Kotoko Iwanaga is a goddess of wisdom, and she solves problems for the supernatural beings that live among us. Kuro Sakuragawa is the boy she fell in love with, and he is feared by every creature in that world. That tension drives In/Spectre, a 2020 anime series from tv asahi and Tokyo MX, and it mostly works.
The show runs 24 episodes across a single season, airing from January 12, 2020 to March 27, 2023. It mixes comedy, mystery and fantasy into a story about a girl who falls in love with a boy who can see monsters. The premise is simple: Kotoko helps the strange creatures of her world, and Kuro gets dragged along because he is the only person she trusts enough to ask for help.
Trailer, via Crunchyroll.
The Girl Who Loves Monsters
Akari Kito voices Kotoko Iwanaga, and she sells the character’s warmth even when the plot asks for a bit more. Kuro Sakuragawa, voiced by Mamoru Miyano, carries the show’s emotional weight. He is a lonely boy still recovering from a break-up, and the show spends real time with that pain before the monsters arrive.
The series opens with Kotoko declaring she has loved Kuro since they met two years earlier. She tells him she is a goddess of wisdom, a link between the real world and the strange world of supernatural beings. Kuro doubts her at first, but after fighting a yokai in a library, they reveal their true selves to each other. Kuro turns out to be part monster himself, having eaten the flesh of two yokai. This gives him the power to heal from any wound and limited control over the near-future.
What Works
- The relationship between Kotoko and Kuro feels genuine. Their bond grows slowly, through repeated adventures together, and the show never rushes the romance.
- The comedy lands more often than it misses, particularly in scenes where Kuro’s monster nature clashes with ordinary life.
- The mystery cases are varied enough to keep each episode fresh, even when the formula repeats.
- The animation holds up well across all 24 episodes, with consistent character designs and clear action choreography.
Where It Falls Short
The show’s biggest problem is pacing. Some middle episodes drag, with filler cases that feel like they exist only to fill airtime rather than advance the story. The mystery elements are often clever, but the show leans too heavily on its monster-of-the-week structure, which can dilute the central romance over time.
The humor also leans on easy gags tied to Kuro’s monster nature, and while they land occasionally, they repeat often enough to lose their punch. The series is at its best when it focuses on the two leads, and at its worst when it wanders into side cases that add little to the larger arc.
Kotoko’s Crush
Where In/Spectre succeeds most is in its central question: what happens to Kotoko’s crush? The show sets up a clear romantic tension between the two leads, and it pays off that setup across the full run. The final episodes resolve the story with Kotoko and Kuro becoming a couple, which feels earned after the slow build the show takes throughout.
The show’s ending ties back to its opening promise: Kotoko’s crush is resolved, and the two of them face the future together. It is a satisfying conclusion to a story built around that single thread.
The Final Word
In/Spectre is a solid, if uneven, entry in the genre. Its strongest moments come from the relationship between its two leads, and its weakest come from filler cases that stretch the runtime. The animation is consistent, the voice acting is strong, and the premise is engaging enough to hold attention across all 24 episodes.
7.8 out of 10.
- A genuine romance at its center
- Strong voice acting from Kito and Miyano
- Consistent animation quality
- A few episodes that feel padded with filler
- Humor that repeats its gags
- A satisfying resolution to the main plot
The show is worth watching for anyone who enjoys a slow-burn romance set in a world of monsters, but it is not without its flaws. It is a good show, not a great one, and that distinction matters when deciding whether to invest the time.
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