After School Dice Club
| Company type | Manga series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manga, anime |
| Founded | March 12, 2013 |
| Defunct | June 11, 2021 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Manga, anime adaptation |
is a Japanese manga created by . The story centers on a group of teenage girls who launch a board game café. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen publication Monthly Shōnen Sunday from March 2013 until June 2021, compiled into nineteen volumes. An anime adaptation produced by Liden Films aired between October and December 2019.
Plot
Miki Takekasa, an introverted high school student, encounters Aya Takayashiki, a transfer pupil who motivates her to embrace new experiences. They soon learn that their class representative, Midori Ono, is employed at a game store. Sharing an enthusiasm for board games, the three begin to regularly enjoy playing together.
Characters
- Miki is a reserved girl with short blue hair and turquoise eyes who tends to avoid crowds and questions her own ability to enjoy herself.
- Aya is an energetic newcomer with long light brown hair, known for treating new people as if they were longtime friends.
- Midori, the class representative, has shoulder-length dark brown hair and is meticulous about rules; she works at a game shop located in the entertainment district.
- Takeru runs the game store where Midori works. Despite his tough exterior—tanned skin, bald head, and constant sunglasses—he is friendly.
- Emilia is a blonde transfer student of German and Irish descent from Hamburg, attending the same school as Miki, Aya, and Midori.
- Shōta is a blond classmate with brown eyes who has known Midori since preschool and harbors feelings for Aya.
- Ryūji is Shōta’s socially awkward friend dedicated to kendo and often tries to avoid his group of admirers.
- Yūto is the laid-back and well-liked student council president who seeks to uplift others by acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses.
- Ren acts as the vice president of the student council. She played on the same middle school team as Midori and wishes to see her return to the council.
- Hana, Aya’s gentle older sister with long brown hair, is known for attracting eccentric individuals.
- Kyōko is Hana’s closest friend, characterized by blonde hair tied in a ponytail and green eyes; she has a tough demeanor but stands up for those who are marginalized.
Manga
Written and illustrated by , After School Dice Club was serialized in Shogakukan's Monthly Shōnen Sunday magazine from March 12, 2013, through June 11, 2021. The publisher compiled the chapters into nineteen volumes released between September 12, 2013, and July 12, 2021.
Anime
An anime TV adaptation was revealed in the October 2018 edition of Monthly Shōnen Sunday. The series was produced by Liden Films, directed by Kenichi Imaizumi, with Atsushi Maekawa handling series composition, Yukiko Ibe designing characters, and Shūji Katayama composing the soundtrack. It broadcast from October 3 to December 19, 2019, on ABC, Tokyo MX, and BS11 across twelve episodes. The opening theme "Present Moment" was performed by Miyu Tomita, while Saki Miyashita, Marika Kōno, and Tomita collaborated on the ending theme "On the Board."
Previews
Anime News Network (ANN) presented reviews from four editors on the premiere episode. Theron Martin offered a "lukewarm recommendation," citing the familiar "cute girls do games" concept but expressing hope for compelling character arcs and dramatic board game elements. Rebecca Silverman found the gameplay sequences lacking impact but saw promise in addressing Miki’s social anxiety. James Beckett criticized some stereotypical character traits but was interested in how weekly board games might foster chemistry and growth; he described it as "adequate enough to avoid cancellation." Nick Creamer praised the engaging interactions among main characters despite a weak script; he concluded that while not innovative, it serves as a decent example of its genre and is worth watching for fans of slice-of-life narratives.
Series reception
In 2020, Caitlin Moore of ANN provided a comprehensive review of the entire series. Although she was initially put off by the conventional opening episode and familiar all-girls hobby clichés, her opinion shifted positively due to the strong bonds among the characters, the insight into their lives outside the club, and the thorough depiction of each game featured. Moore ultimately determined that After School Dice Club successfully merges storytelling with iyashikei qualities, offering a blend of friendship and fun alongside sufficient narrative depth to captivate audiences who typically avoid plotless shows.