“Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games” – An Esports Anime That Breaks the Mold

This is everything I want in an anime right now. Girls who love games? Yes. A touch of romance between rivals? Double yes. And they’re playing my favorite fighting game? I’m sold. I’m excited to see how they show the tension of a match in anime format. I want to see the girls take each other seriously, not just flirt and mash buttons. This can be cute and intense if they do it right. And more yuri anime that’s not just fluff is always welcome.

It’s very smart for Capcom to do this. Anime has a strong pull with younger audiences, and Street Fighter needs to stay visible to compete with newer IPs like Guilty Gear or Tekken’s latest revival. From a marketing standpoint, this collaboration benefits both sides. That said, I’ll be watching with skepticism. Anime sometimes fumbles when depicting real esports. It’s hard to strike a balance between dramatizing matches and staying accurate. I’ll review it after three episodes.

I just think it’s cute. I like the idea of a perfect-looking girl being really obsessed with fighting games. It reminds me of how I act different when I’m online. I'm also happy it’s not a parody game this time. I play Street Fighter 6 with my cousin and I always lose, so maybe I can learn some tips by watching the anime.