Tamon's B-Side

Tamon’s B-Side is a story about a female MC who is a fan of the band - F/ACE - more specifically, her idol Tamon. And one day, she ends up getting a job as his housekeeper. I’ll start with the things that I enjoyed about this story first. Tamon, as a character, was incredibly endearing and genuine, and he felt real. He wasn’t perfect; he was messy and problematic, but in ways that felt earnest and genuine. I thoroughly enjoyed him as a character, and enjoyed watching him gain more and more self-confidence in himself and his relationships with others, like his bandmates. For the plot, itwas simple as far as storylines go. There isn’t any conflict the characters have to overcome or any drama that needs to be resolved. Though I tend to enjoy more compelling storytelling, I actually found this plot very enjoyable despite its mild writing. The characters were entertaining enough to keep my attention from episode to episode, and overall, the plot’s wholesomeness was very sweet. The music was actually pretty nice too, and I enjoyed all the band members’ charisma and their dynamics with one another. Now, for what I truly struggled with - Kinoshita, the protagonist. While she absolutely had promising things about her character, I found the way she interacted with Tamon honestly bothersome. She continuously calls him a “god” and an “idol,” and never progresses to treating him as just Tamon the person. She even separates his “personalities” and calls them gloomy Tamon and hottie Tamon. Which is honestly pretty upsetting. Would you want someone to call the person you actually are, and not your persona, gloomy? All the time, mind you. And despite learning his true nature, she still worships him only as his idol version, and never cares about the actual person Tamon is - anxious and paranoid and sad. We see this during a scene where he attempts to unalive himself, and she doesn’t care enough to tell his bandmates or manager that he’s struggling and to keep an eye on him. Other than giving him some tea to drink, she doesn’t act worried or caring at all...like what? Nor did she call or text and check in with him to make sure he was okay. But then, on the flipside, she’ll constantly say, “I love Tamon.” Which, obviously she is only referring to his idol version as is clear throughout this whole story. At first, I just brushed it off thinking - maybe she just sees herself as unworthy of Tamon, and that’s why she keeps herself as just his fan and nothing more. But when it’s clear that Tamon wants more from her than just a fan/idol relationship, she completely deters his attempts. And I can’t help thinking it’s because she doesn’t like “gloomy tamon.” She doesn’t actually want to change their dynamic because she loves him as an idol, and that’s how she wants it to stay. To only be his fan. Because the real him isn’t hot enough, or confident enough...he’s emotional. And it’s not the version of him that she loves. I could understand acting this way in the beginning, but then having her slowly treat him as a friend/lover as she gets to know him better. But we don’t get any of that. Even when she tries defending him, she says, “I’m his housekeeper” instead of “I’m his friend,” which implies that she’s only spending time with Tamon because he pays her too. And she wouldn’t go out of her way to spend time with him, which we see when that housekeeper goes to take her job back in the earlier episodes, and she stops going to his place because it’s not her job anymore. And when she even says that she can’t go to Tamon’s place when he invites her over on a regular day, because she can only go when she’s being paid. So she’ll spend her money to see him as Tamon the idol in concert and meet and greets, but she won’t go over to his house to see him as simply Tamon unless it’s for work...like what???? How can you convince me she actually loves him and not his idol-self in the end? It’s incredibly confusing. With that stated, while I definitely had my qualms about Kinoshita, overall I did enjoy and would recommend!

Tamon’s B-Side revolves around a concept that idol fans know all too well: the “B-side.” In music, a B-side is the hidden track. The song that isn’t the headline but often reveals something more personal about the artist. This series takes that idea and turns it into its entire emotional foundation. Behind the dazzling lights, perfect smiles, and carefully curated personas, idols have another side, which is the awkward, insecure, painfully human self that only appears when the stage lights turn off. For Tamon Fukuhara, that contrast is almost comically extreme. On stage, he’s the ideal idol. Radiant, confident, effortlessly charming, the kind of presencethat can make an arena of fans scream in unison. But offstage, that shining “Prince” collapses into something completely different. His private self, nicknamed "Gloomyhara" is a bundle of nerves, constantly overthinking, doubting himself, and hiding in oversized hoodies while spiraling internally over the smallest things. The brilliance of the series lies in this contradiction. The audience sees the glamorous idol everyone admires, but we’re also constantly aware of the anxious boy behind the performance. That tension becomes the beating heart of the comedy. Watching Tamon mentally panic while everyone around him perceives something entirely different is consistently hilarious. Yet the humor never feels cruel. Instead, it reminds us how exhausting it must be to live under the weight of a perfect image. Enter Utage Kinoshita, arguably one of the most entertaining fangirl protagonists in recent memory. Utage isn’t just a fan. She’s the kind of supporter who pours her entire heart into cheering for her favorite idol. Her reactions are gloriously over-the-top, but that’s exactly what makes her feel real. Anyone who has ever followed an idol group, or even just had a favorite celebrity will probably recognize a piece of themselves in her enthusiasm. What makes the dynamic interesting is how the story flips the usual idol fantasy. Normally, idols are portrayed as the emotionally steady figures who inspire their fans. Here, the roles blur. Tamon may be the idol on the stage, but emotionally he often ends up leaning on Utage’s encouragement. The relationship becomes surprisingly reciprocal. Fans might find strength in idols, but idols can also draw strength from the people who believe in them. Beneath the chaos and comedy, the story carries a privately meaningful message, that idols are still human. They are allowed to feel insecure, to grow, to make mistakes, and to have relationships beyond the version of themselves fans see on stage. Loving an idol doesn’t mean owning them, it means supporting them while respecting their boundaries. The series also captures the chaotic joy of fangirl culture with surprising accuracy. Utage’s dramatic speeches, emotional outbursts, and near-religious devotion to Tamon are exaggerated for laughs, but they never feel completely unrealistic. If you’ve ever stayed up watching idol livestreams, defended your bias online, or felt your heart explode when your favorite member smiled at the camera, Utage’s reactions will probably feel hilariously familiar. The anime adaptation amplifies that energy even further thanks to Kana Hanazawa, whose performance gives Utage an infectious spark. Her delivery swings effortlessly between emotional sincerity and chaotic fangirl enthusiasm. Tamon and Utage might be the emotional core, but the rest of the idol group F/ACE ensures the story never loses momentum. Each member carries their own “B-side.” Ouri Sakaguchi’s calm public image hides a mischievous prankster. Keito Tachibana’s composed leadership masks a surprisingly dry sense of humor. Natsuki Ishibashi appears gentle and comforting but secretly overthinks everything. Meanwhile, Rintaro Kai’s cool, minimalist demeanor turns him into the group’s perfect deadpan commentator. Together, their personalities create a chaotic but lovable group dynamic where backstage conversations are often just as entertaining as the performances themselves. Speaking of performances, the anime embraces the energy of idol culture beautifully. Songs like F/ACE’s Eyes on You, Sweet Magic, Supernova, etc bring a bright, sparkling atmosphere to the stage scenes, capturing the excitement of live performances while contrasting them with the messy hilarity happening behind the curtain. The animation leans heavily into expressive faces and exaggerated reactions, turning every awkward pause, dramatic fangirl meltdown, and Tamon panic spiral land perfectly. Of course, the series isn’t without its issues. The premise itself is highly idealized. Realistically speaking, meeting an idol in the first place is already incredibly unlikely. Actually forming a close relationship with one? That level of luck probably belongs to people personally chosen by the gods of fortune. In other words, such a close connection with one belongs almost entirely to fantasy. But the story never pretends otherwise. In many ways, that wish-fulfillment is part of the charm. It invites viewers to explore the impossible “what if” scenario every fan has imagined at least once. The romance also unfolds at a relatively brisk pace. While there are moments of conflict, they rarely escalate into heavy emotional drama. Anyone looking for deeply tangled romantic tension might find the story lighter than expected. Similarly, the idol industry itself is portrayed in a fairly gentle light, avoiding the harsher realities that often define real entertainment culture. At times, Tamon’s insecurity can also feel exaggerated enough to become a recurring comedic loop. His anxious spirals are funny, but the story occasionally revisits the same joke structure more than necessary. Still, the humor remains charming thanks to the warmth of the characters. In the end, Tamon’s B-Side works best when appreciated for what it wants to be. A bright, chaotic romantic comedy that celebrates fandom while gently peeling back the illusion of idol perfection. Behind every dazzling stage persona is a B-side, awkward, vulnerable, and beautifully human. Ultimately, the most comforting idea the series offers is that sometimes the part of someone we admire the most isn’t the flawless performance, but the imperfect person behind it. Anyway, keep in mind that no opinion is ever purely objective, and every perspective remains open to discussion. Even so, each viewpoint still holds its own value. If you happen to see things differently, simple mutual respect is more than enough. That same respect is the spirit behind this reflection as well. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.

8.5/10 +Well rounded heroine with colorful personality; great slow burn romance +Excellent animation, music, and pacing +Supporting cast equally as developed and adds flavor -Somewhat unlikable deuteragonist with eccentric personality -At times crosses the line with inappropriate jokes that underplay mental health It’s easy to idolize what we see on the surface rather than face our true selves. Those deep feelings of wanting acceptance linger in all of us. But what if there was another side you were too afraid to show? When ordinary girl Utage Kinoshita has a chance encounter with her favorite pop idol Tamon, it all seems too good to be true. Yet she’ll discover thatthere’s more to him than meets the eye, and perhaps he’ll find the courage to finally be himself. Tamon’s B Side is truly the definition of a wild ride, standing as one of J.C Staff’s best productions to date. It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, and the pacing is excellent. Utage especially steals the show with her well rounded personality. She’s passionate and eccentric while being extremely grounded, yet also caring and sweet. Throw in killer music, smooth animation, a hillarious supporting cast, an awesome slow burn romance, and you’re in for an excellent time. It’s almost perfect, if not for Tamon’s outlandish personality and the show’s inappropriate digs at depression and anxiety. The finale is also lackluster and there is a lot more blanks to fill with our heroes character motivations. Yet for every incomplete hero, there’s an equally compelling counterpart. For all its faults, Tamon’s B Side still delivers, planting the seeds for a rich story.

JC Staff did this, and they did it well. Who would have thought JC Staff still had the touch? Tamon is easily one of the contenders for romance this season. He has all the necessary weapons to defend himself. Something that really stands out about the series is that, despite being based on the idol industry, it doesn't try to be edgy or a social critique. We already know the industry is messed up, but sometimes these kinds of stories are necessary. Stories where idols are humanized and we see their character flaws, while the figure of the fan is vindicated. They can make a serieswhere a fan can be madly in love with their favorite while maintaining respect. Knowing that there's a place for everything, and that even if you lose your mind, you understand that they are people too. The romance works in a very organic way. They don't try to make the viewer fall in love with the perfect version of Tamon. They manage to make us develop a genuine concern for Deprehara episode by episode. We understand the character's vulnerability and the effort behind his perfect facade. We understand why someone like Utage, the protagonist, is there to support him. With a story featuring many handsome guys, the biggest fear might be that it would turn into a reverse harem. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. There is a love triangle, but Utage's connections with the rest of F/ACE aren't romantic. They can establish a friendship between the protagonist and the band members without forcing a romance that wouldn't make sense. The Utage-Tamon relationship is incredibly sweet, and while it doesn't progress much, it's justified. You understand why Utage holds back his feelings so much. We know the kind of scandals that would result from an idol having a girlfriend. Utage holding back his feelings is a way of protecting not only Tamon but the entire band. Meanwhile, we see Tamon trying to break down Utage's barriers, making the romance a constant push and pull. The best part of the anime is that they make Utage develop romantic feelings for the flawed protagonist. She'll always support Tamon of F/ACE as a fan, but the one she fell in love with is Deprehara, the human. The work they do with the band F/ACE is incredibly well done. The fact that they let you get to know each member realistically, with their strengths and weaknesses, makes it easy for you to choose your favorite. Mine is Keito, in case you were wondering. Each member's B-sides are fun to watch; they give them so much personality and complement each other perfectly. Watching their interactions on and off camera is always entertaining because of the contrasts they create. They're a band, so we should also focus on the songs. I'm not just talking about the opening and ending themes, but the songs within the series as well. Rain is a fantastic song that was built up over an entire episode, focusing on Tamon's lack of understanding of love. Rain is easily the best song of the show and the band in general. It's a song that moves away from catchy pop and opts for a ballad that truly touches a nerve. Then there's FLY, which is an homage to Wandance because the 3D modeling in that song gave me flashbacks to Vietnam. Finally, I want to highlight the work of the main voice actors. Utage is voiced by Saori Hayami; it was known even before the premiere that she would be the one to carry this work on her shoulders. Saori knows how to adapt to her characters and give them a lot of charisma and personality. Utage is no exception; she's one of the best female romance protagonists I've seen in recent years. The acting is brilliant; she can shift from comedy to seriousness in a matter of seconds, exactly what the story needs given its fast pace. It was known that Saori Hayami would do an excellent job, and she delivered. But the one who deserves my applause, because his performance was a complete surprise, is Hatano Kakeru, who plays Tamon. Tamon was his first leading role, and he handled it as if it were just another day at the office. Tamon isn't an easy character due to the contrast between his personalities and mood swings. There were fears that the role would be too much for him, but on the contrary, it was a perfect fit. The chemistry he had with Hayami was magnificent. The two voice actors complemented each other exceptionally well, and it shows in the quality of the final product. I'm not a big fan of JC Entertainment; in recent years, they've delivered soulless products just to meet a quota. Watching Tamon's B-side brought back memories of seeing JC Staff from 2008-2015. Without a doubt, when given the time and budget to work, JC Staff can be one of the best choices for a project of this caliber.