Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It: An Endearingly Nerdy Rom-Com

Zero-G

When you get right down to it, there really is no better genre to indulge in on Valentine’s Day than romance. Whether you’re in a relationship or a single pringle, watching love blossom between two fictional characters can tug at the heartstrings in us all. But when you think about it, do we really know what love is? Certainly, it can be described as a strong emotional attachment to someone or something, but can love be defined, explained, and/or quantified via the scientific process?

That’s what the cast of Zero-G’s geeky romantic comedy Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It is determined to find out.

Let me set the scene for you: a pair of brilliant university students, Shinya Yukimura and Ayame Himuro, are sitting in an otherwise empty computer lab one sunny morning, working on their own projects and keeping to themselves. Everything is quiet for a moment or two, but then, without any warning or provocation, Ayame professes her love for Shinya. He, unsure of how to respond, proposes that they conduct a series of experiments in an attempt to prove that love can be measured mathematically and scientifically. With the help of fellow students Kotonoha, Ena, and Kosuke, Shinya and Ayame’s relationship slowly blossoms into fully fledged romance.

As far as romantic-comedy anime goes, Science Fell in Love stands out among the rest. Whereas most romantically driven anime characters are naïve and emotionally confused teenagers in high school, this series involves young adults who are quite rational and highly educated. It was truly refreshing to watch capable scientists attempt to explore the innermost depths of their emotions, something that they clearly have not been given much time to develop while they were too busy overachieving in school. That isn’t to say the show doesn’t have its funny moments; quite the contrary, it has both romance and comedy in spades, thanks in no small part to the colorful cast of characters we see every single episode.

However, I think that the best part about Science Fell in Love is the fact that it presents intelligent and socially awkward characters—nerds—in a way that isn’t condescending or demeaning. This is especially crucial because the majority of its targeted audience, older teens and young adults, will very likely find themselves relating to at least one of these characters on a personal level. It shows that a person can have a lively personality in addition to being a borderline genius. In fact, it’s almost presented in a way that makes being a science nerd seem highly desirable and, dare I say it, fun. And given the overabundance of muscle-bound men and big-breasted women in anime, this effect could not have been easy to achieve.

All in all, I cannot recommend this anime nearly enough. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or just happen to be a sucker for science, Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It is definitely an anime that’s worth looking into!