Summary
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again, which recently finished airing onCrunchyroll, is the perfect beginner shojo/romance anime.It tells the story of a loving Grandpa and Grandma who run an apple orchard in Hirosaki, in the Aomori Prefecture, and find a golden apple on one of their trees. After eating the golden apple, Grandpa and Grandma turn young again, regaining their physical youth for a couple of months.
It’s a straightforward story great for someone who wants to seewhat the romance genre is all about. Written by Kagiri Araido in 2019, the manga series ran for about 5 years before coming to a succinct conclusion. The manga received a full adaptation through the anime as well, another great sign for someone who wants to watch a series in its totality.
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againis a great entry romance series because of its short run time, wholesome story, great cast of supporting characters, and simple premise.
Grandpa and Granda Turn Young Again Is Only 11 Episodes Long
Don’t Worry About Winding Story Lines Here
One of the most intimidating aspects of getting into any new series is its length,an obstacle the newOne Pieceanime is looking to tackleas well.Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againonly has 11 episodes, which is one less than a normal 12-episode series and 14 less than a 25-episode cour. Grandpa and Grandma’s story is told in totality as well, leaving no stones unturned along the way.
Not only does the series wrap up every loose end it presents, but it does so in fewer episodes than most other Shojo series.Horimiyahas 26 episodes with its second seasonHorimiya: Piecesadded,Kaguya-Sama: Love is Warhas 41, andKimi no Todoke: From Me to Youhas 37 episodes witha third season on the way.
At around 20 minutes an episode,all ofGrandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againcan be watched in less than 4 hours.This is another green flag for a new watcher who doesn’t want to commit too much of their time to a new series in a genre they’re unfamiliar with.
The Story Is As Wholesome As It Gets
What Could Be More Wholesome Than Two Grandparents Loving Each Other?
While other shojo series focus on middle- or high-school aged kids,Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againis focused on a couple who have been married for 58 years. They’re an elderly couple well into their 70s and their maturity is one of the best parts of the show. The series as a whole is pretty mature comparatively, as there are very few lewd moments in the entire season.
Lewd moments can be a huge deal-breaker for a casual watcher andGrandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againdon’t have to rely on them for storytelling in the slightest. There is a weird moment in the first episode where Grandpa’s daughter and granddaughter develop crushes on him because of how handsome he’s become, but that really isn’t brought up much in the series after.
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Beyond the lack of lewd moments,Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againdoesn’t focus on the new, exciting parts of love likeMy Dress-Up DarlingorSpice and Wolf: Merchant Meets Wise Wolf.Instead, the show shines a light onthe power of consistent, everlasting love. There’s an episode in which Grandma loses her memory and reverts back to her pre-married self. She challenges Grandpa to make her fall in love with her again and he accepts.
Instead of buying her flowers or making a grand display,Grandpa does the same thing he does every day: he loves Grandma through every activity he does.Whether he’s helping her clean without looking for praise, working extra hard in the apple orchard, or teaching her how to cut carrots again, she’s the first thing he’s thinking about at every step.
When she realizes how deep his love is for her, her memory returns in a flash. She rushes to greet her husband at the door and apologizes for doubting him. Grandpa, ever the romantic, tells his wife that he never had a problem and loves both Grandma with and without her memory all the same.
The Show Has Great Side Characters
They’re On Screen Just The Right Amount
A good story must have a good cast of supporting characters. While Grandpa and Grandma are at the center of their own story, their family and friends make the series better every time they are on-screen. Whether it’s Grandpa and Grandma’s grandchildren finding love of their own, their son going through work problems, or their new friends who have also found new youthful bodies, every supporting character brings something fresh and fun to the series.
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One of the best stories withinGrandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againis between their granddaughter Shiori and her soon-to-be boyfriend/future husband Shouta.Shiori’s new relationship is fresh, funny, and a little awkward, which is a great juxtaposition againstthe stability and calmness Grandpa and Grandma have in their relationship.
A Simple Premise Can Go A Long Way
Will They Or Won’t They Was Answered 57 Years Ago
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againhasone of the simplest premises of any romance anime: what if an elderly couple got to be young again?The series presents the premise within the first five minutes and doesn’t go back on it once, another great sign for a casual series. It also doesn’t waste any time trying to hide the premise from side characters or even presenting the premise as a problem. Instead,Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againfully focuses on the upsides of old lovers given another chance.
Some romance anime spend a lot of time in the pre-dating period of a couple, hinging on the classic “Will they or won’t they” trope. Grandpa and Grandma couldn’t be further past that, as they’re already married for 57 years at the start of the series and 58 by the end. They know each other so well that Grandpa can adjust his speed to Grandma’s in the three-legged race, blowing past the competition with ease.
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Againis an inherently positive series.It’s centered on two people with a love so deep for each other not even losing their memories can affect them. The series showcases their love across new environments their elderly bodies wouldn’t have been able to reach.
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again
Cast
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again is a 2024 television series that follows an elderly couple who, through mysterious circumstances, find themselves transformed back into their youthful selves. As they navigate their newfound youth, they must reconcile their past experiences with their newfound vitality and adjust to the challenges and opportunities that come with being young again.
