Unstructured ramble on Kotake part 1!!
Before I dive in I just wanna say pleasee don’t make any condescending remarks about this as it makes me really insecure.. I completely understand the detest towards Kotadore and I just ask those who see this to read it with an open mind. I totally empathise with the hate for the trope of a guy teasing a girl to cover up his feelings, but I’m a shortaki fanatic so I gotta give my two cents on em.
Ojamajo Doremi is effective at writing charming, relatable and empathetic characters - SO WHY IS KOTAKE SO NOTHING BURGER!!!! Him and Doremi had a lot of potential to be really engaging foils for one another. It’s frustrating to see a prominent character get the short end of the stick. Like come on, unraveling the psyche behind why a person acts the way they do is kind of Doremi’s bread and butter. It’s also really proficient at having a characters' upbringing reflect their values and personality - but that’s a topic for another essay. WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT HIS PARENTS ARE LIKE. We don’t even know much about Doremi and Kotake prior to grade three. They’ve known each other SINCE THEY WERE TODDLERS. Tamaki and Kotake have LITERALLY sat by Doremi for YEARS.
On the note of both Tamaki and Kotake, I really wish they formed a frenemy trio!!! Their dynamic should have been explored. Kotake totally should’ve matured the same way Tamaki did !!!! Just sayin!!!!
For an anime so good at character development and slow burn, you’d think Kotake would mature right?!!? The moments hinting depth to his character are arbitrary.
Doremi is good with people and friendship. This is easily her most admirable quality. Romance on the other hand… I think someone with such a naive perception of love having to navigate it through someone like Kotake would be the most absorbing route. I think unlike a character like Tamaki, who also frequently irritates her, Doremi eventually comes to understand her psyche. Kotake on the other hand frustrates her more as it’s implied she can’t fully grasp why he acts the way he does. It reminds me a lot of Arnold. Kotadore reminds me of shortaki in general. Tbf I might be watching too much Hey Arnold. Unfortunately, Kotake is not anywhere as close to being compelling or empathetic as a character like Helga. He’s honestly a very flat character. He likes doremi and soccer; that’s basically it. I will admit a lot of my observations are speculation - HOWEVER NOT ALL OF THEM ARE UNFOUNDED. However I find it dissapointing, because he is an important character. I stress just how much potential he has because I know the writers are capable of more. Yada Masaru is a key example of how to do a love interest right. We see his domestic dynamics, extensively dissects why this impacts his personality and is overall a rounded character. You would think Kotake who is the love interest to THE MAIN CHARACTER would get even a sliver of the same treatment.
However….
In Naisho they are SO DIFFERENT. LIKE, THE WRITERS REALLY DECIDED TO LOCK TF IN. THEY ARE SO MUCH MORE ENDEARING AND CHARMING. ?!! Irregardless of fandom consensus, can we agree they’re cute in naisho at least… I digress- It shows a completely different side to them. Their interactions are so casual… they come across as people who have history and at the end of the day care for one another. Also DAMN she’s so weirdly protective of him??? (/pos) It’s interesting to see her be this concerned and doesn’t even REALISE IT. In Naisho she’s drawn to him in a way that almost feels far deeper than usual.
On the other hand, Kotake's characterisation has been improved by TENFOLD. It’’s far more obvious he likes Doremi, like, to a cartoonish degree. Who would’ve known actually showing fondness toward his crush would make him more likeable!!? (/s) Additionally, his jeers are toned down and far less mean-spirited. It also helps that the bickering is very equal this time around.
It’s refreshing having Doremi be so petty. It’s intriguing seeing a girl who’s matured so much return to her neurotic almost childish tendencies because of him. When dealing with loutish people, she at least tries not to stoop to their level but in Naisho she does NOT hesitate LMAO #deserved. At least Doremi talked badly BEHIND Tamakis back 😭🙏 It’s also so telling because if it were any other classmate in that situation, she would never tease them about being vulnerable.
Link to part 2
