Kongjui & Patchui

Title: Kongjui & Patchui: A Twisted Fairytale That Should’ve Stayed Un-Hentai’d

Let’s cut straight to the chase: Kongjui & Patchui is a confusing mess. Marketed as a dark retelling of the classic Korean Cinderella story (Kongjwi and Patjwi), this 2017 H-anime from PoRo Studios takes a beloved folk tale about sibling rivalry and turns it into… well, something that feels like a bad fanfiction experiment gone wrong. And judging by the 6.66 average score on MyAnimeList (yes, really—Comment 5 called it), I’m not the only one who’s left scratching their head.

First, let’s get the basics out of the way. The original story follows Kongjui, a kind girl abused by her stepmother and stepsister Patchui after her father remarries. In the folk tale, Kongjui is helped by animals and eventually finds happiness, but this anime? It throws all that heart out the window. Instead of a heartwarming underdog story, we get… S/M play, a threesome marriage, and two pregnant heroines by the end of Episode 4. Wait, what?

Fans on MyAnimeList are split, but the consensus is clear: this shouldn’t have been an H-anime. Comment 9 hits the nail on the head: “This shouldn’t have been an H-anime. I believe that ojou-sama was such a good character that she had the potential to carry a non-H anime.” The characters—especially the ojou-sama (noble lady) type—have depth. She’s not just a one-note “thirsty” character; she’s complex, with a backstory that hints at vulnerability. But instead of exploring that, PoRo shoves in unnecessary sex scenes that feel forced, like they’re checking a box.

Let’s talk about those scenes. The art and animation are… fine. Not great, not terrible—just “meh.” Comment 7 sums it up: “4 episodes but PoRo is unable to do single yuri scene… kinda of boring hentai, art and animation. A few good scenes though 5/10.” The S/M elements? Not everyone’s cup of tea. Comment 11 rants: “Deeyymmm.. We rarely seen harem + pregnant services.. It just the SM isn’t my type.. If this was normal romance H, could be better..” And Comment 12 adds: “S/M Play isn’t my sht and never will be. Though, I can forgive this one, because of how thirsty Irina really is for her beloved Yuuji…” Thirsty is an understatement—this character’s obsession feels more like a plot device than genuine emotion.

But here’s the kicker: the ending. Spoiler alert (though if you’re reading this, you probably don’t care): the main guy, Yuuji, ends up married to both the ojou-sama and her assistant, and both are pregnant. Comment 10 defends it: “All pure consent 👍 and now both her and assistant are 🤰 wife and concubine. 🙂” Wait, pure consent? Let’s recap: Yuuji accidentally sees the ojou-sama in a vulnerable moment, she gets embarrassed, and then… she decides to make him her “master.” That’s not consent—that’s a power trip. And the “happily ever after” vibe? It feels like a cheap cop-out. Comment 13 jokes: “And thus, they lived happily ever after… . ~Fin” But for many fans, it’s not a happy ending—it’s a lazy one.

So who is this anime for? If you’re into S/M and harem endings, maybe. But if you came for the dark fairytale twist? You’ll be disappointed. The original Kongjwi story is about resilience and kindness; this version is about… well, not that. The animals that were supposed to be “bright and happy” with Kongjui? Barely there. The duality of the sisters? Glossed over. Instead, we get a bunch of sex scenes that don’t add anything to the plot.

The biggest tragedy? The wasted potential. Comment 9 says it best: “She is a better character than Konosuba!Darkness by a considerable margin.” Imagine if this was a non-H anime. We could’ve explored the stepmother’s cruelty, Patchui’s jealousy, and Kongjui’s struggle to survive. Instead, we get a 5/10 hentai that leaves you thinking, “What was the point?”

In conclusion, Kongjui & Patchui is a missed opportunity. It had the bones of a great story—complex characters, a dark premise, and a classic tale to subvert—but it squandered it all on cheap thrills. If you’re curious, watch it for the characters (they’re the only saving grace), but don’t expect a masterpiece. And if you’re under 20? Maybe skip this one—there’s better anime out there that doesn’t treat consent like a punchline.

Final score? Let’s go with the community’s 6.66—fitting for a show that’s equal parts confusing and cursed.

Rating: 5/10 (Points for the characters, minus points for everything else.)