Hitoribocchi no Marumaruseikatsu

Before going into this show, I expected to watch a generic CGDCT—certainly not something that I would review. Yet, as I made my way through Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu's 12 episodes, I found myself more and more inclined to write the text you are now reading. While the CGDCT genre is normally as inoffensive as can be, Hitoribocchi was often a thoroughly unpleasant experience. How, and more importantly, why, did this happen? The show follows Hitori Bocchi (English: "alone") as she struggles with social anxiety after entering her first year of middle school. As her misadventures continue, she becomes friends with characters such as Sunao Nako (English: "honest child"), Honshou Aru (English: "has a hidden character"), and Sotoka Rakita (English: "came from the outside"). The names are all you need to know for the characters. Bocchi has social anxiety, Aru gets unlucky/makes stupid mistakes despite seeming capable, and Sotoka is a foreigner obsessed with ninja culture. That's literally it. Nako is the only character that isn't defined solely by a trope. As with most CGDCT shows, the comedy is centered around the characters. When 3/4 of the main characters are defined by a single trope, the comedy becomes repetitive. If you ever want to get alcohol poisoning, just play a drinking game where you take a shot every time Nako calls Aru "unfortunate". Other jokes present in the show are either about Bocchi's comically crippling social anxiety or about Sotoka's obsession with ninjas. The jokes got so predictable that I could often guess exactly what a character would say/how she would react. Indeed, with every week of watching the show, I continually enjoyed it less and less. The main problem with Hitoribocchi, however, is that the entire premise of the show is to make light of social anxiety. Take, for example, the very first episode. Nervous about starting her new school life, Bocchi puts up a sign on the classroom door, which reads "Class 1 has been abolished, so we kindly ask that you all transfer schools". I'm not sure what I, as the viewer, am supposed to do. This is obviously presented as a "funny" moment, but what would I be laughing at? That the character has social anxiety? I'm not sure who greenlit a show with this premise, but it certainly does not work. There's really not much else to say about Hitoribocchi. At its best, it's a generic CDGDCT, and at its worst, it makes fun of serious issues in a way that I found unsettling. It's not the worst show in the world, but due to the repetitive comedy and mediocre production values, there's really no reason to watch it over anything of the same genre.

After 6 new friends and 1 rival we finally reach the final episode, having witnessing the growth and journey of Bocchi, the finale brings that heartful satisfactory end while keeping the comedy and fun that made this anime so enjoyable to watch. And it is definitely one of those animes where you wished there was a season 2.

With the school year coming to an end and having made 5 friends, Bocchi is the right track to fulfill her promise, but then she is reminded of the biggest hurdle she could ever face. Hittoribocchi hits its penultimate episode with a more mellow episode, focused more in the emotional side and the growth of the characters instead of comedy, but still delivering a satisfying episode that keeps on bringing a smile to the face.

If there’s one thing that’s been great about Hitoribocchi besides the comedy, is seeing our little girl Bocchi getting stronger with each episode no matter the hurdle she comes through. But this story is not only about her, other characters have their own problems and worries, and it is lovely how some episodes, like this one, focus on these secondary characters, bringing a closure the plot points that were open at almost 5 episodes ago.

Bocchi’s goal of making friends with everyone in her class is faced with it toughest challenge yet as the next girls she is interested in becoming friends with is one with the policy of not making friends ever. What would prevail, Bocchi’s desire for friends of Kako’s strong resolution? A good question, but as for the answer… I’m sure that is what these next few episodes will try answer for us.

With the summer break over, it is time for Bocchi to go back to her mission to befriend everyone in her class, but at the same time, Sotoka is also troubled with a problem of her own. With the show approaching its last arc before season finale, we get a small break from the comedic fun but stablish the plot points that might make or break the end of this season.

Summer comes and with summer there is your typical summer activities. But while summer is supposed to fun, this episode brings out different kinds of emotion and makes one thing, until what point a promise is just it, a promise and not a burden? And would you call the person that puts such promises upon you really your friend?

Not all episodes are meant to be bangers and while this episode manages to keep the fun vibes that the entire show has, it is without a doubt on a weaker side when compared to the previous episodes. Nonetheless, the story continues with the summer episodes highly approaching, promising even more fun stories to come.

While Bocchi is the main character and the primary source of the shows fun and identity, it really is reassuring that the other characters are not forgotten and that they can carry the comedy of the show entirely on their own. And this episode is the prove of that, with such a perfect comedy focusing on one of the best girls.

For an extremely shy person as Bocchi, even the act of getting out of home can be a hellish experience. But even then, she must endure for the sake of… Living life? Bocchi’s life is certainly an interesting one which in turn makes for even more fun when she is put in more situations that make her get out of her comfort zone.

With a brand new friend joining her group, Bocchi’s life is about to get more lively and she is one step closer to fulfill her promised to her childhood friend. And with Aru now part of the group, what kind of shenanigans will they be making? At least for sure, the comedy is amplified with the presence of Aru, creating many opportunities to make the episode even more fun than the ones that came before it.

If your one and only new friend says they are mad with you, what do you do? To Bocchi, that is like her worst nightmare. But to us as viewers, that is the recipe for even more comedic moments and quirky reactions that makes this show so adorable to watch.

Some animes are made to just put a smile on your face and that is the case for Hitoribocchi. Be it with adorable quirky characters like Bocchi or by showing a relatable story like going to a new place and having to make new places as a shy person, this anime has it all and 100% delivers the fun vibes with a lighthearted comedy that fills the soul.

Fue divertido verme toda esta serie, ver a Bocchi en sus intentos extraños de hacer amigos, que estos mismos te empiecen a seguir en los juegos que haces y ver que cada vez más tienes gente a tu alrededor, ya no estás sola como Bocchi. Fue un gran cierre dejándonos con la nostalgia del primer capítulo y de las siguientes aventuras de nuestra amiga tímida.

Salió la típica chica rica con los rulos que huelen a dinero, me sorprende que sea tan tímida y buena gente. Una más para la pandilla de Bocchi. Me encantó el capítulo, problemas reales, situaciones y lugares que frecuentan en la vida real japonesa.

Para este episodio nos dieron más desarrollo de personaje para la hermosa extranjera Sotoka, el problema sobre dejar de ser una aprendiz y pasar a ser amiga de Bocchi por fin se resolverá de una vez. Qué creen que pasó con este par?

Me encantaría que en mi colegio también tuviera clases de cocina, es algo tan esencial para la vida además de encontrar amigos como lo hizo Bocchi, pudo con los obstáculos de estar en un grupo sin sus amigas habituales pero lo logró con éxito, además de ablandar el corazón rígido de Kurai.

Tenemos a otra víctima del plan de Bocchi y esta vez es Kurai Kako, no sé por qué pero creo que ese personaje tendrá algún tipo de pasado oscuro y por eso es tan rígida con todas y hasta con ella misma. Ver a las demás apoyar a Bocchi a que haga más amigos y hable con los demás hace que yo también la quiera apoyar. VAMOS BOCCHI!!!!!

Llegaron las vacaciones de verano!!!!!!! Me gustó que esta vez vimos más cosas de la vida normal que tienen los japoneses de secundaria cuando llegan estas fechas. Estoy feliz de que Bocchi se esté divirtiendo mucho con sus nuevas amigas.

Fue tan divertido la comida que hacen Nako y Bocchi, los chistes sobre los puntajes y el nombre de Nako fue tan bueno que aún me estoy riendo de eso. Los malentendidos con la profesora son mundiales, extremadamente buenos, por favor nunca cambies.