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Welcome to the Deer Club

Each anime season delivers a mix of highly anticipated premieres, returning series, and unexpected titles that take viewers by surprise. My Deer Friend Nokotan has quickly become one such surprise hit of the Summer 2024 lineup, thanks to its quirky humor and numerous nods to other works.

Also, let’s be honest – you only started watching My Deer Friend Nokotan because of that viral video. Or maybe it was all the clips that have flooded the internet since the series premiere. That is ok because that is also how I got into this series. But is an anime that entices you with meme worthy moments going to be any good? The answer is yes!

It should be noted that I’m anime only regarding the series. Hence this review will not compare My Deer Friend Nokotan with the manga. Instead, my critique will be based on the anime adaptations’ own merit.

Girl Meets Deer

Torako Koshi seems like the perfect student—intelligent, kind, popular, and even the student council president. However, she hides a dark secret: she was once the leader of a juvenile gang. Although she’s worked hard to reform her life and image, she lives in constant fear of her past being uncovered. Everything changes when she meets Noko “Nokotan” Shikanoko, a new transfer student who is a human-deer hybrid. Sensing Koshi’s delinquent past, Nokotan puts everything Koshi has worked for in jeopardy. Yet, this unlikely connection leads them to establish the school’s first-ever Deer Club.

At that point, the series shifts from a structured plot to a series of stories linked by playful deer antics. Central to this is Koshi’s effort to maintain her reputation and keep order. All while Nokotan roams freely as an agent of chaos by creating delightful mayhem. Though the storylines may seem fragmented, this approach works well, keeping the focus from lingering too long on any single plotline or joke. This format helps avoid overplaying its humor.

Summer of Deers

My Deer Friend Nokotan understands that it’s, in their own words, a braindead comedy. That is an accurate way to summarize its humor but that should be treated as a complaint. At the same time, it’s smart enough to know the tropes and cliches of an anime – mocking it at every chance it gets.

When starting this series, expect an abundance of absurd humor and over-the-top antics throughout. Much of the comedy centers on Nokotan as a human-deer hybrid, a trait that feels normal to everyone except Koshi. The resulting situations are either deer-related, school-themed, or about the growing bond between Nokotan and Koshi. Simultaneously, the show avoids becoming just another slice-of-life comedy about otherworldly beings exploring the joys of the human world. This intentional approach lends the series a distinctive charm, setting it apart in its genre.

Adding to the mix is the plethora of nods to other animes. Yes, there are Jojo references – one too many. There are also homages to Gundam, Dragon Ball, and Attack on Titan just to name a few. These references to other iconic works just add to the series’ surreal humor while acknowledging the influence other works have had on the medium.

Finally – you can’t help but love the opening song. Since the marketing featured its memorable intro, it has become an unforgettable highlight of the show. This isn’t to downplay the song as a whole; the entire track is catchy and energizing. Overall, this is one opening I’m definitely not skipping.

Deer in the Crosshairs

My Deer Friend Nokotan falls short with running jokes and plotlines that often lack direction. For example, Neko Nekoyamada’s ongoing schemes to end the Deer Club always result in her becoming Nokotan’s fan. The series inconsistently portrays her—one moment she idolizes the club, and the next, she’s plotting its downfall. Additionally, Nokotan’s unexplained fear of water bottles appears sporadically, adding little purpose other than to remind viewers it exists as a running gag. These unresolved or recurring elements tend to dilute the show’s overall plot cohesion and character consistency.

The Ultimate Apex Deer

My Deer Friend Nokotan is an anime that got your attention with its viral video and kept you around because of its surreal humor. At its core, it’s a comedy that understands its audience well, playing expertly with classic anime tropes. Blending over-the-top absurdity with clever references, the series delivers a unique style of humor that keeps each episode rich in laughs.

Disclaimer: I watched the entire season on Crunchyroll, which I pay for myself.

8Bit/Digi is an independent news outlet that provides insight into the video game and fandom community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

My Deer Friend Nokotan (Season 1)

8

Excellent

8.0/10

Pros

• A catchy and unforgettable opening
• Its over-the-top and surreal sense of humor
• References to numerous iconic animes
• The deer jokes

Cons

• Running jokes and plotlines that often lack direction