'Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai' Is Utterly Brilliant

Prior to checking out Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, the information I got of what it was going to be came from a vague synopsis that went something like this:

“Puberty syndrome” is a bizarre condition that no one truly understands.  For example, second-year high school student Sakuta Azusagawa suddenly sees a bunny girl one day.  Upon closer inspection, he recognizes that the bunny girl is Mai Sakurajima, a famous child actress who is also a third-year student in the same high school he’s in.  Strangely, other people can’t see her bunny-girl appearance.  Sakuta begins hanging out with Mai, and a romance ensues.

Looking back now, it’s obvious that that synopsis was atrociously written (note: I wrote the one above, but the synopsis I read essentially went along those lines).  It made the show come off as another shallow, clichéd rom-com whose weird premise gives itself an excuse to do some furry ecchi.  It also gave me completely false notions about the possible plot, such as it was Sakuta that is having “puberty syndrome”, which makes him see Mai having a magical, physical bunny-girl appearance while others just see her normally.

However, the anime turned out being radically different from the kind of show that the synopsis painted.  Actually, the one with puberty syndrome – also translated alternatively as “adolescent syndrome” – is Mai.  Due to this mysterious condition, there are times when people don’t see or remember her – like she has never ever existed in the first place.  During these instances, she proceeds to roam around wearing a playboy bunny outfit, testing if people would notice her if she’s wearing something outlandish and titillating.  She doesn’t really have physical bunny ears and tails; she’s just wearing a costume.

Meanwhile, Sakuta Azusagawa doesn’t quite fit the mold of the typical male lead.  He’s a stoic, straightforward person that goes about maintaining a low profile.  He recognizes what is the vogue among the collective consciousness of his peers – the “atmosphere”, as it’s termed in the show – and goes against its flow.  He’s kind and caring, and will go out of his way for his friends or people in need.  However, he rarely shows any emotional vulnerability.  And he’s not afraid of offending.  He just speaks his mind out, even if it’s tactless or lewd.  He doesn’t really care about what other people think or say about him.

All these qualities likely play a part on why he’s the only one who is able to see Mai while she’s currently in an inexplicably undetectable state.  And thus, he’s also the only one that can help her with her supernatural problem – and he does.

What comes next is a smart storyline in which teenage social struggles are interpreted into a science fiction scenario – in other words, the plot convenience called “adolescent syndrome.”  Though the attempt to frame adolescent syndrome with the help of amateurish quantum mechanics is a bit hokey, the commentaries produced as a result are quite thought-provoking.

On top of this, a touching love story between Sakuta and Mai also unfolds.  They quickly developed into a couple, but it never feels unearned.  It impeccably ties up to the plot thread regarding Mai’s predicament.  They are also effortlessly winsome together, primarily because their banters are gold.  Sakuta is the wittiest character of the show, but among the other characters, it is Mai who can most consistently match him wit for wit.  Their conversations often evolve into captivating verbal tennis matches.

Moreover, the swift growth of their relationship in the story is only in line with its fast pace.

In fact, by episode three, Mai’s arc already culminates.  In it (SPOILERS), Sakuta finally succumbs into forgetting Mai like the rest of the world.  But his love for her keeps pestering him with a nagging feeling that there’s something off with his reality, which eventually compels him to remember her again, and to figure out a way to save her.  This fantastic episode felt like a finale already, as it has the kind of emotional weight, climactic oomph, and narrative resolution that are inherent in finales.

The rest of the anime’s 13-episode run then focuses on Sakuta encountering and helping other socially, emotionally, and psychologically troubled girls afflicted with adolescent syndrome, which manifests uniquely case-by-case.  So while it’s first shown in the form of Mai becoming invisible to everyone, adolescent syndrome can also cause someone to receive physical wounds from cyber bullying, create time loops, get split into two persons, or to switch bodies with another person.  Every one of these arcs is original, intriguing, thoughtful, and moving – some more than the others.  And the fact that all of the featured girls are premium waifu-material is just an added bonus.

Truly, I’ve never seen an anime show like Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai before.  It’s utterly brilliant, and I won’t be surprised if it will be considered a classic someday.

A film is reportedly set for next year, which will serve as continuation of the series.