Yes, No, or Maybe? (イエスかノーか半分か, Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka) is a Japanese yaoi light novel series written by Michi Ichiho and illustrated by Lala Takemiya. The stories are serialized in the quarterly magazine Shōsetsu Dear+ since 2013. Shinshokan have published three volumes, three side stories, and two spin-off volumes since November 2014 under their Dear+ Bunko imprint. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the series in English for North American release.[1] An anime film adaptation by Lesprit premiered on December 11, 2020.
| Yes, No, or Maybe? | |
 First light novel volume cover | |
| イエスかノーか半分か (Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Yaoi |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Michi Ichiho |
| Illustrated by | Lala Takemiya |
| Published by | Shinshokan |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Dear+ Bunko |
| Magazine | Shōsetsu Dear+ |
| Demographic | Josei |
| Original run | November 8, 2014 – present |
| Volumes | 3 + 6 spin-offs |
| Anime film | |
| Directed by | Masahiro Takata |
| Produced by | Tomoyuki Morikawa |
| Music by | Tomoki Hasegawa |
| Studio | Lesprit |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Released | December 11, 2020 |
| Runtime | 53 minutes |
Plot edit
Kei Kunieda, a popular TV host, is known for his professional behavior, but his behavior is the opposite in private. One day, Ushio Tsuzuki, a stop-motion animator, discovers his off-camera personality when they run into each other at the grocery store, where a bicycle accident causes Ushio to injure his wrist. Kei is forced to help Ushio while he recovers, and in an attempt to prevent him from discovering his secret, he gives his name as "Owari." Ushio, however, comes to love him for who he truly is, and Kei struggles with his own feelings as well as hiding the truth from him.[1]
Characters edit
- Kei Kunieda (国江田計, Kunieda Kei)
- Voiced by: Atsushi Abe[2]
- Ushio Tsuzuki (都築潮, Tsuzuki Ushio)
- Voiced by: Yoshihisa Kawahara[2]
Media edit
Light novels edit
Main series edit
| No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yes, No, or Maybe? Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka (イエスかノーか半分か) | November 8, 2014[3] 978-4-40352-364-9 | October 6, 2020[4] 978-1-64505-866-3 |
| 2 | Sekai no Mannaka: Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka (世界のまんなか～イエスかノーか半分か～) | June 10, 2015[5] 978-4-403-52377-9 | TBA |
| 3 | O-uchi no Arika: Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka (おうちのありか ~イエスかノーか半分か~) | June 30, 2016[6] 978-4-403-52402-8 | TBA |
Side stories edit
| No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yokogao to Niji: Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka Bangai-hen (横顔と虹彩 ~イエスかノーか半分か 番外篇~) | February 10, 2017 978-4403524165 | TBA |
| 2 | Koigateki to Niji: Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka Bangai-hen (恋敵と虹彩~イエスかノーか半分か番外篇~) | August 10, 2018 978-4403524578 | TBA |
| 3 | Fusai de: Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka Bangai-hen (ふさいで~イエスかノーか半分か番外篇~) | December 12, 2018 978-4403524714 | TBA |
Spin-offs edit
| No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Off Air: Iesu ka Nō ka Hanbun ka (OFF AIR~イエスかノーか半分か~) | August 29, 2017[7] 978-4-403-22115-6 | TBA |
| 2 | Off Air | October 31, 2019[8] 978-4-403-22129-3 | TBA |
Anime film edit
An anime adaptation was announced on October 31, 2019,[9][10] later revealed in 2020 to be a film. It is animated by Lesprit, with Masahiro Takata directing,[11] Toshiyuki Morikawa as producer,[12] Ayano Ōwada designing the characters, and Tomoki Hasegawa composing the music.[11] The film premiered in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2020 as part of the BL Fes!! project's first event screenings.[13] Atsushi Abe and Yoshihisa Kawahara performed the film's theme song "Sekai to Kakurenbo" as their respective characters.[2] On March 10, 2021, Crunchyroll announced they had acquired streaming rights for the film outside of Asia and German-speaking Europe, releasing it on the same day.[14]
Reception edit
The light novel series ranked first in 2016, 2018, and 2019 and second in 2017 in Next Books's annual light novel guide book Kono BL ga Yabai!, in the novel category. The series also ranked third in the Yomiuri Shimbun's Sugoi Japan Award in 2017, in the light novel category.[15]
References edit
- ^ a b Mateo, Alex (2020-02-21). "Seven Seas Licenses Cutie and the Beast, Blue Giant Manga, 'Yes, No, or Maybe?' Light Novels". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ a b c Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 9, 2020). "'Yes, No, or Maybe?' Boys-Love Anime's Trailer Reveals Theme Song, December Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "イエスかノーか半分か". Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "Book: Yes, No, or Maybe? (Light Novel)". Seven Seas Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "世界のまんなか". Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "おうちのありか". Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "OFF AIR ～イエスかノーか半分か～". Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "OFF AIR (2)". Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (October 31, 2019). "Yes ka No ka Hanbun ka Boys-Love Novel Series Gets Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ "「イエスかノーか半分か」アニメ化企画が進行中、テレビ局舞台のBL小説シリーズ". Natalie (in Japanese). 2019-10-31. Archived from the original on 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
- ^ a b "【120秒予告編】劇場アニメ「イエスかノーか半分か」特報②【BL FES!!】【2020年12月公開】" (in Japanese). BL Fes!! via YouTube. August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "森川智之がチェアマンのBL祭！紅蓮ナオミ作品や「イエスかノーか半分か」アニメ版上映". Natalie (in Japanese). 2019-12-10. Archived from the original on 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 11, 2020). "Marudase Kintarō & 'Yes, No, or Maybe?' Event Anime to Both Premiere on December 11". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "Crunchyroll Adds Yes, No, or Maybe? BL Anime Film". Crunchyroll. March 10, 2021. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ "Re:ZERO, My Hero Academia Top Sugoi Japan Awards 2017 Results". Anime News Network. March 16, 2017. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
External links edit
- BL Fes!! anime official website (in Japanese)
- Yes, No, or Maybe? (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia