Reviews for Insomniacs After School

Few series have ever captured the struggles of youth as well as kimisomu does. It’s a a beautifully rendered and tender story of growth and self-acceptance. Anime often tends to exaggerate adolescence, romanticising it and making it out to be this adventure that’s constantly exciting. The reality is that being a teenager sucks. There’s the stress that society and your parents put on you and the desire to fit in and find who you really are. It’s such a challenging and sensitive time. This anime handles that stage of life with such realism and authenticity that it blew my mind. I absolutely loved the use ofinsomnia as a shared bonding experience for the two main leads. Both of their conditions stem from trauma that they’ve been holding in for years. While many teens don’t go through insomnia, most do have things they’ve repressed and bottled up which can lead to anxiety, depression other mental conditions. The characters in this show reflect that. They behave as actual teenagers who are stressed would. The interactions are simple yet poignant.

There’s so many small intimate moments that just blew me away in this show. Whether it’s singing on a beach, simple nighttime walks or the type of banter between the two leads, it just has a degree of genuineness to it that’s hard to come by in anime. I really appreciated seeing the small details that make the characters who they are. The side characters are also very enjoyable and added some depth to the story. I particularly loved the astronomy club senpai who acts as a mentor to the two leads.

The romance may be a slow burn in this, but it’s a very rewarding one. Starting as club mates, then friends and so on. It feels like a believable natural progression. The two leads find solace and serenity in one another and really feel like two halves of the same coin.

The art in the show is pretty solid. It’s not the best in the world, but LIDENFILMS did a good job of bringing the story to life. I liked the art direction for all the big emotional scenes and the OST was solid throughout as well.

We’ve all been teenagers once and can relate to the pressures it brings. It’s a delicate time where we think we should have everything figured out, but we just don’t. It’s frustrating. This show gets it. If you’re tired of watching the same old high school stories and want something different, this is the one.

Kimisomu gets 9, out of 10.

I think it's a law of nature that every anime that involves astronomy or astrophotography or any astro you might think,90% of the time would definitely be a good anime and this one is one of them. Star and celestial objects are always a good theme for making an anime, all of it on its own with decent writing could be a hidden gem but this anime goes even further and sprinkle a dash of romance that makes it level up to a hidden masterpiece. Not only that, but it also has "insomniac" as the core of the story, Nobody likes being insomniac, lack of sleep cancause mental and physical deterioration, you become emotional, moody, spiteful, tired, headache a lot more, nobody likes being insomniac and neither does our protagonists, both Isaki and Ganta find themselves in a difficult situation where both of them just can't sleep no matter how hard they try. I'm pretty sure this is relatable to some of us and we hate it if we got insomnia usually we gonna force ourselves to sleep despite the fact that it's pointless while our protagonists do something else, their insomnia somehow creates a very unique bond between them, instead of just trying to force themselves to sleep they choose to...have fun with it, enjoying the pitch black sky, the sparkling star, and the alluring moon together, all of this interaction would lead to both of them to share a romantic feeling between them.

This is yet another example of "love comes from unexpected places" just like some other anime this season, we already witness a love bloom from an edgy intention to kill a girl and now it's being an insomniac, I'm sold.

Everything about this anime screams quality

The opening song feels so cozy and comforting matching up with the atmosphere of the anime.

The ending song? well...try to listen to it in the middle of the night while staring at stars from your window, it could be a cure for your insomnia.

The animation is amazing, it's so well done, and it's beautiful

the moment Ganta meets Isaki for the first time still living rent-free inside of my head, the way her eyes look in that scene...it's so hypnotizing,its just as captivating as a glass of cold water in the middle of the night.

Try to watch this in the middle of the night for a full experience.

PTSD a.k.a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a real issue that can affect all of us in certain ways that we ourselves will only know and that can be either unexplainable or inexplicable to others. But what if you could utilise the only thing that is the common denominator between two kindred spirits, and add the fraction of a relationship that's not just full of love and fluttering feelings, but one of adolescence and keen understanding? The end result will be in the form of mangaka Makoto Ojiro's Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia a.k.a Insomniacs After School, a series that, as a devoted and hardcore manga reader,I have always wanted to see her vision come to the small screen for quite some time. And in this Spring season, it has finally come (along with the live-action movie adaptation to tie in with the anime), and in the heft of new and returning rom-com-cum-romance shows, this show is one of the best of this season, bar none.

A short story on how I encountered this manga: it was a year or two ago during the pandemic season where I was unfortunately struck with the thou-shall-not-be-named virus, and even worse, it was at a time in the night where I was feeling the dread of insomnia from watching seasonal anime, as heavy as I am now even back then. After the daily stint of shows ending as late as 2 or 3 in the morning, I was looking for a manga to read, and through the grapevine, this manga came recommended to me somehow, and I read it through from the beginning, then to the next chapter, onwards, and so forth. It was so good that I read up until the latest chapter that was released at the time (well beyond the anime adaptation) and even bawled tears of joy and sadness, knowing how much I could relate to the main characters and their issues on why and how they developed insomnia to begin with. As the months pass, I find myself re-reading the entire manga from scratch so often, catching up to the latest chapters (which, as of this review, are updated to the latest Volume 13) and feeling the same exact emotions over and over again, that it hurts even more with every re-read. It's painful, but a good lesson on the fraternity and sentimentality of life. Indeed, love makes the world go round, but I also argue that goodwill is not misplaced among those who take care of each other, like brothers and sisters.

This is the story of a boy and girl who bond through the unlikeliest of circumstances, in a place where even the word "haunted" is a mere understatement to their wellbeing: Ganta Nakami and Isaki Magari. In the school where both of them reside, there once existed the Astronomy Club, located at the school's observatory, but a gruesome death hides a rumour of a ghost sighting, and has left it abandoned. Nakami, having a severe case of insomnia, seeks to find a place where he can get some shut-eye, and the one place that he always finds himself going to is the observatory, because nobody can disturb his much-needed sleep. That is the ritual habitat for him, until he finds somebody who is also sleeping there — the aforementioned Magari herself, sleeping in a locker that has been left opened and vertically placed on the floor like a sleeping bag. Thus, the mystique opens between the two, and more than acknowledging their various states of insomnia as fellow insomniacs, they help cope with each other's adverse effects to get by their high school lives to the best of their abilities, like reestablishing the Astronomy Club back to its former glory.

First off, I must praise the fact that Makoto Ojiro has taken THIS long to finally get to her masterpiece. Because this has been a very long undertaking since her starting days in the early 2010s, writing for multiple series the likes of 2012 to 2015's Fujiyama-san wa Shishunki a.k.a Fujiyama's Adolescence, to 2016 to 2018's Neko no Otera no Chion-san a.k.a Cat Temple's Miss Chion, which I have read the former after reading Insomniacs the first time through, and found it to be very poignant in its sense of capturing the story through the no-nonsense depiction of its plot. And the same can be said about KimiSomu here, taking cues from her prior works and perfecting them for this manga, and now the anime as well. KimiSomu is, to me, still a masterpiece manga in the making, though the anime adaptation has taken some liberties that I am and am not a fan of, and we'll discuss this down the road.

I must admit that I can relate quite a lot to Nakami here. He's the irritating and grumpy guy who wants to get what he wants, and that's part of his rebellious nature. He is a guy does what he wants to achieve the best results without any compromise, and apart from his varied behaviour, once you get to know him, he's actually quite the nice guy within, reasons and all. Nakami appears quite closed in the beginning, having his only friend in the form of best wingman Tao Ukegawa, who understands his insomniac issues deeply and worryingly while also remaining happy-go-lucky all the time and accompanies Nakami if he's feeling down or just being a plain ol' good, trustworthy friend at that. How we wish we could have friends like Ukegawa: a loyal friend that doesn't discriminate and plays along with his best friend's traits, even when Nakami's insomniac traits create a bond with Magari all the more.

Speaking of which, let's talk about Isaki Magari, because if you're a manga reader (you SHOULD know where I'm going with this), she's the literate embodiment of a red flag. I'm not going into spoiler territory (this is for all of you anime-onlies to figure out) but Magari herself is a stark contrast to Nakami as the sociable and carefree girl with her clique of friends: Motoko Kanikawa, Kanami Anamizu, and Mina Nono. The clique of four girls who just want to casually enjoy life together are just like normal friends whom you want to hang out with daily. Kanikawa comes on initially as a person of spite, accusing Nakami of getting close to Magari and giving him endless stares that make him feel uncomfortable. In hindsight, Kanikawa is a rather family-centric kid, the daughter of an okonomiyaki restaurant that she has inherited her family's skills from, and she goofs off quite a lot, though she always commits well to the straight man gag because she's jealous if she feels left out. Anamizu is a tanned girl whose priority is sports, specifically baseball. A somewhat closed girl just like Nakami, her words are few, but they make up for her spirit of just being there for Magari, and as much as she is a background character, she is a support that's called forth when Magari or the other girls need it. Nono is the sunshine of the group. Being very enthusiastic and methodical in her approach to just about anything, she is such a delight to watch as her easy-going nature helps to open up barriers between Magari and Nakami, even to the point of supporting their love for each other as Nakami gets more proactive in his pursuits of wanting to overcome his insomnia.

Magari's older sister Haya is the typical brat that likes to bully her own younger sister for her whims, that's the sibling echelon tower trait of superiority. Same with the blonde-haired Rui Haida, who's just a pick-up ladies' man; he too comes off as obnoxious from the get-go. And definitely, the stars of Nakami and Magari's relationship fall on Usako Kurashiki, their homeroom teacher-cum-Astronomy Club supervisor, who just wants to slack and sleep her way through. Such a crass teacher, but who cares. She's a highlight. The same goes to former club member Yui Shiromaru, to whom she contributed greatly with her great composition shots and extensive know-how when it comes to cameras, which Nakami is being taught to carry on her legacy within the club. Oh, and she carries the comic relief, which is nice.

Overall, the characters are only part of the shining example of Makoto Ojiro's manga, but that's not all. The cats, like the club's mascot of Two-chan, are also a highlight of the manga, plastered all over the place, because they are that simple and convincing, with references made from the manga's chapter titles.

The art is where the manga truly shines in its own right, being a manifestation of great visual art, almost comparable to those of art pieces, and in part, Liden Films tried to capture the mangaka's sense of her distinctive art style, it's...alright, though it can never reach the heights of the original source material. That is despite having Reiko Sasaki, planning assistant-cum-producer of Yofukashi no Uta a.k.a Call of the Night, yet another Liden Films show that focuses on the nightly aspect of the series, which this anime and its manga counterpart are similar to. To be frank, this show needs only sakuga moments in the right places, and through in-house director Yuuki Ikeda, of whom this show is his debut work, he hasn't had quite the experience backing him up from only working on shows in a single-digit manner. So, it's quite the elephant in the room that only Makoto Ojiro's story and plot hold up when others cannot.

The music is rather good, to be honest. aiko's OP is a pleasant, smooth-feeling song that tugs at the heartstrings, and makes it worth it for a decent song. The same goes to Homecomings' various ED songs, though they're fine and nothing noteworthy.

Even if there isn't Season 2 on the horizon, this is the point where I HEAVILY caution anime-onlies to read the manga at your own risk from this point on. Waiting patiently is better than rushing through the vineyard about the plot points going forward, and while the anime is by no means perfect, it's a good adaptation of the manga overall, and I'm down to see more if they give the anime a sequel in the future.

Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia is not a "bad" anime, it's just very disappointing. It turns out insomnia and astonomy were just an excuse to deliver a rather simple cliched love story (especially from episode 6) So, give it a shot if you are into cute romance, have low expectations, but don't get fooled by it's name or poster. story: I guess a lot of people around here can relate to the sleep-deprived aspect of the show but the writer(s) either never really suffered from it for an extended period of time, or simply lack inspiration. Insomnia can be painful, cause paranoid, hallucinations, and a lot ofdifferent mental health issues, it's not just a slow paced sleepy ride. Do you also realise how long a night is? and all the insignificant, yet memorable, things you can do during those dark hours? from a writing perspective, so much wasted potential is sad.

They also probably never had a real passion for astronomy to begin with or simply didn't have the guts to offer more interesting pieces of knowledge about it, who knows. The nightly photography at least offers some contemplative delicate moments, but the poetic feelings did not reach my brain nor my heart most of the time (but I admit it did, at least twice, during the lovey-dovey shots). Since you're going to the trouble of writing a slow relaxing romantic story, you might as well go all out, and fully apathetic, also during the plot thematic scene. I'm serious, those guys are supposed to suffer from insomnia, take your time, damn it!

characters:

as cliché as you'd expected.. I have nothing against positivism, and I guess the targeted demographic simply want to watch a feel-good story, with characters they can easily relate to, and not to think too much about anything else, but when your plot revolves around insomnia and the infinity of space, slightly more tormented persona with deeper inner-thoughts wouldn't hurt.

music:

bland, conventional, savourless, as any other anime out there...

art:

basic common style, nothing to write home about. Seems they also did not put much effort into the animation..

conclusion:

yes, I know, the critics sound rather harsh, blame the disappointment. the first 6 or 7 episodes are "okay", there's a couple of nice romance scenes, bits of dreamy cute ideas, but not "much" about insomnia or astronomy (at least not enough for my taste). It ends up being just another bland half-assed romance... but maybe the last 2 or 3 episode will prove me wrong...

Insomnia is something that plagues many people, and this sleep depriving condition arises from many reasons, for example, fearing what tomorrow will bring, negative thoughts, stress, and general anxiety. While insomnia isn’t something that affects me personally, for many people, seeing the two main characters who deal with insomnia, and tackle it together by pouring their restless, sleepless time into something positive like astrophotography, must have been relatable, and to me, a very solid concept. Along the way, there was some romance in the air, but it wasn’t a huge focus until near the end of the season, which I actually liked, as the charactersdidn’t just spend time with each other, but made some fond memories with their other friends as well.

The story material was generally a strong part of the show, and it was very character driven. While the focus is obviously on the two leads in Ganta and Isaki, I really liked how it highlighted the life struggles of a lot of the cast members outside of the main characters. It allowed me to get invested in most of the characters, and their interactions together. The two leads though, are very endearing, with some relatable moments regarding their insomnia and their struggles. Their dynamic together felt pretty fresh, among the large amount of romcoms we have nowadays.

The thing about the storytelling that unfortunately holds this adaptation back is that even as an anime-only for this show, it was pretty clear to me that some key moments from the manga that would serve to flesh out the characters were skipped, and thus, made some of the more dramatic scenes a bit awkward as we lacked some context to make those scenes hit harder. Even so, I did find quite a few of the scenes emotional and hard hitting, though it could have been better.

The production behind this show was a mixed bag in my opinion, as while some of the nighttime backgrounds were very beautiful, the overall animation quality was very average, with some errors here and there in character expressions. Studio LIDENFILMS has not ever really been known for stellar animation, other than in Call of the Night, but that was largely due to Monogatari director Tomoyuki Itamura making that show shine. While this show was not directed poorly at all in my opinion, it didn’t live up to some of my expectations.

Overall, this was a very fine show, with moments of brilliance and relatability, but I just wish it could have looked even better visually for more impact. The characters are endearing, the story material is well done, but as an adaptation, I’m not sure what manga readers think, but I feel it could have been adapted a bit better. That said, I found a decent amount of enjoyment nonetheless from this, as the good parts still outweighed the mediocre ones, and I’m hoping for bigger and better things to happen in the future, if it gets a sequel.

As a person who enjoys watching slice of life and romance genre, I can say 'Insomniacs After School' won't disappoint if you are searching for a comforting romance/slice of life anime to watch this season. Nothing bad to say about the plot as it is really simple and relaxing, as it should be in these genres. Two teen high schoolers who share the same problem , in this case which is 'Insomnia' spend time together and we see them getting closer to each other gradually. The interactions between the main leads are presented well. Overall this anime depicts a growing relationship nicely . Sidecharacters have been likable which is always a good thing . Pacing and direction of this show is worth mentioning as it plays a major part in watching experience . Nothing to complain in those regards either.

The animation and audio of the show is good . Starry night skies were animated beautifully and overall the animation isn't lacking anything so far. Music was also comforting. The ending song was particularly good .

Overall this show has a simple story which focuses on romance for the most part. The characters are likable and the atmosphere this anime creates is relaxing . As a manga reader I was expecting it to be adapted well and it has not disappointed me so far.

In conclusion, if you are into romance genre and searching for a show with a simple and sweet story without major drama and love polygon then this is an anime you should definitely consider to give a try. Solid start so far.

Okay where do I start with this one? Insomniac - a person who regularly unable to sleep. Okay so? The story is about a couple who both suffer from insomnia. Which maybe have messed up their regular life alots. Nakami who has publicly disclosed that he has insomnia. Everybody in class doesn't seem to care much about it. One day while doing some chore in the old storage room of the school he stumbles across Magari, a girl who is sleeping in the same room. That is when he finds out she has been suffering the same as him but was hiding it from everyone. Okay insomniaI get it. But how the story even connects?

Back to the storage room. In typical rom-com fashion, the door broke while they are still inside it. They are stuck in there until Nakami called a friend who can help, a friend that was willing to hide the fact them have insomnia. The forced proximity gives birth to an unlikely bond, and the two find solace and comfort in each other's company. After trust has been built, Nagari offer to share the place to the fellow insomniac.

Luck didn't favour them as they have been discovered to have used the storage room for midday nap and were force out of there. Luckily, turns out it was the old room for the astrology club. So they reviled the astrology club, being a club they must take part in the club activities to maintain it. Along the way they build up their relationship based on mutual trust and belief.

Okay there is a story but how good is it?

Well, 10/10 good.

What made this so good is the interaction between them. Its the same high school way as the other romances but unique and sweet in it own way. Plus, astrology is not just for showing, the story displays some serious astrology/astrography related knowledge. The night sky isn't just plain black with some light dots. Its a picture that is painted with billions and billions of stars gathered over 13.7 billion years. A picture can be seen by eyes but can't just be capture easily. That is where astrography comes in.

The astrology aspect also help builds up amazing looking art with the aforementioned night sky painted directly down the water, sparkling in the eyes of Nakami and Maguri. Just plain eyes candy for viewers.

With solid story pacing, amazing animation and absorbing music to back it up to make an astonishing romance anime.

Spring 2023 has been blessed with many romance animes but for me this is the best of romance this season has to offer. Skip to Loafer is also very near this one while Bokuyaba has a slow and cringe start but has massive developments along the last six episodes, but I seem to enjoy this anime more. Just personal reference.

This probably one of the only time where I write a full review like this. I hope other people can enjoy the show like I do.

I think it's a very fun concept because a lot of people have trouble sleeping and I've dealt with insomnia all my life basically but I don't know how to feel about this series. It feels almost a personal fantasy dream that the author is playing out for themselves, making it extremely dialogue heavy with no real direction because they're kind of forced into a club they don't personally have interest in but it's something that anyone can appreciate I guess? All that has really happen is boring small talk and the characters lack personality and charm. Series like these need strong characters or somesort of pull and we don't really have either one. Maybe later on it gets more interesting but right now the pacing is extremely slow and uneventful. The conflict should had been introduced a little bit earlier because it's dry out here...

Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia is an incredible anime that had me hooked from the first episode. The story follows the lives of two high school students, Isaki and Ganta, as they navigate their growing feelings for each other amidst the complexities of their daily lives because the insomnia. One of the things that struck me about this anime was the depth of the characters. Isaki and Ganta are both complex and nuanced because the insomnia, with their own insecurities and struggles that make them feel incredibly real. The romance of both is beautifully written, with moments of heartwarming tenderness and moments of heart-wrenching emotion. The animationis also stunning, with beautifully detailed backgrounds and character designs that capture the emotions and expressions of the characters perfectly.

Interestingly, Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia shares similarities with two other anime that I absolutely love: Sakamichi no Apollon and Sora no Manimani. Like these two anime, Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia explores themes of growing up, friendship, and the complexities of falling in love.

I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good romance or anyone who appreciates great anime.

This is based on the first three episodes and might change after I finish the anime. First of all let me just say that I read the manga before watching this anime so adjust your expectations for this review as its not really my first impressions on the story.Also, this review will have slight spoilers that won’t affect your experience about the three episodes so be warned. So lets start with the story of Insomniacs after School. The story revolves around two characters Nakami Ganta and Magari Isaki who both have had insomnonia for a while and are struggling with it. They help each otherdeal with insomnia and find themselves using the astronomy club room to relax and be able to sleep as their relationship develops into something special. The story also is heavy on slice of life and will have lots of Astronomy activities and how the club works.Overall, its a pretty good romantic story and I won’t try to spoil it anymore.

One more thing, the characters have really distinct personalities unlike lots of anime's recently with copy paste personality and thats pretty great as I found myself bored with the different reused tropes for these characters and I like the personalities that are presented in this anime especially for Ganta, I like this character so much. Also the dynamic between the main characters is very good I loved it.

As for the art and animation of the anime. Its pretty good and stays faithful to the character desing from the orginal manga but its not that special or anything amazing its just good enough for a slice of life anime.

The music is average but I really liked the ending and its visuals are beautiful, the opening wasn’t that good though. the background music is not that bad,it could have been better.

So yeah overall its a good anime That I would recommend watching if you like slice of life mixed with romance and I really hope you watch it.

OVERALL RATING : 8/10

so this is my first time writing a review after a few years of using MAL. as someone who really loves astronomy, i can say this anime is really good and beautiful. when I saw the genre I thought this was a normal anime and when I watched it wow this is not just romance but there are some comedies, slice of life, and school genres. the last time I watched an anime with an astronomical theme was just "koisuru asteroid" then I really wanted to find another anime. and I accidentally found this anime. this really makes me grateful and happy. thank you formaking this beautiful anime

10/10 of course, I enjoyed every single thing in this anime especially the astrophotography concept

The approach to romance in anime has been portrayed in very familiar territory. It is often an explosion of emotions, of characters explicitly realizing they are deeply in love with one another, of the exaggeration and over dramatization of love to make it “pop” for entertainment purposes. This is where Insomniacs After School takes a different, much more gentler and quieter walk on the journey of two individuals learning to understand and share their feelings with one another. One of the first things to notice about the two leads is how notably comfortable they are around each other. While there is a presence of teenageawkwardness, of navigating the tension of growing feelings, it is never done so in a way that is jarring and off-putting. The reactions are controlled to perfection. There is certain frictionless and accessible comfortability of the chemistry and dynamic between the leads that is very soothing. Much of the tension in the story revolves around the characters themselves, around the personal hardships and trauma they face, rather than the development of their relationship. It’s disarming but the story understand to create conflict that doesn’t stem from outside intervention. Ganta and Isaki move the plot forward on their own rather than get dragged along.

From the very first episode, the leads together hold a certain soulmate energy that stems from their shared sleeping disorder. It is with that foundation that their relationship kicks off. They begin to learn more about each other, what makes each other tick, what they fear, what they struggle with, what drives one another to do what they do, what they are passionate about. Over the course of the story, the themes of insomnia still runs, but it is expanded upon with themes of family, finding a passion, cherishing beautiful moments in time, exploring personal trauma, and accepting love, care and empathy of those around you. It explores many different aspects of life rather than run the same main theme nonstop, but never ignores the importance of it. Insomnia is something that is prevalent in almost every episode, no matter how big or small the moments are.

Ganta and Isaki’s relationship is the classic example of the “disciplined, reserved boy meets carefree, outgoing girl” story. While this has been done countless times, what matters the most is execution. In the hands of a lesser writer, the romance between these two would’ve fallen short, felt lacking and remained stagnant. There lies the magic of Makoto Ojiro’s writing, a style of romance that refines the calm approach to portraying intimacy in such a way that one can’t helped but respect the amount of tenderness and care she has for her characters, a reflection of what the two have for each other. The author and anime respects the audience’s intelligence to piece together the growing relationship between the insomniacs. It is explicit in your face that the leads love each other dearly, but it doesn’t ever need to have the two think that for the audience. Paying attention to the small blushes, facial features and understanding the context behind many big and small actions is crucial to understanding and resonating with the romance of Insomniacs.

In a way, while Insomniacs is mainly romance focused, its first and foremost directive is to portray the emotional empathy, the powerful and unyielding human connection they have to one another. Isaki and Ganta don’t focus on the ideals of love, they don’t agonize how much one cares for the other. They know it, they feel it, and they express it to each other. Their love blossomed naturally from their connection and intimacy. This approach to not ignore, but to interweave the romance so fluidly and subtly with well-meaningful interactions gives Insomniacs that feeling of authenticity that is hard to find, much less replicate. There is a natural gravitation they have towards one another that I find extremely heartwarming and touching. It’s organic romance that helps the audience learn that they’re not just romantic partners, they’re best friends, they bounce off each other so well despite being on the opposite spectrum of personalities. They are the type of people to remain together until the end of their days because their relationship is more than just romance, it’s the feeling of complete and mutual connection. They have different facets of their bond that isn’t reliant on one singular aspect.

To dive in deeper, the intimacy of their romance is very gentle and straightforward. It’s simple, but in its simplicity shines beauty and refreshes anyone that is sick of seeing characters constantly avoid each other’s advances. Isaki and Ganta are very physically intimate, they aren’t afraid to get close but not done so in a way that feels out of place. They’re not robots or machines that bends to bad romance tropes. They still are teens after all and will get a bit nervous as expected, but they never shy away from touching. There is a sense of awareness they share in one another’s presence, but they don’t make up any excuses to avoid one another’s touch. They don’t go into a nervous breakdown or panic, they cherish the comfortable moments they share.

For the emotional aspects of intimacy, there’s no shortage either. The connection these two share goes beyond falling in love. They truly get to deeply know one another and the lives they lead. As mentioned before, the feelings of empathy is executed in such a tender and powerful manner that it is easy to see how deeply lost into each other they are. Ganta and Isaki represents the ideals of youth and adolescence so elegantly through how they laugh together, how they cry and shed tears in front of each other, and through it all, be the emotional rock the other needs, whenever and wherever. There is a sense of beautiful idealization of their love that is grounded by how it is just a very natural part of life to do all they’ve done with each other. There is a balance between comfiness and melancholy, and sometimes a mix of both that Insomniacs has that propels it upwards highly in the romance genre for me.

The most real and beautiful thing about the romance between the couple is that it’s not tied to some goal. Everything that happened between them are pieces of the path, of all they went through together rather than the definite end goal they have to reach, it’s a sense of almost wandering through life and love that lies in the soulful nature of the two’s bond. Their relationship is not a mere reward but rather it is like planting a tree. Instead of the chase, you get the growth, the journey. The fruits of their relationship comes as an extension rather than the focus of their journey. Branches of intimacy extend as their relationship grows and they grow closer, from the seeds of two teens finding out they share the burden of insomnia, something they try to work around as a positive throughout the story.

From outside the couple, the supporting casts add extra depth, introspection, perspectives, and bounce off the leads very well. All of them lead their own lives but are there to provide the wisdom and support to help the two not only grow closer, but as people. They are the friends and people you wish you had in your life in high school. Shiromaru is the senpai that wants to make sure you truly understand the passion you are diving into. Kurashiki is the sensei that helps you decipher the kind of person you are, the struggles you face, and the emotions you hold. Ukegawa is the kind of wingman you’d want as not only a best friend for life, but a brother. Nono is the girl you’d want nothing more than to protect and keep her happy, her outgoing silly nature is contrasted by her focused, meditative one when it comes to art. Anamizu is the inspirational gal that you’d love to goof off with and play sports all day together due to her passion of her own, the gal who works her butt off despite people telling her she sucks and can’t do something right. Kanikawa is the spoiled brat that seems to be extremely hatable, but her energy and enthusiasm is nothing short of infectious and uplifting, plus being a chef that wants to bring the best food for the people she cares about is not half bad either. In a sense, they embody the best parts of teenage years almost just as much the couple do. It’s the sense of having these kind of people in one’s life at one point that makes high school truly worth cherishing.

The anime’s background visuals are very beautiful and as expected of Lidenfilms, the skies shine bright, the twinkling stars lined with a wonderful blend of blue, black, pink and and purple. The animation is not much to write home about but for a slice of life romance, it’s not very necessary. The emotional moments and beats are of course enhanced wonderfully by Yuki Hayashi’s OSTs, the man behind the music for Haikyuu and My Hero Academia.

Overall, this anime is a treat for those that enjoy well-paced, natural, casual and laidback romance helmed by leads with wonderful chemistry. It is a refreshing take on the romance genre and unique in its normality. The raw display of earnestness, genuine love and care the couple have is nothing short of a sight to not only behold but to truly feel, along with the calm and healing atmosphere. For me, it is a romance anime peeled back to the most rawest and beautiful layer.

Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia delivers a simple yet effective story which will warm your heart all the while avoiding stereotypes, generic plots, fanservice overtaking the story, cliches etc. A problem I've found with recently released romance animes are they either throw you in the deep end with the romance developing in the first episode or the romance doesn't develop at all. Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia allows you to care for the characters before the romance. The romance elements make the story sweeter but it's not the stories entire core nor all it has to offer. It makes me happy to see something like insomnia exploredso deeply. It's something a lot of people struggle with but you never see represented in media for more than an off-hand comment. It's genuinely moving seeing the two protagonists bond over their shared struggle, trying to combat it together all the while discovering a new hobby. The characters are in depth and feel like real people you could meet in your life rather than something you'd just see in anime. Overall Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia is a very wholesome experience perfect for when you want a feel good show or a pick me up.

Having insomnia sucks. I can tell, because I've experienced it on certain occasions. There are few things more unhealthy for your body than a lack of sleep. Humans are made to get enough shut eye just to recharge those batteries in preparation for the next day. This is what our main lead, Ganta, appears to be suffering from. The kid is struggling, not being able to get enough of that bedtime rest and also juggling school work at the same time. Sooner or later he comes across the school's observatory which he's told is a quiet place for him to relax in. There he meets Magari,a girl also wrought by the exact same issues. She's been using the observatory too, mainly to rest in such a manner that no one will be able to bother her. It is then that a friendship starts brewing between the two, which would most likely eventually lead to a blooming romance.

Insomniacs After School falls under a particular genre a certain number of anime fans would label as "Slice of Nothing Ever Happens". And in a way they're right. Insomniacs at this point doesn't really have a plot or any themes that are laid out for it to explore. But despite lacking this, it succeeds in overall vibes. It's a relaxing anime, one perfect for just taking in the calm, serene atmosphere. For a manga to anime adaptation, its rare for one to be as subtle and not in-your-face as this one. There are very few monologues, a lot of emphasis on letting the visuals do the showing, and no overly loud anime tropes being shoved in your face every now and then. And in spite of there not being a plot, there is a lot of foreshadowing that suggests that there could be a bigger storyline unfolding at any moment. Some watchers have even drawn comparisons to "Your Lie in April", hinting that some drama or tragic setups are bound to appear soon.

The strongest part about Insomniacs is its characters. They are far more realistic as far as high school students are portrayed. This is the most commendable aspect of the show as the conversations between characters unravel very naturally with characters having playful banter amongst each other, talking about classes, making jokes, and just acting like teenagers would. They feel less like caricatures and more like real people. The romance aspect of the show is also handled extremely well. The pacing for it isn't as rushed as 99% of western television neither is it absolutely draggy like most romance anime. It feels just right and the show does take its time in establishing chemistry between the two leads and in exploring how the ways they bond with each other over a shared condition, that being the inability to go to sleep. It's one of the few times where I'm actually genuinely interested in seeing how this romance will blossom.

Lidenfilms is often very inconsistent when it comes to animation quality and is the prime example of why staff matters way more than anime studios. Sometimes they would crank out a show with some of the best animation in the industry (Hanebado, Call of the Night) and other times the animation would range from poor to mediocre at best (Tokyo Revengers, Arslan senki). Insomniacs sits firmly in the middle; while its animation isn't anything to look forwards to, it has some incredibly well directed sequences here and there (an example being a very iconic moment in episode 5) and the show is brimming with atmosphere. Its not going to win any awards, but it isn't bad at the same time. The music is also in the same nature as the animation; decent enough but nothing spectacular. That being said, I don't think Insomniacs is the type of anime to require amazing sakuga or anything like that.

Recommending this depends on whether or not you're fine with a plotless show that puts more of a priority on vibes than telling a story. If you're sick to death of highschool romance anime with tsunderes, kuuderes, or whatever shallow archetypes the industry has on their sleeve, then give this one a watch. In a cesspool of romances with some of the cringiest characters and dialogue imaginable, Insomniacs After School is a refreshing addition to the genre.

This is a treasure. This is something beautiful and rare in the sea of mediocreness. This is a warm blanket. It makes you feel warm inside. This is Bob Ross of a show. It speaks to you softly and makes you feel at ease. This is Yuru Camp of romance (What?). I admire the creators of the manga and adaptation for following a clear path. I feel like they had to say no to so many things. The mainstream romance 101 list went to trash and it's still (or rather because of that) a beautiful, touching, romantic piece of art. That's why this feels so good.I am so tired of those tropes forcibly thrown at me, repeating over and over in each production. Here there are so many situations where in my mind I was picturing the usual thing to happen in a standard show, but every time I got surprised how maturely it was handled. And it felt good to be positively surprised.

It's also not a tearjerker. It has touching moments that evoke emotions but not on a magnitude that I want to lay down and cry or regret of what happened.

Quick list of characteristics:

-No fanservice except ONE case - which felt out of place. Again, fanservice scene felt out of place in this anime. You would have to try hard to find a frame you could label fanservice. They avoided all opportunities.

-A sibling is not a crazy obtrusive pervert weirdo or anything.

-MCs not some unreachable beauty queen/cool guy nor a secluded loners with some monumental issues or inner struggle. Yes they have insomnia.

-flashbacks are very limited

-conversations are not a stuttering fest or a missed opportunity championship

-plot is not driven by misunderstandings, accidents, forced drama

-no violence

-no pervert stuff

-no cursing

-no pushed agenda

-no triangles/polygons

-no lenghty intermissions filled with monologues or internal banter

+fireworks+yukata trope is there. welp..

Note, Ep1 being a little of an exception (they do get locked in, which is a common trope).

Characters.

Two main characters are Isaki and Ganta. They share the titular issue of sleeplessness but have quite different personalities and complement themselves. They treat eachother whith great respect and are able to set boundaries.

Ganta is a somewhat reserved person however he is competent and focused on his tasks. At first he isn't very social but he improves as time goes. He's the brain. He plans, considers, does homeworks.

Isaki is a joyful sweet potato. Energetic, friendly, smiling, running around, kinda impulsive, even rebellious. Not afraid to take a step. Has a distinct style. She is the heart. She does not do very well with homeworks.

I like how easy they are around themselves. A touch, a look or something trivial like exchanging contact info is just that. Compared to other shows where it's sometimes elevated to monumental event preceded by long hesitations and followed by long afterthoughts.

Sound.

As for music, it took me half of 1st episode to search for OST and save it in favourites. "Blanketed in stars" caught my ear while watching even though it was just a background for a conversation in ep1. Go ahead and look around the OST, it will give you a hint on the mood of this show. It's nothing spectacular but just very pleasant and calming, often playing quietly in the background to create a mood. I put it on often when I need to chill. The music is like a warm blanket on top of a warm blanket that this whole show is.

The ending song is nice too, usually I let it roll to the end as whatever nice happens in the episode, that song wraps it up so nicely. Like a blanket!

Both dubbing and original voices are nice to hear (though I have to give Japanese Magari the lead). English dubbing has just recently been done, which is great, meaning the show got some traction and they didn't wait long (just over 1 year).

Visual.

The visual side was nice. Because of the subject we have alot of outdoors, night sky, landscapes and landmarks. It's all beautiful (albeit a bit exagerrated in depiction of the sky maybe, still beautiful..). Animation was consistently okay. Not a marvel by any stretch, it's rather basic and there are some static shots and pans to fill, but it didn't feel cheap or lacking. Some scenes are 1:1 with the source manga, which will make manga readers surely happy - that is nicely shown in ED. Of course with beautiful colors, voice and music added.

I liked how the characters were made with careful restrain. They have normal proportions, heads are not gigantic, lips aren't tiny, eyes are not gigantic, people have noses! Nobody's hair or pupils are of weird colors (crimson red, yellow, pink, bluray discs, burning haystack to name a few I witnessed..). Profiles look like a human, not a dog. Despite that each character is unique.

In line with the source material and this production, its deliberate, reasonable, toned down, thought out.

If you want to have an idea on how restrainedit is, take a 30s peek at ep9 from 14:15 (BUT NOT A SECOND BEFORE PLEASE) - it will reveal nothing of the plot.

But, uhh, the cats looked really uncanny.. U guess I found one thing I don't like about this show. There, it's not perfect after all.

Plot.

Through a series of events they start an astronomy club, which is a motor for the plot. There are a few linked reasons there, but they are quite believable and not forced. The main theme in most episodes is photography, but it doesn't take over the show. There is some explaining on how it works but it's very basic and doesn't steal the time. Like music shows, where you are not blasted with endless monologues about how x pulls a string in slightly a different way than y and how it makes x feel sad and what the strings are anyway and how they work and btw here are whole 4 episodes for one concert only.

There was not much internal monologue. It's there but really limited to statements or realisations. I like it much better this way.

There are many different situations they are in. They travel, walk, lay on the ground, camp.. By no means it's a talking heads show.

The last few episodes are a beautiful adventure/slice of life focusing mainly on the main characters.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So I am thinking about this show after watching it. And maybe not even thinking but feeling. I feel longing. It was short but that's fine. It made me happy to watch, happy to finish and I'm happy to jump back. This is how it made me feel, regardless of all the quantifiable technicalities. It found me in a time in my life when I just needed it.

Despite no cliffhangers, drama or fast pace, I was eager to put on the next episode because of sheer attachment. Instead of "I need to know what's gonna happen!" it was more like "I wanna be there". Of recent shows I've finished, this truly had an impact and didn't let go easily.

I cannot express enough my gratitude for putting so much care to creating this the way it is. I wish more shows would be like that instead of jumping the easy train of stupid standards, overused tropes and cliches. I am sick of rolling my eyes thinking "not again.." during shows and realising it's tiring to watch, I can't bear it anymore and dropping it.

I don't think it needs another season. With my whole heart I would welcome it as I want to have this experience again but I'm not sure it will come out as good. The manga still goes on, so there should be some source material.

Insomniacs After School is much, much better than the likes of Your Lie in Apil. Why? Because it's much more grounded in reality and much less reliant on melodramatic scenes that "pull on your heartstrings" to create a compelling romance and slice-of-life show. That's right: this show is much less melodramatic than I ever expected. Is this a good depiction of a person with insomnia? I can't say, since I don't suffer from it. What I can say, however, is that the genre of this show is mainly romance. The main couple being insomniac is more of a subtheme and a way for them tocome together rather than the main point of the story. You're not going to be seeing crippling levels of insomnia where it takes a huge mental toll on both characters. It's not a dark and edgy story like that. It's more like a rather manageable amount of stress in their lives that they mitigate through companionship than anything else.

The show is also much less dramatic. No, nobody is dying in 24 days, and nobody's parents are murderers or something stupid. It's again, a bit unfortunate circumstances, but a realistic amount. Why yes, I know people who have suffered pretty harshly in life, but if the goal is romance, why bother with all of the over-the-top suffering and drama? There's a manageable and realistic load of depression, anxiety, and angst that comes along maturing and puberty that Ganta and Isaki both go through.

The problem is, does that make this good? Hmm, I think you're going to have to be the judge of that. I'm not the biggest romance type of person, so if the genre is down your alley, I'd say you would enjoy it. It certainly holds a sense of realism when it comes to dialogue, pacing, interaction, and character development.

Well, I guess realism doesn't mean too much when it's boring to watch. The entire show is Isaki and Ganta. Yeah sure, there are a few side characters, but let's be honest here, the entire show is carried by the main couple and the side characters barely contribute to the story very much. There are only two characters in the astronomy club, so it's basically a love nest. There are basically no relevant side characters, and the show knows that too, for the lack of focus on them. I think if there were a relevant cast of side characters that aren't clearly there as a supporting cast role, then the show could have been much more enjoyable than the lacking variety that you get from the scenes. In the end, you would have to decide whether or not the payoff is worth it. For me? I'll read the manga to decide. I, however, was not very impressed with the final half of the season for the lack of variety.

Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia is a poignant anime that delves into the complex inner lives of two high school insomniacs, Nakami and Isaki, through their shared late-night encounters in a deserted school observatory. While some viewers might dismiss this anime as boring or monotonous, I believe such opinions stem from a misinterpretation of its thematic depth. The series excels in its grounded, realistic portrayal of adolescent struggles, exploring personal trauma and the emotional battles each character faces. The relationship between Isaki and Nakami is exquisitely crafted. As they find solace in each other's company, their mutual encouragement helps them confront and overcome their traumas, fostering a profoundrespect and burgeoning love. This dynamic is a testament to the show's sophisticated narrative, avoiding common anime clichés of teen romance.

Cinematographically, the anime shines with its careful use of motion and angles that poignantly capture the nuanced emotional states—be it melancholy, loneliness, joy, anxiety, or sadness. The opening and ending themes, performed by Aiko and Homecomings respectively, beautifully complement the mood and themes, enhancing the overall emotional resonance of the series.

In my view, "Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia" approaches a masterclass in romance anime. It is well-written, thoughtfully produced, and free from the usual unrealistic tropes found in many teen romance stories. I give it a solid 10 out of 10—an essential watch for anyone who appreciates deep, realistic character exploration and subtle storytelling.

A Review of the Best Romance Anime(and Manga) The title of the review isn’t exactly hyperbole, although there is definitely a mix of bias in my review but I genuinely believe the show is easily the best romance anime of at least the last decade or so…Here is a spoiler-free(ish) review of prolly my fave comfort anime(and manga). There will be mild spoilers in some section but as a whole, I don’t think the spoilers would deter one’s enjoyment of the story as there is no mind blowing plot points to worry about. (Just a little disclaimer: Whenever I would be referring Ganta and Isaki(show’s main lead),I would describe them as “night owls” because…why not? They are insomniacs too…lol)

Insomniacs After School is one of the most kindest and wholesome stories out there that touches right at the audience’s heart with a great and lovably cast of characters, primarily Ganta and Isaki, the two main characters stands out obviously. Both of them suffers from Insomnia’s and fall in love with each other. Simple enough, right? Yeah but Show’s simplicity is its greatest strength as the anime exceedingly executes the story’s simplicity to downright perfection without rushing the story even the slightest bit. No moments feels rushed and every moment between our two lovey dovey night owls dorks are handled with such care.

Plot isn’t something extra spectacular or neither revolutionary. The plot contains many commonly known tropes to the genre. And yet the plot is powerful to produce moments of emotional depth so perfectly. Plot primarily contains Ganta and Isaki travelling, sometimes alone and sometimes with their (awesome) group of friends. These little trips are goddamn…beautiful. The story is extremely character driven by our two night owls which makes the trips extra special.

Characters are easily the story’s biggest strength. The side cast is great, they have their own unique personalities. They aren’t inherently interesting in traditional sense and almost everyone is supportive of the night owls . Their chemistry with the main cast is what imo makes them special. The two adults(the nurse and Shiromaru) are important…Now in the anime, they are narratively important. Shiromaru taught Ganta photopgraphy(or astrophotography to be specific) and the Nurse teacher(Kurashiki iirc) gave them the permission to open Astronomy Club. In the manga(especially in the ending part), they have a huge role to play or an important lesson to teach Ganta…(I will restrict myself from talking about manga contents entirely lol).

Now as a whole, Cast is unique and have great chemistry among themselves and the night owls. But the two magnum opuses of the character writing are- Ganta and Isaki.

The chemistry between them is…eloquent(idk why am I using so many fancy words lol). The romance between them doesn’t seem forced, they are two people who met each other by a small accident, discovered they have a similar problem and then…well…became lovers. Story never suffers from weird pacing issues and develops the story perfectly to cook . Their progress in their relationship and character development is just pure gold.

A bit dive deeper into the Night owls(It contains spoilers )-

Ganta got his insomnia from his fear…a fear of losing the ones he loves. Whenever he attaches himself to anyone, they disappear from his life. This is where he develops his unhealthy habit of self loathing and self hatred. He is naïve, he is flawed. His parents got separated as one morning, he never saw his mom. A fear that tomorrow will be worse than today. Self blame and Self guilt is something which is common in many kids who experience their parents getting separated or grew up in a household with toxic environment. Ganta was unfortunate to grow in such a similar environment. He planned the meteor watching party and got ruined by rain is one of the first examples of his self loathing we see in the story and his naivety.

Isaki was born with a heart condition. A lthough, when the events of the story(both in the anime and manga) starts, she is far from danger but she has fear. A fear of facing the future. A fear of being left behind. She was treated as special due to her condition and she hated her. Everyone treated her like a burden. She too is flawed…her sister is the only person who treated her as a normal person.

Photography is an important plot point. Ganta yearns for the past. He wants to go back to how things were simple back then when his family was happy and not separated. Isaki fears future, the future where she would be left behind, a future which she may not even be able to face…but photography is something which teaches them how to live in present properly. They can treasure their memories together. Its such a beautiful concept executed so perfectly in both the mediums.

I am a lil hesitant to deep dive more as I am undoubtedly gonna divert myself to the “manga territory” as manga still has 70 ish chapter more worth of content filled with equally(if not greater) highs.

This also leads me to another point as to how beautifully both influence each other. They teach other, they cure each other’s insomnia(not permanently ofcourse), they teach other how to live and care, they understand each other and how both develops wonderfully when you juxtapose it with the beginning of the story. Now, here is a lil fact(you can consider it a spoiler but I don’t think it’s a huge thing). There are a grand total of 2 kisses in the manga(out of which one is covered in the anime and the other one is a double page spread of their silhouettes). There is no sex as expected. But the story still feels intimate. Them sleeping together for the first time or the one time(during their picnic) or them holding hands in the ending. They are moments of intimacy that adds more depth. The execution of these scenes are just so sweet that I would argue it is even better than them having sex together to describe their intimate relationship…yeah.

The Comedy and the overall tonal awareness and atmosphere is great. The show perfectly masters the late night vibes of the sky, their trips and its beautiful. The soundtrack elevates the overall tone. Show contains a good amount of comedy(some can be a rather clichéd comedy) but they are honestly fine. I feel 8/10 times the comedy hits right perfectly and even in the remaining 2 times, the comic scene doesn’t feel “off” or ruins the overall atmosphere, comedic scenes always take place during the light hearted moments and doesn’t feel jarring or tonally off even if the jokes may not land perfectly.

The soundtrack is great. The OP and ED are rock solid(and I am even listening to ED while writing this review lol). Soundtrack never really falters the excitement and the voice acting is really on point.

Now is Animation which well…uhh let’s say is the weakest part of the show. No No, The animation isn’t terrible but seldomly inconsistent. There are some clunky and choppy frames and editing which feels weird . Although, they do manage to perfectly capture the feeling and vibes of the everlasting Night sky which has its own importance in the story and makes the night owls night time vibes and meetings alongside their trips even more memorable.

The ending is somewhat a lil divergent from the manga in a sense it feels more as a stand alone and a lil too “definite” one may say. But the ending doesn’t have any falters and is perfectly executed at a very beautiful moment, like really beautiful. Only one could hope for the Second Season. Just give us the goddamn Second Season…

This wraps up the review. I am a lil afraid didn’t deep dive into the story more.(I would be restricting myself to do that and mostly will do it when I will write a review on the manga). The story is genuinely heartfelt, kind and wholesome. Its handled with such a brilliant care and all the themes and characters are lovable, real and in many ways relatable. Just Watch the Anime for god’s sake. And It deserves a higher rating for god’s sake. I cant expect something like Erased or Demon Slayer is rated higher than this….

Animation: 9/10 Character Design: 10/10 Main Story: 9.5/10 Secondary Character Development: 6/10 Heroine: 10/10 Protagonist Development: 10/10 Soundtrack: 10/10 Final Score: 8/10 Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia stands out in its genre by offering a light and engaging narrative. The story, adapted from the manga of the same name, revolves around Ganta Nakami, a high school student suffering from chronic insomnia. This condition makes his days exhausting and his thoughts clouded. In search of a quiet place to rest, he discovers the school’s old astronomy clubroom. There, he meets Isaki Magari, a girl who shares the same difficulty with sleeping.The connection between Ganta and Magari develops silently and deeply, marked by their mutual understanding of the struggles they face. As their relationship grows, they must also deal with the challenges of adolescence: insecurities, social expectations, and loneliness. This development is one of the anime’s strongest qualities. The romance between them progresses slowly but is entertaining and captivating, with moments that truly charm the audience.

From a technical perspective, Studio LIDENFILMS did an excellent job. Known for works like Tokyo Revengers and Yofukashi no Uta, the studio delivered unique character designs, fluid animations where necessary, and beautifully detailed backgrounds that enhance the anime's atmosphere. The soundtrack is also noteworthy. The main theme, performed by aiko, perfectly complements the emotional scenes, while the music for quieter moments, with a "lo-fi" vibe, intensifies the sense of calm and immersion. Few works integrate music and narrative as harmoniously as this one.

Although it’s a romance story, Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia innovates by placing insomnia at its core. More than a medical condition, insomnia is used as a powerful metaphor for the emotional and psychological challenges the characters face, such as loneliness and the search for emotional balance. This unique approach adds depth to the story, making it much more than a simple romantic comedy.

The anime adapted 52 chapters of the manga into 13 episodes. The original manga, which has 125 chapters, has already been completed. While the main arc is concluded, there are still parts of the story that could be explored in a new season or movie. However, since the last episode aired on August 21, 2023, no announcements have been made regarding new adaptations.

Despite all its positive aspects, the anime is not without flaws. One of the main criticisms is the lack of development for some secondary characters, who are better explored in the manga. Additionally, while Ganta and Magari’s feelings for each other are evident, there is no explicit confirmation of their relationship, as Magari doesn’t directly respond to Ganta’s confession. This detail might frustrate some viewers, even though the two have already shared a kiss.

Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia is a touching work, full of memorable moments in both its visuals and soundtrack. Despite a seemingly simple plot, its emotional depth and focus on the protagonists' efforts to overcome their struggles make the anime special. It’s a must-watch for those who enjoy sensitive and well-crafted stories.

A wholesome more realistic story about two struggling teens who find each other. I can imagine why some (the minority I believe) may find the show boring, but for me this show depicts feelings of finding safety love, friendship, "purpose" and healing in such a beautiful and soft way. The beautiful animation combined, shots and sound design really pull you in the world the characters live in (Aka Japan in summer time) and makes the show instantly feel nostalgic. It reminded me of shows like Skip and loafer, Hyouka and Kimi ni todoke. The soundtrack is beautiful and suprised me several times. If you like storieswith a very clear goal/focus and or more "action" this might not be for you. But as a slice of life, romance with a pinch of drama it's perfect to me.

The only reason I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 would be that I would've loved to learn more! About the side characters and about the rest of the main characters stories and perhaps how their backgrounds continue to influence them. Time for the manga I guess.