Animals review: is it worth watching

Animals is a 2022 Japanese romance series starring Kyoya Honda, Jin Shirasu and Airi Suzuki. It dropped in June 2022 and never made much noise outside its home market. Years later, it still hasn't built the kind of word-of-mouth that makes a show worth seeking out, and the complete absence of critical or audience scores tells you everything: nobody's talking about it.

That's the bottom line up front. If you're the kind of guy who digs deep into Japanese dramas and romance is your lane, you might find something here. For everyone else, it's a pass.

What Is Animals About?

Details on the plot are thin, which is part of the problem. The series is billed as a romance, and the cast includes three leads, but there's no English-language marketing push, no streaming platform making noise about it, and no fan community building guides or episode breakdowns. That usually means one of two things: it's a quiet character piece that a niche audience loves, or it's forgettable filler that came and went.

Without reviews, viewer reactions or even a proper synopsis making the rounds, it's impossible to say what works or what the hook is. That's a red flag when you've got a hundred other shows competing for your two hours of free time after the kids are in bed.

What Critics and Audiences Say

Nothing. There are no verified scores from Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic or IMDb users. No critical consensus, no audience rating, no Reddit threads dissecting it. When a show has been out this long and still hasn't registered anywhere, that's not a hidden gem—it's a show that didn't connect.

The absence of any measurable reaction—good or bad—is the story. If it were worth the time, someone would be championing it by now.

Who Is This For?

If you're already into Japanese romance dramas, speak the language or have a soft spot for low-key relationship stories that never got a U.S. release, maybe you roll the dice. For everyone else—guys who want a solid thriller, a rewatch of something that delivers, or a new show with actual buzz—this isn't it.

There's no action, no nostalgia hook, no reason to prioritize it over the stuff already on your list. And with no way to gauge whether the writing, performances or story hold up, you're flying blind.

Where to Watch It

Tracking down Animals isn't straightforward. Finding it on U.S. streaming platforms may take some work, and there's no physical media release that's easy to find. You'd likely need to hunt down a Japanese streaming service or import a copy, and that's more effort than a show with zero buzz is worth.

The Verdict

Pass. Animals might be fine for what it is, but with no scores, no reviews, no audience backing it up and no easy way to watch it, there's no reason to put it ahead of the hundred other things you could be watching. Life's too short, and your free time's too limited, to gamble on a show nobody's talking about.

If you want a romance that actually delivers, go rewatch something that earned its reputation. If you want something new, pick a show with a fanbase and a reason to care. Animals isn't it.

Quick answers

Is Animals worth watching?

No. With no critical or audience scores, no buzz and limited availability, there's no reason to prioritize it over shows that have earned their reputations.

Where can I watch Animals?

Finding it on U.S. streaming platforms may take some work. You'd likely need to track down a Japanese service or import a copy, which isn't worth the effort for a show with zero word-of-mouth.

What is Animals about?

It's a 2022 Japanese romance series, but plot details and marketing are scarce. Without reviews or fan communities discussing it, there's no clear hook or reason to seek it out.

What do critics say about Animals?

Nothing—there are no verified scores from Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic or IMDb users. The complete lack of critical or audience reaction is telling.