~Hikigaya Hachiman
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru (I am going to shorten it to Yahari Ore for future references) revolves around 3 main characters and their club activities, known as the "Volunteer Club". Their main goal is to help those in need, either with social problems or anything in general.
The story starts with the introduction of the main character named Hikigaya Hachiman, a witty, loner, high school student who has separated himself from society through accounts of reject from his fellow male and female peers. His general aura of pessimism along with a blunt truthful look reality, Hachiman has acquired one special talent from his time spent as a reject and in solitude, he is able to detect a persons weaknesses in both the physical aspect, and the mental/personality aspect, not to mention exploit those weaknesses. In other words, he can wash off other people's fake masks. One day, a guidance counselor named Hiratsuka Shizuka finds his general negative perspective on life unbearable. With an undeniable tone, and a punch that rivals Captain Falcon, Hachiman is forced to join the Volunteer Club. He meets another strange, witty, talented, but beautiful girl named Yukinoshita Yukino.
I'd like to say upfront after the little synopsis that this review is my attempt at evaluating the anime Yahari Ore, but will most likely be influenced by my personal opinion, whether you, the reader, thinks that my opinion is useless and, or stupid, is yours to think.
A reason why to watch Yahari Ore? Well, IMO, this anime is generally aimed at the teenage boy audience, or is easily accepted by that age range. Why? As a teenage guy, are you popular? Well known? Have girls after you? Do you walk into your school every day with that feeling that you absolutely love life? No? Hachiman can easily elaborate and relate to your current situation. Through witty monologues and negative interactions with fake people, I found myself shaking in my chair with laughter.
The story and characters: These two things tie and in hand because the story is based on the characters actions, personality, and development rather than following a main goal. The story was like a common slice of life, each episode was a different story involving different people with different problems all the while revealing character development that severely affects the story. Hikigaya Hachiman is the main character who has developed his pessimistic negative attitude on life through the reject he has experienced from his peers because he is different. Yukinoshita Yukino is very similar to Hachiman other than that she is beautiful, talented, rich, and successful in most everything she does. She has become a loner like Hachiman because of her peers' jealousy of her success. Another main character is Yuigahama Yui, she is the typical pretty girl who is nice to everyone. She seems to have an affection for Hikigama but no development in their relationship is really shown. All main characters show some development because of the relationships they develop with each other. They act like very good friends but Yukino and Hachiman's pride get in the way of acknowledging it. The story shows no real main goal other than the characters' relationship progress.
Art and Sound: The art wasn't the sharpest pictures produced, but they were smooth and nicely drawn in their own way. The sound wasn't a major aspect of the story and I didn't really notice its role and contribution to the animation like one would see in Angel Beats! However opening theme and ending theme songs were really nice and had a smooth tone to it.
Enjoyment and Overall: I thoroughly enjoyed this anime series, partly because I'm a romance/vanilla nut, but to my disappointment there wasn't too much romance in this series even with the title of a Love Comedy. IMO that title doesn't fit the anime at all. Rather than focusing on romance and relationships, it focused on a comedic slice of life that I wouldn't even consider slightly romantic at all. I don't even know why they titled it something relating to that theme. That is my main problem with Yahari Ore. Other than that, the comedy was well worth my time and the characters along with their personalities were prodigious. Through the announcement of a OVA episode I hope that a second season will be aired to actually provide the plot development and romance I am looking for. This series was very well done, and I recommend it to all.
