bait, the designs are able to stand on their own. The OST is okay to unnoticeable, so that could be worse.
Go for it, Nakamura-kun!! is deeply cute. Its lighthearted, comedic take is so refreshing, that even I, the local “Ivantill should always be unrequited” fell in love. Nakamura is just so ge…
Read at the sourcenx1ryn
Honestly, this anime is very bad. Well, in my opinion.
Its only a cliche of a shy an creppy boy whos in love w an extrovert boy. Just like Kimi ni todoke but in mlm. It isnt good, yall are hyping it is just cliche and the characters are definitely not well written. Also i dont really like slow burns so ig thats another thing i didnt like about this anime (But this is just a personal preference, so u should try it if u like slow burns).
Not gonna lie, u can see better bl animes, with a better story, without the lot of cliches this anime has, and with better characters. So, if u didn’t like Kimi ni todoke u shouldn’t watch this one either. If u like it, u should watch this anime.
But the visuals (drawings n animation) are very pretty ^o^
Read at the sourcethedaddyoh
If youre looking for something to fall asleep to, watch this instantly.
I really wanted a cute, interesting BL that was a breathe of fresh air, and different from most of the romance genre. But this show is comfortably worse than most of the genre, and is only rated so high as its BL. If either of the two main characters were girls this show would be rated a 6.5. Nothing of interest happens at all. Truly bland. One positive is the art style. It really does look good with a softened 90s aesthetic. But the actual story, relationships and everything else is boring as hell. Dont waste your time.
Read at the sourceFyrebirdi
This anime was such a difficult one to rate. It had plenty good things going for it, and just as many bad.
Nakamura is a chronically shy, introverted 15-year old guy who has a crush on a boy in his class. His behaviour is awkward, shy and sometimes creepy. Understandable as his concept of romance is mainly sourced from BL manga, something I think many young people can relate to. But why... WHY... does he constant have to throw his name away? At first I laughed at his idiocy, then started to feel secondhand embarrassment. It doesn't feel great. Feels like I'm laughing at a young kid simply trying to talk to his crush.
What I enjoyed is the anime lives in a hetero-normative world. That's pretty brave for a BL. There's such a fear of perceived (and actual) rejection from straight people tha…
Read at the sourceSwantje20
NEW FAVORITE!
have waited for this show since it was announced 2024. It exceeded all my expectations.
The main characters are loveable, realistic and relatable. The humour isn´t flat, which is often the case with this type of work. The art style is charming and its very beautifully animated. There is a unique ending animation for every episode, which is very rarely done, but this supports the whole experience immensely. The opening is a banger ( stuck in my head since yesterday).
The only weak point is that sometimes it´s so cringe its hard to watch lol and some episodes are basically filler, as there is no progress or even barely an interaction between the two main characters.
Definitely recommend! Please watch and support so there will be a second season!!
Read at the sourceAshParth
Another day, another new generation anime that we'd just finished. I know I am behind on some of them as I had started a few of the new season of anime that were released for Spring due to IRL and other shows that I've been binging for the sake of reviews for the future. Of course, I have specific shows scheduled for future posting. Oh, well. C'est la vie. So, I am not familiar with the manga nor the anime in general. Just the usual stupid "controversy" on social media that I will talk about later in the review. In the meantime, I am always down to check out queer coded shows such as this one. Fitting that I'd finished this on Pride Month, too. Happy Pride Month, by the way, from your local cis male who is openly aromantic.
If we were to simply put on the synopsis of the anime, it's about…
Read at the sourcexShiningxMoonx
8.5/10
Go For It, Nakamura offers an earnest exploration of queerness and themes of acceptance. It’s an excellent, if not somewhat flawed character study about a queer boy falling in love while facing the challenges of a heteronormative world.
For better or worse, the highs and lows are turned up to an eleven: crazy daydreams, body shots, and octopus fanservice all make up Nakamura’s universe. Yet what makes it refreshing is that it’s not just about exploring a relationship with a crush, but rather embracing a part of ourselves we are often terrified of. The anime’s episodic nature is funny and heartwarming and the hilarious supporting cast also adds just the right amount of flavor.
Through beautiful, stylistic animation, fun characters, and slow, earnest pacing, Go For It, Nakamura ku…
Read at the sourcekurapikash
It's such a refreshing anime!
It feels different from most romance stories out there, because it's not only about the development of the relationship; instead, it focuses more on the feelings of falling in love. It shows the excitement, the awkward moments, the sadness, and all the small things that happen when you start to like someone. And it feels so real.
This anime is so funny, sweet, and also very comforting. It feels honest, easy to relate to, warm, nice, and something that makes you feel calm inside! So human, so pure!
One of my favs for sure, forever! 🩷
Read at the sourceP_F_V
Nakamura-kun is cute, funny, and lively. The humor and animation are pretty strong, but the big draw is Nakamura himself. The quality of the writing and visuals really make you connect with this insecure gay kid.
I’ve heard that there are more risqué elements in the manga that were scrubbed out in adaptation. Based solely on what has been described to me, I think that the changes sound like a wash. One central plot thread feels enhanced, while some other smaller things feel sanded down or muddled. It does keep the in-universe real life fanfiction, so make of that what you will. Might be a little icky for some that Nakamura doesn’t come to acknowledge he’s crossing a boundary, but it’s not that bad.
There is something I wanted out of the ending that I’m surprised wasn’t delivered, it feel…
Read at the sourcechekkit
"Go for it, Nakamura-kun!!" is one of those shows where I appreciate that it exists, and enjoy it to some extent, but it leaves you wanting. There are some incredible directed episodes that make the heart swoon, but there are also equally cringy, painful, full of gags episodes that make you wonder if it's worth it.
Lets start with the positives. This anime is incredibly enjoyable to watch from an artistic standpoint. It captures that retro style of old time anime and capitalizes on it in a shiny modern coat of paint. It's GORGEOUS and so eye catching, the type of style you'd like to see on a lo-fi music channel. Impeccable vibes through and through. The ending sequences calling back to pre 2000s music is the cherry on top.
And then we have the actual "plot" which is watching Nakamura st…
Read at the sourceNichosta
This anime is... fine. It's not offensive. Ultimately it's about an awkward teen dealing with his crush on a classmate. But it's worth noting that this is ALL it is. The show's plot is thin. Really thin. Quite honestly, not much happens at all. You could cut this show down to less than 3 episodes and walk away with the same experience.
So, what's good about the show?
The art is fantastic! This is a really really pretty show. It reminds me of 90's anime like Sailor Moon!
The main character calls himself gay, out loud, multiple times. Not as a joke, not in panic. Just a declaration of who he is. I was honestly surprised and excited to see that!
The title and credits sequences are fun and nice!
Aaand... that honestly about it.
There's really NOT MUCH holding this show together.
That…
Read at the sourcehachi_08
if you came here for bl and are expecting the two of them to get together, just don't lol. because the story is more about nakamura, his love for hirose, and the struggles he goes through along the way. and i think that’s what makes this series so charming, especially if you’re a queer kid, it makes you relate to the main character in so many ways and root for him. plus, the humor of it which is full of unexpected turns of events or cheesy cliche moments, makes watching it even more enjoyable.
i really loved how the anime differed from the manga in some ways, this was refreshing since i've read the manga many times and i was curious to see how events would turn out. however, some scenes were unnecessarily altered or cut, i especially loved the part in the manga where hirose stood up to th…
Read at the sourcefresitabby
I was expecting nothing but an average comedy BL, but this anime delivered so much more. I got emotional way more times than I expected; the story is so cute and actually interesting, the characters are loveable and relatable, and Nakamura's development is slow but nice to see.
Nakamura as a character is so real. I am not a gay man, but I used to be an outcasted weird loser girl in my teens with a crush so big I thought I could die, and I related to Nakamura so hard, so much. The art and music are also great; it's the final touch that makes this anime a complete masterpiece not only as a BL but also as a romcom in general. 10/10, I will be rewatching this.
Read at the sourcegeorgia_pk
Happy Pride to these two cuties 🐙🦀
Story: Go For it, Nakamura-Kun is a slice of life comedy (except episode 12 </3) that delivers a grounded nuanced story of queer adolescent anxiety that subervts traditional BL tropes by rejecting idealized, immediate mutal romance in favour of slow and awkward realism. The 13 episode arc balances comedic, clumsy scenarios with genuine emotional milestones. The primary narrative of this story is deconstruction and connection. Early episodes function as highly comedic as we follow Nakamura’s various failed attempts to speak to his crush Hirose. The story is presented almost entirely from Nakamura’s perspective allowing the viewers to experience his internal panic, assumptions and exaggerations firsthand. The comedy relies heavily on expressive visual ga…
Read at the sourcecyald
Alright, the anime has finally come to an end. Although I am very reluctant to part with it, I am very grateful for the three months of companionship. As a gay man in reality, I am very excited right now, so I have rambled and written this not-so-rigorous or objective review.
(Note: But because I have never had a crush on anyone, it is unlikely that the complete empathy between me, this gay man, and the protagonist, which you might want to see, will appear.)
1. Tag Correction
Instead of calling this anime a BL anime, it is better to say it depicts a gay boy's crush journey during adolescence (and it is very close to reality). The tag BL gives people a feeling that the two protagonists must fall in love, which is somewhat inappropriate for this anime.
(Of course, I know that many people wh…
Read at the sourceZayRecoverist
THIS! THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A QUEER STORY!!! I cannot express enough how THANKFUL I am towards Syundei, towards THIS WHOLE SHOW, and MOST OF ALL NAKAMURA himself for this story. I think there should be more queer stories about navigating a heteronormative world while being confused and insecure; just validating how you stand out against this world, and despite that there will always be people who accept you. Much like Hirose is to Nakamura, his feelings for Hirose make him want to be more confident in himself. That to me is important storytelling to the queer experience.
I like how this series wasn't necessarily a romance for that because even if it's left ambiguous or not that Hirose might likes him back, it's clear he enjoys Nakamura for his company besides that and we know Nakamura's g…
Read at the sourceChuy_diazz
A platonic romance with its ups and downs.
Nakamura-kun is a romance where nothing much really happens. From the first episode, you get the sense that we'll never move beyond the platonic nature of their love. In fact, at the beginning, it seems practically impossible for the protagonists to ever be close in any way. Nakamura even seems closer to other characters, like Hifumi or the president of the occult club. It makes you wonder, "Why is he after Hirose if he gets along better with this other person?" Well, that's how teenage love is. When we were in front of the person we liked, we were overcome with embarrassment, we stuttered, and we had nothing to talk about. Things that didn't happen when we were with our friends. In that respect, the anime is quite accurate in portraying that inn…
Read at the sourceHidamariSeashore
There are few things quite as embarrassing as a high school crush. In an effort to get close to the object of your affections, you may end up doing things that you'll think back on years later and cringe at your younger self; plus, you'll feel all sorts of messy emotions, which get worse with puberty in the mix. I'm sure that straight people and members of the LGBTQ+ community alike will attest to that; at the very least, I know of one particular gay anime character who is very likely to agree with me. Said anime character stars in a series that is adapted from a manga that started being released in 2014; my curiosity about this manga was what led to me watching its anime adaptation. Ultimately, I'm glad that I did, as "Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!" is a very charming series that would have bee…
Read at the sourceaniMayo1234
I didn't think I was going to like this show as much as I do right now. Not in a "I don't watch gay stuff" kind of way, because I literally have an interest stack dedicated to gay shows with great representation. But rather, I thought this show was just going to be a gag anime about an anxious gay character, which it is at first, and it is funny. But by far the highlight of this show is watching Nakamura grow as a person, dealing with his hangups and having all kinds of new experiences with people, and not just about the romance. It made me feel all kinds of things and I think that's what makes this show so great, along with the music (and especially the end credit choices, top tier retro music), and the artistic direction (once again, especially the end credits). As far as slice of life g…
Read at the source
