Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!? Episode 1: When Your Idol’s Off-Stage Persona Is a Total Downer (But That’s Kinda the Point)

Let’s cut to the chase: Winter 2026’s Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!? (or Tamon’s B-Side if you’re feeling fancy) just dropped its first episode, and it’s like if your favorite boy band’s leader suddenly turned into a human rain cloud—except way funnier. From the first 10 seconds, you can tell this isn’t your average idol anime: no glittery montages of perfect performances (okay, there is one, but it’s a trap) and no “idol saves the world with music” vibes. Instead, it’s a chaotic, relatable mess of fan obsession, fake personas, and a heroine who’s way too honest for her own good. And honestly? It works.

First, let’s set the scene. Utage Kinoshita is your textbook superfan: 16, works a part-time housekeeping job just to afford F/ACE merch, and has a Tamon Fukuhara shrine (read: wall covered in posters) in her room. F/ACE is the biggest boy band in Japan right now, and Tamon—with his wild hair, smoldering stage presence, and voice that could make a stone melt—is their golden boy. But when Utage lands a housekeeping gig at Tamon’s apartment? She’s hit with a plot twist even her fanfiction didn’t see coming: the “confident, untouchable idol” is actually a gloomy, self-loathing introvert who spends his free time muttering about how he’s “lying to everyone” and hiding under blankets like a cat avoiding a bath.

The comedy here is gold, and a lot of it comes from Utage’s unfiltered inner monologue. When she first sees Tamon’s messy apartment (complete with empty energy drink cans and a half-eaten onigiri), her brain short-circuits: “Is this the lair of a fallen angel… or just a guy who forgot how to adult?” She doesn’t even try to hide her fan status—she immediately gushes about his latest concert, then panics when he stares at her like she’s grown a second head. It’s cringey in the best way, like watching your friend meet their favorite K-pop star and accidentally say “I love your socks” instead of “your music changed my life.”

But let’s talk about the real star of the episode: the production quality. J.C. Staff went all out here, and fans are losing it over the CGI. The F/ACE concert scene? Normally, anime CGI makes me want to close my laptop and pretend I never saw it (looking at you, some idol shows), but here? The dance moves are smooth, the lighting pops, and it actually feels like a real concert. One fan on MyAnimeList even joked, “JC Staff put everyone with talent on this instead of OPM 3,” and… yeah, that tracks. The 2D animation is just as good—Utage’s over-the-top reactions (think wide eyes, flailing arms, and a face that goes from “starstruck” to “horrified” in 0.2 seconds) are so expressive, you can almost feel her panic.

The voice acting is another win. Saori Hayami (who voices Utage) nails the balance between hyper fan and grounded teen—her squeals when she sees Tamon’s stage outfit are too real, and her quiet support when he admits he hates his fake persona feels genuine. And Tamon’s VA? He’s perfect at switching between the confident stage voice (deep, smooth, charming) and the off-stage mumble (soft, shaky, like he’s scared to speak above a whisper). It’s a masterclass in how to make a dual-personality character feel human, not just a plot device.

Now, let’s get into the fan reactions—because this episode hit a nerve with anyone who’s ever had an “oshi” (favorite idol). One viewer wrote, “As a vtuber fan, the oshi worshipping is relatable—especially the parasocial anxiety.” Utage’s struggle to reconcile the Tamon she loves (the stage idol) with the Tamon she meets (the sad guy who can’t even fold laundry) is something a lot of fans know too well. We build up these perfect images of our idols, then forget they’re just people—people who get tired, people who have bad days, people who eat cold pizza for breakfast.

Of course, not everyone loved it. Some fans thought the comedy was “forced” or the premise was “too cheesy.” One commenter even dropped it after 10 minutes, saying, “Vicariously living through another is just not that funny.” But for most of us? The cheese is part of the charm. It’s like a rom-com where the meet-cute is a fan walking in on her idol having a breakdown—and instead of running away, she hands him a tissue and says, “Your concert last week was amazing, even if you forgot the lyrics to the second verse.”

The best part? The episode ends on a cliffhanger that makes you want to hit “next episode” immediately. Tamon, after a full day of Utage’s unapologetic fan energy, admits he needs her help to keep his fake persona alive. Utage, ever the loyal oshi, agrees—even though she knows she’s signing up for chaos. It’s the start of a relationship that’s equal parts funny and heartfelt: she’ll teach him to love his real self, and he’ll teach her that idols are just people. Maybe.

So, is Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!? Episode 1 worth watching? If you love rom-coms, idol culture, or just need a good laugh, absolutely. It’s not perfect—some jokes land better than others, and Tamon’s self-loathing can be a little much at times—but it’s fresh, it’s relatable, and it’s the kind of show that makes you smile even when you’re rolling your eyes. As one fan put it: “This is the best first episode I’ve seen in ages—fast-paced, emotional, and so much fun.”

Winter 2026 just got its first must-watch anime. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rewatch the concert scene for the fifth time. Tamon’s dance moves are chef’s kiss.

Rating: 8/10—would recommend to anyone who’s ever screamed at a screen during their idol’s live stream.