Shiunji-ke no Kodomotachi

Currently streaming this on Animyne, and The Shiunji Family Children is like a telenovela dressed up in anime aesthetics—over-the-top, occasionally ridiculous, but weirdly compelling. The story revolves around the wealthy yet deeply dysfunctional Shiunji siblings, each hiding dark secrets and ruthless ambitions as they battle for control of the family empire.

This show thrives on melodrama: think sudden betrayals, illicit affairs, and dramatic slaps across gilded hallways. The art style leans into its glamorous setting, with lush backgrounds and sharp character designs that heighten the soap-opera tension. Standout moments include a mid-episode will-reading scene that descends into chaos and a twisted sibling rivalry that borders on ... psychological horror.

That said, the writing often prioritizes shock over substance. Character motivations flip abruptly, and some plot twists stretch credibility even for the genre. The pacing also wobbles, with rushed resolutions undermining earlier buildup. Still, if you’re in the mood for a guilty-pleasure binge (or just want to watch rich people sabotage each other), it delivers.

Ah yes, another anime adaptation from Reiji Miyajima—The Man Who Sold his wet dream in the form of literature. So you should know exactly what you're getting into.

Now, you might notice the original source is a seinen. And while I know seinen is just a demographic and doesn’t necessarily affect the genre or story, I believe there are people out there expecting a more mature or bleaker story, especially since the manga was published in Young Animal—you know, the same magazine that Berserk came from. But here’s a heads-up: there is nothing remotely close to mature or bleak in this anime. In fact, my love ... story back in junior high had more conflict and depth than whatever this series is trying to present.

That aside, this was made by the same guy who gave us Rent-A-Girlfriend, so you already know not to get your expectations too high. Reiji took anime’s most common tropes and thingamajigs and proceeded to do... absolutely nothing new. It’s basically just your average “your siblings are actually not your siblings” story—but instead of one, there’s five of them.

Now, the story could have leaned into the concept of differentiating familial and romantic love, and maybe even posed some interesting questions about how perspective can affect romantic feelings. But Reiji said, “fuck it, I’m not doing that—let’s just make them talk about family every fucking minute.” They talk about family so much, I could feel Dominic Toretto manifesting beside me out of thin air.

Also, the way these characters address each other sounds like they’re part of imperial inquisitor: “AH YES, MY SECOND SISTER,” “MY OLDEST SISTER,” “YOU ARE THE HEIR TO THE FAMILY,” “YOU ARE THE OLDER BROTHER.” It’s not the most realistic depiction of siblings by any means, but we can easily sweep that under the rug because first, it’s fiction. Second, Reiji probably never experienced having siblings in real life.

Almost every character is "by the book." If she’s a tsundere, then she’s GONNA be a tsundere. If she’s an onee-chan, she’s GONNA be an onee-chan and make damn sure everyone knows it. If she’s the smart type, then brace yourself for walls of intellectual dialogue delivered "smartly."

But then again, this is a romcom harem. Don’t expect too much. You’re not watching it for the plot, realism, or originality. You’re here for fun, to swoon over cute girls, and to root for your favorite to end up with the MC.

So yes, the anime does offer five attractive heroines, each distinct in design and personality, tailored to fit your favorite trope. Not the most unique, but let’s be real—you probably don’t care about originality, and honestly, neither do I. So Reiji at least did that part right.

Another good thing: the MC is actually bearable. Reiji CAN actually write a decent main character. While he’s far from perfect, at least this guy doesn’t make me want to choke him to death every time he opens his mouth.

The animation is great. Doga Kobo keeps their streak going, delivering cute and lovable character designs that really do justice to the original source.

Overall,if you come into this expecting depth, originality, or emotional nuance, you’re barking up the wrong tree. This anime is exactly what you'd expect from Reiji Miyajima—trope-filled, surface-level, and dripping in fantasy wish fulfillment. But hey, if you're just here for some cute girls, solid animation, and a main character who isn’t completely insufferable, then yeah, you’ll probably have a good time. Just don’t try to find meaning where there is none, and you might actually enjoy it.

The story is slow. Three episodes in and nothing has happened. I dont know where this anime is going with this.

There are too many characters overall. The cast is larger than it needs to be. Two sons and five daughters.
One son and two or three daughters would have sufficed.
And instead of making the MC the oldest they decided to make him the second oldest. He is the oldest male.
The dynamic would have worked better if he was just the eldest.
And less characters would have made it easier to develop each character instead of having to follow 7.

The female characters are ... basically bullying their brother for no real reason.

This anime really likes to present these girls as "oh they're so beautiful, everyone cant help but stop and gaze with their mouths open". Its really eye-rolling stuff.

So the plot is on the 15th birthday of the youngest sibling the father decides to tell them they are all adopted. And then I dont know a bunch of boring stuff happens with this guy and his very very very (did i mention very?) obnoxious condescending sisters.

This is supposed to be a comedy but I dont know at what point I was supposed to be laughing. Guess I am meant to be laughing at the main character's misery. But I cant laugh at the misery of someone who did nothing wrong.

I dont like these characters. I can already tell by the writing this anime is just going to annoy me.

Dropped.