This year's final anime season is here, but there's still so much more to see. Fall 2022 is packed with some of the biggest anime series, ranging from romantic comedies, isekai, and sequels to slice-of-life anime. But, among all of these titles, I happened upon a show called Bocchi the Rock!, and I was never the same again.
I hereby declare that I believe in the supremacy of Bocchi the Rock!, and by the end of this piece, I will have ensured that you do as well.
Believe me, there's a lot more to Bocchi the Rock! than just seeing them as a popular anime trope, which we've all come to know as "cute girls doing cute things" or CGDCT.
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I Choose You, Bocchi!
It was late at night, and I was working on an article for a romance anime called Bibliophile Princess when I felt compelled to stop and watch anime instead—believe me, I am not procrastinating in the least.
When I saw the fall anime list, Bocchi the Rock! piqued my interest in an unusual way.
When I saw the title of the anime, I immediately thought of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, owing to the title and the fact that I had just seen his latest film, Black Adam.
To be honest, neither the anime's synopsis nor the promotional videos of Bocchi the Rock! impressed me, but there was a little voice inside my head telling me to just go for it and click play.
While I was sipping my third cup of coffee for the day, Bocchi the Rock!'s first episode entitled Lonely Rolling was playing on the screen, and I was watching how this pink-headed character struggles to connect with other people due to her extreme social anxiety.
I breezed through Bocchi the Rock!'s pilot episode, which is an impressive feat for someone with my attention span.
I used to be able to watch a 12-episode anime series in a single day, but times have changed.
It was one o'clock in the morning, and I was getting ready to watch the second episode with my next cup of coffee.
By then, I knew that this show would be one of the few chosen by the anime gods to be sent from Japan to the Philippines and the rest of the world to enjoy.
READ MORE: What Guitars Do They Use in Bocchi the Rock!?
Bocchi vs. The World
Despite its simple plot, Bocchi the Rock! is not your typical slice-of-life anime.
It's simple, but it's very relatable, especially for those who have gone through the same things as Bocchi did in the anime.
It's entertaining to watch for some, but it's devastating when you're in her shoes.
The plot of Bocchi the Rock! revolves around Hitori Gotou, a pink-haired girl with severe social anxiety.
Hitori has never felt like she belonged anywhere other than in her room since she was a child.
Consider how difficult it can be. Hitori has always been a social outcast, someone who, like most people in real life, has difficulty talking to her classmates because she overthinks how they will see or judge her.
She's also the girl who eats alone, sometimes with her sympathetic teacher, and the minor character who everyone ignores and eventually fades into the background.
Hitori's personality will never blend in a class full of extroverted kids unless someone out there is kind enough to reach out to her, not out of sympathy but simply out of a desire to get to know her.
Despite this, Hitori decides not to give up in the hope that one day, she will triumph over the world and herself.
What better way to start over than at a different high school where she won't see anyone from her middle school class?
In case you didn't know, Hitori chose her high school based on how far it was from her previous school.
As I watched the show in bed, I was moved by her willingness to start over and the things she sacrificed to have her little leap of faith in humanity.
Hitori goes back and forth armed with only her guitar, band accessories, and her pink tracksuit that screams main character energy in her everyday battle of getting noticed by her classmates, despite the fact that her new school is two hours away from her house.
ALSO READ: Who Are Bocchi the Rock!'s Voice Actors?
Bocchi vs. Herself
Unfortunately, Hitori's efforts have been in vain, as not a single person approached her during her first month of high school.
It sucks, but life is tough, and Bocchi is tougher; that's why she's known as Bocchi the Rock.
Hitori's only saving grace is her YouTube persona, "Guitar Hero," who uploads guitar covers of popular songs.
Consider it her safe haven, where she can fully express herself without fear of being judged by others.
We all have safe spaces, and a dim closet filled with all of her gadgets and music equipment certainly qualifies as such.
People with social anxiety disorders are sometimes overlooked in everyday life.
Admit it, people, we close our eyes because we see things differently without bothering to understand where they are coming from.
For some, it may simply be shyness, but it can also manifest in a variety of ways due to various risk factors.
At the end of the day, people must be kind to one another because we all have different battles that we are currently fighting.
And those are just a few of my thoughts after watching the first two episodes of Bocchi the Rock!
Bocchi the Rock! vs. Other Anime
This year's fall anime season is jam-packed with highly anticipated series such as Chainsaw Man, Spy x Family, Bleach, and, of course, My Hero Academia.
Also, this is one of those anime seasons where the community floods social media with memes, forums, reviews, and episode discussions for the major shows I mentioned.
Naturally, I was looking forward to these shows because I enjoyed their previous adaptations and story arcs, particularly Wit Studio and Cloverworks' Spy x Family co-production.
The majority will watch these shows for three reasons: to follow the story, to see their favorite characters, and to jump on the bandwagon.
As expected, these shows are also at the top of the rankings.
However, as the weeks progress, Bocchi the Rock! begins to climb the ladder, and it has recently reached the top. But why is that?
When Bocchi the Rock! first aired, little was said about it because few people saw it.
And when the episodes started piling up in the middle of the fall season, everyone, including myself, flocked to see Bocchi the Rock!
Bocchi the Rock! has become my favorite show of the fall season, perhaps because I fell in love with the songs played in the anime or perhaps because of the tiny details and finishing touches that the production did to make it such a great show where I can just relax without worrying about who's going to die next.
Hitori's character development in such a short period of time is so well-executed that it makes me sad to say goodbye to her as the season concludes.
This fall, it has become my go-to anime, and I am grateful to have discovered Bocchi and everything about her problems in life.
It's been so much fun watching her grow that it's become a habit for me to watch new episodes of Bocchi the Rock! at any time of day without feeling guilty about missing out on some quality time with my partner.
Are you curious about my aha moment in Bocchi the Rock!? Then, you need to watch it to find out; otherwise, read this piece again!
Nijika-chan gets props and bonus points for saying the show's title in the anime!
Indeed, Bocchi the Rock! reigns supreme!
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