Today I want to analyze Watamote, specifically why I’m watching despite its distaste by some viewers. Kotaku’s Ricard Eisenbeis wrote on how we’re laughing at Tomoko’s tragic figure, and that it’s a sadistic way of looking at someone with severe anxiety disorder. Although this point has some merit I want to argue that there’s more to it than that on the surface. I’ve had a few revelations through watching this show, and I’d like to share my thoughts.
I Like Her Character
Tomoko has many flaws, and they all set up for comedic outcomes, which on the whole I do not expect. She’s definitely an antihero and despite being wholly unlikeable I’ve grown attached to her. Perhaps because she’s very resilient, something that keeps her coming back and trying again. You can admire the fact that she’s always trying. Something a lot of us tend to forget is how easily we just dismiss something without even trying. And the fact that she keeps attempting makes me believe that one day she’ll have her cake and eat it too. We all want her to succeed, and that’s a funny thing despite how pathetic she can be. Every episode I wait for her to be happy, I want it for her, and that isn’t sadistic, so sorry Richard. She will pick herself up again, and she will get the happy ending. I’m almost positive (but you never know what this series will throw at you next!).
I Like Her Relatability
We’ve all feared a moment like this haven’t we?
Richard Eisenbeis does mention in his article that we all find her relatable, but I don’t think he delves deeply enough into this. The reason I believe this is because it’s more than just the situations she ends up in, and her internal monologue. Many times she mutters about how stupid people are, how shallow they can be, and their pointless conversations. But deep down we all know this is a defense mechanism. That because she can’t associate with these people she makes up an excuse as to why they’re inadequate for her. I think a lot of times when people face hardship they displace the problem out of their locus of control. And as she does, many people don’t even realize they’re doing this. Ever say “I failed that test because my teacher was a *****!”? it’s the same thing. I think we have something to learn from her, about our missteps and where we go wrong. It’s funny because we realize that she’s going about things all wrong, but at the same time we can reflect on how we also go about making the same mistakes like she does.
I Don’t Like Her Fantasy Life, but I Do See Where She’s Coming From
Further on that first point however, I find Tomoko to be utterly in the fantasy world and it’s frustrating. She has all these big ideas that fall flat but she keeps dreaming these impossibles dreams. It’s frustrating to watch because she really has no clue and we know it. But I’ll be honest on the fact that I find myself making these same mistakes. I have audacious dreams that are probably too good to be true, and often times I feel that these dreams hinder me from seeing the bigger picture. I get dissatisfied when I can’t live that big exciting life and instead need to buckle down on schoolwork first. I think Watamote’s analysis of this does shed to light the fact that these things can be very harmful as they don’t properly reflect reality, and never will. We can all fantasize about driving a Mercedes full of money in Hawaii but that won’t make us any happier, or get us any closer to our goal because real life is more complicated than that. This social satire can teach us a little bit of the failings of our own defenses and break down the walls, even if just a little bit.
I Like Its Unpredictability
This show has made a niche for itself, stripping down every conventional anime cliche in its path. Every episode I find myself rooting for Tomoko just to watch her fall flat on her face. It never gives you the ending you wanted, nor the one you were expecting (unless you’ve come to expect her failure, but even every now and then there’s a happy ending in there). Her character is deeper than we think, and it gives us contrasting scenarios that have that real life feel to them; that sometimes good intentions do not pay off. I like that every episode throws a new curve ball in there, its spontaneity has me laughing out loud and I appreciate its uniqueness. In an anime season full of lovey dovey shoujo, happy high school girls and boys, super heroes and the supernatural, I’m happy to see an anime attempt something new. I have to give Watamote credit for that.
My Conclusion?
Watamote is definitely one of the weirdest animes I’ve watched, and I’ll admit that I feel very weird when I watch it. A lot of it has to do with the points above and that I find myself so conflicted every time I watch it. It creates a discussion on the extremes of a NEET/otaku lifestyle and thrusts these topics in my face every episode. It breaks the conventional norms and challenges us to think critically about how we deal with struggle; are we like Tomoko? Are we denying that we are? I can’t say I love the show yet, but it’s getting there. Maybe I’m just a weirdo too…
I’d love to get your opinions on this controversial anime! Send me a question/comment and we can create our very own discussion here.
Christina
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