Is the Anime Really Finished?#
If you are looking to dive into Boys Be…, you might be wondering if the anime provides a complete experience. The anime aired from April to July in 2000 and serves as an adaptation of the original manga.
While the anime tells its stories, those seeking a truly comprehensive conclusion or further development of the characters will find that the story extends far beyond the screen. The original manga has multiple sequels, including Boys Be… 2nd: A Guys Guide to Girls and Boys Be…L Co-op. If you only watch the anime, you will be missing out on a significant amount of content and the later evolutions of the series. To get the full story, we highly recommend picking up the Boys Be… manga.
What is Boys Be… About?#
Boys Be… is a refreshing take on the romance and slice-of-life genres. Rather than focusing on idealized tropes, it is an anthology of stories centering on ordinary high school boys and their various relationships—or their struggles with a lack thereof.
Themes and Appeal#
The series excels at providing insight into the trials of love and loss from an average guy’s perspective. It is best suited for viewers who enjoy character-driven narratives and grounded depictions of teenage emotions. If you appreciate stories that explore the nuance of adolescent relationships, this is a great choice.
You can watch the anime on Prime Video to experience these stories for yourself.
Recommended Watch and Reading Order#
Depending on whether you prefer animation or the original written work, there are a few ways to approach this series. Please refer to the relationship tree below for a visual guide to these connections.
Release Order#
If you want to experience the series as it was released to the general public in the early 2000s, start with the anime adaptation.
The Completionist Order#
For those who want every single detail and story arc, the manga is the way to go. The best order for completionists is to follow the manga’s publication timeline:
- Original Boys Be… manga (1991)
- Boys Be… 2nd: A Guys Guide to Girls (1997)
- Boys Be…L Co-op (2000)
The Hybrid Order (Anime to Manga)#
If you aren’t sure if you’ll like the series, start by watching the anime on Prime Video. If the stories resonate with you, you can then transition into the manga sequels to see how the narrative expanded over the years.
If you love the series and want to support our research into these watch orders, feel free to support us on Ko-fi!
Additional Information#
For fans looking to expand their collection beyond the reading and watching experience, you can search for Boys Be… merchandise to find memorabilia from the series.
It is also worth noting that the franchise has seen various manga iterations over the years, including “Next Season” and “young adult” versions, ensuring that there is plenty of material for dedicated fans of the series to explore.
Boys Be… • manga • 1991 (Shukan Shonen Magazine)
└─(sequel)→ Boys Be... 2nd: A Guys Guide to Girls • manga • 1997 (Shukan Shonen Magazine)
└─(sequel)→ Boys Be...L Co-op • manga • 2000 (Shukan Shonen Magazine)
└─(adaptation)→ Boys Be... • anime • 2000-04-11 to 2000-07-04
