Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!

Before you decide to watch this show, make sure you do the following:

First, lock your windows, close the blinds, and make sure you're in an isolated location (preferably soundproof). Also, have plenty of supply of water ready. Oh and don't forget some cough medicine. Now you're probably asking yourself, “why??” The answer is simple:

You're going to be laughing so damn hard in this series like you've never ever before.

Watamote, aka No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys’ Fault I'm Not Popular!, is an animated series based off the manga of the same name written by Tanigawa Nico. The series chronicles the life ... of an antisocial girl named Tomoko Kuroki. It depicts the every day life of this young girl as she finally becomes a high school student. The problem? She is literally an otaku with no social experience with no real friends, much less a boyfriend. Well, now that might be something that not any of us wants to be in the shoes of but for Tomoko, it's what she has to go through every single day of her life.

For Tomoko, she is what represents the antithesis of a high school girl. While most girls in high school already have friends and are looking forward to the dating cycle, Tomoko is still in the baby stage of her making a real friend. (a boyfriend would obviously be better but I think that might be out of her league for now) Tomoko has always being a shy girl throughout her childhood and has a problem of getting along with others socially. In fact, her social skills are so below average that through flashbacks, we see she has only made three actual “conversations” with her peers. But hey, it's high school so the opportunity to shine is now right? WRONG. For Tomoko, it doesn't seem like much has progressed. She is still stuck as an antisocial girl with zero experience in socializing. She often has thoughts in her head too that are filled with delusions about others. For instance, she often fantasizes what it would be like if she really was popular. These delusions expands on her being the queen, majesty, or some sort of celebrity in her own mind. Other times, she pictures herself in a world of her own where she is the ruler and the subjects are those 'popular kids'. Unfortunately, she often mixes the wrong way between her fictions and reality. These usually result in consequences...mostly getting herself embarrassed or humiliated.

What impresses me most about her character is that Tomoko is very relatable. In fact, most of her life situations can be traced to our own childhoods. In fact, some of you reading this might be one of those folks who were once antisocial yourself. There's a line though between being antisocial or just a nutcase. In Watamote, Tomoko takes it to the extremes through her behavior. She has a love for BL games, often gets ideas from the manga/anime she is in love with, and always seems to say or do the wrong things at the wrong time. (mostly anyways) Furthermore, Tomoko seems to have a perverted mind as well as she fantasizes about genders of both sexes. In particular, her 'friend' Yui is a target of those perverted thoughts as she plays strange imaginations in her head.

The series follows a slice of life format so don't expect any form of arc going on. What you should expect though is Tomoko's progression as she tries to climb out of her shell in terms of being the antisocial kid. She doesn't have any real friend and seems like High School isn't getting any better. In fact, her vow to become more popular is played as parodies with each of her attempts. These usually are plans played in her head that often doesn't seem to go the way she wants to. Tomoko's reliance on the knowledge she gets from anime, manga, and in the otome game world doesn't help her at all. Although it's played as a parody most of the time, there are moments where we may also feel sorry for her. Why? Perhaps it's because we might have been in the same situation before. In fact, there is probably one moment in life where you feel like you just can't succeed in something no matter how hard you try. In the end, you realize it might all be pointless. For Tomoko Kuroki, it's something she has dealt with many times in her life. “What's the point?”

Tomoko's relation with her family is surprisingly quite realistic; at least at first glance. She has caring parents whom often cares for her daughter despite them not knowing of her way of life. Tomoko's younger brother Tomoki Kuroki is also portrayed as being just what a younger brother might be like in the real world – impatient, reserved, and often brutally honest. Throughout the series, we clearly see that the two of them behaves like siblings because of the way the argue. Some of these are based off of normal norms while other times are related to almost no reason. Regardless, it's realistic in my point of view because siblings always gets into fights no matter what. In fact, if you had a sibling, wasn't there at least one time where the two of you disagreed over something? (even if it's completely pointless?)

On the other hand, we later meet another character who served as an 'old friend' of Tomoko. Unlike Tomoko though, she significantly changed not only physically but also in terms of her personality. She represents what Tomoko is not – pretty, cheerful, and sociable. It's sad to see Tomoko being compared to such a person throughout the series because the gap in their differences. Furthermore, she seems to have accomplished a goal in her life that has been an obstacle that Tomoko tried to overcome all this time. Sometimes, you just have to feel sorry for her.

The idea and originality of Watamote isn't as fresh as some people might think though. Recent series such as My Romantic Comedy SNAFU also depicts a young boy with delusions and being antisoical while being acquittance with a beauty. Other series such as Welcome to the NHK and The World God Only Knows also depicts the otaku culture with an antisocial character and being unpopular with their peers. The highlight to Watamote though is that Tomoko is an extreme case but also struggles to overcome her obstacles in a more humorous way. The way Tomoko is portrayed often shows that she is stuck in a labyrinth of her own problems. There seems to be no way out for her because of various reasons. These reasons are often humorous but if we take them to the real life world, it can be a serious problem. Regardless, I find Watamote and its portrayal of Tomoko's character to be very entertaining to watch.

The comedy of the series are also the highlights. There are references being made to pop culture as well as other popular anime/manga series. Sometimes though, I feel like the show is trying a bit hard or more repetitive than it should be. Tomoko's quest to become more popular in high school might also frustrate viewers especially those who wants her to succeed. Then finally, Watamote might also be a painful watch especially for those who has truly been in Tomoko's shoes before. It makes some of us look back and tell ourselves, “wow, I think I've been there before..just look at me now”.

Watamote's artwork overall is painted with a simple style. Tomoko's character is probably the most noticeable. The way she looks isn't what some people might call 'attractive'. Rather, she is designed in the way an antisocial kid might be like. Her long hair, bagged eyes, and way she dresses shows that she isn't the typical valley girl. In fact, she doesn't use makeup or spent hours doing her hair in the morning. Silver Link adapts the manga well for the visuals just the way it ought to be – straight forward and simple.

As for soundtrack goes, Watamote's OP song, Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaete mo Omaera ga Warui by Konomi Suzuki n' Kiba of Akiba is extremely noticeable with its combination of rock and metal cords. Along with the strange appeal to her character, the song depicts Tomoko as a kid who doesn't fit with the popular crowds. The OST of the show is pleasant and often times plays noticeable tones of its soundtrack during certain scenes. These usually include moments when Tomoko gets caught up in awkward moments. The ED contains several different styles but all of them are portrayed as humorous and awkward. Finally, I would like to give praise to Tomoko's VA Kitta Izumi for her role in this series. Her voice as Tomoko truly shows that she is antisocial girl with no social skills and troubling delusions.

Ultimately, this show is one hell of a fun ride. I forgot the amount of times I had to screenshot those hilarious moments involving Tomoko. It brings about the humor of what an antisocial girl might be like in the case of Tomoko. Although the series does take it a bit to the extreme at times, I find it funny to watch because it pokes fun at the idea. In fact, the idea of being antisocial is often portrayed as a serious consequence. And indeed it is but in Watamote, the show gives off more of a humorous experience in the eyes and shoes of Tomoko. It's not a good thing to be antisocial or delusional but this show portrays it in such a way that you can't sometimes help but laugh. (at least I did) I hope you get a good laugh from this series as well. High school experiences might not be something we all enjoyed in our lives but it's certainly an important part of our memories. For Tomoko, that might not be appealing but this series sure was.

WATAMOTE -No matter how I look at it, It's you guys fault I'm not popular- is a comedy aimed straight at dysfunctional geeks, or former dysfunctional geeks, who can laugh at their own faults and take them with a grain of salt. Its gallows humor centers around a socially inept mess of a protagonist who goes through life repeating the cycle of self-embarrassment and loneliness while learning nothing from it, and garnished with anime and pop culture references and parodies. It's a show that hits painfully close to home for anyone who has social anxieties, yet playful enough that it remains morbidly funny rather than ... becoming straight-up depressing, most of the time at least. It's also pretty blunt about who's really at fault for all the main character's problems.

Our social misfit of a protagonist is Tomoko, an unkempt antisocial teenager entering her first year of high school. Despite having difficulty with talking to the opposite sex and having hardly any friends in middle school, Tomoko convinces herself that she will become instantly popular after her high school debut. It goes without saying that this isn't the case. Instead, she ends up brooding, having odd fantasies, and lamenting the fact she isn't popular. She spends her days fading into the scenery and going unnoticed by her fellow students, except for her occasional bouts of awkwardness; her days off school are usually spent cooped up in her room. Still, she's determined to gain popularity among her peers, even if she has absolutely no clue how to go about accomplishing that goal. Cringe inducing awkwardness and hilarity ensue.

Majority of the show's humor comes from Tomoko's breathtaking ineptness. Not only does she have trouble talking to people, she has no sense of how to handle social situations at all. On top of that, she's also pessimistic and has a really dirty mind. Consequently, she constantly misinterprets even the simplest of interactions and blows them out of proportion; sometimes putting a sexual twist on them. A single kind gesture from a boy sends her into hilariously ludicrous fantasies of that boy having having a crush on her and becoming her boyfriend, even if there isn't a single indignation that he is actually interested in her. She comes up with half-baked ideas how to get noticed by her classmates which either go unnoticed or cause her embarrassment, even as she has overblown daydreams of becoming the most popular girl in class. She even botches an attempt to impress her visiting younger cousin, who had actually admired Tomoko until this particular visit. It would be depressing (actually, it still sort of is) if it wasn't for how clearly deluded Tomoko is (she takes social ques from anime), and the show's unhinged presentation of her delusional fantasies and social ineptitude.

The irony in this is, despite coming up with harebrained ideas to get her classmates' attentions, Tomoko rarely tries to interact with them normally. Instead of actually attempting to get acquainted with her fellow students, she just mopes around and daydreams about having friends. Of course, this is partly due to shyness, but Tomoko actively avoids interacting with people. She's also jealous, and even a bit spiteful, towards people more popular than her. Tomoko's loneliness is something she brings upon herself, if even just partly. Of course, she's unaware of this; propelling the show's morbid laughs as she runs around in circles.

Now, you may have noticed Tomoko is the only character I've mentioned so far. This is because she is very much the essence of the show; she is horribly pathetic and self-centered and incredibly counter-productive, yet somehow surprisingly sympathetic. Her desire to become popular, warped as it is, comes from a genuine place. Beneath her unkempt appearance and unsocial demeanor, she's a confused teenager looking for someone to connect with. As funny as her misfortunes can be, and they can be pretty damn hilarious, there's an underline melancholy to them. This resonate strong for anyone who has had crippling social anxieties like Tomoko. What makes WATAMOTE a breath of fresh air is that it is able to spin these negative feelings into something fun to watch. The show's manic energy and countless silly references to other anime (K-ON, Fist of the North Star, and Another just to name a few), which usually take form in Tomoko's delusions, keep the humor from being overwhelmingly bleak... most of the time, at least.

The other characters in the show have significantly less attention, which isn't surprising given the nature of the show, but add extra flavor to the show as they interact with Tomoko. In complete opposition to Tomoko's high school experience, her best friend from middle school Yuu (her only friend, really) has made a full transformation from quiet shy girl to a trendy, fashionable girl. Unlike our protagonist, she's friendly and sociable and actually pretty sweet; even with her new found popularity she makes time for her unsociable middle-school friend whenever she can. It's rather funny to see the striking contrast of the separate paths the two took after middle school. There's also Tomoko's younger brother, who always seems to be at the butt of Tomoko's shenanigans at home. Their vague animosity towards each other mirrors that of an actual sibling relationship, something that is oddly rare in anime. Late in the series, there's also a character that gives Tomoko a much needed hug.

Director Shin Oonuma has a very busy visual style, constantly throwing colorful and weird imagery into scenes; a habit that has been unnecessary in some of his previous works. This fits WATAMOTE like a glove, however. Tomoko has a very skewed outlook on life and an equally as overactive imagination; Oonuma's manic direction does wonders to illustrate this. Sometimes this comes in little touches like many of the characters having minimal detail in their designs, or Tomoko slowly becoming transparent and fading into the background. Other times it takes form in delirious spectacles, such as any of Tomoko's ludicrous fantasies. Also adding the unhinged visual design is the oddly angled lighting and color schemes and visual windows into Tomoko's thoughts. Tomoko's character design itself is cute in a dirty abandoned puppy kind of way; giving her some major icon power. You get the feeling that she would look pretty good if she actually took care of herself.

The music is on the zany side. It's reminiscent the usual light music used in high school comedy anime, but with a distinct oddness to it that works well with the visual design. The real attention catcher, however, are the show's opening and ending themes. The show has several different ending themes; all of which are both fun to listen to, and a little crazy. The main ending theme is preformed by Tomoko's seiyuu, Izumi Kitta (who does an incredibly job in the role), and fits the character perfectly. The opening theme is a blast of hard-rocking energy that is accompanied by visuals that encapsulate the show's themes and change slightly as the show continues. It is easily one of the best anime openers in recent memory.

WATAMOTE doesn't live to the likes of Welcome to the NHK or The Tatami Galaxy, which feature similarly dissatisfied protagonists, because Tomoko ultimately doesn't grow or develop much at all by the end. The show itself says that "her story doesn't really matter". However, perhaps because of this irreverence, the show is gigantically entertaining. While social anxieties are certainly a serious issue, there is something refreshing about having a show that centers around them not take itself seriously. The show isn't trivializing such anxieties or even making fun of them. It's simply inviting the viewers to laugh them off.

Now I want to preface this by saying I'm not strictly reviewing the series. I find it hard coming from my perspective to be able to objectively rate the show overall. This is because I believe that whether you like or dislike this show heavily depends on how much you can relate to the main character, therefore your mileage my vary.

**The impressions I give do contain some minor spoilers however I do not believe they effect your enjoyment of the show**

The reason I really like Watamote is because it takes a particularly dark and depressing condition and gives it a light-hearted twist. See many people ... seem to misinterpret Tomoko (the MC) as being introverted, however I have to respectfully disagree. Being introverted does not mean that one is socially inept, as Tomoko is. Instead it means that the introverted person in question is energized by doing things by themselves but are quickly tired when participating in things involving a group. While it can be somewhat true that those who prefer to spend time by themselves are not as socially able as extroverts, it is not the 'default' for an introvert to be bad at conversations or unable to recognize social ques.

As someone who has experience with social anxiety in the past I can tell you that Tomoko most certainly suffers from social anxiety herself based on her actions throughout the series. Indeed her main goal through the show is to have lots of friends and be the interest of all the boys. If she was truly an introvert this would be in conflict with the idea that she wants to be the center of attention and be at the social peak of the high school she goes to. I feel like this needed to be explained because some dislike towards this show comes from people perceiving her as being an introvert and then subsequently stating that her behavior is unrealistic and exaggerated because 'introverts aren't like that'. Your enjoyment of the show will be enhanced if you can recognize that she has social anxiety, she is not introverted.

With that in mind I want to say just how accurately the show depicts social anxiety at it's worst. Tomoko frequently struggles to even say 'Hello' or 'Goodbye' to any of the characters in the show despite them actually being more than willing to interact with her. This really is an accurate representation in my opinion. For someone with social anxiety just saying things as simple as hello and good morning are monumental tasks. Since I can relate to this it is one of the main reasons that Watamote resonates so much with me. See Watamote takes this experience and others like it and utilizes the animation and sound to make it comedic, so that I can sit back and watch this show and laugh at all the unfortunate things that happen to Tomoko. It makes it so I can laugh at my own experiences and that really is relieving. It's nice to see such a condition portrayed in anime and not instantly be depressed by it which is a challenging thing for an anime to achieve and it adds a whole new level of appreciation for me towards Watamote and what it does. On one hand it gives an oddly realistic and mature look into the life of someone with social anxiety while simultaneously parodying it, which is fantastic.

In addition to this I really loved the fact that Watamote did not show Tomoko overcoming her social anxiety. One major criticism held against the show is that it does not have an overarching plot and the status quo that is set in episode 1 is still there by episode 12. While a series being too episodic is a valid complaint with many anime shows in recent years, I feel that Watamote is one of those anime that actually really benefits from being episodic. See social anxiety is not something that can simply be overcome in the period of a school term, shyness maybe, but social anxiety no. I feel like if Watamote had shown serious progression or even Tomoko outright beating her condition then it would have been unrealistic and immersion breaking. So for that I commend Watamote for not going down the idealistic route and instead sticking with the 'status quo' it portrays of Tomokos life. It really adds to my enjoyment of the show on the whole.

Like I mentioned earlier your enjoyment of this show may heavily depend on how much you can relate to the experiences of Tomoko. If you can, then I highly recommend this show for you. If you can't, then you may still like it for its charming animation, good use of sound and quality 'cringe' humor. Equally however you may dislike watching a show that is basically about someone who can never do things right and is constantly messing up because of her warped view on events surrounding her. It's certainly not the best anime out there nor my favorite but to me it really had an emotional impact unlike any other anime I've watched making it worth noting for any anime fan.

I was all over this series when it first aired. Coming from someone who was in similar positions with Tomoko; its depiction of social reclusion and anxiety was perfect. Even with a blatantly cheap budget, the series is able to vividly and impeccably flesh out Tomoko’s character. Props to director Shin Oonuma as she makes the best out of her limited budget to use creative, well-directed visual tricks, that aren’t simply used for show, but to further our understanding on Tomoko.

Another great factor about this series is that when it comes to depicting Tomoko, it takes us into her life without trying to conform ... the viewer to a certain mindset. All the humor that stemmed from Tomoko’s situations were funny, but in a cringe-worthily pragmatic manner rather than in a form of mean-spiritedness. And all those serious scenes of Tomoko were just to reflect on the quiet and heartbreaking moments of her instead of simply trying to force the viewers to sympathize with Tomoko.

Contrary to what many people claim, you don’t have to have to relate with the female lead to enjoy Watamote. Yeah, it has its clever references to certain anime that casual viewers of anime won’t get, but overall Watamote presents itself in a manner that anyone can enjoy.

Because of this, I was thoroughly impressed with Watamote at the start. The problem, as the series progresses, is that Tomoko’s charm began to fade. I understand that the message the series conveys isn’t about overcoming social anxiety, but how for many, it’s a serious issue that may never be overcome. And though I like that message, it doesn’t translate well into something I want to see for 12 episodes. Watching Tomoko monologue about her everyday life, even with all the novel and different situations she gets herself into, became stale. Even if I could still relate to Tomoko, it just wasn’t of interest to keep watching and it didn’t help that there was no firm direction or hint of what the series wanted to achieve in the end,

Luckily, Tomoko isn’t the lone character in the whole series, there are side characters like her only friend Yuu, her brother and a couple of other characters that make an occasional appearance. Yes, whether it’s Tomoko trying to mirror what’s popular or bickering with her older brother, Watamote is at its best with those moments and not when Tomoko’s alone in her room. Because quite frankly, the show started feeling oddly empty and that didn’t rub me the right way.

Final Verdict:

Story – Non-existent, it’s episodic story-telling didn’t work for me and there’s no set direction of where it exactly wants to go

Characters – Tomoko is a fantastically depicted recluse, but her development is quite static. Side characters are great and bring out the best of the series, but lack more show time

Setting – Its themes of recluse and social anxiety are well presented, but don’t translate well into a vastly entertaining series

Production Values – Cheap, but is well made use of with incredibly creative and well-directed visual tricks

Do I Recommend?: Overall, I enjoyed Watamote for how it depicted a social recluse and I certainly enjoyed Tomoko’s interactions with the real world, but in the end - with static development, scenes of monologue that felt empty and no real sense of direction - it was just another episodic comedy that didn’t leave much of an impact on me. I commend the series for being open to viewers whether or not they relate to Tomoko’s problems, but it’s a very black and white series for the ones that do. You’re either captivated by it or completely turned off by it.

~No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys Fault This Review Is Not Popular!~

But either way it doesn't really matter since this show is here to accommodate for that. On the surface, the Watamote series follows the everyday life of our fellow heroine Tomoko Kuroki as she tries her hardest to become popular with her new high school life. With it, we are presented with everyday situations and how Tomoko deals with these events.

Many factors such as the art and sound help to present these events in a comedic tone. You'll come across many references from anime today and a couple years ... back, and these references serve to emphasize on the theme of being unpopular. In addition, the soundtrack is filled with fun and high-spirited tunes that don't take it self too seriously and presents the mood that Tomoko is currently in. Not only that, but there are surprises to see within this soundtrack which I best should not mention. Furthermore, Kitta, Izumi really shines in her role as Tomoko, she is able to portray a voice that sounds crazy yet desperate but when it comes time for Tomoko to socialize with other characters, Izumi really stands out with her awkwardness.

As you watch this show, many of you will come to realize just how much Tomoko is like us. When I finished watching, I was left asking "Did they make an anime based on my life?"; the show's sense of humor could hit hard at home for many, which would either leave many cringing or leave you laughing at just how much you could relate to it. Tomoko is a dimensional character because of this, you'll feel her pain when things don't go her way or be happy when something good actually happens for her, and some of you may even despise her for the way she acts. But in general, without Tomoko, this show just wouldn't be the same at all. As for the supporting cast, they all fit into the story of Watamote without them feeling out of place. A notable character to highlight would have to Tomoki, he is like the opposite of Tomoko and when those two are together, the situations could get very funny or very painful.

At the heart, this show shouldn't be taken seriously, although many of us have experienced or still are experiencing the type of life that Tomoko has, it is meant to be taken in a humorous fashion, which could put off many. But if you're willing to look past that, then I assure you that Watamote is worth the watch, not every day would you be able to find a show as popular as this, no pun intended.

If you saw someone who is regularly alone, would you talk to or try to befriend him/her? Are you or did you used to be that lonely person? Or do you pity those type of people and tend to ignore them?

Watamote is designed to give the viewer a taste of the daily life of such a person with an excellent mixture of reality and comedy. Prepare to enter the world of an introverted, socially inept girl named Tomoko, who desperately wishes to become popular and get a boyfriend. Depending on the person, Watamote can appear depressing, funny, or ridiculous. It may be difficult to laugh ... at someone else’s misfortunes and embarrassment regardless of whether or not it is fictionalized. However, it can draw several emotions for those who can relate. It gives you an opportunity to laugh at your own faults or sympathize with the character as she experiences loneliness and launch laughable schemes to get noticed.

Story (9) / Character (9)

Tomoko is an Otaku who spends most of her time in the fantasy world. She visualizes her life being as glamorous as in her virtual dating games or favorite anime. However, she learns that popularity is not so easy to gain in high school. She survived middle school with one geeky best friend, but she must start from scratch as she attends school with complete strangers.

The reality and comedy is executed excellently as the anime follows Tomoko’s daily life in social isolation. Her awkwardness and nervousness is what brings forth the comedy, because her attempts at popularity are kind of weird and hilarious. Tomoko tries to become more feminine and attractive to boys by changing her appearance, copying actions from anime protagonists, etc. Some scenes were exaggerated to create laughter. Tomoko’s sudden reactions to certain occurrences, including being approached by a hot guy, are honest and comical.

As a person who suffers from social anxiety disorder, Tomoko struggles to talk to strangers. Whether it is a simple hello/goodbye or ordering fast food, she speaks softly and stutters as if it’s a pain. She shies away from several opportunities that could gain her a friend or improve her social skills. One part of the comedy comes from Tomoko bugging Tomoki (her popular soccer brother) to converse with her until she gets a boyfriend. The conversations are amusing with the weird subjects (e.g. Tomoko asking if he gets quickies from his female coach) and Tomoki showing his annoyance and disgust.

Tomoko’s inner monologues greatly expresses her character. They involve honest feelings from cursing the happy people of the world or inspiring herself to try harder to socialize the next day. Tomoko’s view of the world is that of a sim dating game or anime, causing her to have strange and inaccurate assumptions about the real world. Her time in the virtual world causes her to have perverted thoughts of what it’s like to have a boyfriend. There are two or three ecchi scenes as Tomoko does both inner and outer research on how to become more feminine.

Tomoko slightly improves socially towards the end, receiving a little recognition from schoolmates. The ending is hopeful but disappointing for those who will expect immediate progress. It is yet another anime that urges you to continue the story with the manga because of its incomplete ending.

Character development goes at a steady pace for a shut-in like Tomoko, which is the reason for the incomplete ending. A faster pace would make the story unrealistic, since popularity cannot happen overnight. Supporting characters give a great contribution to Tomoko’s development as she tries to gain self-confidence and hope for the future. Although the series strictly follows Tomoko, it goes inside the head of other characters and tells their thoughts of Tomoko. Some quotes from them are either funny or sympathetic.

Animation (8) / Sound (8)

The animation and sound are both memorable, underlining the anime’s moody atmosphere. The animation is highly responsible for bringing out the comedy by creating an over-exaggeration of awkward scenes. Visuals portrays Tomoko’s hallucinations and embarrassment with vivid colors, and her facial expressions constantly distorts to match her emotions.

Character design was distinctly good. Tomoko is drawn exactly like an unappealing emo character with dark circles under eyes, long black hair, and plain clothes. Other characters’ appearances are suitable for their nature. There are gray, colorless figures to express depression and loneliness in Tomoko’s surroundings. Characters sometimes have faces with no eyes. Background designs are colorful and well-drawn. There are sometimes aerial views of a setting (e.g. inside a restaurant). Settings are diverse and brings excitement to the series, because each setting adds yet another incident to Tomoko’s life.

The OP song is a heavy metal song that’s named after the anime itself, and the lyrics of "Watamote" describe Tomoko’s character: “I won’t accept this world until I make it to a future where I’m popular.” There are five ending songs throughout Watamote, and they all match the moods to the ending of each episode. Background music sounds like a video game, so it's not that special. The VAs were very good and fit each character’s personality. Izumi Kitta (voice of Tomoko) did an excellent job expressing Tomoko’s nervousness throughout the series.

Enjoyment (10)

Watamote is one of the best slice of life comedies I have ever watched. I sympathized with Tomoko on several occasions and found her breakdowns funny most of the time. The animation and supporting characters brought excitement to the series by highlighting the different emotions (sadness, laughter) of the anime. The pacing also demonstrated hope for Tomoko. I was disappointed with the ending, but I loved it so much that I moved onto the manga.

Overall, Watamote delivers a perfect combination of reality and comedy. It takes you on a ride through the life of a socially inept girl whose primary goal is to become popular. Sympathize with Tomoko as she goes through loneliness. Enjoy (and laugh) at her several crazy schemes to get people to notice her.

Tip: Watch the entire episode and enjoy the ED. After the credits, Tomoko and Tomoki converse for a few seconds about the main topic related to the next episode.

Before watching this anime, answer yourself the following questions:

1. Do you consider yourself weird?
2. Do you feel like you don’t have any true friends?
3. Do you think of sex constantly all day?
4. Do you feel like people don’t understand you?

If you answered yes and no appropriately for a normal human being, skip this anime and watch something else...you're in for torture.

If you answered no to all of these questions, you're fine. Watch with contentment.
...
If you answered yes to all of these questions, though, slap on some naked butler porn and start whacking with toothpaste at the prologue of Episode 1—this anime was made specifically for you.

(Psst. I answered yes to all of them.)

“Watashi ga mottenai no wa dou kangaetemo omaera ga warui,”—or from hereforth Watamote—would be equally as titled as “The Autobiography of the Narcissistic, Melancholic Otaku.” It outlines the boring, waste-of-food lifestyle of an introverted, 21st century teenager, Kuroki Tomoko, and her misadventures in becoming a sociable person. With the lewd objective of capturing the hearts and souls of her peers, with each episode she draws forth a depressing, yet outlandishly hilarious conclusion.

The plot in this anime is episodic, outlining the seasons of the school year more definitely as the series progresses. Tomoko struggles with communication, and all but too often winds up doing something socially awkward or unacceptable at little expense of notice to her colleagues. The series gradually draws towards more embarrassing or heartbreaking consequences, all-in-all while Tomoko remains spirited through to the narrow conclusion. I strongly feel that the story itself is the weakest part and precisely why the series faces much scrutiny; the balance of the plotline heavily relies on a character that is distrusted by the audience, and rapidly grows repetitive with the endless frustration. I think the series would have benefitted more with another arc, possibly more focused on the character changes that slowly developed as Tomoko’s continued failures amassed.

Which in regards to the characters, this series shines. Tomoko is undoubtedly a relatable character to a part of all of us—wherein we seek to blame others for our weaknesses, try to change too quickly, and excuse our dark thoughts with solidarity in loneliness. In my lifetime I cannot stress enough how often I’ve thought along similar lines as Tomoko about my peers, only to realize in the end just how catastrophic that was to my personality. The consistent negativity and judgmental thoughts that she exudes are enough to make anyone feel sorry for her, if not additionally hate her.

Yet, brilliantly, she emblazons the series as the protagonist (or dare I say “anti-hero”.) We watch her struggle to an end to become a happier person, sometimes even feeling proud that she has sought out meaningful changes. Also, considering her level of social anxiety it is fascinating watching her persist and continue to look brightly toward the future. After all we might choose to hate her, but are forced to love her.

Laughing the entire time.

Tomoki, her brother, is another catch. Though he remains secondary and purely comical, he provides the audience a chance to see Tomoko act as herself. His shrewd responses and sarcasm add just the right amount of flavor. Though many disagree with me, I feel that this was enough to keep the focus on Tomoko alone, preventing her from being trapped in the inner monologue.

Izumi Kitta, did an astronomical job voicing for Tomoko. Being a good seiyuu is something expected out of Japan, but her mastery of inner monologue and conflict gave the series a bigger kick than had it been a higher-pitched tsundere. Voicing in a darker, messier timbre than a typical shoujo, Kitta employed the role with the right snappiness and vulgarity expected from a person like Tomoko. Also, her emphasis on certain words and sounds in Japanese (for those of you who don’t speak Japanese just call me a name and skip this part), especially puns and sexual innuendos are outstanding. The general grit of her tone alone kept the series best in the balance.

The opening ranks high on my top 10 favorites. I am a classical musician and absolutely hate scream, yet I am enamoured with this opening. The 1 minute and 30 seconds of clashing drum sets, vein-popping growls, and echoing female vocals are accompanied by a vignette of Tomoko’s personal struggle. There is a great deal of innuendo of sexual repression and symbolism that is profound to this series. I strongly recommend to everyone to not skip the introduction when watching this series, as it will constantly refresh you about the deepest meaning of the series itself. The background music is perfect, too. It actually is quite unnoticeable, maybe perhaps for a few weird, sexualized beats, elevator music or accordions. For a series of this nature I think stronger BGMs would make the subject too lighthearted, which defeats the purpose of Tomoko’s character study.

Artwork in Watamote is bewildering. The splash of light effect and heavy detail on the eyes deceives us to believe that the series is meant to be cute. It, of course, does have many cute moments, but the choice of ambiguously dark colors or animation methods (such as crayon during imaginary scenes) retains the moody quite well. There is a great amount of detail on the passage of time, as we see emphasis on Tomoko’s moods reflect the time of the day.

Again, if you’re afraid of seeing disgusting or repulsive behavior from your protagonist, then go watch cheap, direct-to-video Christmas films. Watamote thrives on less perfect minds and hearts, engaging them as It does Tomoko about her issues and choices.

And again, make sure your naked butlers are well…nevermind.

If you live under a rock, you’re probably impressed by Family Guy‘s and South Park‘s ‘dark’ humor. They show you people suffering, dying and cursing. They expect you to laugh because people are dying, suffering and cursing. You’re supposed to be shocked that the creators don’t mind putting these characters though such a pain, but that’s not a major achievement. Terrorists do it all the time, but it doesn’t make them comedians.

A truly dark comedy is not that one avoids that darkness. It’s one that forces us to confront the darkness of it and still laugh. Even Borderlands, where the whole joke is that everyone ... thinks dying is a joke has insight into violence and how we perceive it. It’s an exaggeration of the flippant treatment most video games have for violence. Likewise, WataMote is an anime that stares into the eyes of the abyss that is being socially retarded

WataMote is a dark comedy. It’s far darker than any so-called ‘for adult’ cartoons from the West. It doesn’t create a bunch of punchlines and try to make the premise fit the jokes. It’s aware of the how crippling Tomoko’s situation is, and it tries to find humor among all the darkness. It uses humor not to downplay the darkness, but as a means of coping.

Shyness is cute when you look at it from the outside, but so is a panda bear caged in a zoo. Tomoko has the privileges of the Western world, such as running water and food. How much of a consolation is it when you have no way to relate to the world?

Human beings are social creatures. Isolation is one of the worst type of punishment you can bring on one. That’s where solitary confinement comes from. Without feedback from others to keep us in reality, it can feel like it’s slipping away from us. A similar process can happen with sensory deprivation.

This is what happens to Tomoko. There is a gross contrast between how she views herself and the world, and how it really is. The world outside is not very hostile. In high school, the popular kids are too busy having fun to bully you. People will talk to you if you initiate. At worst, they’ll be indifferent.

Indifference isn’t harmful in and of itself. It doesn’t target you. When that’s the only feedback you get, it becomes scary. Tomoko barely spends any time in the real world. We spend most of the episodes inside her head. In her inner monologues, she talks fast, with a steady pace and a hard voice. She’s full of energy and life.

Then she opens her mouth and barely a word comes out. The people often react in confusion. You can’t expect them to react in any other way to a person who can barely utter a phrase. Since it’s not complete approval, Tomoko’s dualistic worldview sees it as negative and she runs away.

That dualistic worldview is another aspect of being a social retard. Tomoko sees things in black and white. There are popular kids, and losers like her. In her eyes, Yuu turned from a loser geek to a ‘popular slut’, although all we see is that Yuu developed breasts and dyed her hair. Tomoko tries a little to fit in, and when it doesn’t work she throws the bathwater with the baby.

The absurdity of social anxiety is that it makes you fail in basic, day-to-day interactions. Tomoko’s failures wouldn’t bother and otherwise well-adjusted person. People say embarassing shit all the time. Most of them say so many things that one failure doesn’t bother them. Tomoko always bets all her money on one single moment.

The comedy comes from the darkness itself, from how absurd it is. We’re talking about a barrier that doesn’t exist physically. Nothing prevents Tomoko from talking with people but herself. She’s fighting a shadow. Seeing a person fight something invisible is both sad and funny at the same time.

Sometimes the comedy is just from Tomoko’s failures. Thankfully, the creators are imaginative enough. They make these realistic failures, rather than inserting a poop joke or a sex joke like a lot of Western comedy does. There is also a powerful use of silence. It’s another way of pointing out the joke, but it lets the situation stand on its own. Besides, it’s a more realistic reaction to absurdity. Something absurd is something we don’t know how to react to. We may need time to think it over.

Tomoko would’ve nothing without her voice actress. It’s a brilliant performance. She has to play different characters. Tomoko is a megalomaniac world-dominator in her monologues but a coward when she speaks. Her voice actress doesn’t just capture this World Dominator in her speech, but she performs it with chinks in the armor. She exaggerates the confidence so much that it’s clear Tomoko tries hard to convince herself. As for how she does Tomoko’s stuttering, I doubt any person can replicate it so well. The fact a dub was even attempted is a brave, but probably an Icarian feat.

The character design fares a little worse. Tomoko isn’t really ugly. She looks odd and a distortion of the Moe design. Her eyes are huge, but have a darkness in them that looks frightening. Her figure or facial features aren’t special enough to cause any shock. She looks likes she’d rather listen to My Chemical Romance and Avenged Sevenfold rather than look for a boyfriend.

The state of comedy is a poor one. Too many comedies are references to sex and shit in-between random words. It’s hard to find a comedy that understands comedy’s purpose – finding humor in the absurdity of life. If it can find humor in the darker parts, then all the better. Whatever you think of anime in general, WataMote is a great work of comedy.

4 anxiety fits out of 5

We’ve all gone through a certain point where we want to feel less lonely even though our abilities for social interactions are limited for some inexplicable reason. Shows that remind us of those dark times can be polarizing for the majority to comprehend, and because of this, we don’t see many shows try to tackle the subject. The reason is that most people don’t like to revisit what made them so miserable for so long. Luckily for some of us, we always look back at those moments and laugh at how silly it was, and thanks to the show Watamote we can now have a ... show that does that for us.

Based on the gag manga, Watamote is set as your typical slice of life show, only this time they added some new twists that make it a little more fresh than others; dark, demented twists. It is twisted in its subject matter, but at the same time, it has a comedic overtone that compliments each other very well. You have Tomoko’s wild intentions of wanting to be popular yet unable to due to her supreme lack of social skill and the fact that she has been somewhat of a hikikomori for most of her life. The camera angles that constantly pan to her face often look distorted from the style of animation it tries to exacerbate, really giving you a sense of dread and anguish for her, yet at the same time, you can’t help but laugh at her expense. The show also goes into parody territory by showcasing your typical awkward moment of conversation, such as picking up a dropped pencil from a classmate sitting next to you. This is done with clever flashback sequences showing Kuroko’s comprehensive mindset.

Sporadic and chaotic are the two words that sum up the humor of Watamote. These two aspects are a blessing and a curse to the show. The comedy in this show is very unpredictable and goes to new levels of hilarity as time goes on, but at the same time, it can get quite repetitive quickly. Repetitive in that Kuroko’s constant ramblings and random noises she makes when she goes insane are made too frequently and mostly come across as tedious than charming after a while. What saves the humor is the actual build-up of the funniest bits that feel very fresh and unexpected to see, thanks to the well-thought-out dialogue that is written in those scenes. Ones that involve Tomoko and her mother in her room as her audio recording of a male seiyuu is played in the background and joining a couple of boys peek into a love motel.

One other small aspect that I truly admire about the comedy is the chemistry between Tomoko and her brother Kuroki and their hilarious dialogue exchanges with one another. Whenever they are on-screen together, you feel that this is how most siblings treat each other daily. They don’t necessarily like each other when they are in their personal space, but they’re bound by blood and can’t help but feel for each other's troubles. It’s a shame they don’t have enough screen time together. We could see some growth between them but what we have here is enough for me.

To start with the characters, Tomoko is the type of person you either grew up knowing someone like her or you grew up as her, but for the most part, we’ve all been the latter. We’ve all just wanted to try to put up an act of ourselves to make us seem edgy or cool but fail miserably. Tomoko herself is the main driving point in the show who performs her antics with pure charm and sympathy, thanks in part to her voice actress Izumi Kitta who is extraordinary playing her. Her ability to create Kuroko’s personality is almost inhuman in a good way, though sometimes she performs her job too well to the point where it sounds like she’s going to pass out near the end of the take.

That doesn’t mean that the other characters share the same memorability or charisma as Kuroko, except for her brother. Her best friend Yuu Naruse, played by Kana Hanazawa, is a pretty bland childhood friend type of character who isn’t given much to her performance other than to show more of Kuroko’s despair. One way to defend this is by looking at it as the fact that Kuroko is the only character that is the central focus of the entire show. The rest of the characters don’t even have to be fully developed because all we are focusing on is the main character Kuroko alone. It gives off the same loneliness feeling that she is going through to make the audience feel the same thing and make us feel contempt for her sorrow. Then again, that makes the comedy all the more meaningful and hilarious.

That isn’t to say the comedy is always perfect by any means. Sometimes, we’re taken into situations that go too far, and the comedic timing doesn’t even provide any humorous feedback because of how poorly handled they are. Not that they were anything life-altering disturbing, but it’s one of those moments where you raise your one eyebrow and feel uncomfortable at the same time. While there are some hiccups here and there, the writing does jump back into the swing of things and provides endless over-the-top humor that is both dark and clever. The numerous parodies of other anime are a definite plus as well.

What better way to start your typical slice of life show than when you could provide a loud, bombastic metal song to make it edgy? No doubt the opening might alienate people because it feels out of place with the show. I would argue that it’s heavily symbolic as if we’re in Kuroko’s subconscious thought in how her thought-process is the majority of the time, and for that, it’s a pretty decent opening. The rest of the music here is fun to listen to, even though the music will eventually forget it in about two years.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the show is very demented to watch and might leave people with a sick feeling in their stomach, but it’s something that anyone shouldn’t pass off if they are a big fan of dark comedy and a parodied look into the otaku lifestyle. It can be a tedious ride if you can’t handle the repetitive nature of Kuroko’s random ramblings, but there’s always that moment that makes the ride worth going through. A moment that makes you have tears roll down your eyes from sheer laughter and going nuts by how bold the humor can be observed by the audience as uncomfortable. After all, we need more admirable shows like Watamote that aren’t afraid to go too far with their jokes.

Grade: B

Watamote overall has been proven to be a very worthy watch. Many people including myself have been able to connect themselves to the main character Tomoko in the sense of the frustrations that they have with feeling unknown to the rest of the world.

Watching this series, with the relationship between Tomoko and her younger brother Tomoki it had me thinking about how I see my relationship with my own sibling and I, how even though they didn't get along they still share memories together and take the extra step to tolerate each other.

Above that, the interactions between the background characters that Tomoko had observed shows ... perspective on how unaware some people may be of the others around them, if they are lonely and need company or even need somebody to talk to.

I particularly enjoyed the ending of episode 11 where the class representative in charge of the culture festival, Imae, noticed Tomko was lonely after her friend Yuu had left, then got in the mascot costume and offered her a balloon. When Tomoko went to take the balloon she pulled her in for a hug. That was one of the sweetest moments I've seen.

This anime also introduces very interesting music and makes several humorous references to other popular animes. If anyone is looking to watch something a little different this is definitely the series to watch.

Lonely......

I'm Miss Lonely

I have nobody, for my own

I'm so lonely

I'm Miss Lonely
Wish I had somebody, to text on my cell,
...
Now I'm in high school, in a lonely high school
Away from everyone, with no friends of my own
That's why I'm lonely, I'm Miss Lonely
I wish that I could just go home

Lol, Perdon amigos, if you think that it's some kind of poem, well, YOU'RE WRONG, it was actually something that I took from a classical song "Mr. Lonely" by Vinton Bobby that I modify it to fit the main character Tomoko. Ok so the anime "Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!" has ended and I must say that it was a rather unique one since it is all about a typical Japanese loner\ loser who doesn't seem to do anything by herself to improve her social skills. Frankly if I can compare this anime to a western cartoon the close that it would be is 'Ed, Edd and Eddie" co'z both features a typical teenagers whom were pretty much losers in life that I would like to whack their heads with a rolled up newspaper, except in "Ed, Edd, and Eddie" I 'd give those characters some respect since they're the kind of losers who never stopped trying, while in "Watamote" the girl loser never tries at all. Ok so I think I'm gonna have to present my ratings for this anime:

Story: Very Good 8.

Well, I did mentioned about this anime's uniqueness, since its slice of life was focus on Kuroki Tomoko a loner and pessimist who procrastinates a lot, her story simply represents the very thing that every loner does and what he/she wishes which either she becomes a hokikomori if he/she is unconsciously contented of being a loner or eventually get a life and enjoy the world provided that such determination to change oneself is present. But in this case the story of the everyday life of a loser girl like Tomoko was more amusing that one would like to be the backseat character and criticize Tomoko for not having the guts nor the fortitude to even improve herself, also the story shows us that improvement is something that one must undertook by herself, that is, if there is really a determination for one to really improve.

Art: Fair 6.

Well for Tomoko, at one point I'm a little bit disgusted about her illustration, attire and facial concept, but, I can't deny that it was those very concept that makes her funny. Also, there is a few fanservice that me likey, like Imae's one time panty shot and Yuu's big bouncing melons.


Sound: Good 7.

The score is for Tomoko which includes, the way she catches her breath, her evil smirk, evil tone and of course I also like the way that her brother's speaking tone when he get's piss off by her antics. Oh, and about the opening theme, it really doesn't fit the anime as a whole, unless thai anime has an intense action genre, in fact the closing theme fits better as an opening theme.


Character: Decent 4.

I may be a bit pissed about the main character Tomoko, ok so she might have some aggression within her and her fantasies are too dark to comprehend, then again she's not bad to be this stupid loser high schooler, which the only types pf people she can get along with are kids and middle school perves. So the "Decent" score is for her.

Yuu Naruse, maybe Tomoko only friend or least when they were in middle school, but the thing about her is that she doesn't make any effort to change Tomoko and it's rather annoying, then again she does provide this hot bodacious babe that's present in every anime\manga.

Tomoki on the other hand he is somewhat this character that I would like to give her sister a rude awakening, however just like Yuu he's also annoying that he doesn't do anything to change her sister, Tomoko.

As for the mom, what I like about her is the part that she has to give Tomoko a bitch slap because of Tomoko's stupid antics with the vacuum cleaner.


Enjoyment and Overall: Very Good 8.

Like I said, this is one anime where we the audience would like to be a backseat character who would wanna give the main character a rude awakening if she ever wants to have an enjoyable high school life. Also I did mentioned about the uniqueness about this anime that deals with a typical Japanese loser which can only go two ways; become a hokikomori if he/she is unconsciously contented of being alone and blames the world for his fate or get a life if such determination to change exist in that particular person. Overall, this is one of the best anime for this season despite of its shabby final episode. The end.



l

If you think the main character of this anime is pathetic, two things can easily be concluded from that:
1) You have a great life. Congratulations!
2) You're an insensitive prick. Congratulations...?

Now on to the review.

STORY : On the surface, this anime appears to be comedic tale of a loner who's desperate for attention and friends. Her situation is so bad that she can't even utter a word in public. That's it, right? No plot development, no cliché transformation to a beautiful/popular girl, and no happy ending.

No, that's definitely not it.

This anime is about a girl with social anxiety. Being someone who suffers from social anxiety, although ... not on as serious level as her, I can say that there's nothing funny or "pathetic" about suffering from social anxiety. Before you go and say: "Come on! What's so bad about it? Just talk to people! Make friends!", let me just make it clear that its impossible for shy people to easily communicate or indulge with friends easily because we're very conscious of ourselves and our surroundings. What about delusions and fantasies? That's also part of being a social failure, I can vouch for that.

ART : Brilliant. The character design, the background, everything about the art is brilliant. Couldn't find a single flaw.

SOUND : Personally, I loved the opening and ending theme. The opening theme portrays the mind of someone suffering from anxiety perfectly. The anguish and envy in the song and Tomoko's expressions...ah, so accurate! Voice-acting was good, although you might need some time to get used to Tomoko's voice.

CHARACTER : The main character is fantastic. She's realistic and not all cutesy like most anime and that's just what makes her so awesome. Her relationship with her brother is also realistic and cute (at some points). Yuu-chan...erm, what can I say about her? She's a slut.

ENJOYMENT : I enjoyed it. I laughed at her misfortunes that often reminded me of my blunders in the past, and empathized with her dearly throughout the anime.

OVERALL : This anime is not for everyone, that is given. Watch it if you're going through the same thing and half laugh, half cry while watching it (like I did). Its definitely not for people who have lots of friends and/or look down on loners. Will this make you feel fuzzy and warm inside? No, it's uncomfortable especially if you can relate to her. But its realistic. I can't emphasize on this factor enough; not everyone has a perfect high school life, you know. A realistic anime once in a while won't hurt'cha, buddy.

I. Freaking. AM. This girl.

I have struggled with social anxiety most of my life. I've never felt like I belonged to part of a group, and I've always felt like more of a shadow than a real person in the eyes of others. I'm taking medication for it now, but that doesn't stop the pain of those memories.

So for me, Watamote was like reading a very embarrassing autobiography. I related to the main character, and it made me ashamed.

First off, this anime is hardcore cringe comedy. You WILL have to pause the show at least once just because watching this girl fail is so ... painful. You will scream no at your television, only for your plea to fall on deaf ears and Tomoko to humiliate herself anyways. It's not a feel good, chortle jubilantly whilst crunching on pocky sort of anime. It's a face-palm-and-shake-your-head-despairingly anime. If that doesn't sound like a roaring good time to you, then you should probably go watch Lucky Star instead.

Speaking of Lucky Star, that's just one of the many anime Watamote references. Ghost in the Shell, Haruhi Suzumiya, Death Note, and a plethora of other shows are visually mimicked from time to time for your viewing enjoyment. Okay, that's a nice shout out to otaku, I guess. And I suppose it helps emphasize Tomoko's otaku nature. But I can't help but feel like this show is more preoccupied with imitating iconic images rather than creating its own. That's the danger when you rely to heavily on shout-outs and references: you leave no room to make your own impression.

And that is Watamote's visual failing. The animation is never bad, but it never goes beyond bare simplicity. You are ANIME, art incarnate, moving masterpiece, you shouldn't settle for mere passing. Watamote fails to create any sort of distinctive style of its own. It's bland. If you do not create images that stick in the mind of your audience, then you are going to be forgotten. Ironically, that's a lesson Tomoko is very aware of, and yet her own show fails to put it to use. So I must award you no points for style.

Back to my own neuro-chemical failings: as someone with social anxiety, I understand what it is like to struggle to connect with people in a way that is meaningful. Watamote definitely got that message across. Unfortunately, it provides no light at the end of the tunnel, and thus ends up feeling somewhat hollow. Now, mental illness is a hard subject to portray, because it does not lend itself to a satisfying story-arc. You do not OVERCOME things like anxiety and depression. There is no final battle, no clear climax. Instead, it is a slow, uphill struggle. There is no end, because it's not something that ever goes away. That makes a satisfying conclusion almost impossible. A person can't just suddenly "get better" from internal struggles. If they do, it comes across as contrived and insincere (see the TV ending of Evangelion). Victory against mental struggles is so gradual that it can be hard to see, which is why it can be very unsatisfying for an audience to watch.

Watamote falls into the trap of trying to show character development in a way that is thematically satisfying, but distant from real life. The conclusion of the show has some last-minute growth from our main character, probably in order to give its audience a freaking bone after all that torture. However, as someone who has struggled with this same issue (and as such as the likely target audience of the show), I know that sort of change doesn't happen. I don't want to see the main character be able to put aside all their anxiety with the click of a button, because I know that kind of change isn't lasting. Poor Tomoko will be back to her regular behavior in a week, with no permanent improvement.

Instead of trying to make things look magically better, why not just give her small victories throughout? That's how real progress is made. It comes not from willing your situation away, but slowly learning to deal with it. Show her continuing to reach out to people in her own minute, faltering ways. Then, even if she fails, help build that gradual change in her perception that she is learning to deal with rejection and failure, so it isn't as crushing. At the very least, have her experience empathy towards others, and learn to focus less on her internal, selfish problems, and more on being able to sympathize with others.

I'm just ranting now. All in all, it is refreshing to see this sort of main character. I mean, how often do you see a female nerd as the main protagonist? Practically never. And despite my gripes, the show was fun to watch, even if it occasionally made my stomach turn. However, I wouldn't recommend this show to anyone who isn't hard core otaku. If you aren't some sort of social misfit, it might be hard to find common ground with Tomoko, and would make her very hard to relate to. Which funny enough, is pretty much her struggle within the show. Watamote is a strange little piece, and most people will probably just want to ignore it. But whether you acknowledge it or not, it's still there, waiting for someone to notice.

autistic girl swagger.

watamote perfectly captures what its like (at least in my experience) growing up as an autistic losergirl outcast

a lot of criticisms i see are reasons why i love it so much so i want to give my opinion on the main ones

-painfully uncomfortable to watch
-tomoko is pretty shitty most of the time
-nothing happens and she doesnt make progress/get any better

... 1. painfully uncomfortable to watch

it is uncomfortable to watch because its uncomfortable to live through. being a complete outcast is uncomfortable and relentless. its uncomfortable because its a realistic depiction of life in an uncomfortable situation

2. tomoko is pretty shitty most of the time

probably one of my favourite things about watamote. its a shitty situation and being a good person is not realistic most of the time but it doesnt make her a fundamentally bad person. try to put yourself in her shoes, you feel so alone and rejected by everyone and it hurts of course youre going to internalise it and start to dislike people - other people represent all of the hurt and all of the rejection and the life that you want so desperately but cant have, shes not a bad person shes just a kid struggling alone

3. nothing happens and she doesnt make progress/get any better

welcome to being a chronically socially inept + socially anxious social reject kekek


ps. if anyone reading this is in the same situation i know how shitty it is and how relentless it feels but there is a happy life out there waiting for you n i hope u find it i know its not easy but you can do this n u deserve to be loved n all that goofy stuff <3
good luck out there soldier, godspeed *salute* :)

(This has been adapted from my reddit thread)

Growing up as a kid entails many different aspects. How many friends do I have? What is the next event to go to? Does the girl from my math class have an interest in me? In short, many teenagers worry about their "popularity." Because being popular nets you more of everything that high school life has to offer. Watamote is such a story of obtaining this ever-wanted goal, but with a rather unorthodox spin.

STORY

Watamote features Tomoko, a young girl just starting her high school life. Not wanting to stick to the past, she decides she will take measures ... to eventually become as popular as she aims to be.

It becomes rather apparent rather quickly that such a feat for her is nigh impossible. Without a doubt, this is by far the most cringe-inducing show I have ever seen. Every episode is filled with moments that depict Tomoko attempting to increase her status in the social hierarchy, but with the result always ending in failure. This is not a joke. Every single time she is raised up, even slightly, she is immediately beaten back down past where she started. In this regard, the show actually does a surprisingly good job of varying up the many different situations that Tomoko finds herself in. And because of this, you are constantly feeling extremely awkward with what is going on, in a good way.

Now, something that the show aims to do is to showcase or at least demonstrate this type of person. There are people out there like this, who cannot express their feelings, talk with other people easily, or who are constantly trying to make their lives better. Are they all as far left as Tomoko is? Certainly not; she is the epitome of what it means to be a recluse. But this is a start. While you may not believe that everyday people are struggling with similar issues as her, Watamote wants you to realize that these people do exist, who do have incredible difficulty when it comes to making the "correct" choices in every day life.

One of the interesting things that the show brings to light is both the way in which it begins and the way in which it ends. That is, essentially what happens doesn't matter. You might be asking yourself, "Doesn't this contradict what you said before?" Actually, no. Because this is the right side of the spectrum; after all of the embarrassing-beyond-words events that she goes through, it's also important to remember that sometimes you have to just accept the past for what it is, and just better yourself. Everyone makes mistakes (some more then others), and sometimes just learning to move on is the best course of action.

ANIMATION

The art style of Watamote is both generic and unique. It has the rather plain-Jane friend and the typical younger brother for character designs. But it's Tomoko's design that garners the most attention. This is simply because she always has this disheveled, worn look about her throughout the vast majority of the show. Instead of depicting a cute, quirky "nerd," they capture the essence of a shut-in well. With her crow's feet, dark circles, messy black hair, pale skin, small demeanor, and average looks, she's actually not attractive at all. And that's the point.

Another thing of note in terms of art was the decision to usually use a technique in which Tomoko's outward appearance wasn't matching her inner thoughts. The show would flip between dull, boring grays to harsh, vibrant reds, greens, and purples to achieve a nice dichotomy between her gloomy and loud personalities. It was executed nicely because again it really demonstrated who Tomoko was.

Sadly, the animation isn't as stellar. To be honest, it isn't anything more than average. Not a lot happens within the show, since it's mostly dialogue or inner-monologue by Tomoko, but even for the things that are going on, there isn't much movement. This is true for Tomoko herself, the rest of the cast, and the environment as a whole.

CHARACTERS

Writing a thesis on Tomoko alone should be possible, but I'll stick to a shorter version. In short, she is the only character within the show, which is something that I haven't really experienced. There are almost always supporting characters to back the main ones up, but in the grand scheme of things, they don't matter in this anime.

So, Tomoko. I'll split her characterization into four different parts that I feel are the most significant: her self-denial, her determination to become something more, her ironically wanting to be what she hates, and how she doesn't develop overall. It's a lot to cover, but bear with me.

First, her self-denial. This is something that plagues her throughout the entire show, and is the underlying cause for why she experiences such cringe-y situations. When she concocts her plans and goes about them, the result she gets is never looked at. Instead of capitalizing on what she did right or wrong, she just moves on to the next idea. Thus, perpetuating the self-denial she has every time.

Second, is her determination. Oddly enough, despite her social awkwardness, she tries her hardest at everything she does. It's one of her greatest qualities that goes unnoticed by everyone (including perhaps herself). It's this part of her that the viewer likes. I want her to succeed at talking to the boy at the library, I want to see her having fun with her friend at the cultural festival. And it saddens me when I see all of her effort go to waste because what she chose to do in the end just wasn't right.

On the opposite side, her ultimate goal actually is to be the very thing she hates, a "bitch." Being immensely popular, having tons of friends, and nailing a boyfriend are her dreams. And yet, every chance she gets, she bashes these very people for their, what she calls, idiotic ideas. This side of her you hate, in a well done way. Her "true self" is rude, crazy, and somewhat evil. This side of her makes me not want to see her succeed, because she almost doesn't deserve it for how much she puts it down.

My last point on Tomoko is that her only issue is that she never develops as a character. Now, this is probably an entire point of the show; that she really isn't supposed to. But I would have liked to have seen some type of realization, whether that be with her self-denial, her determination, or her self-conscious, rather than her never making progress one way or the other.

SOUND

The OP is pretty sick. Metal, harsh, and filled with great guitar and drum solos, it is oddly fitting for the show. It matches Tomoko's desire to "break free" from the chains that are holding her back. I loved it a lot, but rock 'n' roll/metal music is a personal favorite of mine, so I'm slightly biased here.

The ED is amazing not because it has good music or good lyrics, but because of Tomoko. Once again, it is oddly fitting because it incorporates her super awkward behavior throughout it. You would never listen to this song on its own, because it only works within the context of the show, and it works very well.

The soundtrack for Watamote is also very good. It contains metal guitar riffs, choir singing, and other strange instrument/vocal combinations that fit the mood and the situations perfectly.

Above all, I want to say that Izumi Kitta's voice acting performance as Tomoko deserves the highest of praise from everyone. The range she covered was large, but it did not faze her. It is one of the best VA performances I have had the pleasure of hearing (right up there with Okabe from Steins;Gate), and she deserves every accolade because of it. Seriously, she did a beyond exceptional job.

ENJOYMENT

I think many people look at the show, start watching it, and really only rate it based on how "dumb" it is. "Dumb" in this case meaning how incredibly cringe-inducing, awkward, and embarrassing it always is. Meaning, if people like those types of scenarios, they love the show, and vice versa. But this anime is more than that.

It's funny when it needs to be, it's insightful when it tries, and it makes you see things that are almost never talked about. The cringe part of the show is definitely its strongest point (outside of Tomoko), but only judging the show based on that isn't fair.

I really liked the transitions that the show used, the censoring it incorporated, Tomoko's super quiet and stuttering public talking, and all of her silly plans that just never went her way. It's not a show that I adored, but I liked what it had to offer.

In the end, if you can endure the cringe, Watamote deserves more credit than it gets. While Tomoko may have been unsuccessful in her endeavors to become supremely popular, if I could tell her one thing, it would be that that she has at least one fan in the books.

SUMMARY

Story: Great, cringe-galore gives an interesting outlook

Animation: Good, stale animation but cool art style and direction

Characters: Good, Tomoko, like her, is just shy of being one of the greats

Sound: Great, sick OP, unique ED, nice soundtrack, outstanding VA performance by Izumi Kitta

Enjoyment: Good, this one is more than meets the eye

Final Score: 8/10

Ohh, Watamote. Where do I begin? I'll just start by answering my own question and basically explain to you the things you will say while watching this:

" Man, I'm so grateful for my life."

"Sadly, I can relate."

"I have so much second hand embarrassment for her..."

" NO NO NO NO NOOOOOO,DON"T DO IT, GAHHH, I CAN'T WATCH HER MESS HER LIFE UP!!"

... "Tomoko, that's not how life works...*facepalm*."

So that's pretty much all your feels in a nutshell....

--Story-- 8/10
Created by Nico Tanigawa and watched by several idiots, Watamote is about an anti-social 15 year old girl who's always wanted to be popular. In addition, she is somewhat an otaku and very pessimistic yet she thinks very highly of herself. Throughout the series, you get to watch Tomoko's struggle to becoming popular. The anime is episodic so you see something new and weird in every episode, even some ecchi scenes are included in Watamote (how's that for advertising). In most situations, she's the girl anime version of Bad Luck Brian, which, in that aspect, really makes the show hilarious. Watamote is an anime where, whether you like it or not really just depends on your type of humor. However, this brings me back to the "watched by several idiots" part. If you're a person who is "innocent" per say, Watamote isn't for you. I've seen many people saying " This is so inappropriate, it advertises how girls should feel in a wrong way!" I have to disagree with that, now, I understand that some scenes maybe offensive however, it's supposed to be for comedy and it's anime, what do you expect? Not only that, but you learn a lesson from all of the protagonist's faults and if you don't catch the moral of the episode then boiiii, you best be gettin dat education.

--Art-- 7/10
The art style was average. Most of the characters looked like any other typical anime characters and had the same body shape and appearance. The backgrounds weren't anything great, though, they were realistic, but, again, typical. On the upside, the productions did very well depicting the animation to match the look and feels of characters and situations. They also made some scenes quite distinctive from any other comedy anime.

--Sound-- 9/10
The OST is splendid. Both the opening and ending are very unique for an anime like Watamote. The background music does a great job at setting the mood for a situation as well. Sometimes, the sound is very happy go lucky at first then it would languish, depending on the situation. The seiyuu's also did a fantastic job at voice acting, Tomoko's voice couldn't have been any better. Overall, the sound is one of the most memorable parts of Watamote and definitely humorous.

--Character-- 7/10
The characters in Watamote were quite flat. Tomoko is the only actual character the other characters that show up consistently are her brother, Tomoki and her friend, Yuu-chan. The rest of the cast are insignificant and only show up in one episode. With Tomoko's iilogical thinking and werid predicaments. It's nice to have someone like her brother to keep the viewers sane.

--Enjoyment-- 9/10
Despite the flaws, Watamote was definitely enjoyable. I anticipated every episode and every episode kept me intrigued. Whether its's the humor, music, Tomoko, the illogically thinking or even the offensive scenes, this anime is memorable. Watamote is an anime that I will re-watch when I'm feelin down in the dumps, just to get a good laugh.

--Overall-- 8/10
The anime overall was average, however, due to the unique and comedic elements, I rate Watamote with a 8/10. I recommend this to people who are looking for something relatable or amusing. Until next time, goodbye my fellow organisms.

P.S. This is my second review so feedback is much appreciated ^_^

An unfortunate truth that many fans of this medium can agree on is this: anime is generally not especially keen on addressing topics like social anxiety or giving them the respect and nuance they deserve. This is not to say this sort of thing doesn’t exist, just that it’s particularly hard to find. WataMote is an outlier, in how it confronts a legitimate issue and portrays it with utmost honesty, while utilizing comedy as a source of amusement and coping, not to make light of the situation. Through a collection of gags conjured in a fundamentally bleak scenario, WataMote finds amusement and humor in ... a portrayal of anxiety which rivals that of Evangelion. Perhaps one of the worst, cruelest things to be imposed on someone is the feeling of isolation and loneliness. Shyness can look cute on the outside, but the same can be said about an animal trapped in a zoo. Both sheer hilarity and blistering tragedy ensue in Kuroki Tomoko’s cavalcade of mishaps, exploring the multiple facets of her character which speaks to the hearts of those who have had the displeasure of feeling invisible to society.

Various monologues, delusions, and fantasies are at play here as we follow Kuroki Tomoko in her quest to become popular. Having almost no social skills whatsoever, much of the action takes place within Tomoko’s own thoughts, from scheming on how to approach a situation to conjuring an ideal fantasy where all her desires are met, sometimes referencing an anime or manga she knows of. Tomoko is genuinely a fun and endearing character to follow, partly thanks to how vividly and creatively her thoughts are presented. Her point of view is depicted in a litany of wacky and comical ways, with each affair being executed in a way that wouldn’t look out of place in a battle shounen; exaggerated and dramatic. To say that WataMote plays out like a battle shounen undersells it however. Unlike many manga adaptations which tend to have uninspired camerawork and lazy implementation of dialogue, WataMote is always exercising creativity in how to present her thoughts. New visual elements are constantly brought to the table so that the experience never grows stale. Inventive visual work, snappy pacing, and Tomoko’s constant narrations work in unison to bring this character to life.

Despite depicting these situations in a goofy, comedic light, WataMote presents one of the most accurate depictions of social anxiety I’ve seen in an anime. This portrayal is not limited to simply being nervous or shy in public interactions. Tomoko’s thoughts, perspectives, and attitude all personify that of a socially awkward and anxious high schooler, serving as a basis for her actions. The way her anxiety dictates what she thinks and how she behaves is exploited both comedically and narratively, leading to events which highlight the tragedy of the situation while providing some degree of amusement. All of Tomoko’s delusions and insecurities are welded into a series of gags and humorous moments to exploit the absurdity in her ways of thinking, while eloquently demonstrating what exactly is crippling her in these situations. Feeling nothing but fear and distrust in social situations, Tomoko almost always assumes the worst in people. Internally, she’ll often scoff at or antagonize anyone who isn’t some hot guy she met at a store, and impulsively puts the blame on others for any misfortune that comes up in her day. She’ll desperately gravitate towards any method that is said to make one more popular, attractive, or whichever else, even if it involves purposely getting molested on a train. And yes, she does actually attempt this. The various incidents she pulls herself into are presented in a wacky, hyperbolic manner, to the point where Tomoko comes off as downright maniacal or demented in certain cases. This particular style does a lot to make Tomoko a very endearing character, but she’s made all the more captivating by how she fully encapsulates what social anxiety is really about. It’s a harrowing dilemma to face especially in your high school years, and it’s one that many of us can admit to have had around the same period as Tomoko has. Almost all of us who have had social anxiety can relate to many of Tomoko’s ordeals, which can possibly bring back painful memories of our own. WataMote subjects us to the bleak and dreary realm of social anxiety and the consequences of having it, amplifying the absurdity of the situations that stem from it to soften the blow. In spite of this glossy exterior, WataMote is made fully aware of the situation and gives it the integrity and nuance it deserves, just as a black comedy should.

The primary method of which WataMote delivers its humor is by stressing the dichotomy between how Tomoko perceives the world compared to how it actually is. This is the format which pervades the entire show; the reality, often lukewarm and indifferent to Tomoko, is twisted in such a way to abide with her own insecurities. Tomoko constantly deludes herself into believing that she is above everyone else, and it’s portrayed to be rather pitiful, yet still funny and amusing. Consider this scene as an example: on a rainy day, when Tomoko finds that her umbrella is missing, she instinctively assumes it to have been stolen. She then has an internal rage about how she is an innocent victim whose day was ruined by this abominable crime. Then, she stops to realize that her umbrella was just a few feet in another direction. This is a funny moment on its own, but it’s also a perfect example of how Tomoko operates outside the comfort of her own home. When something seemed to be wrong at first, she instinctively assumes it to be another’s wrongdoing, without taking even a second to consider any alternative.

Things that seem relatively mundane and trivial to us are made into a much bigger deal than they need to be. This exact way of thinking is what leads Tomoko into numerous awkward situations involving other people, which is exactly what blocks her off from others. Her rationale is purely based on knee-jerk suspicions rather than logic, some of which are understandable to at least some degree, such as worrying about what classmates will think about the sight of you eating alone. Others can be quite outrageous or downright unfathomable, such as the notion that wearing certain underwear makes you friends more easily. Both of these can be attributed to how someone with social anxiety really operates. Tomoko’s antics come in a seemingly endless variety, as new situations arise after another and more inspiration is attained. Because we are given a thorough introspective on what possesses her to take these actions, it’s made easy to gravitate towards Tomoko and understand what she does, as irrational and ludicrous as they are most of the time. The sad truth of the matter is, as over-the-top and balls-to-the-wall as it’s all portrayed to be, it’s conceptually accurate to how some of us behaved in our adolescent years. Both these factors are what effectively put us in her own shoes, making it all the more uncomfortable to watch when these actions actually follow through, there to be witnessed by outsiders. This discomfort is a large part of what makes it funny, yet oddly impactful on a personal level. I for one can admit to have operated along the same lines as Tomoko in my own school years, and I imagine plenty of others are the same way. Whether you have fully grown out of this phase or are still in the process of doing so, laughing at yourself is a good first step towards moving on with your life.

This is even the case with her own family as well as her best friend Yuu-chan. Even though they, particularly Yuu-chan, are relatively close to her, they are not exempt from witnessing the crazed antics Tomoko stirs up on a daily basis. Her brother Tomoki serves as a test subject of sorts, as Tomoko uses new bizarre methods of communicating to see how they play out. Tomoki, like everyone else, has no idea what the hell goes on in Tomoko’s mind, and thus wants nothing to do with whatever nonsense she subjects to him. Tomoko’s interactions with her mother go about as smoothly as those with anxious teens who feel as though nobody understands them would expectedly play out with their parents. Yuu-chan, being the only character besides Tomoko’s parents to give her unconditional support and attention, ends up being one of the most likeable characters on offer. Tomoko even still projects herself into Yuu-chan and holds her on the same standards. Yuu-chan’s presence, compared to how she once was, as an attractive, well-endowed specimen with many healthy relationships is an abhorrent sight to Tomoko. What Tomoko feels could be described as a feeling of betrayal, or rather severe envy. Tomoko’s twisted and misguided view on people erects yet another barrier around even her best friend. Luckily for her, most of anything Tomoko would usually do comes with almost no repercussions when around Yuu-chan. Tomoko’s company with Yuu-chan is relatively painless and refreshing compared to that of other people, as Tomoko is rarely wound into such humiliating incidents. In a way, seeing these characters together is somewhat euphoric. Nonetheless, there is still much awkwardness to be be found among their interactions, as Tomoko’s insane ideas run amok even still. Tomoko’s interactions with these characters are very distinct from one other, which makes Tomoko feel more like an actual person and makes each encounter with them very unique. As a result, WataMote is given plenty more sources of comedy at its disposal and makes Tomoko’s moments involving them varied and original.

Even with all these shenanigans at play, WataMote doesn’t shy away from providing full, unfiltered attention to Tomoko’s dilemma when it needs to. Whenever Tomoko is legitimately hurt or grief-stricken by what happens, the show seizes to pull any punches at that point. The limelight is positioned squarely on her humiliation and anguish, often laying a somber melody upon the scene; she even sheds tears at some points. These moments might as well be climaxes, as she is in a position where no ounce of delusion can divert her from the crude reality of what she’s led herself into. WataMote understands this disorder which Tomoko is bound by, and knows full well when it is no longer a laughing matter. The absence of comedy during these moments is enough to draw attention to how affected Tomoko really is; yet another factor of what makes her so easy to feel for. Of course, once these moments pass, the proper course of action is not to dwell on those past situations, but to shrug it off, move on, and hope tomorrow will be better. And this is exactly what WataMote does. The moment follows through, the whole arc fades into a somber close, and the cycle begins anew.

Although the show’s structure is based around repetition, WataMote is not exempt from providing actual character development. The actions Tomoko takes do in fact affect what she does in future events. Additionally, as the show draws into its later half, Tomoko’s denial lessens while she gradually becomes more accepting of her dilemma. Her life concurrently becomes more bleak and hopeless as a result. This is the point where her actions, while still less than ideal, become significantly more reasonable, as she makes a conscious effort towards amending her newly found flaws. This development comes across very naturally; there’s nothing drastic or sudden about this change. It comes in minimal pieces as Tomoko retains what she has experienced through her mishaps. Of course, she never truly unbounds herself from the self-destructive tendencies we see throughout. As we all know, it’s incredibly easy to fall back to old habits.

It’s easy to see that if Tomoko was a person in real life, she would not be a fun person to interact with or be around, but that doesn’t make her struggles any less real. Despite how abrasive and hostile she is portrayed to be overall, Tomoko is a character who is easy to sympathize with, because the full context of her troubles is made very clear. While not exactly universal, experiencing this kind of distress is something very many people can identify with. Because of this, we immediately understand her actions, even if we don’t find them to rational in any sense. Her life is very empty and miserable, affirmed all the more through her constant denial and acts of desperation. We want her to succeed, and thus seeing her get into humiliating situations through her own doing is genuinely an unpleasant experience. It just goes to show how coming out of your shell is never an easy task for anyone. Whatever Tomoko suffers through, we are forced to suffer through with her.

This leads into what is perhaps the most common criticism towards WataMote. For many people, WataMote is a very uncomfortable, cringe-inducing experience. I would be one of the first to agree that the show is certainly uncomfortable at many points, but I would also say that it is so for the right reasons. Some say it’s uncomfortable for the reason that Tomoko is unlikeable, which is obviously something I disagree on quite strongly. Others say it’s for the reason that they don’t want to see Tomoko go through these miserable affairs. As mentioned previously, despite how frequently and badly she fucks up, there is change in her character to be found along the way. While not always necessarily positive, it’s still change nonetheless. These small changes show that there is legitimate hope for her. For this reason, it’s made all the more cathartic and heartwarming when Tomoko really does manage to find a fair bit of comfort towards the end of the show.

Not only does she reflect nearly every facet of the usual social awkwardness that resides in many high schoolers, she’s also a funny and charming character independent of that. Her antics are unpredictable and she’s endearingly quirky through each passing episode. She is voiced extremely well in the Japanese audio as well as the English dub. Of course, a considerable factor in what makes Tomoko so appealing to many is her visual design itself. Her small stature and baggy, half-open eyes make her look rather cute with an element of mischief, which is perfect for the character. The way she constantly and drastically changes into different expressions is a huge factor in what makes this character so funny and loveable through each of her schemes and shenanigans.

Despite how commendable the design of Tomoko really is, it’s a shame that her design is the only memorable one in the entire show. Almost every other character is rendered to a bland default anime design with very little distinguishing qualities. This is excusable for background characters, but the more important characters don’t fare much better. Yuu-chan’s design has only her yellow hair and well-endowed physique to make her stand out from the rest. Even Tomoko’s own family suffers from a lack of inspiration in their design. It’s unfortunate that this is how it turned out to be, but it could also just further affirm how remarkable the design of Tomoko really is.

Apart from that, the visual department on the whole is something to be admired. The backgrounds are bold and daring, which makes the scenery very eye-catching and vibrant. The animation is very fluid, especially when it really needs to be. Never did I feel as though the animation quality was ever lacking through any of my viewing experiences. Perhaps the most unique and notable aspect of the visuals is how the lens flares are designed. Light sources like the sun always produce flares that take the form of angular shapes. There isn’t a particular rhyme or reason for this design choice, but rather it serves to further enforce the cartoony nature, which is perfectly welcome in my book.

So when you think of “self-insertion” in anime, there’s a good chance that conjures up images of an ideal fantasy world in which the protagonist is blessed with numerous desires and conflict is trivialized; basically your typical harem or isekai. WataMote is self-insert in a different way, where you connect Tomoko’s various mishaps to that of your own. Once this happens, WataMote provides an experience few other anime could hope to emulate. It’s hellbent on reaching that one specific audience it’s directed towards, and does so marvelously. The “thorned rose” analogy is perhaps more applicable here than it is with any other show in recent memory. It is shame however that WataMote covers only a portion of its source material, meaning that an ideal conclusion for Tomoko isn’t present here. This leaves the only hope of getting one to the manga itself, or perhaps a possible anime sequel. Regardless of this shortcoming, I for one am glad to have laughed, cried, cringed, and cheered through Tomoko’s endeavors.

The opening is fascinating to watch (even if the 'music' is terrible), the closing also good and a bit catchy. Izumi Kitta delivers an excellent performance, ranging from low sarcasm to deep despair to girly glee. The many faces of Kuroki and the animation mean that despite being almost a 12-episode long monologue, we don't get bored watching. That aside.

_Watamote_ is one of the most painful anime I have ever watched, up there with _End of Evangelion_. I was expecting something not so much in the vein of the lighthearted _Genshiken_ or _Tatami Galaxy_, but the fairly dark _Welcome to the N.H.K.!_ and I got ... that, in spades, without the slightest hope of redemption, turned up to the max.

Anxiety about social interactions is common. And it's amusing - lots of great gags are based on misunderstandings, overthinking things, worries which turn out to be groundless, and revelations of things better kept secret. _Watamote_ has all that, in every episode. And it has plenty of irony: I particularly enjoyed, when I was still watching episode 1 and didn't realize what I was in for, Kuroki's bookstore line "The people here are all way worse than me. Feels good to be here." Yeah, that really sums up a lot of nerds' feelings sometimes at safe places like conventions, doesn't it? It's amusing for being ironic on Kuroki as it's immediately subverted, but the viewer probably can recognize that the line and irony apply to themselves a little bit as well.

The problem is... it all goes too far. Not too long ago, I was corresponding with what I now suspect to have been a mentally ill person, and I deliberately mocked their claims and led them on to see what they'd say (http://www.gwern.net/Blackmail); it occurred to me partway that they might be mentally ill, but I dismissed it as my usual arrogance, until a vaguely increasing sense of unease and sense of guilt led me to tone things down. In retrospect, I did not handle the incident too well. I began to feel the same way in episode 3: that I was enjoying myself at the expense of someone who I should not be enjoying myself at the expense of, that I was being shown the humiliation and mockery of someone deeply disabled and mentally ill. In fact, look up the DSM-5's criteria for 'social anxiety disorder': A-G match perfectly except *perhaps* C ("The person recognizes that this fear is unreasonable or excessive."). You wouldn't watch a film about mocking the blind, or the deaf, or playing pranks on paraplegics, or about tying cans to a cat's tail; you wouldn't enjoy an anime focused on the wacky doings of a mentally retarded person - *you'd feel bad about yourself*. I feel bad about watching _Watamote_. Kimochi warui, dudes. I felt mental pain watching many episodes. I had to pause scenes, or just stop episodes for that day, or play them on 2x to force my way through the chagrin and embarrassment.

Kuroki is, besides a sick character who you want to see get treatment, not a nice person, to put it mildly. She has a serious sadistic streak, massively projects negative traits, is self-centered and entitled, abusive of others, and resents the slightest justified demand on her. It's not pleasant watching her, at all. A character without redeeming aspects is a hard sell as a protagonist, and I'd probably appreciate such a non-moe female character if I could get over everything else. But actually, it's probably better for the viewer's peace of mind to not sympathasize with Kuroki (although it's hard given that we spend the entire series inside her head, and we all remember similar embarrassing experiences as those Kuroki endures, even if ours were much tamer).

Worse are the people around her. It seems initially cute when her mother walks in on her doing something extremely awkward and pretends it doesn't exist, or when her father finds her asleep having apparently masturbated and just calmly puts her to bed. It gets a lot less cute when you begin to notice that Kuroki's social anxiety is pathological, longstanding, and notice that almost the only time Kuroki's mother disciplines her is when Kuroki threatens her image when her sister is coming over with Kuroki's cousin, and when she needs some work done. My mental image of the mother as tolerating Kuroki's phase and giving her space to work out her issues without pressuring her suddenly flips into a different concern: Japanese society is, I am told, not very good at dealing with mental illness and puts a stigma and taboo on acknowledging any issues or seeking treatment. _Watamote_ is generally a very realistic show (eg all the references I noticed were to real stuff: a ton of _Haruhi_ references, _Detective Conan_, _Another_, _K-On!_, Nico Nico Douga, _Nadia_, McDonald's, etc), including no fantastical materials, minimal coincidences, an unattractive protagonist who isn't Hollywood Homely (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HollywoodHomely)... What ever shows that Kuroki's parents care much about her at all, and aren't just protecting their social image and reputation and doing their best to pretend Kuroki has no problems? For that matter, what about her classmates? The show seems to go out of its way to depict all her classmates as good nice people who even are bothered by killing a cockroach, and certainly are not bullying or mistreating Kuroki... yet, she never speaks to anyone. Isn't that going a little beyond their description "Kuroki-san is quiet"? Quiet, certainly, but never talking to anyone, never eating lunch with anyone, never participating in anything... It's not like they don't have plenty of opportunity to notice. The council president starts to suspect the problem after just 2 or 3 brief encounters with Kuroki, and her cousin strongly suspects after a day or two. The class could know if it wants to. We might initially place our hope in the teachers, since the homeroom teacher interacts a little bit with Kuroki early on, but it never goes beyond that. Why only ever tell her to be careful on the way home? You can try talking about more than that! And her best friend Yuu? Completely oblivious. (Or is she? Given that she seems to be consciously playing a role, one wonders.)

So. The parents are apparently trying to cover everything up. The classmates and teacher feel they're doing enough. The brother takes the brunt of Kuroki's abuse and warped cries for help, but it's a little much to expect him to handle it all by himself and he does his fair share. Her only friend doesn't realize there's any problem. Kuroki can't help herself; she tries, but it all fails. She tries repeatedly, and it fails, and even her final effort in the last episode to reach the council president fails (and depressingly, she seems to realize there's a problem but to think Kuroki is working hard, which is true but sounds like an excuse to forget about the matter, and given the whole overall thrust of _Watamote_, it's hopeless to expect anything good to come out of their interactions).

Everyone is clueless, disengaged, or covering it up. No one will help, and those who want to, can't. There is no sign that Kuroki will ever get better. That things will ever improve. She will forever be trapped in her room, trapped in her fantasies and a sad little girl outside them, unable to develop into anything or have real friends. The pervading sense is a harsh bitter hopelessness. Being resigned to despair is still a form of despair.

Overall, I think the ANN review by Theron Martin (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/watamote/episodes-1) does a good job reviewing the series, but I have to disagree with the summation that the tragedy is sufficiently balanced by comedy and that "occasionally feel like it is just dumping misfortune on Tomoko, but it never goes far enough with this to negate how Tomoko creating her own misfortune makes the series' title incredibly ironic".

Or the series tags... 'Comedy'? 'Slice of life'? 'Morbidly funny' This is supposed to be funny? I'm supposed to laugh? You must be shitting me. If this was not intended by the creators to be a pitch-black psychological horror work (at which it succeeds nauseatingly well) almost unrelieved by any humor but that which indicts the viewer for finding it funny - they have much to answer for.

> "Somebody remarked: 'I can tell by my own reaction to it that this book is harmful.' But let him only wait and perhaps one day he will admit to himself that this same book has done him a great service by bringing out the hidden sickness of his heart and making it visible."

Kimochi warui.

I have no idea how to open up this review to be honest. WataMote was one of the first animes I saw in 2014 as ridiculous at that might sound. So when I first saw it most of it references with the exception of Battle Royale and Dragon Ball Z flew over my head. What drew me in was the lead character and how I find her likable. Tomoko kept me coming back despite how embarrassing the situations she got herself into were. However, a whole year has past with me now into anime alongside having found a couple of titles that influenced my standards ... for certain genres. Seeing WataMote is similar to seeing a friend you haven’t seen in a year; do you accept them despite never changing or you do ignore them and move on. Well aware of the consequences I still chose the former.

Mixed: A decent setup that refuses to move past the status quo

WataMote is an episodic slice of life comedy anime series that focuses on the misadventures of Tomoko Kuroki in her quest to become popular in high school. Kinda small scale popularity, but it’s what her heart’s desires. The first episode does an excellent job establishing how much of a social outcast Tomoko is and her extreme social anxiety. Managing to be entertaining despite only focusing on a single character. Within its first episode it showed there some promise to be seen in the series if it develops beyond the initial premise. Unfortunately, once past the halfway mark any hopes of that will be thrown out of the window if it’s not already.

Its main brand of humor is referential humor or Tomoko reaction in a given situation. Unfortunately referential humor does makeup for large portions of it jokes. Some referential jokes will work even without getting the reference because of Tomoko over the top reaction in the situation, but the more direct and specific ones won’t work unless you have some knowledge to what it’s referencing. Simultaneously doing referential humor correctly and incorrectly. Tomoko never gives a normal reaction making a big deal out of everything. In episode 12, she imagines squashing a cockroach will lead to the entire class clapping and cheering her name out loud. Situation that Tomoko is put into changes from episode to episode. One episode will have her spending her whole summer in her room while another focuses on her attempting to get cuter by playing otome video games. The humor never evolves from how it starts out, but the variety in situations prevent it from getting as stale as it could have gotten. Another way it changes the humor up is by introducing a supporting character for Tomoko to interact with for a short length or an entire episode. Breaking the usual formula while staying in line with its specific brand of humor.

The biggest pitfall of WataMote is it desire to return to the status quo by the end of every episode. What progress is made is unimportant in the long run like Tomoko impressing her cousin or seeing an old friend from middle school. This makes her endeavor come across as a lost cause and as a viewer makes it reluctant to want to stick around to the end. However, no matter the embarrassing situations Tomoko gets herself into, the anime isn’t mean spirited. None of the characters mistreat her in any way. At most, Tomoki Kuroki (Tomoko’s younger brother) acting like siblings is about as cruel as it gets. This is counteracted by the fact that everything that happens to her in the series is her fault. Now due to the status quo effect the fact nothing changes for Tomoko in any positive way might make it depressing.

The ending...it’s something. How to classify it as is difficult. For starter, the narrator flat out tells the viewer that “This is a story about a peculiar girl. An unpopular girl, and it really doesn’t matter” at the end of the final episode. That line is equal to a middle finger to your face. The same final scene continues with Tomoko getting the final line that hints at some possible progression on her outlook on popularity. What you’re ultimately left with is an ending where it’s the only time narrative and character progress can be made cutting the story there instead of taking risks. Playing it safe with its comfortable doing, but also tells the viewer itself it doesn’t matter if they see it.

Mixed: A great lead, but under utilize supporting cast

Watamote only character worth paying attention too is it lead Tomoko Kuroki. She’s a “down to Earth” character whose social anxiety makes her easy to relate too. Receiving most of the characterization through her many monologues developing various aspect about her personality from what she likes, her hobbies, her past, her thought process, and anything you can imagine. Like mentioned before, the series ends without progression. For as much development she receives she is too a static character who doesn’t learn nor changes. She is also a double edge sword; If you don’t like Tomoko Kuroki then the anime will fail. This also effect the supporting cast since Tomoko is the sole focus in every single episode. If you hate her then it wrote itself into a corner by offering no other character to latch onto or explore.

The supporting cast don’t receive enough characterization to stand on their own. Their only purpose is to interact with Tomoko to break up its own formula. Tomoki Kuroki whenever on screen is usually disgusted or annoyed at the sight of his big sister. Much like Tomoko, whenever Tomoki is on screen the humor lies in how he react to Tomoko. There’s no variation on how Tomoki is use within the story. Another supporting character is Yuu Naruse, a middle school friend of Tomoko who goes to a different high school. Tomoko interaction with Yuu are good times for Tomoko whenever she feeling down. It’s breather to see Tomoko speak with another person semi-sucessfully who isn’t her brother.

That about wraps up the semi-important supporting characters. Tomoki and Yuu are the only ones who receive partial screen time or play an important role in an episode in some way. Other supporting characters include Tomoko parents who don’t have many moments of good parenting. Ki is Tomoko cousin who appears in one episode than is never heard off again. There’s also certain students in Tomoko classes that are often shown, but don’t come into the picture aside from being criticize by Tomoko. Among them is a student council president who goes out of her way to cheer Tomoko up. Sadly, the series ends before it could anything with that development.

Good: A solid direction holds a small budget together

WataMote animation is done by Silver Link favoring flashiness over consistency for this anime. The animation isn’t stellar in any area, but works nonetheless. It simply looks fine with some questionable choices that fall under artistic and laziness. The opening animation is artistic showing Tomoko wanting to break free from her chains of unpopularity while the ending animation shows how she actually deals with it. Laziness comes in the form of background characters in several episodes being animated without any eyes drawn on. Some choices are questionable in execution. Episode 4 opens with Tomoko surfing on a website. Within the first couple of seconds there’s a promo displaying on the site that Tomoko is on promoting the anime adaptation of WataMote. If the character in the promo was design differently it would be a decent visual gag that broke the fourth wall, but instead what it does is break immersion. If a character that looks exactly like our lead is used in promos it begs the question why she isn’t considered popular in within the anime.

Backgrounds are simplistic reusing the limited locations alongside with Tomoko having the only notable character design. Lighting in many scenes are done with multiple hexagons or large circles inside smaller same shapes. In order to color in different shading, though even if the scene takes place at night time everything still looks bright. Some of the animation shortcoming is made up by incorporating different art styles whenever Tomoko goes on one of her rants or fantasy the animation style changes so suit her emotion. Often time nailing the exact look and style of what it’s referencing in that scene. Another positive is the animation nailed Tomoko expressions being hysterical when a joke works or when there’s a cringeworthy moment on screen.

Izumi Kitta excels in the lead role of Tomoko Kuroki in the Japanese cast. She’s fully committed to the role on all account. Delivering a natural performance as a dysfunctional high school girl while making her likable. Kitta is never too showy whenever delivering her more outrageous monologues and never over sells it during the more tender moments. Perfectly balancing the various bottled up emotion of Tomoko. The fact that Izumi Kitta was able to make a character who sometimes blames her social anxiety on other people sympathetic is a huge praise for how well she did in the role.

The English dub is done by Sentai Filmworks and the only casting choice they needed to get absolutely right was Tomoko Kuroki. Monica Rail is a talented actress, but unfortunately her performance lacks the finesse that Izumi Kitta brought to the same character. Monica Rail sounds force exaggerating her dialogue no matter if the context demanded it or not. Creating a character who instead of being socially awkward turns into a person who doesn’t know how to act human. Another downside to Monica Rail in the lead role is she does not sing in the English dub of the anime. The closing themes for a majority of the episodes has Tomoko singing the ending theme. Hearing the same character go from speaking awkwardly in English, then singing in Japanese in a charming way in several episodes is distracting. Overall, it’s not entirely a bad performance. Monica Rail has a good sense of comedic timing in her delivery. While Izumi Kitta is the better Tomoko all around Monica Rail attempt at the role is decent occasionally delivering a good laugh. If anything, it’s worth checking out at least once to listen to Monica Rail says thing like “I need to turn myself into a high school slut” that goes against the clean image of some other characters she voices.

Dialogue changes in the English dub are minor in general. Some phrases received changes so it could be more digestible for Western audiences. For example, Tomoko says in episode 5 “I’ll probably find something lewd in his room” in the English sub while in the English dub it was translated too “I’ll probablly find some porno in his room”. Dialogue changes like these don’t affect anything important. The English wording for some comedic lines loses their comedic touch upon delivering in writing and performance. In episode three, there’s a scene where Tomoko says “I-I figured I would go take a really messy shit in the bathroom or something” when talking to two guys in the rain. When Izumi Kitta delivers the line it’s comical as well as cringeworthy. When Monica Rail says “I-I just got to take a dump outside that restroom” it’s just comes off awkward. Several scenes can lose a semblance of comedy making you question if it’s a comedy at all. Finally, Sentai Filmworks felt the need to include subtitles to explain references in the English dub. Don’t know why they felt the need to do that since it won’t change if the joke itself is funny or not in execution. In both, the supporting cast get minimal usage. It’s because of this both supporting cast comes off as being equal in the voice acting department. Good performances for the limited time they receive, but not enough to make them memorable.

If you had to choose between the sub or English dub without a doubt go for the sub. Even if the comedic lines were directly translated in the English dub Izumi Kitta simply embodies the leading role far better than Monica Rail. Izumi Kitta sounds natural whereas Monica Rail is more in line of an embarrassing grandmother speaking like a teen in an effort to be hip. Also, the small fact hearing Izumi Kitta sing the closing theme gives Tomoko more charm when she optimistically sings about her social life to improve. Monical Rail doesn’t even sing when playing Tomoko which is immediately distracting in the English seeing a character speaking English singing in another language she doesn’t speak in within the anime.

The music is done by a group called Sadesper Record. Made up of composers Goro Watari (also goes by NARASAKI) and Masaki Oshima (also know as WATCHMAN) both of whom provide an OST comprised of electronic, comical, orchestrated, and hard rock music. The OST works fine in the anime series being diverse as it needs to be to complement the loner slice of life moments to the over exaggeration of Tomoko fantasies. It’s pleasant to listen too, but fail in comparison to the opening and closing themes of the series which are memorable without the company of the anime visuals. The opening theme is a hard rock song called “Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaete mo Omaera ga Warui" sung by Konomi Suzuki and Kiba of Akiba. It’s a hard rock song that fits with the anime capturing Tomoko bottle up emotion to break free.

Watamote despite being a twelve episode long anime has five different ending themes. The most use track for the ending is "Dou Kangaete mo Watashi wa Warukunai" by Izumi Kitta in episodes 1, 3, 4, 7 - 10, and 12. It’s an upbeat pop song that’s fun to listen to everytime. “Musou Renka” by Velvet.kodhy is used in episode 2 and it’s forgettable. It’s a alternative rock song with mixture of rap and hip hop splice together speeding up and slowing down it’s instrumental. Vocals that need work hitting high note and actual emotion because the singing sounds phoned in. Ironically, “Yoru no Tobari yo Sayonara” also by Velvet.kodhy in episode 5 has none of those problems. It’s a silly song with the vocalist singing in a deep voice and its done well. Going perfectly with the closing animation referencing the ending animation of Manga Nihon Musashi Banashi. Though, these two tracks aren’t memorable without the company of the anime visuals. “Sokora no Nuigurumi no Fuusen to Watashi” by Velvet.kodhy and Velvet.kodhy and μ and μ is another pleasant track used in episode 11. It has a feel good aura about it. From it two vocalist sharing a good time singing together and it’s joyous instrumentals. “Natsu Matsuri” by Utsu-P & Minatsukitoka ft. Hatsune Miku is used in episode 6. Combining foreboding piano music before going into techno sound bytes, with hard rock guitar strings, and robotic sounding autotune singing. This track is the closest the anime gets to matching the rock opening.

Personal Enjoyment: Enjoyable, but with apparent flaws

I did find the English dub inferior because Monica Rail wasn’t quite on par with voice actress Izumi Kitta. However, I did get a kick listening to Monica Rail say things I never expected to hear from her. That made the dub worth seeing even if the performance wasn’t quite to the level I wanted it to be at. Having seen this anime again in English I was able to catch more references than I was before. Not of all of them were subtle like a reference to Battle Royale and anything specifically named is hard to missed. The references I caught having seen WataMote again were Death Note, Tomoki Kuroki reading volume 8 of Arachnid in episode one, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Attack on Titan. Unfortunately, WataMote wasn’t quite as good as I remembered when I first saw it and boils down to nothing happens nor changes. It’s a static series were the potential is there to grow beyond the initial idea, but doesn’t know how to go about doing it. I still like the anime and find Tomoko Kuroki an endearing awkward character, but when the anime itself says it’s unimportant it epitomizes the down side for some slice of life animes. Good for the moment, but nothing that’ll remain with you forever.

Story: 2/3

Characters: 2/3

Production: 2/3

Personal Enjoyment: 1/1

Final Thoughts:

WataMote is a fun series to see no how awkward the situations got for Tomoko. It’s not a mean spirited anime since the main character is never mistreated by others, but has the potential to get depressing when realizing it’s her own fault for not improving herself. What it does provide is a lead character whose easily relatable among those with social anxiety, some killer tunes that either make you want to rock out too or cheer you up, and a stellar performance by Izumi Kitta. This anime floats or sink on the appeal of it’s lead in a static environment. If even after reading this entire review you still don’t know to check out the anime ask yourself if you want a dynamic or static story from this premise? If you choose the former go onto something else, but if you choose the latter enjoy sharing the same awkward experiences as Tomoko that few slice of life animes will touch upon.

Watamote goes about a lonely girl who wants to become popular or, more specifically, close to others.

There's mostly one character here who wanders around thinking about what happens to her. Motoko Kuroki is one of the strangest characters I've ever seen.

This makes the show very special. It does not revolt around a proper story but a series of tries and crazy gags. The good thing is that most of this absurd situations have never be seen.

Pace gets slower at summer break but keeps being interesting.

The main character is very good made. Motoko happens to be a lovely character who can get happy about saying a ... word to someone. (What I don't really get is why his brother is a bit of a dork). With her being so shy, you understand some of her twisted ways of thinking, as she can be a little evil. There is potential for further development here (there could be an struggle).

Music goes pretty well along with the show, with weird melodies or sounds becoming deformed depending on the moment, and the art finds many oportunities in order to make a visual impact.

Sometimes humor can be a bit black or mean. But you have keep in mind that Motoko has one of the most interesting and eventful student lives in the world.

Also, it is evident that it is not her fault for not being popular. People in Motoko's class must all be shallow and ignorant: to have such a treasure in your class and not knowing it!

There's also plenty of references to another shows which can entertain you.

Good:
A great main character.
It is original.

Bad:
It doesn't really have an ending, it's more of a continue. Last scenes are a bit more crazy than usual.