Bocchi the Rock! continues to be one of this season’s biggest surprise hits. Aside from becoming the new highest-rated non-sequel Fall 2022 anime on MyAnimeList, Bocchi the Rock! got lots of attention from both anime fans and gamers for its surprise Undertale reference.
While pretty much every episode of the anime has lots of references to other anime, a video game reference is unexpected.
Bocchi the Rock! References
Over the past 11 episodes, Bocchi the Rock! has referenced lots of popular anime.
For instance, when Bocchi wakes up at the clinic in Episode 10, the animation seemingly referenced Neon Genesis Evangelion when Shinji wakes up in a hospital bed.
Another more apparent reference is to Dragon Ball. Specifically, Bocchi was attacked by birds while at Enoshima Island, and her defeated pose was pretty much Yamcha’s iconic death pose that continues to be a popular meme.
Aside from anime, Bocchi the Rock! also has various art and music references.
In Episode 10 for example, Bocchi is shown turning into a cubist Picasso painting and soon into Edvard Munch’s The Scream while at school.
As for music references, the Kessoku Band members’ names are also taken from the names of the members of the renowned Japanese rock band, Asian Kung-Fu Generation.
Plus, the whole series is peppered with other references to popular Japanese rock bands/artists.
The show also doesn't shy away from straying from 2D animation, as shown in the latest episode’s Undertale reference.
READ MORE: The Best Band References in Bocchi the Rock!’s Manga and Anime
Unexpected Undertale Reference
Undertale is a popular video game that was released in 2015. It features a retro RPG look, but with unique mechanics. It’s also considered by many as one of the best games of all time.
The game is far from a typical role-playing title though, as shown in its release trailer which featured a random scene of a 3D Toriel (a character in the game) slamming into a brick wall.
Because of how random it is, the scene has become a meme within the Undertale community, so it was surprising to see it referenced in the latest Bocchi the Rock! episode.
Following the episode’s release, many Undertale fans were surprised by how out-of-nowhere the scene was.
It’s one thing to animate a well-known meme like the Yamcha pose, but it’s another to animate an incredibly niche meme in the anime.
This just goes to show how wild and creative the show’s staff is when it comes to animating the series.
After how unexpected Bocchi the Rock!’s animation and references are, many are no doubt excited for the show’s 12th episode which will be released this coming weekend.
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READ NEXT: Will There Be a Bocchi the Rock! Season 2?
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