Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze

Going into this, I didn't really expect much. I wasn't going to watch it because "lol, generic harem show, amirite" but a friend wrote a positive review so I put it at the tail end of my 2025 seasonal catchup. Even when I was watching it, around 4 minutes in the first episode, I finally got an establishing shot of the 3 waifus and... I was kind of underwhelmed (which... to be fair, that's still kind of the case, I like them as characters but I'm not really attracted to any of them per se, I'll touch on that more in a little bit). I almost turned itoff and put on a different show because at least I found that girl attractive. However, once I locked in (after 15 real life minutes of deliberation)... holy shit, this show actually kind of rocks? It kind of plays with the "average MC-kun bumps into a menagerie of bombshell waifus" by centering the anime around that theme. The MC-kun, Yu Ayase, is less than average at everything. He sucks at athletics, isn't particularly smart, and despite being the son of a famous actress, he sucks at acting. The only things he has going for him are his looks (which is one thing, he's not exactly the kind of character they'd put alongside, say, Taiki Inomata or Wakana Gojou [NOT THAT I'M SHITTING ON THEM AS CHARACTERS, merely commenting on more notable romcom MCs with designs I've seen called "bland" and "samey"] in those slander pictures), he's a good househusband, and he's nice. The Mikadono sisters, on the other hand, are natural-born prodigies. Niko is a karate champ who can beat even professional males, Kazuki is the star performer of her theatre troupe, and Miwa is the youngest shogi champ ever. Since Yu is so cute and femboypilled, the Mikadono sisters (Niko and Kazuki in particular) play the role of the "prince" which leads perfectly into the crux of the problem with them: Being a prodigy kind of sucks? They hardly take breaks, have to carefully ration out what they eat, and are constantly locked in. When you first meet them, they want nothing to do with this absolute goober in Yu, the representation of what they could've been and could be if they are caught lacking. In addition, their dad is basically only interested in how they are as prodigies, it's Yu who has to take this fractured family dynamic and try and glue it back together (since he himself knows what it's like to have a fractured family, desperately trying to live vicariously through the Mikadono sisters to create a second family for himself). They so desperately want to be more than they are, more than "Good at karate/acting/shogi", full-fledged women who can laugh and have fun and LIVE but it's not until the exact person they feared becoming comes in that changes their lives. And it's not their natural talent that allows them to succeed in their endeavors in this show, it's them embracing their humanity. Niko can take the stick out of her ass when fighting, Kazuki isn't just Observing what it's like to be feminine, these are things that being with Yu has allowed them to embrace despite their previous life experiences. They even add a fifth character who gives us a perspective from a complete outsider, one who isn't a prodigy like the sisters nor a "failed prodigy" like the MC. She comes from (relatively speaking) nothing and had to make it all on her own on hard work. In general, I think Miwa's arc is probably the strongest since she has a strong character to bounce off of and I liked her, like, "lesson" the most. It was kind of sad knowing she didn't even get to do what she WANTED to do per se. I'm not going to necessarily say this applies to every show universally but generally, for romcoms, I tend to find the more... disposable ones tend to live and die by their waifus. By that, I mean it's genuinely the only thing I think of when I think about the show. This is something like Rent-a-Girlfriend or even Blue Box (not that it's nearly as bad as RaG). I feel like the more high-quality romcoms are the ones where I can reflect more on the PLOT, the moments, what actually happens in the story (or at the very least, it's really fucking funny like Urusei Yatsura or 100 Girlfriends). This is something like Kaguya-sama or KareKano. As I said earlier, I don't think any of the sisters will be winning a waifu contest in my eyes any time soon, but I DO want to see more of them as CHARACTERS, learning and developing and growing as people. To be honest, "which one is MC going to pick" isn't really a question that came to mind too often. I don't want to excessively glaze this show and hype it up like it's THE greatest romcom (or even harem) of all time. The production, while solid, isn't anything to write home about. Due to being 1 cour, it's only got so much time to develop each waifu so you only get like 2 or 3 episodes each that focus on them (although I did like that they kind of segmented each sister into her own part so they each get a big spotlight, even though the others are still in the background) and should this not get a second season, it's not like you'll know how their love lives end up. It's still a harem anime at the end of the day, if you don't like harems, I doubt this'll change your mind. But if you can fuck with it, it's well worth your time.

8.5/10 +Heartwarming relationship dynamics; avoids negative genre tropes (fan-service, immature behaviors) +Well-rounded, relatable MC who proves his worth +High production values: stylized animation, fun sound, and excellent pacing -Lack of major conflict prevents higher, richer stakes Nothing is more satisfying than watching a fool triumph, especially when all odds are stacked against him. Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze’s initial premise reduces an eye-roll. Loser guy ends up living with three prodigies who also happen to be the most beautiful girls in his class, a recipe for lazy wish fulfillment. Instead, viewers will be surprised when they see a heartwarming story about recognizing one’s worth past their accomplishmentsand social standing. Beautiful animation, great pacing, and fun characters make this series a standout in the sea of rom-coms. Yuu is not a cookie-cutter insert, but has goals and relatable struggles. While initially shunned by his peers for seemingly having no talents, perhaps he excels at the one skill everyone needs in life. While lacking a proper conclusion and higher stakes for our MC, Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze teaches us that being yourself is your greatest weapon. It’s a fluffy, well-executed cliche story.

It’s pretty good… Pretty much it. Alright, kidding. This isn’t the “anime of the year” or some genre-defining masterpiece, but it’s also not bad at all. Mikadono Sisters lands comfortably in the middle: enjoyable, consistent, and worth watching if you’re looking for something lighthearted with a bit of romance drama. Let’s break it down a little. Characters: This is where the show is at its weakest. The heroines are copy-paste archetypes you’ve seen a thousand times before, and the MC is about as exciting as lukewarm tea. None of them are offensively bad, but none stand out either. You likely won’t finish this show with a new “best girl”to fight strangers on the internet about, and that’s kind of a problem in this genre. Story & Writing: Here’s the surprise: despite the generic cast, the writing does a lot of heavy lifting. The setup is engaging enough, the pacing is steady, and the scenarios the characters get thrown into are handled with more care than I expected. It’s like the show knows its characters are cookie-cutter, so it compensates with a story that makes the most out of them. The romance is cliché at times (of course it is), but it’s executed well enough to keep you hooked. Think of it like eating plain chips—you know it’s not gourmet, but hey, you still keep reaching into the bag. Consistency: One thing I have to give this show credit for: it’s consistent. I never sat through an episode thinking, “wow, that was rough,” but I also never hit an episode that completely blew me away. The series keeps itself at a steady level from start to finish, which makes it easy to watch without major frustrations. It’s comfort food anime—reliable, pleasant, but not something you’ll rave about later. Overall: Mikadono Sisters isn’t amazing, but it’s a solid, enjoyable watch. It takes a safe approach, delivers a decent story, and never dips into “bad” territory. If you’re in the mood for something light and familiar, you’ll probably have a good time with it. 7.5/10