A truly amazing feat infused with the energy of a passion project, Bocchi the Rock establishes itself as a standout must-watch in an anime season chock-full of shows. Cloverworks, known for Horimiya, Rascal, and Dress up Darling animates with as high-quality and dynamic animation as ever. There are times, especially during concert scenes, where the movement feels so natural that I thought CG was being used when it was actually hand-drawn. As if that wasn't enough, the show plays with a wide variety of animation styles including claymation, stop-motion, black and white noir, among others that you would never expect a show like this to have. It is truly a testament to how versatile animation can be as a medium.
The humor also does an excellent job at portraying the feelings of a socially anxious person, whether it be through visual or spoken gags. And even if you aren't introverted or socially anxious, you can still empathize with Bocchi and feel like some of the jokes hit a little too close to home. Bocchi's actress gives a unique voice that perfectly encapsulates the character. Lastly, the music is amazing, as to be expected. There are 4 endings, 1 opening, and a number of other songs interspersed throughout the show, all of which are sung by Kessoku Band (the main four leads) themselves. Still, even if you aren't into music shows, this series has so much more to offer even beyond the songs.
If you aren't watching this, you should, because it is one of the best shows to release this year.
