Girl Meets Deer: Lecture Summary

Jul 10, 2024

Lecture Notes: Girl Meets Deer

Introduction

  • Setting: Tokyo Metropolitan Hino-Minami High School, referred to as Garden of Maidens (co-educational).
  • Main protagonist: Torako Koshi – Sophomore, Student council president, class president of Class 2-B, attractive, high academic achiever, outstanding athleticism, known as the "Perfect Girl."
  • Secret: Was a former delinquent influenced by shonen manga.

Main Plot

Opening Scene

  • Torako interacts with another character in poor weather conditions.
  • Character Introduced: Noko Shikanoko – new transfer student, has real deer antlers.
  • Torako is a reformed delinquent; fears her past being revealed.

Encounter with Noko

  • Finds Noko hanging with antlers on a pole, thinking it’s suicide, but it's not.
  • Helps Noko down despite misgivings and potential exposure.
  • Noko recognizes Torako as a delinquent despite her “perfect” appearance.

School Dynamics

  • Introduction of Noko to the school class as a transfer student.
  • Noko indiscriminately calls Torako “Miss Delinquent,” raising suspicions among classmates.

Deer Club Formation

  • Encounters: Torako finds Noko in a warehouse, discovers her cleaning and preparing as the clubroom for the “Deer Club.”
  • Torako is unwillingly roped into being the club president.
  • Club Form: Main activity is taking care of deer (with Noko as the resident deer).

Key Interactions & Themes

  • Torako’s efforts to hide her delinquent past extra difficult due to Noko’s impulsive behavior.
  • Noko provides deer crackers as thanks to Torako in a comical exchange.
  • Torako grapples with her feelings and actions towards Noko’s antlers and identity.

Comedic Elements

  • Misunderstandings and Noko’s humor frequently challenge Torako’s composed demeanor.
  • Support characters add to the comedy by reacting to situations obliviously.
  • Running gag about the real-life oddities of Noko’s deer traits.

Conclusion

  • The Deer Club’s official establishment sets up future activities and relationships.
  • Torako reluctantly accepts the role of guiding and taking care of Noko.
  • Ongoing theme of hiding true identities, embracing uniqueness, and evolving friendships.

Reflection

  • Focus on embracing quirky traits and characters’ past as part of personal growth.
  • Builds a highschool comedy narrative interspersed with earnest undertones about acceptance.