“Do not judge a book by its cover.” That said, unlike what its name suggests, Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai is not an ecchi harem anime. Instead, the 2018 anime is a rather sensible and mysterious show that talks about many realistic issues like depression, anxiety, bullying, and body image issues. Even though critics appreciated the show, viewers had mixed views about the story. Hence, here’s a Spoiler-Free Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai Review, to help you decide whether to watch it or not.
The story of this unique anime begins with Sakuta Azusagawa finding a fellow high-schooler wandering around the school library, dressed as a bunny girl. Mia Sakurajima is surprised to find out that Sakuta could see her. She previously had a celebrity life, however, she suddenly became invisible to people around her. As his sister is going through the same, Sakuta calls this phenomenon “Adolescence Syndrome” or Puberty Syndrome. Hence, he commits to solving the mystery on his own and meets other girls who’re suffering the supernatural syndrome.
Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai, or Seishun Buta Yarō, is an immensely popular franchise. It originated from a 2014 light novel series written by Hajime Kamoshida and illustrated by Keeji Mizoguchi. The LN volumes have been adapted into a manga, anime series, and an anime film as well. The television anime series aired between October and December 2018.
Reasons To Watch The Anime
The story of Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai (also known as Aobuta) is one of its highlights. It was a unique theme that viewers hadn’t seen in any mainstream anime these days. Moreover, the anime introduced a new concept of a disease related to mental health. The notion of Adolescence Syndrome is an intriguing concept and pushes you to watch until the end. Also, the most impressive fact is that the series highlights several issues that aren’t often featured in animated shows.
The characters, especially Mia and other girls suffering from the syndrome, are relatable. They feel real, and their problems are ones many of us have dealt with at some point. Moreover, the anime emphasizes important issues related to body image, depression, anxiety, bullying, and others. Overall, Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai is an inspiring and entertaining experience.
Even though its animation is mediocre, the anime series is still convincing. However, Studio CloverWorks could have done better with the direction of the show. Yet, as a whole, Aobuta is full of surprises and deserves a watch.
Issues With Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai
One of the main issues with the anime was raised by the fans of a 2009 anime series (adaptation of a light novel series) called Monogatari. Several Aobuta viewers complained that it plagiarized its content from the older anime. While the two shows still have many differences, their main concepts are almost the same. Monogatari was based on a fantasy and paranormal plotline. Whereas, Rascal Does Not Dream About tries to be real and uses scientific explanations to talk about the syndrome. Aside from that, the anime barely has any drawbacks.