Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai!

Growing up, we all wondered if we had superpowers. We claimed to be mighty warriors or powerful warlocks at times. Childhood is a time when we are most imaginative and act on our fantasies. This series appeals directly to the child who was once a superhero.

The 12-episode anime television series "Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai," officially known in English as Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!, is based on a Japanese light novel series written by Torako and illustrated by Nozomi Saka. It is directed by Tatsuya Ishihara and brought to life by Kyoto Animation Studio. Tatsuya Ishihara served as the show's director. Jukki Hanada wrote both the composition and the script. Nijine composed the music, Kazumi Ikeda created the character designs, and Mutsuo Shinohara served as the art director. Kazumi Ikeda served as the series' chief animator.

Sentai Filmworks obtained the North American distribution rights for the anime, which was aired on Anime Network and Hidive. In Japan, the show aired from October 4 to December 19, 2012. The series was first released in North America on subtitled DVD by Sentai Filmworks on May 27, 2014, and then on DVD and Blu-ray Disc with English dubbing on February 24, 2015. It debuted on June 2, 2014, and was televised by Animax Asia in Southeast Asia.

In September 2013, a short animated film and six-minute YouTube light episodes were also made available. Takanashi Rikka Kai: Gekijou-ban Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! - the first series was remade into a compilation film ("Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions the Movie: Rikka Version" in English). Between January and March 2014, "Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai -Heart Throb-," a second anime season, aired on television. In 2018, we saw the debut of "Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai- Take on Me," a second animated movie with a fresh plot.

The core theme of "Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai," which had 12 episodes with a running time of 24 minutes each, was high school. It was rated PG -13, Teens 13 and older and belonged to the comedy and romance genres. The official English title is Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. However, the original title translates variously as "Regardless of My Adolescent Delusions of Grandeur, I Want a Date, I Want to Fall in Love." Several characters have delusions, believing they are magical girls. You can tell what anime this would be based on the titles.

The main protagonists in the story are exhibiting chuunibyo; a phrase used to ridicule the immature behavior of young teenagers who are assumed to have magical powers akin to those of anime characters or act out illusions. Sanae Dekomori, Shinka Nibutani, Rikka Takanashi, Yuuta Togashi, and Kumin Tsuyuri are the five primary protagonists in this story. In junior high school, Yuuta Togashi, our primary protagonist, received a "chunibyo" diagnosis. He referred to himself as the "Dark Flame Master," and he constantly baffled and occasionally humiliated his family in front of others.

Yuuta tries to start high school where he knows no one, away from his old illusions, because he finds his history embarrassing. In contrast to the other students from his middle school, he chose to attend "Icho Private High School," which is farther away. At the time, however, people outside his family thought he was cool. Rikka Takanashi, a deluded girl in his class, hears of Yuuta's past on the first day of school there, and she starts to show interest in him.

As the story develops, Rikka grows closer to Yuuta, who welcomes her despite finding her delusions annoying and embarrassing, even when she brings up his shameful past. He tutors Rikka and assists her in starting and running her club, among other things. The "Far-East Magical Napping Society - Summer" is the club in dispute. Thereof," also mentions the perpetually snoozing Kumin Tsuyuri, former chuunibyou Shinka Nibutani, and present chuunibyou Sanae Dekomori.

When Yuuta joins Rikka on her summer vacation, he learns about Rikka's dark childhood, the same reason she fell into her delusions, which I won't spoil for you. After Yuuta offers to assist Rikka in her hunt for the "Ethereal Horizon," the location that may contain the key to helping her feel better, she develops romantic feelings for him, and so does he.

Yuuta, the main male protagonist, has short brown hair, a thin fringe, green eyes, and a somewhat tanned complexion. Yuuta is usually quite pleasant and respectful to everyone. When someone brings up his 8th-grader syndrome, he immediately becomes embarrassed and humiliated by his chuunibyou history, becoming aggressive towards the person who brought it up, usually Rikka, Dekomori, and Kumin.

Rikka Takanashi has dark purple-blue hair that is tied back with a yellow ribbon. She has bright blue eyes and wears a yellow contact lens on her right eye, which she refers to as "Tyrant's Eye," and allows her to reveal fates according to her beliefs, even wearing an eye patch to "lock its abilities." She usually wears roller shoes to help with her movement and perform stunts. It's hilarious to watch her hair move in such a comical way. Her personality is passionate and theatrical. Her delusions mirror her real-life emotions, such as when she states that eating tomatoes burns away one's mana.

Their friendship grows into a romantic relationship with Rikka as the story thickens. Rikka's illusions also demonstrate how it builds friendship relationships with other people, how the chunibyo causes diverse reactions in people, and how it affects different people. It reminds you of times when you were a kid and played ninjas, spies, or superheroes with your friends at school, and how awkward it would be to try that today in high school, with all the looks and stares. It's like stepping back in time!

Animation, art, and character designs serve the anime well, adding to the overall enjoyment, and aren't many complaints. Overall, the animation is quite fluid and constant. It highlights the humorous parts using art and animation.

"Sparkling Daydream" by Zaq serves as the opening theme, and "Inside Identity" by Black Raison d'être serves as the closing theme (Maaya Uchida, Chinatsu Akasaki, Azumi Asakura, and Sumire Uesaka). There are also three insert songs: "Hajimari no Tane," or "The Seed of Start," by Zaq in episode eight, "Kimi no Tonari ni," or "Next to You," by Zaq in episode ten, and "Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o," by Maaya Uchida in episode 10. On October 24, 2012, the single for "Sparkling Daydream" was released, and on November 21, 2012, the single for "Inside Identity" was released.

Rarely is there an anime with few gripes, or maybe there are, and it's overshadowed by a bit of nostalgia, but Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai is a delightful anime. If you enjoy lighthearted, funny anime that allows you to forget about your concerns and travel down memory lane, this is the anime for you. Recommended!!