Believe it or not, there was a time I was so depressed that I stopped watching anime altogether. If I had to guess, I would say a span of 10 years. I had undiagnosed major depression and bipolar disorder. With those two things comes the failure to find enjoyment in the things that you love. For me, that was anime.

We all watch anime for different reasons. For me, anime is healing. It allows me to escape my anxiety-ridden world one episode at a time. Anime brings me joy and laughter. It also brings me sadness and grief. The emotional rollercoaster is what makes anime so great. That being said, it wasn’t a blockbuster anime that helped me get my groove back. It was an arguably poorly animated show that was so ridiculous, it made me happy.

MY LOVE STORY!!

Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They always go for his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn! Takeo can hardly believe it when he crosses paths with Yamato again, and he finds himself falling in love with her… But with handsome Sunakawa around, does Takeo even stand a chance?

Crunchyroll

Look at those lips. How can you not laugh? They’re so ridiculous. They had me cracking up at every corner.

The show also reminded me of my husband. I am 5’2″ (~157cm) and he is 6’5″ (~195 cm). The two love interests look like me and my husband standing next to each other!

If I had to answer why this show reignited my love of anime, the answer would be because it made me remember how the impossible can be possible. This anime follows the love story of a very petite and cute girl madly in love with the “cool” brute of a man with a golden heart. This, arguably, terribly drawn anime with its cliche story drug me out of my long stupor and made me laugh. Takeo-kun’s inner dialogue was so hilarious and the animation had me rolling on the floor. There isn’t anything particularly mind-blowing about this show. It doesn’t even rank in my top ten shows, but it is a sweet, comical, loveable love story.

Do you have a show that stirred some kind of emotional revolution? Perhaps a show that taught you an important lesson, or helped you reveal a part of yourself?

6 responses to “Anime: The Show That Got My Groove Back”

  1. I know I mention Highschool of the Dead a lot, but this was the show for me. I’d drifted away from anime for a while (back before streaming so it wasn’t always as accessible) and had focused on movies and western TV shows. Then, in 2013, I stumbled upon a video on YouTube. It was the first half of an episode of Highschool of the Dead. I instantly remembered why I had loved anime in the first place. I searched for all the other episodes on YouTube and found a mix of sub and dub, full episodes and half episodes. Finally, I ordered the Blu-ray and both colour versions of the manga. Despite all the obvious reasons, the reason I love the show is that I actually find Takashi Komuro to be the most relatable character ever. Like he’s me. Makes me wonder what I could have done with my life if there was a zombie apocalypse… lol!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have to put that one on my watchlist!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Princess Himari Avatar
    Princess Himari

    I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties with depression and bipolar. I’m glad you’ve become aware of it and have found inspiration from anime. Once I knew I had anxiety (and it wasn’t just a nameless thing), I was able to deal with it much better, so having that information is so important.

    And oh my gosh! I loved “MY LOVE STORY!!” 😁 It’s such a sweet and profound (and yes, funny) anime 🥰 I love stories where the characters focus on what’s the inside and it isn’t just lustful attraction.

    For me, the “emotional revolution” movie had to be Ever After (1998). Everything about it inspired me: escaping the abusive family, finding courage, opening up to love, and forgiving (forgetting) the abuse… It’s just such a beautiful Cinderella retelling 💖

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Love this, and what you say about anime being healing. Shows, games, films, music and so on can have such wonderful positive effects when you find the right one 🙂 This anime sounds really lovely, I will add it to the list!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We all have that “something” that heals our soul. If you’re looking for a wholesome show, My Love Story is definitely it!

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