Midnight Heart Episode 1 Review: A Visual Letdown or Just Growing Pains for Studio Gekkou?

The hype was real, but the result is... complicated.

Tune In to the Midnight Heart (Mayonaka Heart Tune) has finally hit the airwaves, and while the "Apollo" mystery is as charming as ever, the community is already split. If you check Reddit or Twitter, you'll see a war between manga purists and anime optimists.

Is it a disaster? No. But it’s definitely not the perfect adaptation we were hoping for.

The "Lifeless" Eyes and Yellow Fever

The biggest complaint coming from the manga community is the art direction. Masakuni Igarashi’s original manga is known for its incredibly expressive and detailed character designs.

In the anime, however, something feels off.

1. Arisu's Design: Fans are calling out his "lifeless eyes." In the manga, he has a sharp, intense look. Here? He looks like he hasn't slept in three weeks (which, given the radio theme, might be thematic, but it looks more like a budget issue).
2. The Uniforms: Why is the yellow so... aggressive? The school uniform colors are borderline neon in some scenes, clashing with the otherwise cozy night-time aesthetic.

Stiff Animation: Studio Gekkou’s Struggle

Studio Gekkou isn't exactly a powerhouse like Bones or Ufotable, and it shows. While the static shots look decent, the animation gets notoriously stiff during long dialogue scenes. Characters often feel like they are "sliding" or only moving their mouths while the rest of their body stays frozen in time.

For a show that relies on chemistry and banter between Arisu and the girls, this lack of fluid movement is a bit of a mood-killer.

The MC: "Annoying Know-it-All" or Secret Gigachad?

If you're a new viewer, you probably find Yamabuki Arisu incredibly irritating. He’s arrogant, overconfident, and speaks like he’s 30 years older than he actually is.

But wait. Manga readers are already jumping to his defense. They promise that Arisu is one of the best rom-com protagonists in recent memory—a literal "Gigachad" who doesn't hesitate and actually drives the plot forward. The anime just needs time to let his character evolve.

A Rough Start with a Solid Core

Despite the technical flaws, the core story is still fantastic. The voice acting is top-tier, and the mystery of Apollo is enough to keep anyone hooked. If you can look past the stiff animation and the "lifeless" eyes, there's a lot of heart here.

Let's just hope Studio Gekkou finds their rhythm before the season ends.

!NOTE If you're a manga reader, take a deep breath. It's not perfect, but it's better than no adaptation at all. Newcomers, stick around—the MC gets way better.