Review of Episode 1: Tokiwa Uncovers Suo’s Hidden Identity at the All-Guy’s Mixer

The premiere episode of How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer, titled That Time I Went to a Mixer and…, debuted in October 2024 as part of the Fall 2024 anime lineup. Viewers can stream this captivating anime on platforms such as Ani-One Asia, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

This anime uniquely blends aspects of crossdressing, romance, and comedy-drama, structured in an episodic format. It is an adaptation of a shojo manga of the same name, which first appeared in Square Enix’s Gangan Online magazine in 2022.

The narrative follows Tokiwa, Hagi, and Asagi, a group of friends who attend a mixer, only to discover that the other attendees are girls crossdressing as men because of their professions as bartenders.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer episode 1.

Highlights of How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer Episode 1

Suou as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Ashi Productions)

The first episode opens with Tokiwa arriving at the venue of the mixer, following an invitation from Suou, one of the main female leads. To his astonishment, Tokiwa and his friends find themselves seated at a table with dashing men, prompting him to reach out to Suou for clarification. Soon, it becomes clear that these “handsome men”are actually Suou and the other girls attending the mixer.

The girls explain that, due to their bartending jobs, they must dress as attractive men and had come directly from their shifts. The mixer includes an array of games and eventually transitions to a karaoke bar, where Tokiwa loses a bet to Suou in a singing competition, leading to a humorous situation where he is made to crossdress as a girl—a misunderstanding that ensues with the bar owners.

The mixer and its after-party conclude with Tokiwa starting to develop feelings for Suou, while both of his friends forge genuine connections with Suou’s companions. The following day, at university, Tokiwa encounters Suou again, still donning her bartending disguise, named the “SSR Prince,”which has garnered significant popularity among the female students.

Review of How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer Episode 1

Suou and Tokiwa as shown in the anime (Image via Ashi Productions)

As one of the few romance anime airing this Fall 2024 season that isn’t a continuation of an existing series, How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer presents a fresh story. Although the source manga has amassed a devoted fanbase, the anime hasn’t yet carved out a distinct identity amidst the plethora of series released concurrently.

The visuals and voice performances are commendable and surpass typical standards in romance anime; however, the overall animation quality, sound design, and storyline fall short of expectations. Despite its romantic comedy label, the atmosphere and character interactions strongly resemble those of a slice-of-life genre, showcasing typical character stereotypes.

On the whole, the first episode of How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer serves as a reasonable introduction, but its production values and foundational story structure leave room for improvement. It may offer light-hearted entertainment with a romantic subplot, yet deeper character exploration of figures like Suou and Tokiwa is necessary to elevate it beyond conventional tropes.

Final Thoughts

Episode 1 of How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer positions the series as one of the more cheerful additions to the Fall 2024 roster. While it has not yet captured a robust following, its engaging premise as a lighthearted college romance comedy with a cross-dressing female lead could potentially resonate widely as the season progresses.

Source