The "Chuunibyou" Syndrome

Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! was a show which I chose not follow, simply due to the fact that the first impression was too vague for my liking, too vague to be covered episodically as far as I was concerned. However, KyoAni successfully pulled a fast one and completely and utterly made me regret that I did not provide episodic coverage of this show. This show was unlike anything KyoAni, or any production company had ever done before, both thematically and character-wise. The entire story is so elaborately thought out and intricate to the finest details. Chu2koi is the perfect combination of romance, drama, and humour of all sorts, and is definitely worth watching.

Having seen so much K-On! from KyoAni that it's become a bore to even see or hear anything remotely related to K-On! or anything KyoAni for that matter, I was skeptical on how they'd approach this show. A seemingly fresh take on the typical slice-of-life school comedy which would appeal to a large audience tickled my fancy to say the least, so I approached this show with high expectations. The first few episodes presented a great amount of genuine humour, both light-hearted ones that make you smile and the gags that make you laugh out loud. For a show that is based on a pair of light novels, I found it very impressive that the pacing of the show was integrated so flawlessly, from character introductions to overall plot progression, it's as if everything is a puzzle and the pieces are slowly put together, piece-by-piece without a single piece being left out in the process. The show makes sense, and for a show that starts off with loads of comedic entertainment, that's a feat worthy of mentioning.

Usually in a show like this, I'd comment on how it's the characters that really make the show pop out. I have no choice but to repeat myself for the umpteenth time, however it's the secondary characters that really support the show and act as the backbone for the main characters to develop effectively. Never have I seen a show of this type with such well-written secondary characters that bring the story to life and have such individualistic personalities. From Makoto to Shinka, Sanae to Kumin, everyone offers a supportive role to Rikka and Yuuta. Everyone had their role in making the character-base of the story very strong. Simply put, it was stunningly great. As for the main characters, I have no choice but to say that in comparison to the supporting characters, they did not have much "oomph" in their presentation until later on in the show, which makes sense given that Rikka and Yuuta's friends essentially paved the way for their relationship which led to a truly worthwhile ending. With that being said, character-wise, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this show. As always, Fukuyama Jun does a great job voicing Yuuta, with relatively new female seiyuus Uchida Maaya and Uesaka Sumire making great efforts to voice Rikka and Sanae, so that's another aspect to consider regarding character presentation.

How does Chu2koi hold up thematically? The backbone of the show revolves around light-hearted humour, however it takes a turn somewhere in the middle of the show, introducing drama and an overall darker tone to an otherwise light-hearted show, something that I personally thought was compelling, making me stay on the edge of my seat, oblivious to anything else that was happening around me. Then came the romance, and boy did it ever come fast.

At the end of the day, Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai was a show a thoroughly enjoyed watching. It distilled feelings of nostalgia, and it made me feel something magical which I rarely experience from a show that isn't shoujo. Although I've never actually experienced chuunibyou, I felt like I could relate to the characters in certain instances, feel embarrassed with them, laugh with them, and just form some kind of connection with them.

This is a show that lets your imagination run free, showing that bottling up your feelings is not always the best strategy. It's best to have a group of individuals who accept you for who you are, sooner or later you may have to face reality, but that doesn't mean you have to give up who you are. From the sweet romance to the at times over-the-top drama, the stupid gag jokes and the embarrassing moments, this is a show that'll take you on a journey through your own mind and soul.