Everybody has had that stage in their life where they have thought themselves to be special, different from the masses of ordinary humans. They might go as far as seeing themselves capable of wielding mystical powers, or maybe even believe themselves to have descended from a fantasy realm. This "disease" is known as "chuunibyou" and is often the source of some of the most embarrassing moments of a person's life.
For Yuuta Togashi, the scars that his chuunibyou has left behind are still fresh. Having posed as the "Dark Flame Master" during his middle school years, he looks back at those times with extreme embarrassment, so much so that he decides to attend a high school far away where nobody will recognize him. Putting his dark history behind him, he longs to live a normal high school life.
Unfortunately, he hasn't escaped his past yet: enter Rikka Takanashi, Yuuta's new classmate and self-declared vessel of the "Wicked Eye." As this eccentric young girl crashes into Yuuta's life, his dream of an ordinary, chuunibyou-free life quickly crumbles away. In this hilarious and heartwarming story of a boy who just wants to leave his embarrassing memories behind, the delusions of old are far from a thing of the past.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Veronin
Growing up is not an easy process, and there are always moments that one looks back upon with a sense of embarrassment and regret. One might ask what it is that truly marks the transition into adulthood: the ability to live independently, or maybe the conformity and adherence to social norms. Are the people who remain true to their childhood interests not grown up, then? Perhaps. But is there anything wrong with that? It's hard to say. There's a strange term used in Japanese internet culture. "Chuunibyou", or more literally "Eighth-Grade Syndrome", refers to matured individuals with an absurd self-created persona. Remember the times asa child when there was a TV character you found appealing and you pretended to possess their superhuman abilities in real-life? A chuunibyou is a teenage or adult form of that, but to such an extent that the fictional persona defines their entire lifestyle. Certainly, behaving this way in public would make for some embarrassment, and recovering from such a past even more so.
Poor Yuuta.
It's an experience that he knows all too well. After suffering from chuunibyou throughout middle school as the "Dark Flame Master", he makes the decision to move on from the past and attempt to live his highschool years as a normal student. To ensure victory and start anew, Yuuta applies to a high school where none of his middle school classmates are attending. It may have been a successful plan, too, if not for the unusual appearance of a beautiful girl on his balcony.
Her name is Takanashi Rikka, a current chuunibyou, representing everything that Yuuta used to be and desired to forget. Worse, she recently moved into the same apartment complex and overheard Yuuta's last days as the Dark Flame Master, ensuring that it is not a past he will escape so easily. He unwillingly gained Rikka's interest in him as a result, and his attempts to make a pleasant first impression at his new high school are interrupted by Rikka's chuunibyou provocations. The fact that Yuuta wants to forget and start anew is irrelevant, because for her their relationship is a destiny revealed through her "Wicked Eye". Perhaps she wasn't entirely false, either, occult terminology aside.
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, shortened to Chuu2-Byo, is a title that stands out for the interaction between these two characters. It's nostalgic (and often times embarrassing!) to see the characters act in silly ways reminiscent of childhood, though without the endearing cast of characters this would probably seem like little more than a neat gimmick. Yuuta and Rikka are what make the anime, and their interaction is nothing short of adorable and hilarious. Both of them have substance and play off of each other in creative ways, such as Yuuta using his abandoned Dark Flame Master persona in order to cheer Rikka up when she's feeling depressed, or her playing around in awe with his old gear. It's definitely cute, and cuteness is something that Chuu2-Byo has no shortage of.
An important addition to the character dynamic are the side characters who each fulfill their own role in the series. Sanae Dekomori, ace middle school student and proud chuunibyou, behaves as servant to Rikka and her Wicked Eye, possessing a weapon of considerable danger in the real world: her excessively long pigtails. Kumin, a senior with a fondness for napping, and Isshiki, Yuuta's jealous male friend and classmate, also highlight the cast. The most important of these characters, however, is Nibutani Shinka. Despite initially being the only character in the anime truly definable as 'normal', she is actually an ex-Chuunibyou herself, much like Yuuta. When her dreaded past is discovered by Yuuta, she throws away any notion of kindness in order to keep him from spilling the truth. As Rikka develops her own feelings for Yuuta, though, Nibutani begins to display a much more compassionate and benevolent side to her personality, even going as far as to use her old persona to help them progress.
Appearances often mislead, and Chuu2-Byo is exemplary of this. What seems to be a cute slice of life revolving around the chuunibyou lifestyle is actually structured as a love story. Comedy is predominate during the first six episodes, but hints of Rikka's feelings for Yuuta are consistently displayed as the series progresses. Love is an emotion that she is not familiar with, and amidst the confusion there is often an overlap between her sensitive side and her chuunibyou side, often using this persona to hide her embarrassment. It's very endearing to watch her feelings develop as she realizes that these are emotions not of respect, but genuine love. The romance is exceptionally subtle, while consequently there is no overbearing drama used to advance their relationship.
At least for the first half.
There's often a problem with drama in anime, especially since it tends to hit the viewer with all the subtlety of a speeding subway. Titles like Toradora and AnoHana are a couple examples of drama on overdrive, and occasionally Chuu2-Byo can feel a bit like those titles in the last six episodes. Is there anything inherently wrong with excessive drama in an anime? Certainly not. After all, it depends on the execution itself and other aspects such as the characterization and dialogue. But what when the drama comes from nowhere, undermining the appeal of the series and turning it into something else entirely? This is where problems occur in Chuu2-Byo. What starts out as a lighthearted comedy with subtle romance becomes an exhaustive high school drama in the second half, and it really hurts the series as a result.
Why change it, then? It's a question that I might never find the answer to. It's not as though the anime was lacking in substance before that point, or that it needed to make a sudden switch to develop the characters and their relationship. Yuuta and Rikka were steadily progressing, and there were still the occasional dramatic moments that felt natural to the show. While there isn't so much an issue with the execution of the second half (exaggerated crying and yelling aside), it is a problem when the anime feels like two entirely different shows in one. It might have been less of an issue if aspects of the first half still subsisted, but the comedy is unfortunately tossed aside in favor of drama. Which is disappointing, as the lighthearted character interaction is what made the first half of the anime so special.
There are also some other minor complaints if one were to nitpick, such as Kumin being a pointless character and adding nothing besides a few cute scenes of her sleeping, or the contrivances of some of the dramatic situations (receiving a letter written years ago at the most convenient time — really?), but on the whole it doesn't do much to detract from what is an otherwise well-written and heartwarming experience.
On a more positive note, the lavish production values customary of KyoAni do a solid job of enhancing the emotional value of each scene. Character designs are appropriately cute while the animation has an extraordinary level of polish and finesse, particularly during the faux action sequences often illustrated whenever Rikka has a confrontation with another character. More commendable, though, is the storyboarding of some scenes. There are a few moments in the anime that are truly breathtaking, such as Yuuta and Rikka quietly sitting together under a bridge and watching the lights of society shine and flicker along the river.
A fundamental piece to any good love story is the presence of an emotional soundtrack, and Chuu2-Byo does not disappoint with its music. Fitting tracks are used for both the lighthearted and dramatic moments, and there is a particular piano piece that will manage to pull your heartstrings a bit whenever it is used. The opening and ending sequences are also quirky and memorable, and these songs will most likely be glued to your head for quite a while afterwards. With that said, it's always a little amusing during the second half of the series when the upbeat ending song plays immediately after a dramatic scene. It really represents the disparity of the two halves.
Chuu2-Byo is certainly not a miraculous or flawless anime by any means, but it is easily above the vast majority of anime out there (the romance genre especially). Perhaps the drama won't upset you nearly as much as it did with me, or it could possibly enhance the experience for you, even if changing the entire tone of an anime midway through will no doubt cause some concern.
But if I'm to be rewarded with a genuinely heartwarming story, six episodes of unadulterated fun, and one of the best romantic pairings in the past few years— is it worth a little bit of frustration? Probably.
Stark700
I like to laugh. Who doesn't? I like to smile. A smile always brightens the day. I like to watch some high school kids pretending who they are not and cosplaying as characters like the Dark Flame Master. Oh, I guess this is the right place then because Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! can do all three of those things. Killing three birds with one stone, awesome isn't it? Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! (Regardless of My Adolescent Delusions of Grandeur, I Want a Date!) is an anime series based on the novel of the same name that is produced by Kyoto Animation. Some fans ofKyoto Ani (Clannad, Hyouka, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu) will definitely rejoice because the Japanese studio is already well known for its rich visuals and aesthetics. They have been involved with many series with the typical high school life being turned from normal to abnormal and they did it once again!
The series takes place at a typical high school setting. It involves a young boy named Yuuta Togashi who is suffering a case of...chuunibyou, or “Middle School 2nd Year Syndrome". In technical terms, it is a condition in which an individual deludes themselves as being a smartass and looks down on others. They also believe they have some sort of “special power” that excludes themselves from the normal society. It's actually quite common though. I don't know if you ever felt this way but a lot of people do weird things in high school. I mean, it's like how you used to believe yourself as a superhero like Batman or Superman when you were younger. Good days, good days.
And of course, high school has it all: drama, comedy, romance, delusions, cosplaying, and all that other good stuff. So without further ado, let's introduce the two main characters:
Rikka Takanashi – forget that eyepatch. This girl has that syndrome I'm talking about. She visions herself with the “wicked eye”. (which sadly is just some colored contacts) Unlike Yuuta however, she still has the chuunibyou. She is the girl who gets the most abuse but also the one that brings out the most laughter with her absurd yet comedic stances throughout the series. Take for example..that random scene when she bounces around like crazy during the pilot episode or those Lelouch-like poses.
Yuuta "Dark Flame Master" Togashi – he USED to have the chuunibyou syndrome. But now, it seems that his past is haunting him once again when he meets Rikka. He used to believe himself to be..the Dark Flame Master. I'm trying to envision myself exactly what is the Dark Flame Master. Does it have flames? Is it a master of the underworld? Or is just some villian who can emit cool flames. At any rate, his high school years becomes abnormal after meeting Rikka.
There's not too much of a story to be honest yet. The series is more about comedy and the events that surrounds the main characters. They live their high school days like normal teens although the majority are anything but normal. For example, Sanae and Rinka has this Tiger and Dragon rivalry. They fight in absurd ways that is beyond normal by the way they delude themselves. Yes you got it, they also have the chuunibyou as well, or at least used to. Later on though, the series takes some more emotional turns with a few insights into the past, especially those into our main female protagonist, Rikka-chan.
The artwork of the series is glorious like most of Kyoto Animation's other works. Its background settings of rich visuals are there and reflected upon every delusion, every action, every laughter, every chuunibyou-like behavior. Kazumi Ikeda who is involved with the character designs of the series brings out the M in moe from the characters like Rikka, Yumeha Togashi (Yuuta's cute little sister), and Kumin Tsuyuri.
The soundtrack is also quite lighthearted that reflects upon the comedic mood of settings and characters. When there are battle scenes though, it swiftly changes to a more fast paced rythym to make it looks like it's real despite the fact that it's just a delusion. Now as for the OP song..wow, just wow. "Sparkling Daydream" by ZAQ sure got their point through. The opening song of the series induces eye seizures. Every time I watch it (even upon now occasionally), the scenes flashes back into your head and makes your eyeballs follow them endlessly. Of which, the OP song is also catchy with the silly pose of Rikka-chan. The stance of “(σ O ω・)σ←↖↑↗→↘↓↙←↖↑↗→↘↓↙←↖↑↗→↘↓↙←↖↑↗→↘↓↙← “ is ridiculously catchy and there have been many parodies on the net to mimic it. On the other hand, the ED song "INSIDE IDENTITY" by Black Raison d'être seems ordinary with a nice melody.
Ultimately, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is a very entertaining series to watch. It's not like the usual harem with a pathetic protagonist who can't make up his damn mind. But rather, it involves a kid who tried to escape from his past but ends up living it now with his new friends at high school. Entertainment is not so easy to bring these days especially with a lot of already used ideas but this one here is executed pretty well in my opinion. So, give it a shot.
Yuno_Love
First review. I just finished this so it's fresh on my mind and I absolutely must write about it. STORY: 9 What we have here is a typical story executed in a wonderfully original way. KyoAni blends the comedic and dramatic into a nostalgic exploration of adolescence topped with their particular charm. I found myself laughing, cringing, and tearing up multiple times throughout. It's an emotional roller-coaster, yet I feel it manages to avoid the realm of melodrama by contrasting drama with gags. It does what Toradora failed to do for me. That said, I feel the show could have used one or two more episodes toease into the drama. The shift comes fairly quick, but really, it wasn't much issue.
Overall, it's a nice balance. Juxtaposing comedy and drama--blending reality and fantasy--serves as an astute parallel to the theme of escapism and develops a touching story about growing up and the ambivalence toward leaving our younger selves behind.
ART: 9
Beautiful. The animation is absolutely fantastic. Action scenes are dynamic and larger-than-life. More relaxed scenes are nuanced and fluid. Character designs are seriously cute (even the guys). Atmosphere is used very well to complement scenes, whether it be a tender moment under a bridge or a restless heart trying to fall asleep. The only thing that knocks off a point is the occasional usage of fairly awkward-looking 3DCG. On top of a detailed background, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
Overall, it's stunning.
SOUND: 8
This is really just a matter of taste. I liked the opening much more than the ending. BGM was sweet and melancholic and complements scenes well. During romantic scenes, there are insert-songs which I thought were a little unnecessary.
CHARACTER: 9
KyoAni has turned up the moe to 11 with Chuunibyou, and even the "anti-moe" Nibutani has her own appeal. That aside, every character's motivations are believable. Their interactions are dynamic and the source of both silly comedy and powerful drama. It's also nice to see an MC who isn't completely clueless when it comes to romance. That said, he still isn't an expert.
Overall, there's a fair amount of depth to these characters, and for the ones without it they're nice to look at. I found myself getting sucked into these character's lives and relationships. Despite how exaggerated some of these characters actually are, they feel very real.
ENJOYMENT: 10
This is an amazing piece of work. It looks phenomenal. It reminds me of Haruhi (primarily Disappearance), FLCL, Kare Kano, and maybe a bit of Haibane Renmei (atmosphere, pacing, climax). It hits like Makoto Shinkai.
There's something sweet and familiar, but gripping, touching, and anxious at the same time. Watching this series is like a trip into the past--one that's exciting and glorified and fantastic, distorted by time, but one that feels real nonetheless. It's nostalgia.
OVERALL: 10
More like a strong 9, but I'm going to round up. It's been quite a while since I've seen a series capture so many emotions so vivaciously and with such force. It builds from a very relatable theme and fully fledges into a compelling and imaginative comedy/drama about growing up. Coming-of-age stories are incredibly common, but Chuunibyou manages to establish a difficult balance between the tongue-in-cheek and the deeply sincere. The result is a piece that is as honest, real, and moving as it is funny. This is without a doubt one of the best things KyoAni has put out.
Sh1nke
EDIT (1/1/13) : In the past, in advance and now I must express my greatest apology for creating spoilers of this series. I completely forgot somehow even though on my right and my right mind that it says to 'not write any spoilers', mental blank maybe or just my past acting up... But once again I must apologise and hope that you can forgive me. I will remove the spoilers for future readers and for current or past readers, I really do apologise. And without a further ado... I must add that there are some slight spoilers but not as much as before A senseof nostalgia was the first reaction I had, and what most people would. A past of imagination and fun. We laughed, cried, even danced for things that bring us joy. Being a high school student, we move on, banishing our past. Some say that our past allows us to move on and run away from it. Perhaps from fear? Embarrassment? Concern? Maybe Maturity. But, we can never run away as it is always a part of us, it makes us a special, unique individual.
That is how Chuunibyou in my opinion is portrayed. As a reflection on our past and how it shaped our future.
Chuunibyou is translated as “Eighth-Grade Syndrome.” An epidemic for people in the eight grade. A certain website states that it is a slang term depicting three different cases: The antisocial types, ones with the 'cool' factor, and ones who admire mystical powers and recreates them in reality through their imagination.
Story and Characters: (9)
Chuunibyou's main characters include: Togashi Yuuta, Takanashi Rikka, Nibutani Shinka, Dekomori Sanae, Tsuyuri Kumin and Isshiki Makoto (Uhh... Is he a main?)
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! depicts a newly enrolled high school student, Togashi Yuuta. A teenager whose past is what he thinks as banished from his mind, a few head bangs on his wall is an example. He enters high school with a clean slate, so he says. "Dark Flame Master" his faked ulterior personality due to having a different mindset of his friends.
Takanashi Rikka. A person with a rather serious case of Chuunibyou. And is expressed by rather peculiar movements and stances that the responders cannot help but laugh. But in future episodes she experiences development of mind, heart and soul.
Nibutani Shinka, the classmate of the two above and Isshiki, relates to Yuuta in the way of wanting to forget about her chuunibyou past. She is also the motherly type I suppose and expresses this love towards other characters giving her a rather lovable personality and character.
Dekomori... Smart... but just weird. Not saying she's a bad character but was one of the most strongest, bringing powerful scenes towards the end. But either way, she too has Chuunibyou, with twin tails which are... heavy. Yeah that would hurt, right Nibutani?
Isshiki, doesn't play much of a role but plays a good comedic role like a side character (referring to Clannad and Little Busters if you know what I'm talking about)
Kumin-senpai is an admirer of people with Chuunibyou. A rather peculiar, sleepy case who in turn plays a huge role towards the end.
Art: (10)
Kyoto Animation presents stunning quality in their animation. Well I'm no expert but it was truly outstanding as always.
Sound: (9)
Atmospheric background music is best for bringing out character development and emotions towards the viewers. Kyoani successfully manipulated music to their advantage and used that initiative to have an awesome soundtrack.The timing of the music is what I'm speaking of. The dramatic music played at the right times, the foreshadowing, comedic etc. allows people to be drawn into the same environment of chuu2.
Enjoyment: (10)
Everything from Chuunibyou was enjoyable. The comedy and romance both created and anime for everyone joy, happiness and some sad scenes had drawn my attention from the beginning. Chuu2 has this element that would make the haters of moe, romantic-comedic genres become entranced into this show. That element is for you, the viewers to find out.
And of course Overall (10). As MAL states it was just Outstanding. Everything about it is lovable. I'm out of words at the moment so I cannot explain how great this anime is. Viewers looking for a balanced romantic comedy with some drama, this is for you.
This is my first review. I had fun typing up this and being the first for this anime brings me great pleasure to do so. Please if it doesn't trouble you say if this was helpful or not, I'd like to continue reviewing if people like reading it. And please mind my English, never was good at it hehe. Thanks for reading and hope I didn't waste your time XD
EDIT: I appreciate the criticism people expressed to me. Granted some (one) of them were not constructive but I really do appreciate what people said to me. Thanks for the comments :)
And finally: Reality be rent. Synapse break. Banishment, this WORLD!!
Yukariki
Suppose you watch a work that seems to have a lot of effort put into it. It’s easy to tell the staff members have worked their ass off to make this work look pretty. Gorgeous character designs and backgrounds. Hell, it’s possible to just watch the show for the art. Turn off the sounds and take off the subtitles from the screen. It’s fantastic animation. I expect nothing less from Kyoto Animation, which has given us Hyouka gifs on our Tumblr. To expect mediocrity in art direction is an insult to the members of this talented studio. Yet, prettiness is not always watchable. When the plotdives, frustration skyrockets. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai suffers from its poor writing. There are clichés on every step.
Take the premise of chuunibyous, which roughly translates into ‘eighth grade syndrome.’ This social phenomena is worth exploring despite the lack of attention to it. I’m glad the writers are giving this attention. Some may call this Kyoto Animation’s answer to “Welcome to the NHK”, a critique of hikikomori and depressive disorders. It can be good, albeit bitter, medicine for people still suffering from the syndrome.
However, Chu2koi finds delight in such escapism. Not that it’s a bad thing -- it saves this work from the need of being ultra-preachy. You can’t really create such a provocative work in just 12 episodes. KyoAni is a master of slice-of-life humor, as seen in the K-On! franchise. In the genre where girls drink tea and eat cake, add in crazy animations of teens pretending they’re superheroes and we get a comedic masterpiece. If this work stays that way, I wouldn’t feel the need to write this review.
Instead, KyoAni apparently wanted to preach... something.
This is where it gets messy. I have no idea who to blame, but the writing suddenly took a dramatic turn. KyoAni is trying desperately hard to combine Chu2koi’s unique humor and dramatic preaching. In the first half of the series, it’s humorous. The latter half shows grim, dark melodrama. Its main characters, Rikka and Yuuta, are introduced as a dynamic comedic pair; in the end, they whine at every moment possible. Melodramatic events surround the protagonists while the supporting characters goof around.
Chu2koi is, in a word, bipolar.
Because of these senseless, abrupt changes in tone and mood, you don’t really understand where the work is going, let alone what it is about. When the work finally gives some closure, there is much to be questioned. It feels rushed; there are contradictions and glaring plot-holes in the final episodes. Bandaging those plot-holes with clichés just makes it worse. They’re an eyesore. You can separate the final episode into sections -- and in these sections pinpoint which scene of Chu2koi ripped off from which anime. Supporting characters, who did nothing in this work, suddenly become important. One character who did nothing for the first twelve episodes except being cute became an important character in the finale. Anime-original character Dekomori fares better because she is relevant to the plot. But because she is a comedic character, she unintentionally destroys atmospheres in dramatic episodes. The script is just plain chaotic.
And so the confusing million-dollar question: Does this work actually have something to say? It does end with a message, but it’s not convincing with all these mood whiplashes. I hear its sermon, but it’s gibberish. It seems to accept the chuunibyou culture as a facet of individualism; yet, once you take Rikka’s reason for the desperate escapism, it becomes nonsense. It’s hard to explain what this work is saying.
But it’s undeniable Chu2koi is a good work if we look at other technicalities. Animation and music are superb as always. Ignoring the plot, the characters are fun to watch. Their interactions make anyone envious of their lives. It’s a good slice-of-life comedy.
Which begs the question: why did this work not stay that way? The first half is strong; the second half is just unwatchable melodrama. It is despairing that Chu2koi has so much potential. Instead, it wanted to be something like Welcome to the NHK.
In a one-cour show, the themes have to be focused. To diverge off and be something else is absurd. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai tries too much to be something special, but falls off from the ladder; it’s just too emotionally unstable like an angsty teenager.
Nateal
*to those lazy people who just want to see a quick summary, just skip to the end* I’m pretty sure that no matter who you are, where you live, and what you’re stature in life is, you’ve once dreamt of the supernatural. You know, like having special powers that set you apart from others, or living in a floating castle in the sky. But of course, regardless of that, there came a time when we all decided to forget such delusions and become a proper part of the society. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, otherwise known as Chuu-2, is an anime that focuses on such delusions.Chuu-2 shows us the story of Yuuta, your everyday, run-of-the-mill, high school teenage boy. Or so he seems. In the past he seems to have been infected with one of the most widespread, embarrassing, and even humiliating disease of all time, and that is Chuunibyou. Chuunibyou is something that every normal person has gone through in his life, and that the delusions that come with the developing of one’s mind during the second year of middle school, and thus the name Chuunibyou. Now, the thing is, each case of Chuunibyou is different from one person to another, and Yuuta happened to have a really bad case of it, making him act out his delusions to the point of going to school in costume fighting enemies that don’t exist. But as with every person, he soon realized what he was doing, and became slightly traumatized with embarrassment. So, after graduating middle school, he decided to put everything behind him, and start fresh in a school where nobody knows of his dark past. Now, here comes Rikka, a person who, even until high school, still has her Chuunibyou. With her discovering Yuuta’s hidden secret, she drags him into all sorts of situations, and so the story begins.
With that short summary of the story, you might be asking “what is so great about this anime?” First off, it is literally one of the funniest anime I’ve ever watched. Everything, from the epic fight scenes that Rikka imagines down to her reactions when Yuuto hits her in the head is just priceless. What’s more is that the jokes they tell not only makes you laugh, but actually hits you right in the face. Chuu-2 shows us what we were when we were young and still unembarrassed with our delusional dreams for the future. It gives you a feeling of nostalgia, like you can almost be certain that back then, you also thought of being a hero of justice or something like that. So to make a long statement short, not only is it funny, you can actually relate to the things that they are doing, or even the way they think.
Another thing is that the plot itself was straightforward. It doesn’t wander around from this to that but just focuses on both Yuuta and Rikka, the two main protagonist of the story. It shows their lives just like any self-respecting slice of life anime does, with a little twist in the middle when the anime starts to pick up speed and transform from a comedy slice of life to a somewhat romantic drama. What is really amazing about it though is that even with that transition, it still managed to stay true to its concept. At the start it was about some high school students with Chuunibyou and in the end, it still was. Even if the transition made it more serious and dramatic, the core concept was still there, and that is about these students trying to let go of their delusions. Lastly, the thing I liked the most about this anime is its conclusive ending. Although this might not be really good because it lowers the chance of Chuu-2 having a second season, it’s still better than leaving us hanging. The ending left no plotholes, and is overall solid, leaving a warm and fluffy feeling after watching the entire series.
Aside from the plot itself, one of the things that make Chuu-2 so great is its characters. Each one of them is them is unique in their own way and is refreshing to watch. Rikka for example, is the main source of the gags in the anime due to her extremely unpredictable nature. She is the kind of character who is usually creates the complications and problems in the plot and is also the love interest of Yuuta. Yuuta on the other hand is more of the straight man who usually solves and stops Rikka from doing embarrassing things. Aside from that he also once had Chuunibyou and called himself “Dark Flame Master”, which caused him to be the center of some gags throughout the anime. Aside from them, there are also a few supporting characters, namely: Dekomori, Rikka’s best friend and apparent servant, Isshiki, Yuuta’s best friend and a source of comic relief in the story, Nibutani, the beautiful class rep. and a school idol who used to have Chuunibyou and called herself Forest Summer, and the last one, Kumin, their sempai who just likes to nap. Now, this is where Chuu-2 really shines. The characters are just perfect for the premise of the story. They’re funny, cute and most of all, relatable. Along with, the character development is also pretty smooth. It can be quite sudden, but it’s not without proper cause and is justifiable.
And of course, there’s always the animation and music. Although having beautiful graphics isn’t really crucial to making a good anime, but damn this anime is really animated really well. Everything was smooth, no inconsistencies as far as I can tell, and is pretty much just eye candy. And those fight scenes. Having been spawned from a Chuunibyou’s imagination, it can be really over the top sometimes, but it’s really good enough to rival those of some shounen anime. But of course, since it was done by KyoAni, which is known for its high quality animations, this is pretty much a given. The music is also just as good. Heck, you can even watch the anime just for the music itself, although I really wouldn’t recommend it. The opening, Sparkling Daydream, is an lively and upbeat song which can pretty much give you a general idea of the comedy and chaos that’s about to ensue later into the episode. The ending, Inside Identity, is more of a j-rock song which is also pretty catchy as well.
So overall, I found Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai as the best comedy/romance anime of 2012 and one of the best of all time. I highly recommend it to everyone, especially to those who have a soft spot for romcoms. But still, regardless of your taste in anime, it’s only 12 episodes long, so it won’t really take much time, so why not give it a try? After all you might come to like it.
So to provide a quick summary for those lazy people who have another serious disease which they commonly abbreviate as TL;DR syndrome, I’ll just list the pros and cons of the anime.
+Funny
+Easily Relatable
+Fairly straightforward but highly entertaining plot
+Conclusive ending
+Stays true to its concept/doesn’t try to be what it isn’t
-Due to the story being straightforward, the plot can be somehow predictable
-If you hate moe, you might not like this
-Can cause hysterical laughter which leads to lightheadedness and stomachaches
~First and foremost, thanks for reading my review. If you have any comments regarding my review or just want to have a discussion, then leave a comment at my page. I will greatly appreciate it. =)~
edorcean100
Once upon a time, there was a really good friend of mine from middle school. Let’s call him Jim. One day Jim came to the brilliant conclusion that he was on the brink of something amazing: becoming a super sayin. Mesmerized by his words of stupidity, we all gathered around as Jim concentrated and let out this loud, flamboyant scream for what seemed like 10 minutes and in the end……………well………….let’s just say his parents had buy a new rug for the classroom. Now you might be asking yourself, what does that stupid story have to do with Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!? Well everything actually becauseit turns out that Jim was a victim of what I now know as Chuunibyou, or 8th Grade Syndrome. Chuunibyou is a condition where, during a child’s adolescence, they will start to mix fantasy with reality and it’s this condition that the entire series revolves around.
Story:
Our main protagonist Yuta (someone who HAD Chuunibyou in middle school) hopes to start fresh when he enters high school because of his utter embarrassment at who he thought he was and what he could do. These plans get quickly smashed when he runs into Rikka (someone who still HAS Chuunibyou) who becomes attached to him only to serve as a constant, embarrassing reminder of who he once thought he was.
A friend of mine described this series as “that of a delusional loli and a normal boy who takes pity on her.” And I think,for the first 5 episodes, that’s pretty accurate.
As the series goes on, however, we discover more about Rikka and realize that her delusions aren’t that of someone who is confusing fantasy and reality, but rather someone who is using fantasy to escape from reality.
The show exemplifies good pacing as every episode will either leave you in suspense or satisfied. Being a slice of life, school setting anime, the series has its fair share of drama, romance and a wide variety of humor that makes you laugh and moments that will make you cry manly tears when its suppose to.
Characters:
Yuta seems as normal as they come but he’s not one of those typical, I’m bland, I can’t make up my mind type of normal characters. He gets annoyed, has delusions and gets a crush on the prettiest girl in school just like any other high school boy but he is in no way boring. Throughout the series, Yuta, as he learns more about Rika as well as himself, starts making decisions which can actually affect his development out of adolescence and into maturity. He is a character that grows, learns and makes mistakes. Plus, his over the top reactions to him being glorified as the “Dark Flame Master” (His Chuunibyou counterpart) are one of the main highlights of the series but that’s not his only role.
Then there’s Rika. This girl is so cute I think needs her own Moe archetype. Despite the fact that she acts like she’s some kind of supernatural being with the powers of darkness, there are also times were she acts like…well…a normally innocent, shy teenage girl and while the series is mainly done from Yutas normal point of view, every now and then we’ll see things from Rikas Chuunibyou perspective.
The fact that these two are the protagonists doesn’t make any part of the main cast less enjoyable or relatable for that matter. What’s great about the main cast in the series is that each of them seems to represent some different aspect of aging and maturity despite most of them being high schoolers. This in turn only makes the maturity Rikka and Yuta go through more apparent.
Shinka Nibutani – she represents adulthood (she can’t stand childish things and aside from being a total bitch, she is the most mature of the cast)
Sanae Dekomori – she, like Rikka, represents someone with Chuunibyou but in a more natural sense
Makoto Isshiki – he represents a typical high school who reminds me of someone from Clannad (cough Sunohara cough)
Kumin Tsuyuri – due to her constant nap taking and earnest attempts at understanding Rikka and Dekomori’s delusions, I can only assume that she represents the elderly
This array of cast members defiantly helps reinforce the whole them of maturity and growing up.
Art:
What can I say other than amazing. A great amount of detail was placed into not only the main cast but even the side characters showed a great amount of detail in their designs.
Kyoto Animation's, also did a magnificent job with the backgrounds and scenery to the point where, when the stories point of view was changed to that of Rikka or someone else with Chuunibyou, I actually forgot I was watching a slice of life. The design shown in exemplifying these made up powers surprisingly looked better then artwork that is most commonly found in most fantasy works you’d find today.
The pallet choice of color was also interesting. Kyoto Animation mostly incorporated dark colors like brown, purple and dark blue in most of the designs yet the series itself didn’t have a dark feel to it. This contrast, if anything, made the series more unique and refreshing.
Music:
The funny thing about the opening is that it actually gives you more fan service then the actual series (not that it’s that kind of show anyway but you get my point). The opening is very face paced and upbeat while the ending theme seems very dark and Goth; a good foreshadow of how the series starts off happy and funny but slowly gets serious.
Theme:
If I haven’t already stated it before, the main theme that this series tries to present is the idea of growing up and maturing. Everyone in life (some sooner than later) need to realize that sometimes the past must be left behind. Some of us miss our pasts, and some of us are embarrassed by them but for whatever the reason may be, excepting the fact that we must grow up and face reality, no matter how hard it may be, is something that we have to do. This is presented strongest through Rikka whose delusions can be considered as denial to her traumatic past. However, even though the past must be left behind, that doesn’t mean it must be warped or forgotten, it must be accepted so we can move.
So the question is: Is Chuunibyou really bad?
Naturally as we get older, we may realize how rediculous it is to act like a super sayin. Others may think that acting in such a way is better than acting.....well....normal. Cause lets face it, sometimes normal is boring and can suck. We wanna feel special, unique, like we're more important than other normal people.
This might sound silly, but think about it, no matter how old you get, dont we want to consider ourselves special and unique? Isnt that were individuality comes from?
In the end, even when we eventually grow out of our Chuunibyou faze, the feelings we had that sparked it, the feeling of coming out of our shells and becoming our own person, always remain.
Enjoyment:
Overall, this series is one of my favorite of the season. It’s fresh, colorful and original. To be honest, its almost like watching Toy Story as it lets me recal some moments from my own adolesence (for better, for worse). If you are a fan of slice of life, romance or school setting anime, then this is the perfect choice for you.
Smugdear
Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga SHitai! Story 7/10 Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai! opens with a meaningful opening, and ends beautifully. The plot is balanced with emotions, dramas, and comedies all together in one, creating a strong and well depth story. Although, Chuu2byou have some meaningless episodes, but the plot still manages to do well to balanced the story up. Art 8/10 As a modern anime, I’m not surprised I gave art 8 to Chuu2byou. The anime have a balanced contrast color, beautiful background, and well-produced character design.Sound8/10
The background music did very well to mix up with the stories. Opening and ending song is practically fit to the story. The seiyuu once again did a great job in giving the emotion in the air.
Character 8/10
Chuu2byou prove that their characters are more than a picture. Basically, the character development run well, the character is entertaining the watchers as well. Each character balanced with personalities, emotions, and many other components combined together. Leaving good characters indeed.
Excitement8/10
Chuu2byou brings a massive excitement to persuade me to watch it ‘till finish. The anime, filled with comedies, dramas, but keep to the point of the story until the end. The story itself is not boring, it’s different in a good way.
Final 8/10
Chuunibyou brings another era to the romance-comedy genres. It works extremely well to be worthy since it’s balanced in all components. And finally, it’s obviously worth to watch. Anime4Life
xbobx
"Reality, be rent. Synapse, break! Banishment, this world! ...." Behold! The ultimate review by Dark Flame Reviewer Master. What? You don't know who I am? How pitiful. Well... as expected from a human commoner. It is no surprise you haven't watched this epic series yet... What!? Did you say you don't acknowledge the meaning of the word Chuunibyou? Holy Chimera, do I need to explain everything? Chuunibyou, aka 8th grade Syndrome, Pubescent Crisis, Fourteen sick, Hebephrenic schizophrenia, by the commoners, is actually the gateway to the Unseen Horizon. Only those who feel it can see the true reality. This tale presented before your eyes summons the adventures ofDark Flame Master (Yuuta) and Tyrant's Eye of Truth (Rikka). However, Yuuka felt to the darkness of a common life as high school year begins. He now says that such things like magic doesn't exists and swear to never address himself by his honorable title as Dark Flame Master again.
He will try to convince Rikka to believe in his new ideals, his new way of seen the world. A world were magicians and powers are just part of an illusion, part of the 8th grade syndrome. Rikka on the other hand will attempt to save this warrior's soul, and bring him back to his good old days.
Along the series, a lot of character development is put in action. As our protagonists struggles with their everyday school life they will change their impressions and way of seeing things. One may notice this is one of the strongest points of this anime. The dept characters have and sometimes the dialogues full of subtext carrying the message this story wants to transmit: The meaning of growing up.
-Specially in this period of great changes that high school is-
The beginning of a new season, new friends, subjects and challenges. At the same time, it's the end of the childhood and some things can't possibly stay the same as they were when you were in primary school. Along with all these changes, comes together a feeling of everlasting hesitation, self doubt and you start to question how you really are. It's unquestionably an important and difficult step into the life of most of us, and it's impressive how just a few anime series that have as their focus high school touches this psychological side of it.
Then, you might thing: If it's so complicated and dramatic how can this be a comedy?
Well, there is always a good side of everything, and Chuunibyou mixes both perfectly. Once again returns to the essence of slice-of-life humor, places it in an adorable environment, and proves to the world that the classical "Cute" is not dead. In the era of "moe" it's refreshing to see a slice-of-life with school girls that isn't filled with fanservice. At the surface and on the first episodes, Chuunibyou looks pretty average, besides from the great animation on the action scenes, there is nothing special to it. However, as the story progresses it starts to become clear the objective of the anime and midway through it reaches its edge.
However, don't expect too much romance. unlike the title which says "Regardless of My Adolescent Delusions of Grandeur, I Want a Date!" this aspect was neglected for the production during almost the entire show. But you will find out why.
Something interesting in Chuunibyou is that supportive characters plays important roles building the background story, as their personal memories, wishes and worries are also shared with the viewer along the story. This, although appearing to be a minor difference, helps to break with the patterned school slice-of-life with stereotyped characters so common these days.
Nevertheless, originality is something difficult to discuss.
I wish not enter in this merit nor question where some of the ideas for this series came from, however, some situations were difficult to fully enjoy because they were way too similar to series that came prior it. While watching, some may do the same association I did, and recall of a certain high-school girl with similar "delusions" and a desire to create a similar club with the objective of researching these mysterious beings and things. An air-headed teacher would allow them to do it, and they would spend most of the time goofing around. It won't be a surprise if in the next season of Chuunibyou their club decides to do a movie project.
Even though, accusing something of not being original when anime is widespread over the most different genres with the most different studios is certainly a miscall. Just like this, in the matter of characters, although KyoAni uses some characteristics Slice-Of-Life fans are accustomed to, they bring together in this show lots of elements well known from their projects. A compelling storyline, great OST, voice actors and, of course, wonderful artwork and character design.
This last one, plus the develop of the story and characters themselves saves the plot from being repetitive and boring just like supportive characters from being flat and just puppets of the main storyline.
Chuunibyou would be perfect if it wasn't for a single planing mistake: It tries to be serious in the background but appear funny and easygoing on the outside. From the beginning producers probably knew it would be a challenging thing to do, we've seen things like this go wrong before, and as expected this "careless" look takes control of the show. Basically the outside setting wouldn't allow the story to develop any further nor deeper because any change in the mood of the show would get in contrast with the atmosphere they built. This becomes explicit towards the ending when the anime had to give closure to a bunch of unsolved aspects and had to rush it in a couple of episodes. It didn't worked pretty well, as so we got a second season.
Consequently, this 2nd season is only possible because of that. If the story progressed the way it was heading to, there wouldn't be material for a second season, it would end here and now. Whenever this was intentional or not, this just dropped the 'story' and 'enjoyment' scores of the show. After all, it still needs closure.
On the other hand, worth mention, artwork and sound maintained its high quality during the entire series. Therefore, no complains with them. If KyoAni have some strong points, those are definitely part of them.
Someone once said that Chuunibyou is a love letter to all anime fans. We all have our "chuunibyou side" and many of us went through similar situations presented on the series, so it's easy to relate to. That is one of the reasons why the series received a good approval at its premier, and is still cherished by many people.
Characters as well, are affectionate and easy to attach to them (besides from being astonishing cute).
For me, Chuunibyou was satisfying and enjoyable. Something that was worth watching, but after the praise-carried recommendations I've received, I was expecting more of it. So, my piece of advice is: Watch it without any prior knowledge about it, besides from reviews of course (but be careful with spoilers). This way you will probably enjoy it much more since everything will be new for you. And if there is a highlight in this anime, it's probably its ability to surprise you, in many different and adorable ways.
Numeric score: Story- 7/ Characters- 8/ Artwork- 9/ Sound- 9/ Enjoyment- 7/ Overall- 8
(You do know you can check them by clicking the "Overall" hyperlink, right?)
"Be engulfed by the flames of darkness and begone!"
haydenluvsanime
What does it mean to be happy? Some people would tell you that being rich or famous is their ultimate dream. Now that could be true for a lot of people, but for me, however; self-acceptance is my one true wish. Growing up can be an awkward and intimidating process for some of us. I'm sure that we have all done or said some things in the past that we look back on in regret or embarrassment, so when you get thrown into this cruel and unforgiving world where social norms are prevalent and people are very critical of you, the thought of having people findingthe dark secrets of your past could be very detrimental to yourself.
I have spent most of my life slaving over each and every single little mistake I have made and forcing myself to act like everyone else in the hopes that people will finally accept me. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! taught me that it is okay to be weird and different. That you don't need to be like everyone else in order to be happy. That loving yourself is the only thing you need to do in order to achieve happiness.
Watching Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is like taking a trip to memory lane and reflecting on all the best moments that life has to offer when you're young and delusional. Rikka is kind of like the representation of your childhood while Yuuta reflects more of what adolescence is like and watching these two adorable goofballs talking to each other fills my heart with a warm feeling of nostalgia that I simply haven't felt before in anime.
The cast of Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is one of the best that anime has to offer. Everybody here is a likeable dork and the character animation is always spot on and perfectly compliments the series' sense of slapstick and over the top humor. You will often see these really detailed fight scenes where characters use huge swords or shoot magic stuff at each other, only to then cut to a scene showing the characters actually just lightly wailing on each other in the adorable KyoAni-fashion. Even if you can see a joke coming, the execution and delivery of it all is so delightful that it's impossible to not crack a big dumb smile. But while Dekomori, Nibutani and everybody
else are also great characters in their own right; the bond between Rikka and Yuuta takes the cake here. Seeing Yuuta accepting his past in order to get closer to Rikka out of sheer love honestly gave me the inspiration to do the same with myself. After all, as long as you're not hurting anybody, why should you feel bad for who you truly are on the inside?
Even the opening feels like it's trying to amplify the show's message of clashing personality types with its visuals. However, Mother's Basement already made a great video on this opening in his "Top 5 BEST Kyoto Animation Anime Openings" so I would recommend that you go watch that video instead because otherwise I would just repeat everything he said.
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is a very personal and important show to me. If I were to ever get trapped on a deserted island and I had to pick one anime that would be the only source of entertainment for the rest of my life, then Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! would be that anime. No other anime has made me as happy as this show has and I still cry tears of joy every time I even think about it.
If you are somebody that has struggled with self-acceptance in the past, then I would highly recommend this show to you! Even if you didn't feel the same way I do, the show has such an unparalleled charm to it that it should make for an enjoyable experience nonetheless.
gillis
"Another romance / comedy anime? And another eyepatch girl? Please spare us... " I beg to differ. Hello fellow anime fans, my name is Gillis. This is my very first anime review and I mainly decided to write it as this anime seems to have been overlooked by many, and I at least want it to catch your attention. Heck, another eyepatch girl, some may think when they see the picture of the anime. I am like that too, but if you miss this series I won't forgive you. I have been watching anime for a long time, all the way back in grade school. When I startedthere was already a lot of great classics to watch, and I was the self-proclaimed local Anime-guru back in the days. In the recent past two years though I've watched many new and old series, never finding anything I have liked (there are some rare, few exceptions). Usually I just pick up a new anime when I am about to eat and then I drop it after maybe 2 episodes. In fact, I have actually dropped over 100 series (yes more than my list) and the biggest reason is that: Either it does not hook me from the start, or it just got no story. My taste is all-round, it can be anything... as long as the plot is good, not necessarily unique. The art does not have to be excellent either. For me, as said, it's all about the quality of the story.
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Presentation
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With that in mind, enough of my background. About 1 week ago, as I was about to sit down and eat I was lurking around on a anime stream website and picked up a random anime I had not seen. "Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!". As usual I did not expect much. I just wanted to watch something random while eating my food. Heck, the only recent masterpiece I had seen most recently was Steins; Gate... and that was quite some time ago. However, as I started watching Chuunibyou I was in for a surprise. The introduction of the anime presents the interesting disease called "8th-grader symptom" or in japanese "Chuunibyou". To summarize, it is the difficult age we've been going through as teenagers where we do some really silly things that we all want to forget. As the explanation of this disease continues we are introduced to one of the main characters of the story, Togashi Yuuta, which was practically a textbook example of the Chuunibyou disease when he was younger, calling himself "Dark Flame Master" or in japanese "Darku Flameu Masta". Jokes aside, the start really piqued my interest in an instant. I want you to notice that I am very skeptical as I watch new animes. That is, until I am completely seduced by it.
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The First Episode - *WARNING - SPOILERS* (Skip this section if you want)
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Now, the episode continues with Yuuta, having a flashback of his embarrassing past and we come to realize that his Chuunibyou state is over in the present. As he goes to dispose of his past at the balcony a rope is suddenly thrown down from the floor above and down climbs an eyepatch girl named Takanashi Rikka, the other main character of the story. Immediately, as skeptical as I am, I facepalmed right away as the scene was shown to me. "By default" I muttered dissatisfied, recalling about 10 other animes that had started in a similar way. Anyhow, my interest and attention had already been caught by the presentation, so I continued to watch.
Rikka appeared as a really weird girl, wearing an eyepatch and some gothic clothes. Of course, weird and strange overall by climbing down from the third floor on a rope. Certainly not very original though. After this short event the opening starts and afterwards we appear on the next day as Yuuta is about to make his debut into high school and on his way, at the train station, stumble into one of the other main characters. A cute girl named Nibutani Shinka but most importantly into Rikka as well. Yuuta recalls the event that occurred the day before and realizes that she goes to the same school as he does. Of course at that moment, my skeptical sensors turns alert mode: "Oh no, another harem romance show". However, my negative impression was short-lived as in that moment the train arrives and Rikka opens the automatic doors with a large swing by her arm, displaying her mental powers. With a complacent grin on her face she walks into the the train in a really cute and childish manner. Yuuta, being shocked by the moment, manages to miss his train. By this little event I was already starting to be charmed by the series.
Moving on, Yuuta barely arrives in time after having missed his train. As he take a peek into his class he sees that he knows no one in there. Perfect, just as planned! Apparently Yuuta had chosen a different high school that his middle school classmates would not choose. Obviously so that he can get rid of his past filled by his miserable time as a hopeless Chuunibyo case and start a new, normal high school life. But before he enters the class he first walks to a remote area, where he speaks his catchphrase back when he was the Dark Flame Master and "seals" it. Though he thought he was alone, a girl could hear him. Which is with no doubt Rikka.
Back in class he sits down and almost immediately gets on good terms with guy named Isshiki Makoto and soon realizes that the beauty from the train station, Nibutani, also is in the same class as him. What a blessing for his new high school life... only to shortly after find out that Rikka is in the same class as well. As if that was not enough, she suddenly creates a dramatic and embarrassing scene as she stands in front of Yuuta, grasping her eye under the eyepatch as she screams out in pain, saying something about her eye resonating. Under this sudden scene Yuuta realizes all too well what is wrong with her. It can only be a grave and serious case of Chuunibyo. On top of it, he is practically forced to take her to the infirmary where he once again confirms that she really is a dangerous case of Chuunibyo. Whats more, Rikka tells Yuuta that she had found out about his identity, namely "Dark Flame Master". Now Rikka was a presence which could threaten his new dear high school life. Correctly so, later at the day he is invited by Makoto to hang out and eat lunch with some classmates. Oh the joy! What a great start to his new high school life... but the opportunity quickly vanishes as the teacher calls Yuuta in, asking him to help Rikka home as she has lost her train card. If you recall, she lives at the same building as Yuuta. Depressed, Yuuta does as told and declines the lunch invitation. And from this moment on the episode is more or less Yuuta and Rikka interacting and getting to know each other. And I must say it is more interesting, cute and funny than you would imagine.
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*END OF SPOILERS*
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Quality, Plot & Characters
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That pretty much sets the comical and romantic aspect for the series. Being Yuuta having to take care of this impossible case of Chuunibyo, namely Rikka. And shortly after 2-3 episodes I was already in love with the series. As far as the first episodes progress we mainly get to know the main characters better, and it is actually more comedy than there is romance. There is not too much to the story neither at first, as we mostly get to know more background of the main characters. Though if that is something which would keep you bored, fear not. The comedy is really decent and as you probably have discovered, the Chuunibyo disease (8th grader symptom) is already an original part in this anime which separates it from the mass. It is an ingenious idea and the author exploits it really well to create some great comedy which made me laugh out loud a lot. It is an idea that would not run out of quality even if this anime had been made into 24 episodes or more... which in fact, makes me very angry that it isn't. Also, if it is your preference, I can tell you that the animation is really great too. And the soundtrack makes up a lot of the series. But of course, this is not all there is to Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!. Remember, I am all about the plot.
After a few episodes of getting used to the main characters, the anime switch much more focus unto Yuuta and especially Rikka. I must really say I love these two characters. Yuuta is the kind of person trying to fit in with the rest, trying to be normal and fit with the group. Though, he just cannot abandon Rikka even though she is embarrassing and acts wrong, which is the biggest reason I like Yuuta as a character. Of course, he plays a huge role in the comedy factor as he is the only reasonable person among Rikka and her Chuunibyo followers. Rikka too is the comical aspect of the series, trying to draw Yuuta in with her wild fantasies. At the same time she is also very cute, kind and a bit mystic. Though there is more reason to her Chuunibyo state than just age...
As said, shortly after some episodes of getting to know the characters we get to the main story line which contains a lot of romance, but also a lot of drama. Yes, drama. How I love drama. Of course it is necessary to like the characters to create good drama. You could say the first episodes are preparation for it. We get to know Rikka's background a lot better as Yuuta finds out more about her. Her background contains a lot of drama and Yuuta tries his best to understand Rikka and help her in any way he can. Although he does a lot of mistakes and it is truly touching seeing how both the main characters grow together, understanding their faults, understanding what they feel and what the other feels. Too much of this would be spoilers, but it takes a truly dramatic turn and at the end of the anime I was deeply touched. What a great show! I had never expected it when I started watching the anime two days ago. Actually I was so caught up into it that I watched it all in one night, having to face the consequences on the next day. But it was just that good. I am considering if it was worth it though, since afterwards I have been feeling really depressed. Perhaps because I watched such great series all in one night and now there is no more episodes for me to see. Or maybe I am just saddened by my miserable life compared to how they live in the series. Why can't I have such a wonderful occurrence? Or maybe I fell in love with Rikka. Which of these it is, I do not know. But what I do know is that this anime became one of my top favorites and has refreshed my mind. It is truly a masterpiece for its genre, and I highly, dearly... more than recommend it.
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Score
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I do not know who the fansubers for the series are. Still trying to find out who my favorite fansubers for this anime is. I do know though that Unlimited Translation Works (UTW or URW for short) subtitles are okay but I do not recommend them.
Plot - 9/10
Comedy - 9/10
Romance - 6/10
Drama - 7/10
Story - 9/10
Characters 9/10
Art - 8/10
Sound, Music & Voice - 7/10
Pace - 8/10
Overall - 9/10
aiyuu
My first response to Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! was an eye-roll. I predicted the plot in my head, guy tries to forget past, meets girl, remembers past. Falls in love. Yawn. Let's move on right? Well perhaps my first impression wasn't too far off the bat. Certainly, the first episodes of Chuu2-Byo presented itself in a very unique fashion, it's rich humor and fantastic character chemistry made me want to punch past me for thinking something so horrid about this show. We are first introduced to Yuuta Togashi, a chuunibyou victim and survivor, we see him frantically try to get rid of any evidence that hispast ever existed. Dark Flame Master who? He even goes so far as to pick a High School that none of his old classmates will go to because frankly, it's just that embarrassing. We can all relate right? Everybody has done something so embarrassing that it haunts and terrorizes us to this very day.
If I'm honest, there was no reason to dislike Yuuta.. his thoughts are animated hilariously and most of his conversations flow fairly well, the anime did a very good job in making us actually feel sorry for him that every time he gets a blast of his past I have to pause and squirm WITH him.
So when Yuuta finally throws out the boxes and thinks he's off to live a normal life, someone far from normal appears in the apartment above.
Takanashi Rikka - a girl under deep deep case of Chuunibyou (or Eighth-Grade Syndrome), literally a representation of everything Yuuta wants to throw out, crosses paths with our protagonist to the point they are even in the same club.
Unconsciously or not, Yuuta cannot get rid of her and takes a special interest even though he claims he wants nothing to do with her. The audience is then introduced to their amusing interactions on a day to day basis.
Their relationship is nothing short but cute, the two characters ooze dynamics in most scenes with their playful bickering and their almost automatic responses to each other like some sort of reflex. Their very subtle hints of affections and sincere feelings for each other never grows old... or does it?
Unfortunately, the last 6 episodes fail to completely tie everything in... Chuu2-Byo gets.. well.. to be point-blank - tiring. All of the characters, Dekomori, Isshiki, Nibutani and even Kumin brought a special flare to the screen that made most episodes entertaining.
But some of these antics just get too repetitive. Okay, we get it, you sleep a lot.. and so...?
Then, out of thin air, things go for a(n over) dramatic turn, its progress, climax and 'ending' falls flat and in return, results into something very underwhelming. Due to the lack of material the audience is given, it provides us with a weak impact. Leaving you with a.. "Huh? That's it?"
Things get too exaggerated that it almost made me dumbfounded - how in the hell did we get to here? It wasn't even some sort of plot-twist or shocker, it was almost as if a bunch of writers had different ideas and routes and decided to just do all of them. Such out of character and sudden nonsense appeared out of nowhere, like desperate efforts to make this show somehow substantial. But its conclusion is this: disappointment.
We see a different side to Rikka that yes, allows us to empathise with her.
Reality is a bitter truth and life in general, is hard to cope with when you have to accept things that would be a lot easier if it never happened. So you force yourself to create your own bubble, your own safety net because you just don't want to get hurt. You don't want to get sad. That is how Rikka chooses to survive - chuunibyou. What comes off as a childish dream is actually a desperate cry for help.
If only the show had developed that idea deeper it would have actually gotten somewhere.
Instead we get the girl who sleeps a lot to basically SPELL things out for our beloved, Yuuta. And I have to question, what was the point of Sanae except to be some moe to join the chuunibyou club? I'm sure KyoAni hoped her resolution to influence our feelings somewhat but instead, came across as if it was an April Fools Prank this whole time.
It is not impossible to develop a light-hearted, teenage love story into something possibly a bit more dramatic, a bit more emotional.
But not like this. Not receiving-a-letter-from-yourself-2-years-ago way. The clichéd and unoriginal plot add-ons were not necessary. I'm sure it tried to be more heart-wrenching to make the show a bit more memorable, it's not wrong for them to try something different than the main focus of the show, but they shot the arrow too fast, too far and honestly - how do you expect your audience to be moved by pointless crying by a pointless character?
If I really had to complain about one tiny thing it would be the fact the anime did no justice to a perfectly good character. Nibutani seemed to be one of the few in this anime who reflected an actual human being with some sort of substance and was how the story even managed to progress in the first place, but was wasted for a very lackluster ending.
It seemed to me, the anime tried to be profound and meaningful, but it lacked the means - the shoe just did not fit. Rather than coming across as having a new mature perceptive on reality, all it did was bring the characters to square one and if possible, made the whole notion even more immature and naive than it already was. By the end of it, all I could think of was - God, get a grip.
Despite my criticism, it isn't a terrible show by any standard. In fact, it IS enjoyable. It IS appealing. The humor was tasteful, the romance was charming. But even though the first few episodes weren't ground-breaking, it still deserved much more than to be given such an unsatisfactory ending.
Nasty001
I am the Dark Flame Master PERISH! Be enveloped by the flames of darkness. .........just kidding. Ok so I've finish this 12 episode anime, so how do I find it? Well, generally speaking it's good and it's probably one of the best winter animes of 2012 that Kyoani did, frankly, I really don't care as who did who, co'z as longas I like the anime I watch it. So far though this anime's genre are: School, Romance and comedy, everything revolves around that "Don Quixote Dela Mancha" theme, besides the a "Chuunibyou" can almost be classified as one and just like the mention novel, the character DonQuixote regained his sanity in the end, btw I haven't read the said novel, I only know just a few tidbits of it. Except here, Rikka and Sanae gain their sense of being realistic in the world they live....only to go back to lala land. So for the story, I'm giving it a "Good" 7, though the story is touching, the problem is that it attracts us to it at one point and shoves us away in another. There is also that inconsistency as to how Rikka's 8th grade delusional disorder came to be, in one point we were made to assume that she has that disorder all along and that her finding Yuuta was just coincidence, as we make it mid-way, we were introduce to Rikka's father in which his dead was the cause of her disorder, Then it took a U-turn in the final episode when it was Yuuta who indirectly gave her the idea to create a world of her own and be a wielder of her so-called " Jaō Shingan," so with it a score 7 is what this part deserve.
Art: Mediocre 5.
I'm just not an art critic and besides, there isn't any fanservice to speak of, as for the goth loli attire that both Rikka and Sanae dons..... I don't have much to comment about it.
Sound and Character: Good 7.
Since, I do like the VA's who portrayed the character's in this anime, I like both the opening and the closing themes. But as for Makoto's VA, Sōichirō Hoshi, I just don't think that he should have done the character's voice co'z his voice no longer has that youthful appeal, if it where me I would have chosen Satoshi Hino. The characters, really did play well, so who are they?
Rikka Takanashi: As I've mention, her character as to how she got to know Yuuta was inconsistent and I need not mention it again, I like the way that she portrays this girls whom you'll love to do what Sanzo of "Saiyuki" does to Goku when he's pissed and that is hitting him hard on the head with a big paper fan. The funny thing about her is how she keeps sticking on to Yuuta and pesters him about his past as the "Dark Flame Master," but what's entertaining is that Yuuta gets to do what we audience would want to do to her. JUDGMENT LUCIFER!!!!!!
Yuuta Tongashi: As the main protagonist and an ex-chuunibyou , he does fulfill that usual high school dude who's world turns upside down when pesky girl comes to his life kind of thing. Ok, so he's the kind of guy in which we the audience would do to Rikka what we wanna do, and that's to knock her back into reality. Thought it would be funnier if he does it often. I do like the part that in the end he was able to help Rikka with her undying grief over her father's dead by accepting her disorder and using it as a way to accept that her life must go on as her master. Besides this anime's title is " Despite My Adolescent Delusions of Grandeur, I Want a Date!"
Nibutani Shinka: another ex-chuunibyou, ok at one point I did like her to be Yuuta's love interest, but that all came down when I saw how dominant she is and how she looks down on guys. However it is a mystery if she's the one who gave Makoto that love letter or was it Kumin, I guess we'll never know. I'd like the part where she quarrels with Sanae and how she takes charge of things in Rikka's club in a realistic way, since Rikka tends to be very lousy with the club management.
Tsuyuri Kumin: she doesn't have Rikka and Sanae's disorder, but I kinda view her as an add-on to the anime, if she the one who gave Makoto that love letter then she and him would have made a nice pair. I really hate the part where she becomes this welder of Rikka's so called "Jaō Shingan" co'z it kinda don't fit her to have such disorder when she's the gang's senior.
Isshiki Makoto: I'd probably describe him as this anime's class clown, especially the part when he has to shave his head co'z he misplaces his survey book and was picked up by Nibutani.
Takanashi Touka: if this anime has a tsundere then she is it, in fact I like the way she woops Rikka's ass (figure of speech). But I really find her as an unlikable character, due to the fact that she herself has to relied on Yuuta to put Rikka back to reality, Then again her kicking Rikka's ass into reality is the most entertaining part for her.
Sanae Dekomori:"Death," I kinda hate her character very much, des. But I do like the way she wore her hair down when she came back into the world of reality, des. Also, des, I like the way she quarrels with Nibutani, des.
Enjoyment and Overall: Good 7.
So maybe this anime attracts us audience towards this anime at one point and shoves us on another, there may some inconsistencies in it and the idea that this anime's genres revolves the Don Quixote theme thing. Overall this anime is worth watching, co'z at the end you'll be touched by Rikka and Yuuta being together and going to where the sun rises thingy. The amount of drama may not be much, but it did added such impact to this anime's soft side. Though I'd wish that Kyoani have added "Satone Shichimiya" to spiced up this anime a bit more.
miyolks
At first glance, Chuunibyou is not what it seems, a schoolgirl wearing an eyepatch, the magic circle on the cover and a synopsis that talks about contracts? It would definitely strike you as a fantasy, moe magical-girl anime, but believe me, Chuunibyou is as real is it gets. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! was an pretty enjoyable anime. It made you laugh when you were suppose to laugh, cry when you were suppose to cry as well as melt into the cuteness in an instant. "Chuunibyou" otherwise known as "Eighth Grade Syndrome" plays a huge role in this delightful tale of a groupof schoolmates learning to accept themselves as well as the past that they've tried desperately to leave behind.
The concept behind the story was very well planned, Rikka is a current high school student who is now suffering from Eighth Grade Syndrome, she approaches Yuuta, a boy who has deliberately tried to erase his past when he also had the syndrome. At first Yuuta expresses immediate reluctance towards Rikka because he is constantly reminded of his past self and he assumes Rikka is being childish and silly, but as the anime progresses, he begins to warm up to her and her antics, and slowly begins to realize that there may be something beyond the adventure that has Rikka hiding behind her eye-patch.
The art, as expected from Kyoto Animations was gorgeous but the cuteness might not be everyone's cup of tea. The graphics and animation is very fluid and a pleasure to watch.
I have no complaints about the sound at all, the voices were clear and not annoying, BGM wasn't overly distracting and went nicely with the events that occurred.
The characters were very believable and while the stunts they carried out were a bit outrages at some points, the reasoning behind them were understandable.
As a slice-of-life, I think this anime did a brilliant job keeping you interested, with a heartwarming story paired with comedy bound to make you dissolve into giggles.
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! is a story that will break your heart but fill it with absolute adoration for the characters at the same time.
I greatly enjoyed this anime and while I wish they characters and relationships were elaborated a bit more, it didn't hurt the anime's presentation or content much.
manako101
I have to say that this is one of my favorite things ever. Why i liked this anime so much? Everything was very well done. Though i suppose it did have it's flaws, but even then it was still enjoyable! I have a bad memory, so i only remember bits and pieces from most things i watch and i enjoy what i'm watching at the moment, and unless i'm reminded of it i don't usually thing about it. This on the other hand, is an exception! I can't forget the memorable characters and scenes that brought this to life. If i was to use just oneword to describe this anime, i would use the word epic. Not in the sense of "lol epic shirt man." but a real, honest to god epic. It is above and beyond what i expected when i first found it.
The story is driven by character development, and it's own brand of comedy. Though some tropes and character types are used it works perfectly. Well, i suppose i am not very good at explaining why this is an honest to god epic am i? my only question to you, someone who might not have watched it yet is:
what does it mean to grow up?
noamsky
Imagination is not in any way a new or unusual route for a way to escapism. Even if just so momentarily, it can easily lighten the burden of gravity’s melancholy. It’s one of many ways to escape reality. It’s not a case of an incapability to differentiate reality from imagination, it’s simply a temporary get a way. However, at first glance this doesn’t seem to be the case of Takanashi Rikka. It really seems like the difference between reality and fiction is beyond her horizon of apprehension. This soul seems to be completely lost in her own imaginary world. What makes it even more worrisome isthat she should long ago have grown from this phase, since she at the moment is in her teenage years. This state which she at the moment is situated in is called “Chuunibyou” in Japanese, roughly translated into “Eight-Grade Syndrome”, therefore the name of the series.
Her distorted world only seems to become even more delusional when she meets with a boy named Togashi Yuuta, who before also was lost in an illusionary world. Rikka who secretly found out about his past case of chuunibyou is herself in a state of joy. Even though Yuuta is determined to never again put up with the act of embarrassment which once was his daily routine, he and Rikka still manage to become close friends. The comical friendship between the delusional girl and the emphatic boy later progresses into a unconventional relationship, which can be described as unadulterated as well as heart-warming.
Even though the Plot isn't complex or the characters truly intriguing. The show still manages to become enjoyable through its mixture of humour and cuteness. Even though you could argue that the story about Rikka and Yuuka tells a moral about the vague concept of maturity, I doubt that’s what the show mainly accomplishes. At least for me it’s more about a unique tale, than sending an important message. A story which can be comforting in the same way as a rich imagination. A show that ultimately speaks more through emotion, than through intellect.
Mist87
"In order to became a man, I had to surrender what I once loved as a child," is how I believe the old saying goes. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, a.k.a Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!, is a coming-of-age anime about a boy who relinquishes those childish things, in his case the perpetual need to be Hiei's prodigy 24 - 7, only to meet a cute girl who refuses to mature from the phase he grew from. The result is a budding romance about patience, acceptance, and breaking the barriers of reality. Story: 8/10 Never before have I seen an anime where the centralconflict is a character stuck in a Peter Pan complex, and Chunibyo portrays the topic smoother than a baby's bottom caked with powder. Overprotective grandparents, an older sister, and even Yuuta's own chagrin add to the Rikka's conflict, and Yuuta's denial of his younger self and whether he should accept Rikka's idiosyncrasies or reject them add to his. Of course, as all male protagonist leads in a romance, he may stumble, but never too far to regain his footing for the girl his hormones have begun to kick for. However, the biggest problem I had with this anime was the lack of one realistic element: Bullying. The show got everything else right, but the biggest plague her classmates inflict on her is isolation, not the teasing you'd expect delivered to someone as overtly quirky and shy as herself (Especially in Middle and High School. We all know how cruel these hormone-induced sociopaths can be). It would have made a darker show, perhaps wasn't even necessary, but may have pushed it from an 8 to a 9 depending on how the writers dealt with the subject.
Art: 10/10
I don't go around with my nose-up at art exhibits for a living, nor can I tell you the intricacies of Japanese art history, but as your average aficionado of anime, I had no complaints. The transitions between Rikka's imaginary world of giant hammers, laser beams, and cataclysmic-collateral damage and reality was done beautifully, and even provided comedic effect when shown what normal people see outside her imaginary world. The Moe force is strong with this one, but not quite on Kanon and Clannad level, which is a good thing.
Sound: 7/10
Nothing in the soundtrack stood out personally, but the Japanese voice actors did a stellar job. Rikka's nonsensical dialogue isn't always nonsensical and had me laughing off my seat, reminding me of Okabe's beloved madness from Steins;Gate (only he's actually a scientist/inventor and Rikka's... just a crazy little girl). This just doesn't apply to Rikka, for most of the main cast has a duality shifting from normal high school student to fun and delusional, and the voice actors present this dichotomy in satisfying style. I haven't seen the English Dub yet.
Character: 7/10
The performances were great, the substance leaving something desired. Your standard tropes are present: You have your male lead (Yuuta) who's the only guy with the guts to speak to this cute, loner girl (And who, fortunately, isn't a jerk that wants to take advantage of that). You have Rikka, the loner girl who's, naturally, the most interesting cast member. You also have your loli (Sanae), your normal girl (Shibutani), your big-breasted ditz (Kumin), and the loser friend to make the male lead look better by comparison who's ACTUALLY the average joe (Makoto. No, not that Makoto. Put your pitch-forks down, please). Yuuta and Rikka get the most development, bread crumbs are left concerning the history of the others, two of their team get no development whatsoever. The three stars of the main cast (Rikka, Shibutani, and Yuuta) push the characterization from a 6 to a 7. It was done well, but could have done better. Oh: A special shout-out goes to Rikka's older sister, Tooka, for being the most awesome character in the show.
Enjoyment and Conclusion:
Rikka Takanashi was a dimension unto herself. As a matter of fact, her character was a multiverse, and probably the biggest thing that'll make me come back to this series in the future. The story of Chunibyou is a story of the delusions we create for ourselves to cope with reality versus the reality we have to face. Will we ever have to truly face that reality? Some may say yes because it's unhealthy to deny the truths before our eyes. Some say no because utterly accepting reality sacrifices the Romanticism that makes us transcend our debilitating condition. What answer does Chunibyou provide? You'll have to watch it yourself to find out ;). Fans of Romance anime, like myself, especially those looking for a slight deviation from the overused drama scenarios used in romances, should definitely give this one a peek. It's not a Clannad or Ef: A Tale of Memories, but it's definitely worth your time.
Ultimate Technique: Final Judgment, Slashing Score!
7 out of 10
Agent_Redacted
This is a spoiler-free review consisting of the entire Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! series. Chuunibyou,"Eighth-grade Syndrome" is a type of syndrome usually found in early teens. A symptom which makes them act upon their delusional mind. When I first heard the word "Chuunibyou", I quickly thought of the long gone times where I fought against my childhood friends using the greatest techniques I've acquired through hard sessions of cartoons and Chinese series binge watch. Is it normal to have chuunibyou? This question had been entombed deep inside my extensive memory for ages. Though as a grown man I personally find this farce exceedingly embarrassingand autistic. But looking back at it again, a new question arises from the depth of my thoughts. “We all went through this, didn’t we?”
Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! ( Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! ) for me acts like a recollection archive which enabled me to recall my embarrassing past and taught me a handy life lesson.. Or more like an acknowledgement that inevitably led to my resolve to accept Chuunibyou for what it is.
First season of Chuunibyou is mostly about character introduction and development. Their past, what caused them to get Chuunibyou, etc.. This season’s also where romance between main characters bloom.
Second season is where Chuunibyou lays the salt. By the time you saw the thumbnail you probably figured it out already. That’s right. Rival. Love rival specifically. The drama’s pretty weak but it’s within acceptable amounts. So this season’s pretty much even more romantic buildup. And romance drama!
The movie is "acceptance". Yeah. That’s about it.
Chuunibyou's story is quite a decent ride. It begins somewhat aggravating but as the story steadily advances you kind of just accept the vibe like a stream connecting to a lake, river or the ocean. Though the concept of a story based on eighth-grade syndrome for me kind of felt like holding a bomb without a safety pin. The bomb's even more dangerous if you’re more mature. For what reason would a grown, mature man watch a show about children with infantile psychosis? Yeah. But I don't consider it that way. Specifically, I don't condemn the show for what it is, I simply concede that fact and take heed in what the story’s trying to portray.
I don’t love Chuunibyou because there are autistic kids who do autistic things. I love Chuunibyou because of the reasons behind why they became that way and the thorny path they take as a compensation for continuing to be a Chuunibyou. Uh, I hope you understand what I’m trying to say.
Kyoto Animation made this so it’s obviously 10/10. Didn’t really care about the sound. Characters are good. Everything else's ok.
Overall another 10/10. A very good anime. I recommend this to everybody.
AidanAK47
Considering many may only skim the first paragraph of this review I may as well put my main impression here. Is Chuunibyou a bad show? No, it's quite enjoyable. On the other hand is Chuunibyou the greatest thing since sliced bread and Chuck Norris combined with a man fist-fighting a dragon? Don't be ridiculous. Many fans will attempt to fool you into thinking that Chuunibyou is deeper than it actually is. What it really is just simple mindless entertainment and on that regard it works well. First off some words about KyoAni. To those of you who have seen their work you will find familiar territoryhere. Much like all there other words this piece lies within there safe zone and truly is a foreboding sign. Chuunibyou gives us a small example of what KyoAni could do if they used their powers for good instead of evil with some well animated fight scenes. However I am afraid this studio shall always be one sorely lacking in ambition. What is worse it seems KyoAni has found a formula which means most if not all further KyoAni features will have a similar vibe till the day comes that it stops making them money. A day not coming anytime soon.
Alright enough on this. Chuunibyou hits everyone hard with a concept anyone can relate to, an embarrassing childhood. For those who have not read the description it's about a syndrome which a person who pretends to believe that he is a being with special powers and tries to summon creatures, fight and other things one can expect from a fantasy anime character. Our main who previously suffered from this meets Rikka, a girl who is currently going through the same phase. A club is made, others join who have similar experiences and hijinks ensue. This is the plot of the first half. The second half delves into a more serious storyline involving a trauma from the heroines past. This is were the show weakens. A romance is pulled out of nowhere, drama and angst appear over some truly small matters and the ultimate moral we all saw coming appears.
The art is to KyoAni standards. Though much like their other works the soundtrack is minimal. I can honestly say I enjoyed this more than their previous work Hyouka which I found to be a massive waste of excellent production values. The comedy was impressive considering it managed to get a smile out of me, a person who rarely laughs at anime comedy. The character quirks are likable however their shallowness is exposed in the second half as the drama is dialed up. Really I say what really knocked down the score was that attempt to emulate Key writing which on the whole is not writing which should be copied. Cheap manipulative writing may be effective but on the whole if the emotional impact is not achieved it is contrived and insulting.
The final episode attempted to compare Chuunibyouism with general ambition to prove yourself special. However this was quite preachy and not true as it was similar to comparing a cosplayer to a writer. Both may be passionate but what they do is entirely different.
So I leave with this, Chuunibyou is a nice time waster. Nothing more than that. When it attempts to try to become something of a more serious nature it loses value but if that manages to appeal to you then you could find it a rewarding experience. Me on the other hand will sit back and wait till KyoAni takes a real risk.
