Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! ...that's just a long title man. So my brother suggested this to me and said described it as 'like Lucky Star'. Lucky Star is one of my favorite anime so why pass up.
The title is shortened to WataMote. It is about a girl named Tomoko Kuroki who thinks it would be easier for her to become popular once she enters highschool since she is very 'experienced' in dating... on dating simulation games. The story follows how she struggled to improve her social status throughout her first year in highschool.
Some of the animation parts is very interesting like Kanji characters representing objects, or Ascii animation. The main theme song "Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!" (yes the same title of the anime), fits the whole anime from the music to the lyrics. Cause, believe me, if you are in the situation you'd feel like shouting too. The ending theme song varies depending on how the anime ended, so far my favorite ending is the Balloon ending.
As for the story, I can relate to some aspects of this anime. I can relate to it so much that I'm started to feel bad not just for the lead character but myself as well. At some point I contemplated if I wanted to continue watching but I wanted to know how this story would end.
After 3-4 episode, I started to feel that the story is becoming quite ridiculous. I'm not a shut-in but I'm a loner and it's impossible that nobody talks to her aside for her mom and, even forcefully, her brother. Seriously, impossible!
Another thing that made me feel just mainly sorry for her is that she doesn't even try to talk to others in her class. She got loads of opportunities to do so, for example is with her teacher that greets them goodbye by the gate. Everyday, Tomoko passes him and she doesn't even try to properly greet him. She also try a lot of crazy things to be "cool" to others but I'll give her props for somewhat trying. I'm not gonna comment about the anime and videogame references, I'm like that and I think a lot of people are.
There are parts that I feel like that there should be more. Well it's either that or I just didn't understand that episode 9. Her relationship with her brother consists of just Tomoki giving Tomoko annoyed looks. I think it's natural between siblings that they would have that kind of relationship but there was a scene where their mother is watching a video of them as kids where they looked like they are very close and it looked like Tomoki have a bit of a moment there. I mean, what happened? At some point I thought her brother is going to hang out with her on his own or something. I feel like I missed out on something.
Watching this I thought, if I see this girl, I'll probably give her a concealer. She got the right idea of changing her looks, confidence is key. I don't think she's going to push people away, she's just terribly shy. This is the reason why I like the episode with Megumi Imae, the counsel committee president. The ending on episode 11 is quite heartwarming and seriously made me tear up.
The ending for this whole series is very satisfactory, actually it's the perfect ending. I don't expect her to be popular or something, sometimes continuing admist of this situation is quite admirable. Tomoko is just 15 years old, with her attitude I bet she'll be fine.
Overall, Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! is a good watch but much like the title it's just way too long.
originally posted: December 2, 2013
