I always like stories of introverts overcoming their adversity. Throw in music and Bocchi the Rock! Seemed like a show that would be right up my alley. Since I almost passed on Ya Boy Kongming earlier this year, I figured that I shouldn’t let another musical anime slip through the cracks and added it to my ‘To Watch’ list. Now that it’s here and I checked out the first episode, was I wise to give this show a chance or not?
Let’s Go!
First Episode Synopsis
Hitori is a girl who has social anxiety. She’s severely introverted, has no friends, stutters when she talks, and can’t even make eye contact with anyone. One day, her brother sits down next to her and turns the tv on. There, she sees a band get interviewed where the band’s lead talks about being introverted and how even introverts can find acceptance in a band. That’s when she turns and asks her father if she could borrow his guitar.
Wait. That was her father!? Dude looked to be only slightly older than Hitori!
Fast forward three years and Hitori becomes an absolute master at the guitar. She discovers the internet and begins posting covers of popular songs. She finds a bit of success… just a little bit… nothing too major. I mean, she only amassed THIRTY THOUSAND followers…
When she entered high school, she became determined to start a band or at least get invited to one. She did everything she could to stand out… even bringing her guitar to school. Nothing seemed to work until a girl named Kita takes notice of her. This means that we’ll see Kita take the initiative, right?
Nope.
Instead, we get this random girl from out of nowhere named Nijika who notices her after school when Hitori is sitting alone in a park. Without even waiting for her to accept the offer, Nijika drags her back to the club where Hitori is going to fill in for their guitarist who couldn’t make it. There, she meets Ryou, an emotionless girl who is quite docile and just likes to sleep standing up.
Even though Hitori is great, she’s never played in a band before and knows nothing about synchronization. Still, they go ahead with the show and accept her as part of the band! They give her the nickname Bocci (Hitoribocchi… I’ve seen that show!) but it doesn’t really solve her social anxiety but, hey, it’s a great first step.
Worth Watching?
YES! – This first episode blew me away. Hitori is such an amazing character! She’s so outgoing in her head but she’s also so filled with self-doubts. She’s like a PG-13 version of Tomoko Kuroki from Watamote with less stuttering. The comedy in the show is top-notch, too!
For example, a little more than halfway through the episode, after Hitori finds out that she was out-of-synch with Nijika and Ryou, she curls into a ball and says that she has turned to dust and will never pick up a guitar ever again. The show then proceeds to flash a graphic that says “Bocchi the Rock! The End” and then rolls the credits!
Some of that self-aware humor was great but Hitori’s inner monologues and self-delusions (such as her daydreaming about selling out the Budokan Hall) are great! Plus, you also feel a real connection to the character through her social anxiety. While I don’t really agree with turning a condition like that into comedy, for some reason, it just works and works well with this show.
I’m interested to see how Kita will play a role in the show. She’s listed as a main character so I have this sneaking suspicion that she’s the guitarist that no-showed that Hitori had to replace… especially when she was seen walking with a group of her friends right before we find out the guitarist ditched. Makes you wonder if something serious actually came up or if she’s the type who doesn’t take the band seriously and ditched them to do whatever it is high school girls do in 2022.
Oh… I should also mention. Hitori uses a Gibson Les Paul guitar… the same guitar as Tool lead guitarist Adam Jones. That right there is 11/10, Anime of the Century material for me. (Yes, Tool is my all-time favorite band.)
The first episode was incredibly entertaining and this might just be the sleeper hit of the season! Definitely check this one out!
