Insomniacs After School

“Starry Nights and Sleepless Dreams”

During our journey through adolescence, we have all experienced the unique challenges and pressures that accompany this transitional phase. It is a delicate period in which we often find ourselves longing to have our lives perfectly mapped out while feeling the weight of uncertainty a tad too much. The frustration that arises from this internal conflict is all too familiar, and everything mentioned above can cause insomnia in many teenagers.

Insomnia troubles many individuals, causing sleep deprivation due to various reasons such as fear of the future, negative thoughts, stress, and anxiety. They find solace in astrophotography, channeling their restless nights into a positive and productive outlet. This concept resonates with me as a meaningful approach to dealing with insomnia.

This show profoundly understands the complexities of these transformative teenage years, resonating with those seeking a departure from clichéd high school narratives. If you're tired of repetitive storylines and predictable plots, this series offers a refreshing change. It brings an innovative perspective, providing an authentic and relatable portrayal of the teenage experience. Get ready for an extraordinary journey that captures the essence of adolescence compellingly and refreshingly!

"Insomniacs After School’ (Kimi wa Hōkago Insomunia) is an anime TV series based on a Japanese manga series. Yuki Ikeda was the director, and Liden Films created it. Rintarō Ikeda wrote the scripts, Yuki Fukuda designed the characters, and Yuki Hayashi composed the music.

The series aired from the 11th of April until the 4th of July in 2023 on TV Tokyo, Pony Canyon, Ultra Super Pictures, Shogakukan, MAGNET, and CHOCOLATE. Sentai Filmworks has the rights to stream the series on Hidive, while Muse Communication has the rights for Southeast Asia.

This enjoyable anime is based on a manga with the same title and contains 13 episodes, each lasting up to 23 minutes. It falls under the romance genre and follows a school theme intended for young adult viewers (the Seinen demographic). It has a PG-13 rating, making it suitable for teens aged 13 or older. The series also spawned a live-action film adaptation that premiered in June 2023.

Ganta Nakami is a high school student who lives in Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture. He has trouble sleeping at night, also known as insomnia, and one day, he discovers an old observatory on his school grounds. There, he meets Isaki Magari, a fellow student who also struggles with insomnia and secretly uses the observatory to take naps.

Although they didn't talk much before, their shared experience of having insomnia brings them closer throughout the story. However, their situation becomes challenging when a sign saying "no entry" is placed in front of the observatory. In hopes of regaining access, they devised the idea of reviving the Astronomy Club.

The word “revive” implies that the Astronomy Club existed at one point, which it did, but a gruesome death now hides a rumor of a ghost sighting, leaving the observatory abandoned. Nakami is an irritating and grumpy guy merely seeking a place where he can get some shut-eye, and the one place he always finds himself going to is here because nobody can disturb his much-needed sleep.

This character, who suffers from a feeling I want to banish permanently, was far too relatable. That said, this is a ritual habitat for him, all until he finds somebody else sleeping there, the aforementioned Isaki herself, who is sleeping in a locker that has been left open. This very odd encounter leads the mystique to open up between the two, and they opt to help each other cope with their adverse effects to get by their high school lives to the best of their abilities. I would do the same if I were in their shoes, because what else is there?

Anime frequently portrays adolescence exaggeratedly and romanticized, making it seem like a thrilling adventure. However, the truth is that being a teenager can be difficult, and it involves dealing with societal and parental pressures, as well as the struggle to fit in and discover one's true self. It's a challenging and delicate period of life. This anime stands out by portraying this stage of life with remarkable realism and authenticity, which amazed me.

Moreover, the central theme of this story revolves around insomnia, which nobody enjoys experiencing. Lack of sleep can have adverse effects on both our mental and physical well-being, leading to emotional instability, moodiness, irritability, fatigue, and frequent headaches. Just like us, the protagonists of the story also dislike being insomniacs. However, what sets them apart is how they handle it: instead of forcing themselves to sleep, they choose a different path.

Their insomnia becomes a unique bond that connects them, and rather than struggling to fall asleep, they embrace the situation and find joy in it. Together, they appreciate the beauty of the night sky, the shimmering stars, and the captivating moon. Through these shared experiences, a romantic connection begins to blossom between them.

That is the best I can say about the storytelling, which is regrettably limited because they omitted some crucial manga scenes that would have helped to develop the characters further. This, in turn, made some of the more dramatic scenes quite awkward, as we lacked some context. Thus, these great scenes don’t hit as hard as they should’ve, which is a real shame. Even so, I found quite a few scenes to be adequately emotional and hard-hitting, though they could have been much better.

This show has numerous heartwarming moments that genuinely impressed me. Whether it's singing together on a beach, taking peaceful walks at night, or engaging in playful conversations, there is a genuine quality to these interactions that is rarely seen in anime. I truly valued the attention given to the small details that shape the characters and make them unique.

The supporting characters also contribute to the story, adding depth and enjoyment; a fine example is their senpai from the astronomy club, who mentors the main characters. Overall, the show is quite good and faithful to the original manga's character designs. However, it doesn't possess anything extraordinary; it simply meets the expectations of a slice-of-life anime.

Upon initial inspection, the visuals and animation may appear somewhat unconventional, but the studio delivers some breathtaking scenes during the most pivotal moments. The backgrounds in the anime are stunning, especially the skies. Liden Films did a great job portraying the bright, shining sky with twinkling stars, combining shades of blue, black, pink, and purple. On the other hand, flashbacks can become bothersome when used excessively, a mistake many anime in this genre make. However, I must say this anime uses flashbacks correctly, as they are kept short but meaningful, adding depth to the story without becoming overwhelming.

Another enjoyable aspect of this anime is the sound and music department. The soundtrack is very peaceful, and watching this show late at night gives it a unique feel. Aiko sings the opening theme song, "Itsu Aetara" (which translates to "When Can We Meet"), and Homecomings performs the closing theme song, "Lapse." The prior is a pleasant, smooth-feeling song that tugs at your heartstrings, while the latter is OK but nowhere near noteworthy.

The anime's plot is simple and relaxing, perfect to watch while you are looking to chill. The interactions between the main characters are well-presented, and the anime effectively portrays the growth of their connection. The pacing and direction of the show are noteworthy and contribute to the viewing experience as well. Despite not being bad in any sense, there is nothing to complain about regarding this anime's plot, pacing, or direction, but there is nothing to write home about either.

Finally, this show is quite good, with a healthy amount of brilliant and relatable moments. If I have any gaping complaints, it's that the visual aspect could have been improved to have a more substantial impact. The characters are lovable, and the story is well executed. However, as an adaptation, I'm not sure how manga readers feel, but it could have been done better in some areas, too. Even so, I still found a decent amount of enjoyment in the show because the good parts outweighed the average ones.

This isn't the show for you if you prefer stories with a clear goal or more action. But if you love simple and relaxing slice-of-life and romance series with a hint of drama, then this show is perfect. Overall, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genres and themes. If a sequel series does come, I hope for bigger and better things happening for these characters, all with a side of insomnia!