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This Monster Wants to Eat Me: Yuri, Romance & Age Rating

James Benjamin Reed Cooper • 2026-08-07 • Reviewed by Maya Thompson

There’s something disarmingly tender about a story where a mermaid promises to eat a girl — and means it as an act of care. This Monster Wants to Eat Me (originally Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi) landed as a 2025 anime adaptation of a manga that began in 2019, and it’s already stirring questions about its queer romance and mature themes. This guide sorts the facts from the speculation: what the yuri classification really means, whether the relationship crosses into romance (and a kiss), and what viewers should know before pressing play.

Original Manga Serialization: 2019–present ·
Anime Adaptation Release: 2025 ·
Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll ·
Main Characters: Hinako Yaotose, Shiori ·
Genre Tags: Supernatural, Drama, Romance, Yuri

Quick Snapshot

1Confirmed Facts
2What’s Unclear
  • Official age rating from every streaming platform (e.g., Crunchyroll) is not yet finalized.
  • Whether a second season will be produced remains unconfirmed.
  • The exact manga volume in which a kiss occurs is not publicly detailed (spoiler-sensitive).
  • English dub has not been officially announced.
3Timeline Signal
4What’s Next
  • The manga is ongoing, providing source material for potential future seasons (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
  • Crunchyroll continues to stream the series globally, expanding reach (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

The following table summarizes key facts about the series.

Key Facts (snapshot facts)
Label Value
Manga Debut 2019 in Dengeki Daioh (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
Anime Premiere 2025 on Crunchyroll (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
Manga Volumes 5+ (ongoing) (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
Anime Episodes 13 (season 1) (MyAnimeList (anime database and community))
Creator mitha (aka Mita) (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

Is This Monster Wants to Eat Me LGBTQ?

What is the canon representation?

  • The series is officially categorized as Girls Love (Yuri) on MyAnimeList, indicating a female-female romantic relationship is central (MyAnimeList (anime database and community)).
  • The protagonist Hinako Yaotose develops a deep emotional and romantic bond with the mermaid Shiori.
  • Publisher and fan communities consistently refer to the work as yuri/GL.
The upshot

This isn’t a subtext or bait-and-switch — the queer romance is the narrative spine. Viewers looking for explicit LGBTQ representation will find it in the dynamic between Hinako and Shiori.

The implication: For audiences asking whether the show is LGBTQ, the answer is a clear yes, grounded in both official genre tags and plot structure.

How does the yuri genre apply?

  • Yuri (GL) is a Japanese genre focusing on romantic or emotional relationships between women.
  • This Monster Wants to Eat Me fits squarely into that category, with its romance as a primary plot driver.

Why this matters: The yuri label isn’t a marketing afterthought — it’s verified by the anime’s genre tags and the manga’s storyline.

Is There Romance in This Monster Wants to Eat Me?

Do Shiori and Hinako kiss?

  • Yes, a kiss between Shiori and Hinako occurs in the manga, though the exact volume is not widely publicized due to spoiler concerns.
  • The relationship progresses from a promise of death to mutual care and romantic intimacy.
The catch

The kiss is a pivotal moment, but it’s wrapped in the series’ dark themes — it isn’t a lighthearted rom-com beat. Viewers should expect emotional weight.

The trade-off: The romance is real and physical, but it’s delivered within a story that grapples with suicide and existential dread.

What is the status of their relationship?

  • The relationship is ongoing in the manga, which continues to develop the bond between Hinako and Shiori.
  • The anime adaptation covers the early stages of their connection.

The pattern: The relationship evolves from a dark promise (Shiori will eat Hinako) into a protective, romantic partnership — a rare narrative arc.

Is This Monster Wants to Eat Me Anime Good?

What do critics and fans say?

  • Reception is generally positive, with praise for emotional depth, character design, and the voice acting — particularly Reina Ueda as Hinako.
  • Some viewers express concern about the handling of suicide themes, which are central to the plot.
  • The series holds a solid rating on MyAnimeList, reflecting broad audience approval.

What this means: The anime is considered a well-executed adaptation, but its heavy subject matter makes it a niche recommendation rather than universal praise.

What are the common praises and criticisms?

  • Praises: Art direction, music by Keiji Inai, emotional storytelling, and the yuri romance.
  • Criticisms: Some find the suicide premise unsettling or poorly integrated with the romance.

The implication: The show succeeds artistically but divides audiences based on comfort with its core theme.

What Age Group Is This Monster Wants to Eat Me For?

What is the official rating?

  • Netflix Japan lists a 16+ rating (Netflix Japan (streaming service)).
  • The anime is not rated for children due to mature themes.

Why this matters: The 16+ advisory reflects the series’ exploration of suicide and death, making it inappropriate for younger teens.

What mature themes are present?

  • Suicidal ideation (Hinako’s initial wish to die).
  • Death, cannibalism as metaphor, and existential despair.
  • Romantic and emotional intimacy between female characters.

The trade-off: The anime isn’t graphic in a violent sense, but its psychological weight demands a mature audience.

Is This Monster Wants to Eat Me Finished?

Has the manga ended?

  • No, the manga is ongoing as of 2025, with over 5 published volumes (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

What this means: The story is not complete; future volumes will continue the narrative.

How many seasons are confirmed?

  • Only season 1 (13 episodes) has aired (MyAnimeList (anime database and community)).
  • Season 2 has not been officially announced.

The implication: Fans will need to wait for news on a continuation; the manga provides ample material if the anime gets renewed.

What We Know and What’s Still Unclear

Confirmed Facts

  • The series is yuri/GL with a female-female romantic relationship.
  • The manga is ongoing.
  • Anime season 1 aired from October 2 to December 25, 2025.

What’s Unclear

  • Official age rating from Crunchyroll and other platforms.
  • Whether season 2 will be produced.
  • Exact volume number of the kiss (spoiler-protected).
  • English dub status.

Key Perspectives

“A suicidal girl named Hinako meets a mermaid named Shiori, who promises to eat her — but only when she is truly ready. They form an unconventional bond as Shiori protects Hinako.”

— Crunchyroll (streaming platform synopsis)

“This Monster Wants to Eat Me is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by mitha. It has been serialized in ASCII Media Works’ Dengeki Daioh since 2019 and is licensed in English by Yen Press.”

— Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)

For viewers seeking a supernatural romance that doesn’t flinch from dark themes, the decision is clear: watch it with an open mind and an awareness of its heavy subject matter — or skip it if suicide content is too close to home. The anime delivers on its yuri promise, but the emotional toll is real.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who created This Monster Wants to Eat Me?

The manga is written and illustrated by mitha (also known as Mita) and serialized in Dengeki Daioh (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

How many volumes of the manga are out?

As of 2025, over 5 volumes have been released, with the series ongoing (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

Does the anime have an English dub?

Crunchyroll streams the anime internationally; as of now, only the original Japanese audio with subtitles is confirmed. An English dub may be announced later.

Is the story finished in the manga?

No, the manga is still ongoing, so the story is not complete (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

What is the main theme of This Monster Wants to Eat Me?

The series explores themes of death, consent, and queer love — asking what it means to truly want someone, even as food.

Where can I buy the manga volumes?

The English edition is licensed by Yen Press and available through major bookstores and online retailers.

Is This Monster Wants to Eat Me based on a light novel?

No, it is a manga series, not a light novel adaptation.



James Benjamin Reed Cooper

About the author

James Benjamin Reed Cooper

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