Kotaro Lives Alone brought a fascinating twist on your run of the mill slice of life anime when it aired on the 10th of this month.
Splendidly elevating the genre with its superb plot and outstanding character development, it boosted the show’s appeal with its deeper and dark themes.
Directed by Tomoe Makino and animated by Liden Films, this Japanese Netflix original anime is an adaptation of the comedy-drama manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Mami Tsumura.
Synopsis
The anime is a class of its own as it masterfully weaves in emotionally heavy concepts without the use of action, fantasy or the supernatural.
Purely relying on the everyday life of ordinary people, it captivates the viewer’s attention through heartfelt and relatable stories that prompt deep self-reflection and gratitude to one’s current life.
But it isn’t all gloom and doom, as there’s plenty of smiles and light-heartedness when the central protagonist grows and overcomes his hardships, steadily learning to trust in the kindness of others.
Is It Worth Adding To Your Anime Watchlist?
It’s undoubtedly worth your time as it promises an exciting yet wholesome watch that moves beyond the standard gag anime trope, delivering a series of intertwining and impactful anecdotes.
1. Plot
The plot kicks off with four-year-old Kotaro Sato taking up residence in an apartment complex all by himself. With no sign of his parents, he’s adamant about standing on his own feet and becoming a pinnacle of strength.
As he goes about his venture of independence, he forms a unique bond with the building’s tenants, particularly with his neighbour and aspiring manga artist, Shin Karino.
Even though Kotaro’s mysterious past forms the meat of the story, each episode holds multiple themes that strengthen the ties between him and his newfound family or plainly put across essential life lessons.
But despite its light-heartedness, it can casually throw in the most heart-wrenching moments of Kotaro’s loneliness out of nowhere.
This show is a real episode turner and a lovely watch with a meticulously structured sequence of gut punches and bittersweet moments.
The pacing of individual stories are relatively quick and proceed without any plot holes, though the formula soon becomes slightly repetitive.
While its simplistic art style and animation are considered a weak link, it beautifully emphasises practical issues in an overall engaging story that everyone can enjoy and relate to, making it a feat worthy of praise.
2. Characters
The anime comprises a host of entertaining yet thoughtfully designed characters.
Each one is independently captivating with their struggles and quips. Moreover, everyone receives stellar character development within a record time of 10 episodes!
Kotaro is a beautifully written central protagonist.
Everything from his aristocratic feudal lord language to his endearing personality, his mystifying past, and his headstrong determination to grow up draws in the viewer’s empathy and love for him.
But as his story unfolds, we finally understand the depth of his character and the subtle yet profound meaning of his quirky behaviour.
I’m constantly in awe of his intuition and enraptured by his thought process, especially when he excels at stuff most adults find hard to do (myself included).
Throughout the show, we become so used to Kotaro’s knowledge and impeccable mannerisms of a refined gentleman that the times he does act like a kid his age, its preciousness is amplified, especially when we realise it’s these few moments that he actually enjoys his childhood despite his hardships.
The rare instances when he genuinely flashes a smile or innocently sings an off-beat tune is truly heart-warming and heart-wrenching, as it reminds us to be grateful for our lives, no matter how inconvenienced, we may be.
Besides the show’s star, the secondary protagonists and the supporting characters are all exceptionally crafted to make them memorable and relatable.
As each one goes about their day and tries to overcome their respective hurdles, Kotaro’s understanding and honest nature help them find solace in their troubles and even turn a new leaf to cope with them.
But it doesn’t there; their wholesome interactions offers the pint-sized star a chance to learn about life and even accept friendly assistance. Karino, in particular, has some of the best ‘father-son’ moments with Kotaro.
However, the parental dynamic isn’t forced even though they become close. It’s skillfully built throughout the episodes, without any rush and keeping each characters’ mannerisms intact.
3. Setting
The anime is mainly set in the quiet suburbs and occasionally the metropolis of modern-day Japan.
Although we are treated with various locations within the first half of the show, it soon becomes visually fatiguing when the same environments are revisited.
While the simplistic line art style of the interior of the apartments and surroundings maybe not be everyone’s liking, it certainly fulfils its true purpose of accounting for the show’s comedy and balancing or even masking its profound message.
Stream It Or Skip It?
Overall, this show had me hooked from start to finish! It’s definitely 100% stream material as its unforgettable cast of characters, refreshing storytelling, and spectacular dialogue make it an endearing tale that I hope will be renewed for a second season.
About Kotaro Lives Alone
Kotaro Lives Alone is a story about Kotaro Sato, a four-year-old who moves next door to Shin Karino, a failed mangaka in an apartment complex. Kotaro has no parents but somehow manages to earn an income and lives alone. Surprisingly, despite his age he has his life more put together than his adult counterparts.
Mami Tsumura launched the manga in Big Comic Superior in 2015. The series has reached over 1.4 million copies in circulation. It also won an Electronic Manga Award in 2018.
The series has a live-action adaptation with an upcoming anime adaptation in spring 2022.
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