ReLIFE
Summary: Dismissed as a hopeless loser by those around him, 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki bounces around from one job to another after quitting his first company. His unremarkable existence takes a sharp turn when he meets Ryou Yoake, a member of the ReLife Research Institute, who offers Arata the opportunity to change his life for the better with the help of a mysterious pill. Taking it without a second thought, Arata awakens the next day to find that his appearance has reverted to that of a 17-year-old.
Arata soon learns that he is now the subject of a unique experiment and must attend high school as a transfer student for one year. Though he initially believes it will be a cinch due to his superior life experience, Arata is proven horribly wrong on his first day: he flunks all his tests, is completely out of shape, and can't keep up with the new school policies that have cropped up in the last 10 years. Furthermore, Ryou has been assigned to observe him, bringing Arata endless annoyance. ReLIFE follows Arata's struggle to adjust to his hectic new lifestyle and avoid repeating his past mistakes, all while slowly discovering more about his fellow classmates.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Dismissed as a hopeless loser by those around him, 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki bounces around from one job to another after quitting his first company. His unremarkable existence takes a sharp turn when he meets Ryou Yoake, a member of the ReLife Research Institute, who offers Arata the opportunity to change his life for the better with the help of a mysterious pill. Taking it without a second thought, Arata awakens the next day to find that his appearance has reverted to that of a 17-year-old.
Arata soon learns that he is now the subject of a unique experiment and must attend high school as a transfer student for one year. Though he initially believes it will be a cinch due to his superior life experience, Arata is proven horribly wrong on his first day: he flunks all his tests, is completely out of shape, and can't keep up with the new school policies that have cropped up in the last 10 years. Furthermore, Ryou has been assigned to observe him, bringing Arata endless annoyance. ReLIFE follows Arata's struggle to adjust to his hectic new lifestyle and avoid repeating his past mistakes, all while slowly discovering more about his fellow classmates.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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ReLIFE Trailers
ReLIFE Pictures
ReLIFE Review
ReLIFE — Dismissed as a hopeless loser by those around him, 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki bounces around from one job to another after quitting his first company. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Drama, Romance conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 7.96). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, ReLIFE offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Drama, Romance, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Hishiro, Chizuru
Main
Kayano, Ai
Japanese
Hishiro, Chizuru
Main
Tirado, Jeannie
English
Hishiro, Chizuru
Main
Molina, Daniela
German
Kaizaki, Arata
Main
Ono, Kensho
Japanese
Kaizaki, Arata
Main
Solusod, Micah
English
Kaizaki, Arata
Main
Pera, Roger
Spanish
Kaizaki, Arata
Main
Walenta, Johannes
German
Kariu, Rena
Main
Tomatsu, Haruka
Japanese
Kariu, Rena
Main
Tipton, Alexis
English
Kariu, Rena
Main
Gispert, Yolanda
Spanish
Onoya, An
Main
Ueda, Reina
Japanese
Onoya, An
Main
McGuire, Kristen
English
Ooga, Kazuomi
Main
Uchida, Yuuma
Japanese
Ooga, Kazuomi
Main
Shepard, Blake
English
Ooga, Kazuomi
Main
Castañer, Xavier
Spanish
Yoake, Ryou
Main
Kimura, Ryouhei
Japanese
Yoake, Ryou
Main
Grelle, Jessie James
English
Yoake, Ryou
Main
Navarro, Jordi
Spanish
Yoake, Ryou
Main
Kluckert, Sebastian
German
Amagase, Kento
Supporting
Kawashima, Tokuyoshi
Japanese
Staff
Adachi, Kazuki
Producer
Cook, Justin
Producer
Kawanabe, Daisuke
Producer
Watanabe, Akihito
Producer
Herek, Samantha
Assistant Producer
Kosaka, Tomochi
Director
Hata, Shouji
Sound Director
Bizen, Katsuhiko
Episode Director, Storyboard
Nakata, Makoto
Episode Director
Seki, Akiko
Episode Director, Storyboard
Soeta, Kazuhiro
Episode Director, Storyboard
Yamada, Hirokazu
Episode Director, Storyboard
Stocker, Kevin
Script
Sano, Takashi
Storyboard
Tsuji, Hatsuki
Storyboard
CHEMISTRY
Theme Song Performance
Inoue, Akio
Theme Song Lyrics
Konishi, Takao
Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Arrangement
L'Arc~en~Ciel
Theme Song Performance, Theme Song Arrangement
Nakashima, Mika
Theme Song Performance