Ranked #275

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!

Growing up is not an easy process, and there are always moments that one looks back upon with a sense of embarrassment and regret. One might ask what it is that truly marks the transition into adulthood: the ability to live independently, or maybe the conformity and adherence to social norms. Are the people who remain true to their childhood interests not grown up, then? Perhaps. But is there anything wrong with that? It's hard to say.

There's a strange term used in Japanese internet culture. "Chuunibyou", or more literally "Eighth-Grade Syndrome", refers to matured individuals with an absurd self-created persona. Remember the times as a child when there was a TV character you found appealing and you pretended to possess their superhuman abilities in real-life? A chuunibyou is a teenage or adult form of that, but to such an extent that the fictional persona defines their entire lifestyle. Certainly, behaving this way in public would make for some embarrassment, and recovering from such a past even more so.

Poor Yuuta.

It's an experience that he knows all too well. After suffering from chuunibyou throughout middle school as the "Dark Flame Master", he makes the decision to move on from the past and attempt to live his highschool years as a normal student. To ensure victory and start anew, Yuuta applies to a high school where none of his middle school classmates are attending. It may have been a successful plan, too, if not for the unusual appearance of a beautiful girl on his balcony.

Her name is Takanashi Rikka, a current chuunibyou, representing everything that Yuuta used to be and desired to forget. Worse, she recently moved into the same apartment complex and overheard Yuuta's last days as the Dark Flame Master, ensuring that it is not a past he will escape so easily. He unwillingly gained Rikka's interest in him as a result, and his attempts to make a pleasant first impression at his new high school are interrupted by Rikka's chuunibyou provocations. The fact that Yuuta wants to forget and start anew is irrelevant, because for her their relationship is a destiny revealed through her "Wicked Eye". Perhaps she wasn't entirely false, either, occult terminology aside.

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, shortened to Chuu2-Byo, is a title that stands out for the interaction between these two characters. It's nostalgic (and often times embarrassing!) to see the characters act in silly ways reminiscent of childhood, though without the endearing cast of characters this would probably seem like little more than a neat gimmick. Yuuta and Rikka are what make the anime, and their interaction is nothing short of adorable and hilarious. Both of them have substance and play off of each other in creative ways, such as Yuuta using his abandoned Dark Flame Master persona in order to cheer Rikka up when she's feeling depressed, or her playing around in awe with his old gear. It's definitely cute, and cuteness is something that Chuu2-Byo has no shortage of.

An important addition to the character dynamic are the side characters who each fulfill their own role in the series. Sanae Dekomori, ace middle school student and proud chuunibyou, behaves as servant to Rikka and her Wicked Eye, possessing a weapon of considerable danger in the real world: her excessively long pigtails. Kumin, a senior with a fondness for napping, and Isshiki, Yuuta's jealous male friend and classmate, also highlight the cast. The most important of these characters, however, is Nibutani Shinka. Despite initially being the only character in the anime truly definable as 'normal', she is actually an ex-Chuunibyou herself, much like Yuuta. When her dreaded past is discovered by Yuuta, she throws away any notion of kindness in order to keep him from spilling the truth. As Rikka develops her own feelings for Yuuta, though, Nibutani begins to display a much more compassionate and benevolent side to her personality, even going as far as to use her old persona to help them progress.

Appearances often mislead, and Chuu2-Byo is exemplary of this. What seems to be a cute slice of life revolving around the chuunibyou lifestyle is actually structured as a love story. Comedy is predominate during the first six episodes, but hints of Rikka's feelings for Yuuta are consistently displayed as the series progresses. Love is an emotion that she is not familiar with, and amidst the confusion there is often an overlap between her sensitive side and her chuunibyou side, often using this persona to hide her embarrassment. It's very endearing to watch her feelings develop as she realizes that these are emotions not of respect, but genuine love. The romance is exceptionally subtle, while consequently there is no overbearing drama used to advance their relationship.

At least for the first half.

There's often a problem with drama in anime, especially since it tends to hit the viewer with all the subtlety of a speeding subway. Titles like Toradora and AnoHana are a couple examples of drama on overdrive, and occasionally Chuu2-Byo can feel a bit like those titles in the last six episodes. Is there anything inherently wrong with excessive drama in an anime? Certainly not. After all, it depends on the execution itself and other aspects such as the characterization and dialogue. But what when the drama comes from nowhere, undermining the appeal of the series and turning it into something else entirely? This is where problems occur in Chuu2-Byo. What starts out as a lighthearted comedy with subtle romance becomes an exhaustive high school drama in the second half, and it really hurts the series as a result.

Why change it, then? It's a question that I might never find the answer to. It's not as though the anime was lacking in substance before that point, or that it needed to make a sudden switch to develop the characters and their relationship. Yuuta and Rikka were steadily progressing, and there were still the occasional dramatic moments that felt natural to the show. While there isn't so much an issue with the execution of the second half (exaggerated crying and yelling aside), it is a problem when the anime feels like two entirely different shows in one. It might have been less of an issue if aspects of the first half still subsisted, but the comedy is unfortunately tossed aside in favor of drama. Which is disappointing, as the lighthearted character interaction is what made the first half of the anime so special.

There are also some other minor complaints if one were to nitpick, such as Kumin being a pointless character and adding nothing besides a few cute scenes of her sleeping, or the contrivances of some of the dramatic situations (receiving a letter written years ago at the most convenient time — really?), but on the whole it doesn't do much to detract from what is an otherwise well-written and heartwarming experience.

On a more positive note, the lavish production values customary of KyoAni do a solid job of enhancing the emotional value of each scene. Character designs are appropriately cute while the animation has an extraordinary level of polish and finesse, particularly during the faux action sequences often illustrated whenever Rikka has a confrontation with another character. More commendable, though, is the storyboarding of some scenes. There are a few moments in the anime that are truly breathtaking, such as Yuuta and Rikka quietly sitting together under a bridge and watching the lights of society shine and flicker along the river.

A fundamental piece to any good love story is the presence of an emotional soundtrack, and Chuu2-Byo does not disappoint with its music. Fitting tracks are used for both the lighthearted and dramatic moments, and there is a particular piano piece that will manage to pull your heartstrings a bit whenever it is used. The opening and ending sequences are also quirky and memorable, and these songs will most likely be glued to your head for quite a while afterwards. With that said, it's always a little amusing during the second half of the series when the upbeat ending song plays immediately after a dramatic scene. It really represents the disparity of the two halves.

Chuu2-Byo is certainly not a miraculous or flawless anime by any means, but it is easily above the vast majority of anime out there (the romance genre especially). Perhaps the drama won't upset you nearly as much as it did with me, or it could possibly enhance the experience for you, even if changing the entire tone of an anime midway through will no doubt cause some concern.

But if I'm to be rewarded with a genuinely heartwarming story, six episodes of unadulterated fun, and one of the best romantic pairings in the past few years— is it worth a little bit of frustration? Probably. read more

I like to laugh. Who doesn't? I like to smile. A smile always brightens the day. I like to watch some high school kids pretending who they are not and cosplaying as characters like the Dark Flame Master. Oh, I guess this is the right place then because Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! can do all three of those things. Killing three birds with one stone, awesome isn't it?

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! (Regardless of My Adolescent Delusions of Grandeur, I Want a Date!) is an anime series based on the novel of the same name that is produced by Kyoto Animation. Some fans of Kyoto Ani (Clannad, Hyouka, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu) will definitely rejoice because the Japanese studio is already well known for its rich visuals and aesthetics. They have been involved with many series with the typical high school life being turned from normal to abnormal and they did it once again!

The series takes place at a typical high school setting. It involves a young boy named Yuuta Togashi who is suffering a case of...chuunibyou, or “Middle School 2nd Year Syndrome". In technical terms, it is a condition in which an individual deludes themselves as being a smartass and looks down on others. They also believe they have some sort of “special power” that excludes themselves from the normal society. It's actually quite common though. I don't know if you ever felt this way but a lot of people do weird things in high school. I mean, it's like how you used to believe yourself as a superhero like Batman or Superman when you were younger. Good days, good days.

And of course, high school has it all: drama, comedy, romance, delusions, cosplaying, and all that other good stuff. So without further ado, let's introduce the two main characters:

Rikka Takanashi – forget that eyepatch. This girl has that syndrome I'm talking about. She visions herself with the “wicked eye”. (which sadly is just some colored contacts) Unlike Yuuta however, she still has the chuunibyou. She is the girl who gets the most abuse but also the one that brings out the most laughter with her absurd yet comedic stances throughout the series. Take for example..that random scene when she bounces around like crazy during the pilot episode or those Lelouch-like poses.

Yuuta "Dark Flame Master" Togashi – he USED to have the chuunibyou syndrome. But now, it seems that his past is haunting him once again when he meets Rikka. He used to believe himself to be..the Dark Flame Master. I'm trying to envision myself exactly what is the Dark Flame Master. Does it have flames? Is it a master of the underworld? Or is just some villian who can emit cool flames. At any rate, his high school years becomes abnormal after meeting Rikka.

There's not too much of a story to be honest yet. The series is more about comedy and the events that surrounds the main characters. They live their high school days like normal teens although the majority are anything but normal. For example, Sanae and Rinka has this Tiger and Dragon rivalry. They fight in absurd ways that is beyond normal by the way they delude themselves. Yes you got it, they also have the chuunibyou as well, or at least used to. Later on though, the series takes some more emotional turns with a few insights into the past, especially those into our main female protagonist, Rikka-chan.

The artwork of the series is glorious like most of Kyoto Animation's other works. Its background settings of rich visuals are there and reflected upon every delusion, every action, every laughter, every chuunibyou-like behavior. Kazumi Ikeda who is involved with the character designs of the series brings out the M in moe from the characters like Rikka, Yumeha Togashi (Yuuta's cute little sister), and Kumin Tsuyuri.

The soundtrack is also quite lighthearted that reflects upon the comedic mood of settings and characters. When there are battle scenes though, it swiftly changes to a more fast paced rythym to make it looks like it's real despite the fact that it's just a delusion. Now as for the OP song..wow, just wow. "Sparkling Daydream" by ZAQ sure got their point through. The opening song of the series induces eye seizures. Every time I watch it (even upon now occasionally), the scenes flashes back into your head and makes your eyeballs follow them endlessly. Of which, the OP song is also catchy with the silly pose of Rikka-chan. The stance of “(σ O ω・)σ←↖↑↗→↘↓↙←↖↑↗→↘↓↙←↖↑↗→↘↓↙←↖↑↗→↘↓↙← “ is ridiculously catchy and there have been many parodies on the net to mimic it. On the other hand, the ED song "INSIDE IDENTITY" by Black Raison d'être seems ordinary with a nice melody.

Ultimately, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is a very entertaining series to watch. It's not like the usual harem with a pathetic protagonist who can't make up his damn mind. But rather, it involves a kid who tried to escape from his past but ends up living it now with his new friends at high school. Entertainment is not so easy to bring these days especially with a lot of already used ideas but this one here is executed pretty well in my opinion. So, give it a shot.
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I won't lie - I got interested in this because of Rikka's appearance. Weirdly enough, I'm pretty much attracted to characters wearing eyepatches or with cursed eyes, so I thought that I could give this a try. I'm pretty sure I've had Chu2byo myself - there was a time when I pretended that I had some kind of ESP power, although I never used to be as overdramatic as this show's characters are.
Plus, I'm not really a RomCom kind of person, but I always like a nice comedy.

Story - 8
Chu2koi's plot is apparently like most Slice of Life anime: high school drama, club activities, random situations. But all of this is caught under a different light - for example the club is basically a "secret base" (called "Eastern Magic Society of Summer Naps" or something like that), with a fluorescent magic circle on the floor and where "fights" against the evil happen, all in the main characters' own imagination. It's all original and that's what makes it so much fun.

Art - 8
KyoAni is famous for his moe characters that would basically look cute in every situation, but this time the art was a bit different. Simpler but still stunning: I liked this much more than the usual moeness overload. Not to speak about the extraordinary visuals of the parallel world seen in Deko-chan and Rikka's imagination.

Sound - 7
I didn't like the opening as much as other people did - it was okay, but nothing more.
On the other hand, I loved the ending theme, Inside Identity. So I thought I'd give it an average score.

Character - 10
This show's forte. It's all based on the characters - they all have some unique features, that make Chu2koi enjoyable.
Starting with its main character, Togashi Yuuta, that I found totally adorable! Especially when he tells himself not to think about his middle school year and starts going crazy. He made me laugh so much.
Calm and a little clueless too, after his chuu2byo experience, he wants to be an average high school student, and to leave his past behind. But as soon as he enters his classroom he meets classmate and "fellow" chu2byo named Takanashi Rikka, who instantly recognises as Dark Flame Master. Rikka is cute, funny and sometimes weird - but beneath her bizarre appearance and ethics, a tragedy is buried. And this tragedy is the reason why she feels so close to Yuuta and to his Dark Flame Master alter-ego.

Then we have the other characters;
the Chu2byo and middle school genius Dekomori Sanae, who refers to herself as "Rikka's servant" and is constantly arguing with popular, class rep and former Chu2Byo, Nibutani Shinka or, as Dekomori calls her, "Nise Mori";
and last, the only two "normal" characters out there : Tsuyuri Kumin, the calm, nap-loving senpai and Isshiki Makoto, Yuuta's first friend, who's in love with Kumin.

Overall, I enjoyed this show a lot - not only because it reminded me of my Chu2byo time, but also because it was a really nice comedy, with original plot twist and very good characterisation.
If you're looking for some light-hearted romance, and anything but ordinary characters, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is certainly the right anime for you (and it will probably keep you hooked to your computer until you finish it).

This was my first review - sorry if it isn't that good, but this anime had a particular feeling to it that made me want to write one to tell everybody how good is it.
Hope it was useful to someone that wasn't sure whether to watch this or not - you won't be disappointed! read more

First review. I just finished this so it's fresh on my mind and I absolutely must write about it.

STORY: 9
What we have here is a typical story executed in a wonderfully original way. KyoAni blends the comedic and dramatic into a nostalgic exploration of adolescence topped with their particular charm. I found myself laughing, cringing, and tearing up multiple times throughout. It's an emotional roller-coaster, yet I feel it manages to avoid the realm of melodrama by contrasting drama with gags. It does what Toradora failed to do for me. That said, I feel the show could have used one or two more episodes to ease into the drama. The shift comes fairly quick, but really, it wasn't much issue.

Overall, it's a nice balance. Juxtaposing comedy and drama--blending reality and fantasy--serves as an astute parallel to the theme of escapism and develops a touching story about growing up and the ambivalence toward leaving our younger selves behind.


ART: 9
Beautiful. The animation is absolutely fantastic. Action scenes are dynamic and larger-than-life. More relaxed scenes are nuanced and fluid. Character designs are seriously cute (even the guys). Atmosphere is used very well to complement scenes, whether it be a tender moment under a bridge or a restless heart trying to fall asleep. The only thing that knocks off a point is the occasional usage of fairly awkward-looking 3DCG. On top of a detailed background, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Overall, it's stunning.


SOUND: 8
This is really just a matter of taste. I liked the opening much more than the ending. BGM was sweet and melancholic and complements scenes well. During romantic scenes, there are insert-songs which I thought were a little unnecessary.


CHARACTER: 9
KyoAni has turned up the moe to 11 with Chuunibyou, and even the "anti-moe" Nibutani has her own appeal. That aside, every character's motivations are believable. Their interactions are dynamic and the source of both silly comedy and powerful drama. It's also nice to see an MC who isn't completely clueless when it comes to romance. That said, he still isn't an expert.

Overall, there's a fair amount of depth to these characters, and for the ones without it they're nice to look at. I found myself getting sucked into these character's lives and relationships. Despite how exaggerated some of these characters actually are, they feel very real.


ENJOYMENT: 10
This is an amazing piece of work. It looks phenomenal. It reminds me of Haruhi (primarily Disappearance), FLCL, Kare Kano, and maybe a bit of Haibane Renmei (atmosphere, pacing, climax). It hits like Makoto Shinkai.

There's something sweet and familiar, but gripping, touching, and anxious at the same time. Watching this series is like a trip into the past--one that's exciting and glorified and fantastic, distorted by time, but one that feels real nonetheless. It's nostalgia.


OVERALL: 10
More like a strong 9, but I'm going to round up. It's been quite a while since I've seen a series capture so many emotions so vivaciously and with such force. It builds from a very relatable theme and fully fledges into a compelling and imaginative comedy/drama about growing up. Coming-of-age stories are incredibly common, but Chuunibyou manages to establish a difficult balance between the tongue-in-cheek and the deeply sincere. The result is a piece that is as honest, real, and moving as it is funny. This is without a doubt one of the best things KyoAni has put out. read more

When I looked at the Fall 2012 anime series line up I immediately threw this anime onto the 'do not watch' list. When I see Moe girls and Comedy on genres or themes I assume there is little to no story. But of course I was bored like anyone else so I went to watch this anime for the laughs. The first half of the series was lighthearted comedy but it actually has a story comes the latter half. The twist was a nice touch. The ending was okay for the most part but it left a void for me.

Kyoto animations does a great job with Chuunibyo. Characters move fluidly and seamlessly. Character designs are great; Seifuku is the most important clothing in an anime but KyoAni did not forget about daily clothing either. Nearly half of the anime was taken outside of school hours so I applaud them for designing normal wear. Scenery was a big thing for me in this anime. The scenery was always appropriate with the atmosphere. And lighting was perfect, it was weaker at times and when things got more intense Darker Light and Highlights were enhanced to strengthen the mood. The animation was not over ambitious when it did not need to be and was astounding when it was.

I would have to say the Opener and the Closer are the weakest point for sound in this anime. While they are nice sounding the vocals are a bit squeaky. The music accompanies the atmosphere very well in all scenarios of the anime. But outside of the anime there are only a few good listens. I found the voice acting to be superb in this anime. It has been a while since I've heard Jun Fukuyama play a proper role. And Maaya Uchida scores gold on my list thanks to her perfect portrayal of Rikka.

The main characters Yuuta and Rikka both get plenty of character development and are always involved with the story. The two characters as a whole have one of the best relationships I've seen in anime history. The supporting characters play their roles nicely and appear in the story at the perfect times.

I gave it a 10.

I love their Romance. I like Kyoto Animations. I love Yuugure To Yorisou Kanjou. I like Nibutani. I loved this Anime. I like it at 9. read more

At first glance, Chuunibyou is not what it seems, a schoolgirl wearing an eyepatch, the magic circle on the cover and a synopsis that talks about contracts? It would definitely strike you as a fantasy, moe magical-girl anime, but believe me, Chuunibyou is as real is it gets.

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! was an pretty enjoyable anime. It made you laugh when you were suppose to laugh, cry when you were suppose to cry as well as melt into the cuteness in an instant. "Chuunibyou" otherwise known as "Eighth Grade Syndrome" plays a huge role in this delightful tale of a group of schoolmates learning to accept themselves as well as the past that they've tried desperately to leave behind.

The concept behind the story was very well planned, Rikka is a current high school student who is now suffering from Eighth Grade Syndrome, she approaches Yuuta, a boy who has deliberately tried to erase his past when he also had the syndrome. At first Yuuta expresses immediate reluctance towards Rikka because he is constantly reminded of his past self and he assumes Rikka is being childish and silly, but as the anime progresses, he begins to warm up to her and her antics, and slowly begins to realize that there may be something beyond the adventure that has Rikka hiding behind her eye-patch.

The art, as expected from Kyoto Animations was gorgeous but the cuteness might not be everyone's cup of tea. The graphics and animation is very fluid and a pleasure to watch.

I have no complaints about the sound at all, the voices were clear and not annoying, BGM wasn't overly distracting and went nicely with the events that occurred.

The characters were very believable and while the stunts they carried out were a bit outrages at some points, the reasoning behind them were understandable.

As a slice-of-life, I think this anime did a brilliant job keeping you interested, with a heartwarming story paired with comedy bound to make you dissolve into giggles.
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is a story that will break your heart but fill it with absolute adoration for the characters at the same time.

I greatly enjoyed this anime and while I wish they characters and relationships were elaborated a bit more, it didn't hurt the anime's presentation or content much.
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*WARNING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Life can be boring, lonely and even painful at times. We humans naturally tend to avoid these feelings because of the discomfort they give us. We try to run away from them, but it is no use. Reality is all around as, and there is no place for us to hide. Our only option is to blast reality..and burst it into shreds!

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai focuses on a girl who does just that. She cannot accept reality, so she denies the fact that it's there. This girl opposes reality by being a Chuunibyou. But you might be wondering...what is a Chuunibyou? By definition, a Chuunibyou is someone who pretends like they are in junior high/8th grade. 8th graders are believed to discover new self-awareness at this time in their life. They often pretend to be something they are not. For example, a super hero or an evil villain. By being a Chuunibyou, these people can successfully escape from reality by being the someone or something that they want to be.

Our story starts with a boy by the name of Togashi, Yuuta. Yuuta has spent his 8th grade year pretending to be the Dark Flame Master. In other words, he was a Chuunibyou. Now that he is a high-school student, he looks back at that time in his life shamefully. He is extremely embarrassed about being a Chuunibyou and even moves to a faraway high-school to avoid his classmates in middle school. Yuuta just wants to be a normal student now, and make new friends.

Then we have Takanashi, Rikka. She is a girl who has just become a Chuunibyou. Rikka is in the same class as Yuuta and takes an interest in him. Of course, Yuuta wants nothing to do with her. He wants to seem as normal as possible to his new classmates in high-school.

And so the two's hilarious little adventure ensues.

Chuunibyou goes through two major shifts in its story. The first half of it is a happy going tale about Yuuta and Rikka's interaction with each other. This slowly builds up an understanding between the two, and that understanding eventually builds up in to love. The second half is a more dramatic and meaningful story. The theme is clearly visible in the second half as Rika comes to terms with growing up and accepting reality. That is to say the first half was more happy and silly, while the second half was more depressing. All in all, the story can be summed up as short, sweet, simple, and silly. It is told near flawlessly with many laughs along the way. The relationships were not rushed, and everything progresses smoothly.

Moving on to the characters... this is what i loved most about Chuunibyou. They have fun personalities and very entertaining dialog. They are all a lovable bunch who develop naturally in their own ways. My favorite of the bunch would definitely have to be the heroine, Rikka.

Rikka has become one my favorite anime characters this year. She can be defined just like the story. Short, sweet, simple, and silly...well not really simple. She is very complex in the way she acts. It sometimes becomes difficult to understand her speech without Yuuta there to translate it, but that is just how she is. Rikka pretends that she wields a power called "The Wicked Eye", and she uses it to search for a place called the "Ethereal Horizon". That is her Chuunibyou. She diligently follows this idea throughout the story until we reach the shift as i like to call it. We discover why she acts the way she does as the plot moves in to its more dramatic side. Rikka shows much character development here as she learns what it means to love and fit into society. This is all done at a reasonable pace that the viewers can enjoy. It becomes very entertaining to watch her fall in love and learn what love is; however, it was very sad seeing Rikka force herself to stop being a Chuunibyou. She becomes a relatable character because everyone has problems that they want to escape from. Most of us tend to want to escape to a different reality as well. Isn't that more or less why we watch anime?

The most lovable part of Rikka's character was probably her Chuunibyou acts and her interactions with Yuuta. Rika would go around the streets swinging an umbrella around and yell weird phrases. She would do the goofiest things while looking extremely cute. Rikka did not care what others thought of her actions. Because of this, Rikka goes on to do weird and comical things that may seem stupid to some. For example, she would yell out "BANISHMENT... THIS WORLD!" and get into a imaginary battles with people. I like to say that " it's so stupid, it's funny". Her interactions with Yuuta are also very amusing to watch. Yuuta would hit her on the head whenever Rikka did something wrong or weird. This causes Rikka to make the cutest little moaning sound. When Rikka starts to fall in love with Yuuta, she begins to blush a lot and act more "girly". If i had to sum up Rika in one word, it would have to be ADORABLE.

Yuuta, the other main character, has a little less going for him. He is far from boring, but Rikka's dynamic character simply seems to overshadow his. Yuuta goes crazy whenever someone mentions his pass "Dark Flame Master" identity.This is what makes him realistic because people are naturally embarrassed about doing things that society deems unnatural.He wants nothing to do with Chuunibyous, but Rikka slowly begins to change him. He starts to become more understanding and ends up being a very good match for Rikka.

Character designs further increases the characters likability, especially Rikka's cuteness. They are simple and plain, yet very appealing. As expected from Kyoto animations. A wonderful job was done with the scenery and the animations. Lights in the horizon and the imaginary Chuunibyou fights looked spectacular. Everything was wonderful to the point of breathtaking. The only problem i had was the repeated flashing and dancing in the opening that was quite seizure inducing.

There is not much to say for the sound quality. I enjoyed the catchy opening song, and the ending song had a nice beat to it, but i did not feel like the ending song fit the mood very well for the last few episodes . The episode would end on a sad note and then this somewhat goofy song would start playing, and that kinda killed the mood for me.The opening song went well with the whole twelve episode though. The BGMs were all plain and nice. They fit the simple high-school days mood very well. Voice acting was also spot on. Uchidia, Maaya brought out Rikka's adorableness even further with her delighful voice.

To sum it all up, Chuunibyou is simply an amazing anime. The concept is so simple yet so unique.It is a love story with themes about growing up and being yourself, but they tell it in the most amusing of ways. A fine example for all romantic comedies out there. Definitely check it out, and i'll see you in the Ethereal Horizon. read more

I'll start this review by pointing out that I began watching this anime thinking it was something completely different. I read "demon" and "curse" on the synopsis and thought I was in for some horror story.
I couldn't have been more wrong. And I'm glad it was that way.

Although I'm not a fan of the "school", "comedy" and "romance" genres, I found myself having a blast while watching every episode of the series.

[Story = 10/10]
The story is really simple. However, it was executed brilliantly. The way the background of the characters unveils adds a lot of drama to the series.
The last chapter left me really satisfied.

[Art = 10/10]
Both the characters and the backgrounds are awesome. The movements of the characters seem very fluid, specially during the scenes where they "fight". The backgrounds are beautiful and colorful.

[Sound = 10/10]
Both the opening and the ending songs are quite catchy. They are two of the very few anime songs I didn't skip.
The background music adds a lot to every scene, specially during dramatic moments. Nothing feels out of place in that regard.

[Character = 10/10]
The main characters grow a lot throughout the series, though in different ways. Still, their growth has a lot to do with their past, and becoming more mature.
The rest of the characters add quite a bit to the funny side of the story, mostly during their "club" activities. I'd say they were all memorable characters, although one or two might be cliche.

[Enjoyment = 10/10]
From the really good comedy to the heartbreaking drama, I enjoyed this series completely. Not once did I find myself wanting to skip a part because it was boring.

Overall, I'd say this is one of the best series I have watched in a long time. Lighthearted, memorable and funny as hell. I'd recommend it to just about anyone. read more

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!: lets poke fun at our embarrassing childhood tendencies and make it cute in the process! Kyoto Animation is at it again with their shrewd schemes.

Everyone had their fair share of moments as a kid where roleplaying was just the cool thing to do. Now looking back upon it, most of us are humiliated by the fact that we did such a thing. Ignorance is bliss, because the best time of your life was also the time when you didn’t care about being judged. The romanticized version of this concept is what this anime is all about. Sprinkle that with a little KyoAni moe touch, and…inevitable success!

The story features two very similar main characters that took alternate paths to cope with their problems. The male protagonist Yuuta, an ex-chuunibyou, is a high school teenager that dreads the fact that he created an alter-ego known as the “Dark Flame Master” in middle school. Rikka, the female protagonist, embraced her chuunibyou powers and continues to live a life filled with delusion. Two characters of many similarities, but took different approaches.

How great was the story exactly? The execution was decent at best, because each half of the story felt like two separate stories. On one side, the mood was set to be cheery and funny. And all of the sudden, everything turned gloomy and tragic. On top of everything, romance is squeezed in between the rift. The pacing of the story gives off a corny imprint with the all the overblown drama, which did not sit well with me.

With all that being said, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! was still incredible with the flamboyant personalities of the characters. The dialogue was very engaging, with sporadic characters like Dekomori and Nibutani. Not to mention, Rikka is quite the character, and it’s impossible for this series to be boring with an eye-patch girl that fights with an umbrella. The romantic affairs between Yuuta and Rikka was not half bad, since they are a perfect fit for each other. It is always a pleasure for me to watch a relationship where both parties are influential to each other.

Production: Kyoto Animation consistently does an excellent job with the animations. I am impartial to moe, but it seems to be the mainstream style nowadays. I am upset however, by the constant teasing with the fighting scenes. Just adapt an action anime please.

Impact: Whenever I finish a show, I rate its impact on me. It’s an intangible measure; the magnitude of the feeling upon finishing a show. I must say, I will miss watching Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! read more

Chuunibyou. I'm not quite sure that this syndrome exist, but god how funny would it be !!! Imagine your best friend comming at school with a bandage, saying that he cannot remove it as he would risk to liberate the dragon ! This is how Chuunibyou rules.

As you now know, this anime is one of the most funny I've seen. But he got another goal sentimental: it reminds you of your school years, during which time we laugh, we take the shame, we have fun, we cry, we love ... That's the strongest point of this anime, that's why some people can have a crush on it. Let's begin :

Story : 8.
One word : Original, as we can expect now from Japanese scenarists. The idea of ​​mixing reality and fiction into a disease is just extraordinary. The setting of school is in favor of that. So now the Comedy is in place, i would say strongly in place. Then begin the Romance, and despite what I thought at first, it was not bad at all. Anyway, I think this would have been better to continue into a pure Comedy.

Art : 8.
What can i say? Proper. This is not my favourite art but it was ok.

Sound : 9.
Oh god, the best ending ever ! I hear it all day long. Opening is great too.The juggling between the normal sound, and the sound when we enter a 'fight' is quite interessting.

Character : 10.
To make characters like the Dark Flame Master, Jao Shingan etc... you should have a nice imagination ! They are very endearing. When we see how having chuunibyou is a trouble, we necessarily understand the shame Yuuta feel. Rikka is nice too, she has nothing to do with what others think, she is natural at all. My favourite is Nibutani : how can we guess that the most beautiful girl in the class had written that she was a witch than 400 years on the internet? She's really funny.

Enjoyment : 10.
It's so funny to watch the embarassing situations that cause Rikka to Yuuta. As i said, this anime is one of the funniest com-rom i ever saw.

Overall : 9.
Chuunibyou is intended for people nostalgic for their school years, to those who are still there, and even those who will enter it. This is its strength. A lot of people will identify themself to the characters. To me, it's a must-to-watch. To dislike it, you should hate KyoAni, or your school days... read more

*to those lazy people who just want to see a quick summary, just skip to the end*

I’m pretty sure that no matter who you are, where you live, and what you’re stature in life is, you’ve once dreamt of the supernatural. You know, like having special powers that set you apart from others, or living in a floating castle in the sky. But of course, regardless of that, there came a time when we all decided to forget such delusions and become a proper part of the society. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, otherwise known as Chuu-2, is an anime that focuses on such delusions.

Chuu-2 shows us the story of Yuuta, your everyday, run-of-the-mill, high school teenage boy. Or so he seems. In the past he seems to have been infected with one of the most widespread, embarrassing, and even humiliating disease of all time, and that is Chuunibyou. Chuunibyou is something that every normal person has gone through in his life, and that the delusions that come with the developing of one’s mind during the second year of middle school, and thus the name Chuunibyou. Now, the thing is, each case of Chuunibyou is different from one person to another, and Yuuta happened to have a really bad case of it, making him act out his delusions to the point of going to school in costume fighting enemies that don’t exist. But as with every person, he soon realized what he was doing, and became slightly traumatized with embarrassment. So, after graduating middle school, he decided to put everything behind him, and start fresh in a school where nobody knows of his dark past. Now, here comes Rikka, a person who, even until high school, still has her Chuunibyou. With her discovering Yuuta’s hidden secret, she drags him into all sorts of situations, and so the story begins.

With that short summary of the story, you might be asking “what is so great about this anime?” First off, it is literally one of the funniest anime I’ve ever watched. Everything, from the epic fight scenes that Rikka imagines down to her reactions when Yuuto hits her in the head is just priceless. What’s more is that the jokes they tell not only makes you laugh, but actually hits you right in the face. Chuu-2 shows us what we were when we were young and still unembarrassed with our delusional dreams for the future. It gives you a feeling of nostalgia, like you can almost be certain that back then, you also thought of being a hero of justice or something like that. So to make a long statement short, not only is it funny, you can actually relate to the things that they are doing, or even the way they think.

Another thing is that the plot itself was straightforward. It doesn’t wander around from this to that but just focuses on both Yuuta and Rikka, the two main protagonist of the story. It shows their lives just like any self-respecting slice of life anime does, with a little twist in the middle when the anime starts to pick up speed and transform from a comedy slice of life to a somewhat romantic drama. What is really amazing about it though is that even with that transition, it still managed to stay true to its concept. At the start it was about some high school students with Chuunibyou and in the end, it still was. Even if the transition made it more serious and dramatic, the core concept was still there, and that is about these students trying to let go of their delusions. Lastly, the thing I liked the most about this anime is its conclusive ending. Although this might not be really good because it lowers the chance of Chuu-2 having a second season, it’s still better than leaving us hanging. The ending left no plotholes, and is overall solid, leaving a warm and fluffy feeling after watching the entire series.

Aside from the plot itself, one of the things that make Chuu-2 so great is its characters. Each one of them is them is unique in their own way and is refreshing to watch. Rikka for example, is the main source of the gags in the anime due to her extremely unpredictable nature. She is the kind of character who is usually creates the complications and problems in the plot and is also the love interest of Yuuta. Yuuta on the other hand is more of the straight man who usually solves and stops Rikka from doing embarrassing things. Aside from that he also once had Chuunibyou and called himself “Dark Flame Master”, which caused him to be the center of some gags throughout the anime. Aside from them, there are also a few supporting characters, namely: Dekomori, Rikka’s best friend and apparent servant, Isshiki, Yuuta’s best friend and a source of comic relief in the story, Nibutani, the beautiful class rep. and a school idol who used to have Chuunibyou and called herself Forest Summer, and the last one, Kumin, their sempai who just likes to nap. Now, this is where Chuu-2 really shines. The characters are just perfect for the premise of the story. They’re funny, cute and most of all, relatable. Along with, the character development is also pretty smooth. It can be quite sudden, but it’s not without proper cause and is justifiable.

And of course, there’s always the animation and music. Although having beautiful graphics isn’t really crucial to making a good anime, but damn this anime is really animated really well. Everything was smooth, no inconsistencies as far as I can tell, and is pretty much just eye candy. And those fight scenes. Having been spawned from a Chuunibyou’s imagination, it can be really over the top sometimes, but it’s really good enough to rival those of some shounen anime. But of course, since it was done by KyoAni, which is known for its high quality animations, this is pretty much a given. The music is also just as good. Heck, you can even watch the anime just for the music itself, although I really wouldn’t recommend it. The opening, Sparkling Daydream, is an lively and upbeat song which can pretty much give you a general idea of the comedy and chaos that’s about to ensue later into the episode. The ending, Inside Identity, is more of a j-rock song which is also pretty catchy as well.

So overall, I found Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai as the best comedy/romance anime of 2012 and one of the best of all time. I highly recommend it to everyone, especially to those who have a soft spot for romcoms. But still, regardless of your taste in anime, it’s only 12 episodes long, so it won’t really take much time, so why not give it a try? After all you might come to like it.

So to provide a quick summary for those lazy people who have another serious disease which they commonly abbreviate as TL;DR syndrome, I’ll just list the pros and cons of the anime.

+Funny
+Easily Relatable
+Fairly straightforward but highly entertaining plot
+Conclusive ending
+Stays true to its concept/doesn’t try to be what it isn’t

-Due to the story being straightforward, the plot can be somehow predictable
-If you hate moe, you might not like this
-Can cause hysterical laughter which leads to lightheadedness and stomachaches

~First and foremost, thanks for reading my review. If you have any comments regarding my review or just want to have a discussion, then leave a comment at my page. I will greatly appreciate it. =)~
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EDIT (1/1/13) : In the past, in advance and now I must express my greatest apology for creating spoilers of this series. I completely forgot somehow even though on my right and my right mind that it says to 'not write any spoilers', mental blank maybe or just my past acting up... But once again I must apologise and hope that you can forgive me. I will remove the spoilers for future readers and for current or past readers, I really do apologise. And without a further ado... I must add that there are some slight spoilers but not as much as before

A sense of nostalgia was the first reaction I had, and what most people would. A past of imagination and fun. We laughed, cried, even danced for things that bring us joy. Being a high school student, we move on, banishing our past. Some say that our past allows us to move on and run away from it. Perhaps from fear? Embarrassment? Concern? Maybe Maturity. But, we can never run away as it is always a part of us, it makes us a special, unique individual.

That is how Chuunibyou in my opinion is portrayed. As a reflection on our past and how it shaped our future.

Chuunibyou is translated as “Eighth-Grade Syndrome.” An epidemic for people in the eight grade. A certain website states that it is a slang term depicting three different cases: The antisocial types, ones with the 'cool' factor, and ones who admire mystical powers and recreates them in reality through their imagination.

Story and Characters: (9)

Chuunibyou's main characters include: Togashi Yuuta, Takanashi Rikka, Nibutani Shinka, Dekomori Sanae, Tsuyuri Kumin and Isshiki Makoto (Uhh... Is he a main?)

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! depicts a newly enrolled high school student, Togashi Yuuta. A teenager whose past is what he thinks as banished from his mind, a few head bangs on his wall is an example. He enters high school with a clean slate, so he says. "Dark Flame Master" his faked ulterior personality due to having a different mindset of his friends.

Takanashi Rikka. A person with a rather serious case of Chuunibyou. And is expressed by rather peculiar movements and stances that the responders cannot help but laugh. But in future episodes she experiences development of mind, heart and soul.

Nibutani Shinka, the classmate of the two above and Isshiki, relates to Yuuta in the way of wanting to forget about her chuunibyou past. She is also the motherly type I suppose and expresses this love towards other characters giving her a rather lovable personality and character.

Dekomori... Smart... but just weird. Not saying she's a bad character but was one of the most strongest, bringing powerful scenes towards the end. But either way, she too has Chuunibyou, with twin tails which are... heavy. Yeah that would hurt, right Nibutani?

Isshiki, doesn't play much of a role but plays a good comedic role like a side character (referring to Clannad and Little Busters if you know what I'm talking about)

Kumin-senpai is an admirer of people with Chuunibyou. A rather peculiar, sleepy case who in turn plays a huge role towards the end.

Art: (10)
Kyoto Animation presents stunning quality in their animation. Well I'm no expert but it was truly outstanding as always.

Sound: (9)
Atmospheric background music is best for bringing out character development and emotions towards the viewers. Kyoani successfully manipulated music to their advantage and used that initiative to have an awesome soundtrack.The timing of the music is what I'm speaking of. The dramatic music played at the right times, the foreshadowing, comedic etc. allows people to be drawn into the same environment of chuu2.

Enjoyment: (10)
Everything from Chuunibyou was enjoyable. The comedy and romance both created and anime for everyone joy, happiness and some sad scenes had drawn my attention from the beginning. Chuu2 has this element that would make the haters of moe, romantic-comedic genres become entranced into this show. That element is for you, the viewers to find out.

And of course Overall (10). As MAL states it was just Outstanding. Everything about it is lovable. I'm out of words at the moment so I cannot explain how great this anime is. Viewers looking for a balanced romantic comedy with some drama, this is for you.

This is my first review. I had fun typing up this and being the first for this anime brings me great pleasure to do so. Please if it doesn't trouble you say if this was helpful or not, I'd like to continue reviewing if people like reading it. And please mind my English, never was good at it hehe. Thanks for reading and hope I didn't waste your time XD

EDIT: I appreciate the criticism people expressed to me. Granted some (one) of them were not constructive but I really do appreciate what people said to me. Thanks for the comments :)

And finally: Reality be rent. Synapse break. Banishment, this WORLD!! read more

Sometimes, initial impressions can be highly deceiving. Chuunibyou is an example of that.

Incorporating elements of drama, moe and SoL, Chuunibyou is a superb show, displaying a remarkable level of literary and technical depth, and appealing to many different viewers as well.

Drama, characterization and plot are well executed, making this show one of the most enjoyable this season. It is only around the later episodes that one truly comes to appreciate the level of thoughtfulness and sophistication that went into the creation of this show. Whilst the first 1-8 episodes seem like pointless interactions, it is later revealed to be metaphorical to the inner struggles of Rikka, the female lead. In this respect, it is even better than Clannad which, for the first half IS just messing around.

Story and character is superb. Rikka steals the main focus of the show in the latter half of the show, reveling an interesting, well fleshed out character. Yuuta, as the level headed male lead, provides the driving push behind the plot. On the other hand, Nibutani and Dekkomori act as supporting characters, at times providing support for Rikka and at the same time assisting in her character development. Nibutani is an interesting character in that she hides part of her character. Her personality is caustic, and yet she acts as the motherly figure for many of the characters. To top it off, she, like Yuuta, is a past [spoiler], which adds to the comedy. Whilst it is true that each character falls under a specific archetype, they are all masterfully expressed and their personalities certainly do not feel overused.

Humor is well executed, drawing on the various quirks of all the characters to provide an enjoyable watch regardless of the story. One criticisms I have is that both Isshiki and Kumin could both be removed without impacting on the overall show, although both are integrated in a way that is hardly obtrusive to the developments of the main characters.

As expected from KyoAni, art and sound is equally as impressive. Character design is original, with the short quick "Chuunibyou" scenes allowing KyoAni to show off their animation skills. Another criticism that could be added is that the art is rather typical, and there is certainly a high level of similarity in the way the eyes have been drawn. Despite this, the art is certainly superb. Shading, detail and lighting has been well done, contributing greatly to the general feel and atmosphere. Music is fitting, and the OP sets a lighter tone for the darker themes in the latter episodes. Elements of moe has been undoubtedly incorporated, and expressed mainly in Rikka(heck since when has KyoAni made anything that doesn't have moe). Although some may object, the moe certainly adds to Rikka's character, reminding us at times that she is still a (human) girl. And to be honest, I like some moe fanservice.

Overall, Chuuinbyou has been an excellent show that has stood out in this slightly lackluster season. Highly, highly recommended.


Revision #3 read more

TRY TO ONLY READ THIS REVIEW AFTER YOU'RE DONE. (Not really because of spoilers, but this is more meaningful if you've seen the show. Certain ideas put forth in here may contaminate your enjoyment of the show.)

Before getting into the real meat of the review, there is a certain background to it that must be made clear.

My expectations for this anime were completely different from what it became in the end, and not in a good way either.

One of my favourite manga author is Inio Asano, a man who injects realism into his plots (even those extreme surreal ones such as Oyasumi PunPun) in order to send certain strong existentialist messages or flesh his characters out as full and breathing people.

I was introduced to this anime (by a person who lauded it highly, giving it a 10) assuming it was going to be a 'Catcher in the Rye' (in that it would deliver a full and realistic treatise of the nature of the 'Chuunibyou psychosis) of the anime industry, namely a series that would have dealt with the nature of antisocialbility (if this is a word) in a realistic and hard-hitting manner. It was a lack of foresight on my part, but overall this view dampened the whole experience altogether.

The first six episodes really killed this vision for me. Six episodes of indulging into unrealistic fantasies that stood against the message the anime intended to deliver. No Kyoani, life does not work that way. In fact you could say that the anime itself... suffered from Chuunibyou (har har).

In the end I completed it since I was constantly assured it would get better.

Well it did, the last six episodes were full of so much rose-colored idealism and melodrama that I was greatly entertained by the whole train ride.

But that was all it was, entertaining. It could have been so much more...

It did have a strong message in the end (We should all be who we are and live with it) , but thrown into such a fantasy setting (Hey look, the weird girl wants to make friends, everyone clap!) that I couldn't take it seriously. In the end the whole 'Chuunibyou' psychosis became a mere melodramatic plot point ("Boohoo, I became this way because of traumatic event A") and engine to provide random bouts of slapstick humor ("Gah I wish I could forget how stupid I was" *rolls on the floor in a hilarious way).

Chuunibyou is funny (well some parts), melodramatic, greatly entertaining. But if you're a lost soul mired in the dark swamp of self-pity and self-loathing, don't look to this for strong mental support.

Yes I'm a media elitist, so sue me.

In the end, this sends a completely different message, one that all self proclaimed artists or authors should take note: If you want to write a social commentary, don't try to make a compromise with entertainment for fear of alienating your audience, lessening the effect of your message in the process. read more

Suppose you watch a work that seems to have a lot of effort put into it. It’s easy to tell the staff members have worked their ass off to make this work look pretty. Gorgeous character designs and backgrounds. Hell, it’s possible to just watch the show for the art. Turn off the sounds and take off the subtitles from the screen. It’s fantastic animation. I expect nothing less from Kyoto Animation, which has given us Hyouka gifs on our Tumblr. To expect mediocrity in art direction is an insult to the members of this talented studio.

Yet, prettiness is not always watchable. When the plot dives, frustration skyrockets. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai suffers from its poor writing. There are clichés on every step.

Take the premise of chuunibyous, which roughly translates into ‘eighth grade syndrome.’ This social phenomena is worth exploring despite the lack of attention to it. I’m glad the writers are giving this attention. Some may call this Kyoto Animation’s answer to “Welcome to the NHK”, a critique of hikikomori and depressive disorders. It can be good, albeit bitter, medicine for people still suffering from the syndrome.

However, Chu2koi finds delight in such escapism. Not that it’s a bad thing -- it saves this work from the need of being ultra-preachy. You can’t really create such a provocative work in just 12 episodes. KyoAni is a master of slice-of-life humor, as seen in the K-On! franchise. In the genre where girls drink tea and eat cake, add in crazy animations of teens pretending they’re superheroes and we get a comedic masterpiece. If this work stays that way, I wouldn’t feel the need to write this review.

Instead, KyoAni apparently wanted to preach... something.

This is where it gets messy. I have no idea who to blame, but the writing suddenly took a dramatic turn. KyoAni is trying desperately hard to combine Chu2koi’s unique humor and dramatic preaching. In the first half of the series, it’s humorous. The latter half shows grim, dark melodrama. Its main characters, Rikka and Yuuta, are introduced as a dynamic comedic pair; in the end, they whine at every moment possible. Melodramatic events surround the protagonists while the supporting characters goof around.

Chu2koi is, in a word, bipolar.

Because of these senseless, abrupt changes in tone and mood, you don’t really understand where the work is going, let alone what it is about. When the work finally gives some closure, there is much to be questioned. It feels rushed; there are contradictions and glaring plot-holes in the final episodes. Bandaging those plot-holes with clichés just makes it worse. They’re an eyesore. You can separate the final episode into sections -- and in these sections pinpoint which scene of Chu2koi ripped off from which anime. Supporting characters, who did nothing in this work, suddenly become important. One character who did nothing for the first twelve episodes except being cute became an important character in the finale. Anime-original character Dekomori fares better because she is relevant to the plot. But because she is a comedic character, she unintentionally destroys atmospheres in dramatic episodes. The script is just plain chaotic.

And so the confusing million-dollar question: Does this work actually have something to say? It does end with a message, but it’s not convincing with all these mood whiplashes. I hear its sermon, but it’s gibberish. It seems to accept the chuunibyou culture as a facet of individualism; yet, once you take Rikka’s reason for the desperate escapism, it becomes nonsense. It’s hard to explain what this work is saying.

But it’s undeniable Chu2koi is a good work if we look at other technicalities. Animation and music are superb as always. Ignoring the plot, the characters are fun to watch. Their interactions make anyone envious of their lives. It’s a good slice-of-life comedy.

Which begs the question: why did this work not stay that way? The first half is strong; the second half is just unwatchable melodrama. It is despairing that Chu2koi has so much potential. Instead, it wanted to be something like Welcome to the NHK.

In a one-cour show, the themes have to be focused. To diverge off and be something else is absurd. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai tries too much to be something special, but falls off from the ladder; it’s just too emotionally unstable like an angsty teenager. read more

"Another romance / comedy anime? And another eyepatch girl? Please spare us... "

I beg to differ.

Hello fellow anime fans, my name is Gillis. This is my very first anime review and I mainly decided to write it as this anime seems to have been overlooked by many, and I at least want it to catch your attention. Heck, another eyepatch girl, some may think when they see the picture of the anime. I am like that too, but if you miss this series I won't forgive you.

I have been watching anime for a long time, all the way back in grade school. When I started there was already a lot of great classics to watch, and I was the self-proclaimed local Anime-guru back in the days. In the recent past two years though I've watched many new and old series, never finding anything I have liked (there are some rare, few exceptions). Usually I just pick up a new anime when I am about to eat and then I drop it after maybe 2 episodes. In fact, I have actually dropped over 100 series (yes more than my list) and the biggest reason is that: Either it does not hook me from the start, or it just got no story. My taste is all-round, it can be anything... as long as the plot is good, not necessarily unique. The art does not have to be excellent either. For me, as said, it's all about the quality of the story.


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Presentation
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With that in mind, enough of my background. About 1 week ago, as I was about to sit down and eat I was lurking around on a anime stream website and picked up a random anime I had not seen. "Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!". As usual I did not expect much. I just wanted to watch something random while eating my food. Heck, the only recent masterpiece I had seen most recently was Steins; Gate... and that was quite some time ago. However, as I started watching Chuunibyou I was in for a surprise. The introduction of the anime presents the interesting disease called "8th-grader symptom" or in japanese "Chuunibyou". To summarize, it is the difficult age we've been going through as teenagers where we do some really silly things that we all want to forget. As the explanation of this disease continues we are introduced to one of the main characters of the story, Togashi Yuuta, which was practically a textbook example of the Chuunibyou disease when he was younger, calling himself "Dark Flame Master" or in japanese "Darku Flameu Masta". Jokes aside, the start really piqued my interest in an instant. I want you to notice that I am very skeptical as I watch new animes. That is, until I am completely seduced by it.

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The First Episode - *WARNING - SPOILERS* (Skip this section if you want)
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Now, the episode continues with Yuuta, having a flashback of his embarrassing past and we come to realize that his Chuunibyou state is over in the present. As he goes to dispose of his past at the balcony a rope is suddenly thrown down from the floor above and down climbs an eyepatch girl named Takanashi Rikka, the other main character of the story. Immediately, as skeptical as I am, I facepalmed right away as the scene was shown to me. "By default" I muttered dissatisfied, recalling about 10 other animes that had started in a similar way. Anyhow, my interest and attention had already been caught by the presentation, so I continued to watch.

Rikka appeared as a really weird girl, wearing an eyepatch and some gothic clothes. Of course, weird and strange overall by climbing down from the third floor on a rope. Certainly not very original though. After this short event the opening starts and afterwards we appear on the next day as Yuuta is about to make his debut into high school and on his way, at the train station, stumble into one of the other main characters. A cute girl named Nibutani Shinka but most importantly into Rikka as well. Yuuta recalls the event that occurred the day before and realizes that she goes to the same school as he does. Of course at that moment, my skeptical sensors turns alert mode: "Oh no, another harem romance show". However, my negative impression was short-lived as in that moment the train arrives and Rikka opens the automatic doors with a large swing by her arm, displaying her mental powers. With a complacent grin on her face she walks into the the train in a really cute and childish manner. Yuuta, being shocked by the moment, manages to miss his train. By this little event I was already starting to be charmed by the series.

Moving on, Yuuta barely arrives in time after having missed his train. As he take a peek into his class he sees that he knows no one in there. Perfect, just as planned! Apparently Yuuta had chosen a different high school that his middle school classmates would not choose. Obviously so that he can get rid of his past filled by his miserable time as a hopeless Chuunibyo case and start a new, normal high school life. But before he enters the class he first walks to a remote area, where he speaks his catchphrase back when he was the Dark Flame Master and "seals" it. Though he thought he was alone, a girl could hear him. Which is with no doubt Rikka.

Back in class he sits down and almost immediately gets on good terms with guy named Isshiki Makoto and soon realizes that the beauty from the train station, Nibutani, also is in the same class as him. What a blessing for his new high school life... only to shortly after find out that Rikka is in the same class as well. As if that was not enough, she suddenly creates a dramatic and embarrassing scene as she stands in front of Yuuta, grasping her eye under the eyepatch as she screams out in pain, saying something about her eye resonating. Under this sudden scene Yuuta realizes all too well what is wrong with her. It can only be a grave and serious case of Chuunibyo. On top of it, he is practically forced to take her to the infirmary where he once again confirms that she really is a dangerous case of Chuunibyo. Whats more, Rikka tells Yuuta that she had found out about his identity, namely "Dark Flame Master". Now Rikka was a presence which could threaten his new dear high school life. Correctly so, later at the day he is invited by Makoto to hang out and eat lunch with some classmates. Oh the joy! What a great start to his new high school life... but the opportunity quickly vanishes as the teacher calls Yuuta in, asking him to help Rikka home as she has lost her train card. If you recall, she lives at the same building as Yuuta. Depressed, Yuuta does as told and declines the lunch invitation. And from this moment on the episode is more or less Yuuta and Rikka interacting and getting to know each other. And I must say it is more interesting, cute and funny than you would imagine.

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*END OF SPOILERS*
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Quality, Plot & Characters
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That pretty much sets the comical and romantic aspect for the series. Being Yuuta having to take care of this impossible case of Chuunibyo, namely Rikka. And shortly after 2-3 episodes I was already in love with the series. As far as the first episodes progress we mainly get to know the main characters better, and it is actually more comedy than there is romance. There is not too much to the story neither at first, as we mostly get to know more background of the main characters. Though if that is something which would keep you bored, fear not. The comedy is really decent and as you probably have discovered, the Chuunibyo disease (8th grader symptom) is already an original part in this anime which separates it from the mass. It is an ingenious idea and the author exploits it really well to create some great comedy which made me laugh out loud a lot. It is an idea that would not run out of quality even if this anime had been made into 24 episodes or more... which in fact, makes me very angry that it isn't. Also, if it is your preference, I can tell you that the animation is really great too. And the soundtrack makes up a lot of the series. But of course, this is not all there is to Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!. Remember, I am all about the plot.

After a few episodes of getting used to the main characters, the anime switch much more focus unto Yuuta and especially Rikka. I must really say I love these two characters. Yuuta is the kind of person trying to fit in with the rest, trying to be normal and fit with the group. Though, he just cannot abandon Rikka even though she is embarrassing and acts wrong, which is the biggest reason I like Yuuta as a character. Of course, he plays a huge role in the comedy factor as he is the only reasonable person among Rikka and her Chuunibyo followers. Rikka too is the comical aspect of the series, trying to draw Yuuta in with her wild fantasies. At the same time she is also very cute, kind and a bit mystic. Though there is more reason to her Chuunibyo state than just age...

As said, shortly after some episodes of getting to know the characters we get to the main story line which contains a lot of romance, but also a lot of drama. Yes, drama. How I love drama. Of course it is necessary to like the characters to create good drama. You could say the first episodes are preparation for it. We get to know Rikka's background a lot better as Yuuta finds out more about her. Her background contains a lot of drama and Yuuta tries his best to understand Rikka and help her in any way he can. Although he does a lot of mistakes and it is truly touching seeing how both the main characters grow together, understanding their faults, understanding what they feel and what the other feels. Too much of this would be spoilers, but it takes a truly dramatic turn and at the end of the anime I was deeply touched. What a great show! I had never expected it when I started watching the anime two days ago. Actually I was so caught up into it that I watched it all in one night, having to face the consequences on the next day. But it was just that good. I am considering if it was worth it though, since afterwards I have been feeling really depressed. Perhaps because I watched such great series all in one night and now there is no more episodes for me to see. Or maybe I am just saddened by my miserable life compared to how they live in the series. Why can't I have such a wonderful occurrence? Or maybe I fell in love with Rikka. Which of these it is, I do not know. But what I do know is that this anime became one of my top favorites and has refreshed my mind. It is truly a masterpiece for its genre, and I highly, dearly... more than recommend it.

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Score
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I do not know who the fansubers for the series are. Still trying to find out who my favorite fansubers for this anime is. I do know though that Unlimited Translation Works (UTW or URW for short) subtitles are okay but I do not recommend them.

Plot - 9/10
Comedy - 9/10
Romance - 6/10
Drama - 7/10
Story - 9/10
Characters 9/10

Art - 8/10

Sound, Music & Voice - 7/10

Pace - 8/10

Overall - 9/10 read more

Once upon a time, there was a really good friend of mine from middle school. Let’s call him Jim. One day Jim came to the brilliant conclusion that he was on the brink of something amazing: becoming a super sayin. Mesmerized by his words of stupidity, we all gathered around as Jim concentrated and let out this loud, flamboyant scream for what seemed like 10 minutes and in the end……………well………….let’s just say his parents had buy a new rug for the classroom.

Now you might be asking yourself, what does that stupid story have to do with Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!? Well everything actually because it turns out that Jim was a victim of what I now know as Chuunibyou, or 8th Grade Syndrome. Chuunibyou is a condition where, during a child’s adolescence, they will start to mix fantasy with reality and it’s this condition that the entire series revolves around.

Story:
Our main protagonist Yuta (someone who HAD Chuunibyou in middle school) hopes to start fresh when he enters high school because of his utter embarrassment at who he thought he was and what he could do. These plans get quickly smashed when he runs into Rikka (someone who still HAS Chuunibyou) who becomes attached to him only to serve as a constant, embarrassing reminder of who he once thought he was.

A friend of mine described this series as “that of a delusional loli and a normal boy who takes pity on her.” And I think,for the first 5 episodes, that’s pretty accurate.

As the series goes on, however, we discover more about Rikka and realize that her delusions aren’t that of someone who is confusing fantasy and reality, but rather someone who is using fantasy to escape from reality.

The show exemplifies good pacing as every episode will either leave you in suspense or satisfied. Being a slice of life, school setting anime, the series has its fair share of drama, romance and a wide variety of humor that makes you laugh and moments that will make you cry manly tears when its suppose to.

Characters:
Yuta seems as normal as they come but he’s not one of those typical, I’m bland, I can’t make up my mind type of normal characters. He gets annoyed, has delusions and gets a crush on the prettiest girl in school just like any other high school boy but he is in no way boring. Throughout the series, Yuta, as he learns more about Rika as well as himself, starts making decisions which can actually affect his development out of adolescence and into maturity. He is a character that grows, learns and makes mistakes. Plus, his over the top reactions to him being glorified as the “Dark Flame Master” (His Chuunibyou counterpart) are one of the main highlights of the series but that’s not his only role.

Then there’s Rika. This girl is so cute I think needs her own Moe archetype. Despite the fact that she acts like she’s some kind of supernatural being with the powers of darkness, there are also times were she acts like…well…a normally innocent, shy teenage girl and while the series is mainly done from Yutas normal point of view, every now and then we’ll see things from Rikas Chuunibyou perspective.

The fact that these two are the protagonists doesn’t make any part of the main cast less enjoyable or relatable for that matter. What’s great about the main cast in the series is that each of them seems to represent some different aspect of aging and maturity despite most of them being high schoolers. This in turn only makes the maturity Rikka and Yuta go through more apparent.

Shinka Nibutani – she represents adulthood (she can’t stand childish things and aside from being a total bitch, she is the most mature of the cast)

Sanae Dekomori – she, like Rikka, represents someone with Chuunibyou but in a more natural sense

Makoto Isshiki – he represents a typical high school who reminds me of someone from Clannad (cough Sunohara cough)

Kumin Tsuyuri – due to her constant nap taking and earnest attempts at understanding Rikka and Dekomori’s delusions, I can only assume that she represents the elderly

This array of cast members defiantly helps reinforce the whole them of maturity and growing up.


Art:
What can I say other than amazing. A great amount of detail was placed into not only the main cast but even the side characters showed a great amount of detail in their designs.

Kyoto Animation's, also did a magnificent job with the backgrounds and scenery to the point where, when the stories point of view was changed to that of Rikka or someone else with Chuunibyou, I actually forgot I was watching a slice of life. The design shown in exemplifying these made up powers surprisingly looked better then artwork that is most commonly found in most fantasy works you’d find today.

The pallet choice of color was also interesting. Kyoto Animation mostly incorporated dark colors like brown, purple and dark blue in most of the designs yet the series itself didn’t have a dark feel to it. This contrast, if anything, made the series more unique and refreshing.


Music:
The funny thing about the opening is that it actually gives you more fan service then the actual series (not that it’s that kind of show anyway but you get my point). The opening is very face paced and upbeat while the ending theme seems very dark and Goth; a good foreshadow of how the series starts off happy and funny but slowly gets serious.

Theme:
If I haven’t already stated it before, the main theme that this series tries to present is the idea of growing up and maturing. Everyone in life (some sooner than later) need to realize that sometimes the past must be left behind. Some of us miss our pasts, and some of us are embarrassed by them but for whatever the reason may be, excepting the fact that we must grow up and face reality, no matter how hard it may be, is something that we have to do. This is presented strongest through Rikka whose delusions can be considered as denial to her traumatic past. However, even though the past must be left behind, that doesn’t mean it must be warped or forgotten, it must be accepted so we can move.

So the question is: Is Chuunibyou really bad?

Naturally as we get older, we may realize how rediculous it is to act like a super sayin. Others may think that acting in such a way is better than acting.....well....normal. Cause lets face it, sometimes normal is boring and can suck. We wanna feel special, unique, like we're more important than other normal people.

This might sound silly, but think about it, no matter how old you get, dont we want to consider ourselves special and unique? Isnt that were individuality comes from?

In the end, even when we eventually grow out of our Chuunibyou faze, the feelings we had that sparked it, the feeling of coming out of our shells and becoming our own person, always remain.

Enjoyment:
Overall, this series is one of my favorite of the season. It’s fresh, colorful and original. To be honest, its almost like watching Toy Story as it lets me recal some moments from my own adolesence (for better, for worse). If you are a fan of slice of life, romance or school setting anime, then this is the perfect choice for you.
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After watching a few episodes, I felt that it was necessary to review it. So far, this anime has been like a dream, coming and going almost instantly, just like the theme of youth and adolescence that comes and goes. It hits me that this anime is somewhat different. It's like, if you mixed your run of the mill slice of life anime, and baked at 400 degrees for twelve minutes, and then sprinkled in a cup of action, this is what you would get. If you came to watch the action, unfortunately, you may be disappointed. Because there just isn't that much. You get a couple of minutes of it per episode, but it's not the main focus. What truly makes this anime stand out in my mind is the fluid transitions between the fantasy-like action and the relatively normal high school life.

Everything is what you would come to expect of Kyoto Animation. The animation quality is high, the music is well selected and well done, and the characters are endearing in their own weird way.

The animation quality and art looks great. As expected from KyoAni, there is a lot of detail in the backgrounds, and very fluid animations. The OP is awesome. Especially the finger twirling.

The sound matches the scenes well. There's no strange dissonance from the scene and the music. The sounds draws you into the scenes more, rather than push you out.

The characters look very average (except Rikka), but their characterization sets them apart from the average slice of life. KyoAni seems prone to make male protagonists that complain a lot, and Togashi is no exception. With Togashi playing the straight man, and Rikka up to her usual antics, this duo makes this anime very enjoyable. The characters that eventually come along, Sanae, Tsuyuri, and Nibutani, creates an interesting mix of those stuck in eighth grader syndrome, those who want to forget about their eighth grader syndrome, and those who look like they never had anything to do with it in the first place.

Even above the characters, I think the reason that I would rate it so highly right at the beginning is the lesson that it teaches, and how it reflects on these characters. We have Togashi, who tries to forget his pretend identity, the Dark Flame Master, and Rikka, who is still consumed by her power, the Tyrant's eye. Although embarrassing for Togashi, it's obvious right away that it's very enjoyable for Rikka. I would relate this to growing up, really. There are those who try to grow up as soon as they can, those who stay as children for a bit longer, and those who never really grow up. Look how fun and interesting life is for those who keep their imagination and sense of wonder alive. But, unfortunately, time moves on, and eventually, you're expected to grow up, and many do. So, the valuable lesson this show teaches, is that you should stay a kid, and enjoy being a kid for as long as you can. Those carefree years full of wonder and intrigue is extremely valuable, and often, you can never get them back. So cherish it, and don't be in a hurry to grow up.
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There are no spoilers in this review
Well I just finished this series, and I thought it was rather enjoyable. A bit silly at a few points but it really didn't try to hard to do anything so I thought that there isn't anything really wrong with it.


Story
The story is probably the weakest part of Chu-2, but by no means is it bad. It's well written and well executed but it's not really something which is that special and it's not that cliche either. This simply means it's difficult to predicted whether someone likes it or not. I feel like this is an anime someone will either like or dislike. In the end I really enjoyed it and it was a good story in my opinion.

Tech
There are a few minor things which bugs me here. Overall it's well animated but the art style is good but the nose's aren't defined that much, so it looks like that there aren't noses at all sometimes.
This has always been a sort of pet peeve. But besides this the art is well done. The special effects are good and the sound and sound effects are great. There was a point where some of the background music annoyed me but this is rather trivial.

Characters
I give this anime a high mark for characters. They developed well and all where really interesting.
The whole Chunibyo concept also made things interesting and I enjoyed the imaginary action battles the characters had when they were in Chunibyo mindset.
This is probably due to my adolescence Chunibyo stage being allot more mild than the characters one and mine wasn't embarrassing, although I may still be in it.

Conculsion
An light short enjoyable little slice of life which is easy to digest and easy to enjoy. A good anime to watch between seasons of more serous anime. read more

What is true happiness? Is it living a life full of material possessions? Is it being accepted within the social group of your dreams? Or, is it something much simpler?

The beauty of Chuunibyou is the beauty of simplicity; it is a simple story that preaches a simple message. Stagnated by the analytic mind, expectations of deep, continuous melodrama, or some longing for a nonsensical philosophical message, popular reception of this show might go along the lines of “well, I was expecting more” or conversely, a simple “I wasn’t expecting anything at all.”

Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! (Chuu2) manages to find a rather fitting equilibrium that is almost reminiscent of a Disney work. An entertaining, yet touching story that will likely leave that warm fuzzy feeling when all has been said and done.

Story:
Togashi Yuuta once suffered from a “disease” known as chuunibyou, or eighth-grade syndrome. Once absorbed in his own fantastical world, Yuuta now aims for a simple high school life as he enters his first year, hoping to leave his embarrassing past behind. However it turns out that, like his delusions, his hopes of a picture-perfect high school life become a distant dream thanks to a “mysterious” girl, Takanashi Rikka, who just happens to be inflicted with the same unfortunate disease that plagued Yuuta’s past.

The pacing of the story was rather slow. A misleading beginning full of tomfoolery and antics led the audience to believe that the show had nothing to offer. Given only 12 episodes, one would expect development to hit faster to prevent pacing issues, but unfortunately, director Ishihara Tatsuya might have dwelled in this overly lighthearted realm for a bit too long. It burned in that mood so deeply into memory that it felt as if any change of tone or pacing would be rather awkward. Surprisingly, although there were some awkward moments, the transition into a more serious tone felt mostly natural and didn’t seem to try too hard to be something that it was not.

On the other hand, the story’s strength was definitely its identity. Simply put, the entire series not only had the consistent elements of a romantic comedy, but also boasted some unique elements that differentiated the show from others. Even with its transition in the latter half, the comedy quota is definitely lowered, but never abolished. Additionally, one of the most unique points of the chuu2 story is the illusionary world (I’ll call it that from now on) the characters conjure up through their imaginations. This element is consistently used as a story-telling medium, and it is both fitting and frankly, pretty to look at. Although some may argue this point as careless overemphasizing of certain emotions, I believe that is the point. Aren’t we dealing with delusional kids anyways?

Overall, the story does suffer slightly from some pacing issues. Personally, I would have preferred if they spent one less episode fooling around, and in turn, use that additional episode to develop the relationship between Yuuta and Rikka some more. Nonetheless, the overall experience of the story was both funny and touching, and it is a breath of fresh air from some other romantic comedy formulas.

Story: 9/10

Art:
As always, Kyoto Animation delivers in the animation department. Character designs are rather simple and familiar, but they’re cute like always. However, in chuu2 there were two major elements of the art and animation that wowed me. Scenes in the illusionary world were obvious budget dumps. These scenes consistently deliver the high quality, seemingly ridiculous eye candy that any anime fan would love to watch. As stated before, these scenes serve more of a purpose than just eye candy. Essentially, they become the trademark of the series. Using this medium provides a fresh perspective on dealing with the generic scenes you might see in a typical romantic comedy. The second element exists in the form of the atmosphere. Kyoani deliberately sets fitting settings and tones that augment the emotions of a scene. True to the “Adolescent Delusions of Grandeur” the official English name of the series boasts, the tone of the background carries out its job successfully.

Art: 9.5/10

Sound:

As for sound, I was definitely surprised of how well the OST was constructed. Most notable were the tracks done on either a very passionate violin or likely a viola. Those certain tracks were memorable, quality tracks. However, the BGM that plays during the “normal” interactions between the characters is decent, but a tad forgettable.

The opening, Sparkling Daydream by ZAQ, fits the tone of the series well. It is a catchy song that unfortunately, starts to not fit too well with the continuity of the episodes (who remembers torch from after story? Ya, it’s like that). Similarly, the ending, Inside Identity, sung by the female cast and composed by ZAQ, is also a very catchy tune that, like the opening, fits perfectly in the first half, but starts to feel a bit off in the second.

The best-executed element of the sound category was definitely the voice acting. Jun Fukuyama’s role of Yuuta was fitting considering how well the Lelouch voice was for Yuuta’s old chuunibyou “alter ego,” Dark Flame Master. Maaya Uchida’s voice also perfectly fitted Rikka’s naturally timid personality. Most notable, however, was Sumire Uesaka’s outstanding performance of Dekomori Sanae.

The sound set of Chuu2 as a whole was well-executed. Although there were a few inconsistencies here or there, excellence in voice acting and in certain OST tracks made sound an important factor in the success of the show.

Sound: 8.5/10

Characters: (Minor spoilers with story direction. No overly specific spoilers here)

Now here’s where it gets a bit tricky. The basic character models of chuu2 are rather generic. You could probably find similar character types in several different shows, and one character in particular, was questionably inconsistent. However, the decision to differentiate the main characters into specific pairings helped breathe life into an initially stagnant cast. We start with our hopeless hero who just longs for love, and our crazy, arguably mentally impaired heroine at his side. Add in a cast of 3 more beautiful girls and throw in your comedic relief guy friend and we’ve got a generic harem series right?

Chuu2 realized what they were degenerating into and took action quickly. From here, we see 3 differentiable pairs: Yuuta/Rikka, Sanae/Shinka, and Isshiki/Kumin. Although scenes often incorporate most to all of the characters interacting at once, the viewer can see these pairs develop individually. For the Yuuta/Rikka pair, Yuuta is able to develop into more than just a generic hopeless male lead and Rikka becomes more than a moeblob and actually has a shy personality. Similarly, our primary comedic relief pairing, Sanae and Shinka, quickly grow onto the audience with their constant exchanges. Unfortunately, the one miss Ishihara had was with Isshiki and Kumin. Although Isshiki still served his role as Yuuta’s “bro” amongst other pursuits, these two characters showed promise, but fell off in the end. Furthermore, Rikka’s older sister, Tooka, had some minor inconsistencies in her character when it came to reacting to Rikka’s behavior.

To my pleasant surprise, the cast of characters was a rather memorable one. Headed by the Yuuta/Rikka pair, the story was able to give most of the characters definition. Given that around half of the cast were original characters not in the light novel, Kyoani did a great job with characters this time around. We have no complicated love triangle, no unnecessary high school drama, and as a result, we leave satisfied with a simple, yet unique romantic comedy.

Characters: 8/10

Enjoyment:

As I state in every review, enjoyment is a completely personal category that some reviewers tend to shy away from. Personally, I enjoyed every minute of the series. I came in expecting a romantic comedy, and I finished the show almost completely satisfied. The show’s humor is entertaining, and the story’s touching twist is a memorable one.

The big questions remains: should you take the series seriously? Well, that’s a yes and a no. I approached it as a romantic comedy and got everything out of it. If you take it too seriously or if you don’t take it seriously enough, you probably won’t be completely satisfied. It’s important to remember that romance is generally a more serious genre whereas comedy is not. The “seriousness scale” of the romantic comedy genre in general is pretty iffy to begin with. All questions aside, overall this was definitely the most enjoyable show of the season for me.

Enjoyment: 9/10.

Overall:

In the end, the entirety of chuu2 is based off a simple premise. It is the manner of which the story is portrayed that leads some to question whether one is supposed to take this story seriously or not. If you overcomplicate or overestimate the “messages” the show sends, you’re missing the point. I mean, you usually don’t open a bag of chips expecting candy. Likewise, take chuu2 in a similar manner. Enjoy it as a simple romantic comedy and chances are, you’ll be in for a great ride.

Overall: 9.0/10

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