This anime's gut-wrenching asf, but the most beautiful part of the show is how in the outro of each episode you see Kotaro's friend circle/support network slowly expand and increase. He's not alone anymore.
@@monkeydgaming3219 It was the newspaper scene that wrecked my shit, because there's epidemic of elderly Japanese people who die alone each year. So much so that there's thriving industry that specifically deals with just that issue.
Exactly. Depressing as it is but there is always room for positivity. I watched all 10 eps non stop hoping that the universe will finally grant kotaro a bless cuz the kid more than deserves it. And indeed he has everyone around him love him so much so perhaps he finally has that bless.
I watched it and cried like a baby. It's beautiful and tragic. I don't normally go for this anime style either, but this is such a good story you can tell the writer really put their heart into it.
@@hieinh You must not watch slice of life anime then. I would say this is just slightly below average for any type of animation, but JUST slightly though. The story completely carries this anime. It's so emotional and good.
Good to know I’m not the only one with this mindset about the anime. It was pretty gut wrenching in some parts that made me want to cry. And what I think makes it more tragic is how it’s played off as a light hearted anime despite presenting extremely dark themes such as neglect and child abuse. Also showing how Kotarou blamed himself for how his father treated him and thinking he just wasn’t strong enough is truly heartbreaking.
It always threw me for a loop when Kotarou says some of these things! Like what you mentioned about him blaming himself for his dad becoming a "bad guy", implying that his base understanding of some things are non-issues for him because that's what normal is. Then to us and even for the residents of Shimizu Apartments, they're usually morose revelations, like when Sumire realizes why Kotaro's mom had those gloves. Now I'm reliving some of these scenes and I wish that I wasn't. 😭
both his mom and dad are in grey area. we saw in some scenes that his mom didn't care about kotaro, but in another she cared about him. same way with his dad, in some scenes we saw him loving kotaro even more caring than the mom to kotaro, but in some others his acts are aggressive and kinda abusive. i hope there is season 2 where we can see more of the parents' problem
@@jyu6977my guess is that there is some nuance here. There’s usually some occasional light in every bleak situation. The happy ones we see might be the ones that Kotaro loves and keeps close to heart while the reality may have been closer to the dark memories we see.
For me as a person with cPTSD I can't look past just the light heartedness. There is so much to relate to with truama in almost every skit it isn't very possible to see anything of pure comedy and I don't see how others can.
I didn't like the message of that one story bit. It left an awful taste in my mouth. Felt a bit like victim blaming, I think she shoulda corrected Kotaro in his belief that you shouldn't "make people bad" it's always the choice of the person to act badly.
On the frist 2 episodes I thought Kotaro is like a metapher for someone who struggles becoming an adult and living alone. I found myself in that. And then I quickly realize it isn't like that at all. He is really a child and the Anime wasn't comedy at all. Yet I appreciated the wholesome moments.
This anime, while really dark, is very important. Despite the horrible abuse that kotaro suffered, he begins to heal and find a new family within his neighbors. The story shows that even after escaping his abusers, he still suffers and has complex traumas after what happened to him. Many people of all ages go through different types of abuse and neglect in real life. I believe that seeing a character who went through the same thing being able to heal and find a new family on TV would be helpful to people who have been abused.
The beauty in it is that it shows you how you don't need to be related to people for them to be family, but the sadness is in the journey that lead all the characters to get to where they are. The character growth, tragedy, and joy is really what made it a well rounded story. I'm really glad Netflix picked this one up it's one of the best animes I've seen this year.
both his mom and dad are in grey area. we saw in some scenes that his mom didn't care about kotaro, but in another she cared about him. same way with his dad, in some scenes we saw him loving kotaro even more caring than the mom to kotaro, but in some others his acts are aggressive and kinda abusive. i hope there is season 2 where we can see more of the parents' problem
I personally believe his mom developed some kind of depression due to a reason we don't know yet. It could also be something related to being a mother, there are many cases in which the mother develops depression and aversion to their own child. maybe it was because his father change of behavior, or maybe, due to her issues, his father didn't know how to cope and turned into an abusive asshole that maybe blamed kotaro for his mother's behavior. it could be many many options, but either way, unfortunately it's not really that uncommon for parents to just abruptly become aggressive/indifferent with their own child because of external issues :(
As it often is with neglecting and abusive parents. The world is never black and white. This is why it is so hard to break through bad relationships and it is hard for children to break connections to their parents, cause you always feel like they could do better. They are not always scummy, maybe they will be nice again. Which is why Kotaro wants to be a good boy, so his parents can be nice to him, as they are, when they are in a good mood. It is confusing being born by people that treat you based on their mood
No same, when he prepared hella food the next night I felt so gutted because it (really) hit that it was his coping mechanism, or at least one of them, for his loneliness.
That bit you mentioned about how a toddler living alone is sadder than genocide isn't that strange. TH-camr Overly Sarcastic Productions said it best in her video about "The End Of The World" trope. The end of the world is such an absurd and surreal concept, that no one could relate or even think about it. The world and all humans within it is just too big for anyone to care passionately. This is why when stories feature the end of the world, it's not the world itself that the protagonist cares about, it's their closest friends and family. They have to have the concept smaller so it can be more understandable. Also, it doesn't help that the end of the world is such a big stake, that it almost always never comes to fruition. The very rare times the world actually did end in a story, the characters either find a reset button or the few remaining humans pull an Adam and Even so humanity can still continue on. In contrast, a story about an abused toddler who was abandoned by one parent and ran away from another is painfully realistic. It's also relatable for those who had abusive parents or were kicked out of the house at a young age. My stepfather had to drop out of high school to work two minimum wage jobs so he could move away from his abusive parents at 18. Not to mention there are countless queer youths and teen parents who were kicked out and disowned by their parents. It's also refreshing to see an anime that advocates for non-traditional found families. Traditional family units are so perpetuated in media, that people who fail to live up to those standards are shammed and called a failure. Kotaro Lives Alone shows that traditional families are privileges that not everyone has, nor is it a moral failing if people choose not to have one. As much as I love Attack on Titan, I think Kotaro Lives Alone is a genuinely important anime that deserves as much attention as possible. Hopefully, it'll get a season 2.
I don't know how I didn't see your comment until now, but it's really a good comment that precisely delineates why your first sentence is spot-on. On paper, an apocalypse is far worse, but it rarely makes for an emotional reaction in practice.
Stone ocean handled the end of the world thing well imo and it was actually a bittersweet ending. However, I personally can imagine/understand the end of the world, but I'm not afraid of it or upset about, I'm looking forward for it. So when fictional works tease it then it somehow survives, I get frustrated. I'm still looking for a fictional work where the world actually ends and everyone dies and disappears. I guess I gotta google that lol
It's funny because I watched this with my boyfriend and he said it was really depressing because of what happened but I said it was uplifting because he gets people who care about him. I guess to me growing up from an isolating and abusive household, this kid who's escaped so young and then attracts a family and so many people who care sounds so happy but to my bf who has a wonderful and loving family and feels safe and comfortable at home the whole concept feels awful. I think the best part of this show as someone who comes from a bad household is how all of his problems linger but they aren't always obvious and just integrate into your life. I think one thing about abuse that people don't realize is it carves itself into you and changes your behaviours and it takes YEARS to change from a survivor mindset to living and even longer to find purpose AFTER surviving. And you have to live with the memories and feelings they leave you with forever. Realizing you were a burden or an unwanted child never goes away because it's just a fact of your life. But his life doesn't seem awful to him even if it is. And how looking back the bad household doesn't always seem that bad Because even when it's bad there are still times when it's good and when one parent is neglectful but they're your mom then they're the best person in your life. So yeah this show is happy because so many people are willing to step in and care for him and as someone who tried again and again to reach out for help and who never got it this show is very happy wish fulfilment.
Really insightful comment, especially what you said about found family. This anime does have an uplifting side to it, and like with you and your boyfriend, differing experience definitely shapes perspective.
Exactly. I want people to watch this Anime and see that it is super wholesome. "Dark" is a very negative word for little Kotaro. Though the ending made me feel uneasy. We see happy Kotaro grabbing onto Karino, knowing that Karino just lied to him. Makes you afraid, that sometime comes the point, where this idyllic life gets shattered. But still everyone is so precious and wholesome. Made me "Aw" so many times :D
@@MaryArts well in it does depend at how you look at it. Karino wasn’t entirely lying, it’s not actually sweet, but bittersweet really. The thing is though, kotaro’s mom didn’t abandon him entirely. We don’t know how she felt about him, especially with the gloves, but frankly he is living off of his mother’s life insurance, which really could only have been left for him. That means that in someway, she might have cared about him, even if it was half hearted.
As a girl who comes from abusive family and environment, I totally agree… its a show as gray as life itself, for some people it’s gonna be dark for some it’s not gonna mean much for others it’s gonna be happy… for me, it reminded me of reality and myself and that not all is bad, it gives me peace when i see his interaction with his new family members… it’s heartwarming… and i can relate to and understand his pain so it’s a bittersweet show for me… PS- I really resonated with everything you wrote especially the last paragraph of your comment… wish you a happy life dear friend!!
I think what makes this anime particularly tragic is that it doesn’t show Kotaro in his abusive home but rather shows the after effects of his abusive home. It shows the escape from that dark place and how he is trying to cope. That’s what makes episodes like the tissue episode so sad. Eating tissues for food is already tragic, but the added knowledge that this was at some point a reality for Kotaro that scarred him so deeply that even with all of his cash he still feels the need to have his tissues adds another layer of tragedy. Healing can be painful because it exposes the cracks in one’s character. Kotaro slowly warming up to all of his neighbors and coming to accept that he isn’t alone anymore is both heartwarming and painful for this exact reason
Dude, there were moments where I was nodding along all smiles and then sniffling the next second. The dentist? Ow. Literally just him finding a stain on the wall of his old home to the one on his current ceiling? Jfc, make the tears stop. Hearing about Kotaro's possible reason behind wanting to become "stronger"? AGH...I need therapy now.
The saddest part of the stain was, that it was right in a corner. Which shows that Kotaro would sit in that corner for a long time, probably to protect himself from his father or to have something to stare at while being all alone....
It's also amazing how the show educates people on how neglected/abused children behave. I'm sure a lot of people have this awareness now. Of course, not all neglected/abused children would act the way some of the kids do in the show, but it really gives a nice perspective. Next time you see the signs, it'll be easier to act instead of wonder. (ofc thorough research would be best but I just love how the show is also raising awareness)
The part where the upperclassman is having a panic attack during the soccer/football game made me instantly tear up. Hearing just general shouts from a rival coach made the child just freeze up... The many elements of abuse and neglect, and their longterm affect on everyone in the series, and how the characters come together to overcome their traumas together and experience small joyful moments, makes this show have a lot of heart and importance. Easily one of my favorite recent anime series, and I hope it gets another season soon.
I found this anime while I was on Netflix clicked it and couldn't stop watching. Its so heartbreaking but heartwarming at the same time. Its really good! I usually don't watch slice of life anime but, I'm glad I watched this!
@@SlashinatorZ Mob Psycho 100 served as my bridge to slice-of-life anime, since it's got equal doses of great action scenes and the more heartfelt, down-to-earth moments, especially in the second season.
Thing is, I NEVER even thought the animation quality was average or below average. I just thought it was a different type of animation style they used to produce the series and I genuinely loved it because the animations nowadays kinda look the same so I liked that this one stood out in that way. Didn't know people actually thought the quality was bad or average at best.
It was so easy to relate to these characters. My favorite part was when Shin allowed Kotaru to figure things out with Tasuku. More importantly, that Shin was there and he said he would be no matter the outcome. Shin's love for Kotaru was not conditional upon whether Kotaru made good decisions or not. It was not conditional at all. Shin decided he was going to be there for Kotaru. Regardless of how Shin felt, he had already made up his mind to stand by Kotaru no matter the outcome.
I've gotta say, I've never been so invested, emotionally and otherwise, to any other artistic medium, let alone anime, like I have been with Kotaro Lives Alone. I too will be damned if they do not renew for another season. It might sound stupid, but I use lessons taught in this anime and some of the tenets Kotaro adheres to in my life since watching. A fictional 5 year old character has affected me THAT much, and I can, somewhat embarrassingly, admit that I am better for it. The perspective it has provided me has made me think twice about how I see things in the world as well as how I see my own circumstances. Its absolutely a must watch and I'm sincerely hoping there is more to come.
Honestly,there’s nothing embarrassing about taking away a valuable lesson that you can apply to your life despite a 5 year old character. Seriously if you take a valuable lesson that from any show that you can apply into your life to make you have a better perspective,then that’s a great thing my guy!
Dont be embarrased! I live in a toxic household and my mother never paid attention to me and was sometimes aggresive, it feels good to watch this anime and grow up, my grandparents used to hold me with gloves too and i cried a river in that one episode
@@Dopinoi Like Kotaro, we can train and become stronger, making friends along the way! If I've learned anything, its that the people we meet and grow close to in this life can become just as, sometimes even more, familial and important as the family we were born to. I read a quote somewhere that was like, "When we are born, a family chooses us. But, as we age and learn more of ourselves and about the world, WE then choose our family. " Thanks for the kind words and sharing your experiences. I'm heartened to see art bring people together like this series has.
I’ve never been super crazy about anime personally but I have watched Kotaro Lives Alone three times now and I’m trying really hard to resist a fourth so soon >.< there is something really special about this one.
Bro this shit hits different I was so confused when I started it and got stuck watching all 10 episodes it’s actually so good it’s just so sad and the story is actually really good. I don’t mind the animation of the story is actually good and this was
My wife and I watched this series recently, and it hit my wife in a way that I don't think many could appreciate. Not because of what Kotoro and co deal with, but because my wife is in social services, and has seen children that have dealt with somewhat similar situations. All the abuse that Kotoro has dealt with, and how he's coped with it (or attempts to cope with it, because let's be real - that kid needs significant therapy) is horribly and terribly realistic. Kotaro wasn't a show that tugged at my heart strings, or even my wife's, but it was something she greatly appreciated from her professional experience. It was certainly something.
The anime may be addressing domestic issues in japan I think, everything feels rain and thunder for poor lil kotaro, good thing his neighbors brought umbrellas
i love this anime but a part that stands out to me, is the episode that kotaro joins the soccer club and the kid who has 2 little siblings and taken by CPS, it shows that he has a trigger to yelling which i haven't seen in any other anime
i seriously cried so hard watching kotaro lives alone. the ones that hit the hardest is the tissue talk, the talk about daily meals not being guaranteed, gloves, and when his friend took advantage of him and he let it happen. And the part that really gets me is that Kotaro understands the world to a certain extent. He understands sad things to a certain extent because he's still a child. He doesn't know everything yet and he lets loose some details about his troubling past and the adults around him have to deal with them and lift him up. And something I really love was that the adults around him slowly figure out his life and try their best to keep him happy. They can't just tell him outright why these things happen or why his life is so sad, but what they can do is be there for him. Be the adult figures he needs in his life. And I saw people saying that he should've been older, but I disagree. What makes this story so wholesome is that he's a 4 year old kid who doesn't know any better because he's 4. If he was 10 or a teenager, he would be really hesitant to share his life and he would've probably ignore them. The biggest gut wrenching part of Kotaro Lives Alone is that he lets out these small, but troubling details, because at 4 he doesn't see them as an issue. After all little kids don't really have a filter and he innocently shares parts of his life without knowing that they're not okay and that he wasn't okay.
After watching it, I still think this Anime is more wholesome than dark or sad. I mean I cried like a baby, yes, but everyone is just so precious and show how to treat each other right. Kotaro is a good boy and is allowed to feel that way
I went into this anime blind, I thought it was just a funny slice of life anime. Little did I know this would be the first anime that would literally make me ugly cry since I first watched Girls Last Tour.
SAME! I came across it and was intrigued and then finished the show next day ready to fight for little Kotaro. I really can't wait for a second season of this show, the storytelling is absolutely beautiful and heartwarming/wrenching.
they really pull a bait and switch with the happy, cute opening and then bam tears, tears and more tears... I loved this show though, it was genuinely very moving, heartwarming and heart breaking in equal measure.
It's sad, incredibly sad. But you know Kotaro is such a role model, he's insanely thoughtful, observant and emotionally intelligent. I want to be as strong as he is. I wish I could give him a tight hug. ❤
I think what I really love about Kotaro’s lives Alone after binging the whole season within a few hours, is that even though his parents haven’t been the nicest to him or have even provided a great life for him, the best way we all can live life is to understand everyone’s situations and adapt around them, or maybe that while everyone may have a family, you can also have a family of your own just by being well known in your community. Friends who take care of you and look out for you everyday, basically makes them family. There’s just so many ways you can interpret KLA but I think it is a dark, yet wholesome anime. It hits home weirdly enough and although I didn’t exactly go through the hardships Kotaro faced I do indeed understand the pain. I cannot wait for season 2!
I just finish the watching the show. If I was a kid I will not see the deeper meanings between the interactions of Kotaro with the characters but I have the same situation with Kotaro but the difference is that there were no people that help me or was with me and wasn't brave as him. Its a show that will make you cry and appreciate what you have now. 10/10 great show.
When I watched this show I felt more like I could relate to the manga author since we, the audience, discover all the signs of neglect and trauma the kid has endured as he does and Kotaro is written in a sympathetic way so that we like him the same way the manga writer did.
The tissues scene broke me. I watched this anime just to pass some time, thinking it was going to keep me from boredom and it definitely did. Still, I wasn't prepared to get my heart broken like this. Indeed, it was beautiful. Yet, it also hurt me a lot. I hope this anime gets more recognition
This anime was so cathartic. It's so precious to see some of your own experiences and feelings caught in this anime. What got me the most was when Kotarou's neighbours want to organize a birthday party for him and he says 'I never thought of me being born as a good thing'. It hit me right in the feels.
2:22 I wouldn’t say he did it just because. He sided with editor because he editor explained that he was really just trying to help Karino and that he believes in him. Kotaro not only believes in Karino and cares about him, but very much supports improvement as he himself is trying to improve all the time. So he acknowledges the editor’s actions as helpful and mimics them in hopes of improving and supporting Karino
I had originally watched the J-drama adaptation of Kotarou Lives Alone (I was on a J-drama hype after finishing Gekikaradou), and I find it to be extremely gut-wrenching at times. I loved the story so much that I decided to start watching the anime adaptation as well. I have yet to finish it due to work, but this video is making me want to binge-watch it!
Almost every character in this anime has somewhat a negative life specially Kotaro, but joining two negatives creates positive, and i think this anime shows it, which is why I love it.
This is not a dark anime in my opinion. There are sad moments but the overall thing is how love can help anyone. Kotaro is not even related to these adults and they care for as if he is their child. It shows how it takes a village to raise a child. I'm a clinical social worker and I see so much hope in this anime. Working in child welfare and being a therapist I have seen stories like this were love and care can help change a young child's life. I guess it depends on what one has experienced how one would react to the anime. If you have unresolved trauma you might not see the positivity in this anime and only focus on the negative. I'm a huge fan and watched this anime multiple times. I even got my mom loving this anime. We joke around and she calls him Koko and she'd his adoptive grandson since I said I adopted him. I agree there needs to be another season.
I would love to see your take on Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan! It might only have one season out and the manga might not be anywhere close to being finished but I haven’t really seen anyone really talk about it outside of recommending it (although I may have just been missing them). It might be the best representation I’ve personally ever seen of the comedy that comes along with being disappointed with how life ends up going and ‘wasting’ potential (as someone who’s been dealing with very similar emotions at a very similar age)
@@AnimeInRetrospect It’s a great time! Just be prepared to have a bit of an existential crisis at least once per episode while laughing. I hope you enjoy it!
It started off so light hearted then it got so dark so quickly. It really is a touching story I hope it gets a second season. And yes you learn why Kotaru lives alone.
This anime was a gut punch. Every time Kotaro did something adorable, you realized why and it’s oof. I still absolutely loved it and can’t wait until season 2. It did have a lot of sweet moments as well.
When I tell yall I cried at least once every episode I am not joking. I've always been a huge fan of stories about found family and seemingly mature children who've had it rough and this story really just took both and turned it into something out of this world. And it wasn't just nonsensical angst, like something a character holds at their back but never talks about again. We actually got to see how all the things Kotaro had gone through impacted the way he responded to certain situations and his mindset.A nd despite it all, he still was just a kid who wanted to have fun and be loved. It's a really wholesome anime and I can't wait for the next season
When I saw this anime that was released on Netflix, I thought it was going to be terrible or bad. So I watched it blindly without reading any reviews or anyone opinion on it, and man it hit so hard. I never expected it to be so dark and sad with just the story alone. Watching it blindly without knowing a single thing about it, made me feel like I'm in the neighbors shoes. Slowly learning more and more about Kotaro and his situation which hit even harder.
Saw this vid in my recommendation section So I decided to watch 5 episodes and umm I’m crying What hit hardest the most was the balloon scene and the tissues one
The unique art style is plus in my opinion. It differentiates itself from the mind numbing formulaic shows out there. It's also the contrast it brings to the theme of the show that makes it hit even harder.
I'm watching this after seeing the first 4 episodes. I'm loving it. It really hits a spot that other more popular ones just can't reach. I'm watching it in English and it's actually pretty good.
This anime makes me really sad to see kids having to go through such hard times, I was lucky in the fact that we were never left alone in the house without any food, but knowing kids go through this breaks my heart, every child deserves loving parents but not all parents deserve kids
I just finished watching this and I was so happy and sad the whole way through. I ended up rewatching clips on TH-cam to help with the loss of an amazing show I’ll never get to experience the same way again. Now I’m here!
This anime is something. It had me crying, laughing, and all over the place. I love it so much. It’s my favorite anime of 2022 so far. I love kotaro so much. Never have I ever want such a happy ending for a fictional character.
I was expecting all the sad stuff with Kotaro but I didn’t expect Kotaro to find the trauma in his neighborhood and help people address it. It felt very real in a way I didn’t expect because everyone does have their own issues they are dealing with.
NGL, it is really is a dark anime. It might look like a light anime but BRO! It wasn’t. You’ll have a whiplash watching it…one time you’re laughing then 5 mins later, you’re crying your heart out. I ABSOLUTELY love the characters, the plot, the animation and the relationship that they have is really like how you’ll meet a real person…it is SO GOOD. Never underestimate this anime…it’s a must watch.
It definitely was a lot darker than I originally thought this show was going to be, also extremely heartwarming when all his neighbors are basically taking care of him.
This anime may look wholesome but damn, it's heart wrenching.. with the tissue eating revealiation to the mom touching him with gloves, when his orphanage friend lie and basically trying to steal his money. He even teach his friends to approciate their parents..
I clicked on it as i had time to watch one episode but later did I know I was glued and binged the whole 10 episodes in 2 days. This is of the greatest anime I have watched in recent time and man I love it so much, not to mention the amount of tissue I had to burn through.
As a parent no matter what you are going through even if you've been abused by your spouse or have a depressing mental illness you don't leave your child alone, you are a terrible mother if you do that and a vile person, what you did can never be forgiven. I don't even feel sorry for his mother that she killed herself but i felt very sad for Kotaro cause he won't be able to see his mother again and that would make him so sad, i can't imagine the sadness he would go through, let's be honest Kotaro went through more than what his mom did and he's the real victim here of both his parents.
I mean it's hard to compare who was suffering more. it was certainly more unfair to kotaro but kotaro's mum (who clearly cared for him) still was suffering so much that she literally couldn't look after him and went and took her own life. that's seriously a soul that feels it's suffering so much and so utterly lost that it's completely give up any and all hope. if you've ever been in that kind of endless despair, I think you feel sympathy and empathy for the mother regardless of her actions. she clearly is a terrible mother and extremely incapable, that's for sure, but was she a vile person through and through? I don't think so
I love slice of life anime for the light-hearted feelings of being young, but this anime felt the most real despite it's absurd moments because it delved into the problems everyone was having. I went to a school where a lot of kids didn't have the good life or good parents, and while I couldn't relate, I felt like some of the characters in the anime were people I've met before. Seeing how Kotaro viewed the world vs everyone else was heartbreaking, and seeing more and more people come into Kotaro's world and care for him brings relief that he'll have people who he can one day talk about the pain with.
I’m 5 eps in and had to stop this video. I see so much of myself in kotaro. I try so hard to be kind and respectful, but life always has its kiss for me…
I watched this the other day when I sat down to eat dinner, having never heard of it. I ended up binging the whole thing and shedding so many tears, I was in no way prepared for it
I just want to say I saw your video pop up on my timeline about 5 before I decided "dang I better watch this anime" came back after binging in 1 day to watch your video 👍
I cried in every eps. :'( it hit me when Karino found out Kotaro used to eat tissues :'((( and the fact that his mom left him alone, died unknown, his father used to abuse him before separating with his mom. woah his past was so dark
I enjoyed your review of the anime Kotaro Lives Alone. You explain it so well and using roses and thorns as an analogy was great. You do it justice without giving away spoilers.
Your videos have helped me find and appreciate so many unique shows 😀
Thanks! This is part of why I make these videos, so it's nice to see people take interest in the anime I talk about.
This anime's gut-wrenching asf, but the most beautiful part of the show is how in the outro of each episode you see Kotaro's friend circle/support network slowly expand and increase. He's not alone anymore.
Yo the tissues scene hit hard
@@monkeydgaming3219 It was the newspaper scene that wrecked my shit, because there's epidemic of elderly Japanese people who die alone each year. So much so that there's thriving industry that specifically deals with just that issue.
@@vercingetorix9005 what a story it’s also so heartwarming along with the heartbreak I give it a 9.5/10
Exactly. Depressing as it is but there is always room for positivity. I watched all 10 eps non stop hoping that the universe will finally grant kotaro a bless cuz the kid more than deserves it. And indeed he has everyone around him love him so much so perhaps he finally has that bless.
I watched it and cried like a baby. It's beautiful and tragic. I don't normally go for this anime style either, but this is such a good story you can tell the writer really put their heart into it.
Honestly, the story was so good that I didn't even notice the animation quality
People care too much about animation lol. Give me a story
I'm not gonna lie, i noticed, but once i got into it i didn't care about it anymore.
It’s not bad at all. I’d say it’s actually above average for slice of life animation
@@hieinh You must not watch slice of life anime then. I would say this is just slightly below average for any type of animation, but JUST slightly though. The story completely carries this anime. It's so emotional and good.
@@animec-dramaskpop6362 If you want bad animation watch AOT
The season was ten episodes and I cried for ten episodes 😭
Same
I believe everyone with a heart did 😭
Even the credits got me every time! I loved watching Kotoro's world get less lonely and more lively with each new character that joined in!.
SAME OMG
It hits you just as bad the second time you watch it
Good to know I’m not the only one with this mindset about the anime. It was pretty gut wrenching in some parts that made me want to cry. And what I think makes it more tragic is how it’s played off as a light hearted anime despite presenting extremely dark themes such as neglect and child abuse. Also showing how Kotarou blamed himself for how his father treated him and thinking he just wasn’t strong enough is truly heartbreaking.
It always threw me for a loop when Kotarou says some of these things! Like what you mentioned about him blaming himself for his dad becoming a "bad guy", implying that his base understanding of some things are non-issues for him because that's what normal is. Then to us and even for the residents of Shimizu Apartments, they're usually morose revelations, like when Sumire realizes why Kotaro's mom had those gloves. Now I'm reliving some of these scenes and I wish that I wasn't. 😭
both his mom and dad are in grey area. we saw in some scenes that his mom didn't care about kotaro, but in another she cared about him. same way with his dad, in some scenes we saw him loving kotaro even more caring than the mom to kotaro, but in some others his acts are aggressive and kinda abusive. i hope there is season 2 where we can see more of the parents' problem
@@jyu6977my guess is that there is some nuance here. There’s usually some occasional light in every bleak situation. The happy ones we see might be the ones that Kotaro loves and keeps close to heart while the reality may have been closer to the dark memories we see.
For me as a person with cPTSD I can't look past just the light heartedness. There is so much to relate to with truama in almost every skit it isn't very possible to see anything of pure comedy and I don't see how others can.
@@jyu6977 them being in the grey area just makes them bad
When Mizuki left the apartment in a few episodes, I fucking cried man. Kotaro's mother figure in the apartment gone because of his boyfriend.
nice spoiler warning btw
@@Lucyferbby the whole video is a spoiler tho?
@@Lucyferbby sorry bout that but maybe you shouldn’t have come to the comments of a video about a show you havent watched to completion yet
@@Lucyferbby why are you even in the comment section then?
I didn't like the message of that one story bit. It left an awful taste in my mouth. Felt a bit like victim blaming, I think she shoulda corrected Kotaro in his belief that you shouldn't "make people bad" it's always the choice of the person to act badly.
I thought I was gonna see a wholesome slice of life anime. I ended up crying a lot because of sadness and joy
Yeah, I didn't think kotaro was an actual child, I thought it was just a stylized anime with a focus on comedy.
I, was wrong.
On the frist 2 episodes I thought Kotaro is like a metapher for someone who struggles becoming an adult and living alone. I found myself in that. And then I quickly realize it isn't like that at all. He is really a child and the Anime wasn't comedy at all. Yet I appreciated the wholesome moments.
Same, the trailer Netflix showed me for the show made me think it was a comedic slice of life anime, it tricked me..
Same
Yeah
This anime, while really dark, is very important. Despite the horrible abuse that kotaro suffered, he begins to heal and find a new family within his neighbors. The story shows that even after escaping his abusers, he still suffers and has complex traumas after what happened to him. Many people of all ages go through different types of abuse and neglect in real life. I believe that seeing a character who went through the same thing being able to heal and find a new family on TV would be helpful to people who have been abused.
The beauty in it is that it shows you how you don't need to be related to people for them to be family, but the sadness is in the journey that lead all the characters to get to where they are. The character growth, tragedy, and joy is really what made it a well rounded story. I'm really glad Netflix picked this one up it's one of the best animes I've seen this year.
@@kgal1298 yes, I agree wholeheartedly!
both his mom and dad are in grey area. we saw in some scenes that his mom didn't care about kotaro, but in another she cared about him. same way with his dad, in some scenes we saw him loving kotaro even more caring than the mom to kotaro, but in some others his acts are aggressive and kinda abusive. i hope there is season 2 where we can see more of the parents' problem
omg the thing about the “gloves” being used by his mom to touch him. 😭😭😭
I think it could also be an unreliable narrative at play
Maybe Kotaro is seeing his parents as much worse than what they actually are
I personally believe his mom developed some kind of depression due to a reason we don't know yet. It could also be something related to being a mother, there are many cases in which the mother develops depression and aversion to their own child. maybe it was because his father change of behavior, or maybe, due to her issues, his father didn't know how to cope and turned into an abusive asshole that maybe blamed kotaro for his mother's behavior. it could be many many options, but either way, unfortunately it's not really that uncommon for parents to just abruptly become aggressive/indifferent with their own child because of external issues :(
As it often is with neglecting and abusive parents. The world is never black and white. This is why it is so hard to break through bad relationships and it is hard for children to break connections to their parents, cause you always feel like they could do better. They are not always scummy, maybe they will be nice again.
Which is why Kotaro wants to be a good boy, so his parents can be nice to him, as they are, when they are in a good mood.
It is confusing being born by people that treat you based on their mood
@@maggiepie765 at first I saw it like how the one girl did, but He knew that she wore them so she could touch him, not because she HAD to touch him.
Can we all show some more appreciation for Karino? I adore him
I adore him too.
fr he's a real mvp
I love him.
He is a hero
He's so precious I wanna raise him
That episode with the food really just made me cry. I was not expecting him to be making a bunch of food dishes to stop himself from being lonely
ooh so thats what it means, thx i didnt get it when watching the scene
No same, when he prepared hella food the next night I felt so gutted because it (really) hit that it was his coping mechanism, or at least one of them, for his loneliness.
Or the part where he was eating tissue papers to survive cuz of hunger. I cried on that bit...
That bit you mentioned about how a toddler living alone is sadder than genocide isn't that strange. TH-camr Overly Sarcastic Productions said it best in her video about "The End Of The World" trope. The end of the world is such an absurd and surreal concept, that no one could relate or even think about it. The world and all humans within it is just too big for anyone to care passionately. This is why when stories feature the end of the world, it's not the world itself that the protagonist cares about, it's their closest friends and family. They have to have the concept smaller so it can be more understandable. Also, it doesn't help that the end of the world is such a big stake, that it almost always never comes to fruition. The very rare times the world actually did end in a story, the characters either find a reset button or the few remaining humans pull an Adam and Even so humanity can still continue on.
In contrast, a story about an abused toddler who was abandoned by one parent and ran away from another is painfully realistic. It's also relatable for those who had abusive parents or were kicked out of the house at a young age. My stepfather had to drop out of high school to work two minimum wage jobs so he could move away from his abusive parents at 18. Not to mention there are countless queer youths and teen parents who were kicked out and disowned by their parents. It's also refreshing to see an anime that advocates for non-traditional found families. Traditional family units are so perpetuated in media, that people who fail to live up to those standards are shammed and called a failure. Kotaro Lives Alone shows that traditional families are privileges that not everyone has, nor is it a moral failing if people choose not to have one. As much as I love Attack on Titan, I think Kotaro Lives Alone is a genuinely important anime that deserves as much attention as possible. Hopefully, it'll get a season 2.
I don't know how I didn't see your comment until now, but it's really a good comment that precisely delineates why your first sentence is spot-on. On paper, an apocalypse is far worse, but it rarely makes for an emotional reaction in practice.
thats beautifully said dude :')
Devilman Crybaby would like a word
Ayyy a fellow osp fan!
Stone ocean handled the end of the world thing well imo and it was actually a bittersweet ending.
However, I personally can imagine/understand the end of the world, but I'm not afraid of it or upset about, I'm looking forward for it. So when fictional works tease it then it somehow survives, I get frustrated. I'm still looking for a fictional work where the world actually ends and everyone dies and disappears. I guess I gotta google that lol
It's funny because I watched this with my boyfriend and he said it was really depressing because of what happened but I said it was uplifting because he gets people who care about him. I guess to me growing up from an isolating and abusive household, this kid who's escaped so young and then attracts a family and so many people who care sounds so happy but to my bf who has a wonderful and loving family and feels safe and comfortable at home the whole concept feels awful.
I think the best part of this show as someone who comes from a bad household is how all of his problems linger but they aren't always obvious and just integrate into your life. I think one thing about abuse that people don't realize is it carves itself into you and changes your behaviours and it takes YEARS to change from a survivor mindset to living and even longer to find purpose AFTER surviving. And you have to live with the memories and feelings they leave you with forever. Realizing you were a burden or an unwanted child never goes away because it's just a fact of your life.
But his life doesn't seem awful to him even if it is. And how looking back the bad household doesn't always seem that bad Because even when it's bad there are still times when it's good and when one parent is neglectful but they're your mom then they're the best person in your life.
So yeah this show is happy because so many people are willing to step in and care for him and as someone who tried again and again to reach out for help and who never got it this show is very happy wish fulfilment.
Really insightful comment, especially what you said about found family. This anime does have an uplifting side to it, and like with you and your boyfriend, differing experience definitely shapes perspective.
Exactly. I want people to watch this Anime and see that it is super wholesome. "Dark" is a very negative word for little Kotaro.
Though the ending made me feel uneasy. We see happy Kotaro grabbing onto Karino, knowing that Karino just lied to him. Makes you afraid, that sometime comes the point, where this idyllic life gets shattered.
But still everyone is so precious and wholesome. Made me "Aw" so many times :D
@@MaryArts well in it does depend at how you look at it. Karino wasn’t entirely lying, it’s not actually sweet, but bittersweet really.
The thing is though, kotaro’s mom didn’t abandon him entirely. We don’t know how she felt about him, especially with the gloves, but frankly he is living off of his mother’s life insurance, which really could only have been left for him. That means that in someway, she might have cared about him, even if it was half hearted.
@@someonenothere8818 wouldn’t Kotaro know that he’s lying dice he’s very perceptive
As a girl who comes from abusive family and environment, I totally agree… its a show as gray as life itself, for some people it’s gonna be dark for some it’s not gonna mean much for others it’s gonna be happy… for me, it reminded me of reality and myself and that not all is bad, it gives me peace when i see his interaction with his new family members… it’s heartwarming… and i can relate to and understand his pain so it’s a bittersweet show for me…
PS- I really resonated with everything you wrote especially the last paragraph of your comment… wish you a happy life dear friend!!
I think what makes this anime particularly tragic is that it doesn’t show Kotaro in his abusive home but rather shows the after effects of his abusive home. It shows the escape from that dark place and how he is trying to cope. That’s what makes episodes like the tissue episode so sad. Eating tissues for food is already tragic, but the added knowledge that this was at some point a reality for Kotaro that scarred him so deeply that even with all of his cash he still feels the need to have his tissues adds another layer of tragedy. Healing can be painful because it exposes the cracks in one’s character. Kotaro slowly warming up to all of his neighbors and coming to accept that he isn’t alone anymore is both heartwarming and painful for this exact reason
Dude, there were moments where I was nodding along all smiles and then sniffling the next second. The dentist? Ow. Literally just him finding a stain on the wall of his old home to the one on his current ceiling? Jfc, make the tears stop. Hearing about Kotaro's possible reason behind wanting to become "stronger"? AGH...I need therapy now.
I mean it’s not that much but the dentist scene was good
The saddest part of the stain was, that it was right in a corner. Which shows that Kotaro would sit in that corner for a long time, probably to protect himself from his father or to have something to stare at while being all alone....
It's also amazing how the show educates people on how neglected/abused children behave. I'm sure a lot of people have this awareness now.
Of course, not all neglected/abused children would act the way some of the kids do in the show, but it really gives a nice perspective. Next time you see the signs, it'll be easier to act instead of wonder. (ofc thorough research would be best but I just love how the show is also raising awareness)
The part where the upperclassman is having a panic attack during the soccer/football game made me instantly tear up. Hearing just general shouts from a rival coach made the child just freeze up...
The many elements of abuse and neglect, and their longterm affect on everyone in the series, and how the characters come together to overcome their traumas together and experience small joyful moments, makes this show have a lot of heart and importance. Easily one of my favorite recent anime series, and I hope it gets another season soon.
I found this anime while I was on Netflix clicked it and couldn't stop watching. Its so heartbreaking but heartwarming at the same time. Its really good! I usually don't watch slice of life anime but, I'm glad I watched this!
Fr need a s2
Yeah I'm normally a JoJo, dragon ball, one punch/piece guy & I turned this on to see what it was.
Got into it just like with Komi & Thermae Romae
@@SlashinatorZ Mob Psycho 100 served as my bridge to slice-of-life anime, since it's got equal doses of great action scenes and the more heartfelt, down-to-earth moments, especially in the second season.
I found it just last night and I was curious, literally almost cried throughout the episodes. This anime is one of my favorites this year.
You better watch the live action one.
It's on Netflix too
Thing is, I NEVER even thought the animation quality was average or below average. I just thought it was a different type of animation style they used to produce the series and I genuinely loved it because the animations nowadays kinda look the same so I liked that this one stood out in that way. Didn't know people actually thought the quality was bad or average at best.
same! i thought the animation was kinda similar to saiki k
The animation adds to the charm. It’s so cute that when the darker scenes comes on, it just makes the atmosphere somewhat bleaker.
Same! I thought it was cute.
I never even noticed. Probably because I haven't watched that much anime.
Bro, this show had me crying like every other fucking scene.... fucking tissues man
“Tissues” 😭😭😭 Kotaro deserves all the good things in this world.
@@maggiepie765 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
THE TISSUES AND GLOVES 😭😭😭😭😭
@@ninarain9422 the “lie” scene made me cry omg
did u eat the tissue too?
It was so easy to relate to these characters. My favorite part was when Shin allowed Kotaru to figure things out with Tasuku. More importantly, that Shin was there and he said he would be no matter the outcome. Shin's love for Kotaru was not conditional upon whether Kotaru made good decisions or not. It was not conditional at all. Shin decided he was going to be there for Kotaru. Regardless of how Shin felt, he had already made up his mind to stand by Kotaru no matter the outcome.
I've gotta say, I've never been so invested, emotionally and otherwise, to any other artistic medium, let alone anime, like I have been with Kotaro Lives Alone. I too will be damned if they do not renew for another season.
It might sound stupid, but I use lessons taught in this anime and some of the tenets Kotaro adheres to in my life since watching. A fictional 5 year old character has affected me THAT much, and I can, somewhat embarrassingly, admit that I am better for it. The perspective it has provided me has made me think twice about how I see things in the world as well as how I see my own circumstances.
Its absolutely a must watch and I'm sincerely hoping there is more to come.
Honestly,there’s nothing embarrassing about taking away a valuable lesson that you can apply to your life despite a 5 year old character.
Seriously if you take a valuable lesson that from any show that you can apply into your life to make you have a better perspective,then that’s a great thing my guy!
I'm totally right there with you. This anime has changed my life!
Dont be embarrased! I live in a toxic household and my mother never paid attention to me and was sometimes aggresive, it feels good to watch this anime and grow up, my grandparents used to hold me with gloves too and i cried a river in that one episode
@@Dopinoi Like Kotaro, we can train and become stronger, making friends along the way! If I've learned anything, its that the people we meet and grow close to in this life can become just as, sometimes even more, familial and important as the family we were born to.
I read a quote somewhere that was like, "When we are born, a family chooses us. But, as we age and learn more of ourselves and about the world, WE then choose our family. "
Thanks for the kind words and sharing your experiences. I'm heartened to see art bring people together like this series has.
I’ve never been super crazy about anime personally but I have watched Kotaro Lives Alone three times now and I’m trying really hard to resist a fourth so soon >.< there is something really special about this one.
Bro this shit hits different I was so confused when I started it and got stuck watching all 10 episodes it’s actually so good it’s just so sad and the story is actually really good. I don’t mind the animation of the story is actually good and this was
My wife and I watched this series recently, and it hit my wife in a way that I don't think many could appreciate. Not because of what Kotoro and co deal with, but because my wife is in social services, and has seen children that have dealt with somewhat similar situations. All the abuse that Kotoro has dealt with, and how he's coped with it (or attempts to cope with it, because let's be real - that kid needs significant therapy) is horribly and terribly realistic.
Kotaro wasn't a show that tugged at my heart strings, or even my wife's, but it was something she greatly appreciated from her professional experience. It was certainly something.
The anime may be addressing domestic issues in japan I think, everything feels rain and thunder for poor lil kotaro, good thing his neighbors brought umbrellas
i love this anime but a part that stands out to me, is the episode that kotaro joins the soccer club and the kid who has 2 little siblings and taken by CPS, it shows that he has a trigger to yelling which i haven't seen in any other anime
I have to give it to the director and staff for making this anime a masterpiece with simple animations. 10/10
It is a great example to all animation studios in the world.
"Write a story where the writing does most of the work, not the animation"
0:14
Lets be real, all of us went "NOOOOOOOOOOO WHYYYYYYY" in that scene in episode 10.
well im not that surpised, the insurance lady have spoil it
😭
Thank you for talking about this anime, it is so underrated and unique and I see no one talking about this show. Great Video!
i seriously cried so hard watching kotaro lives alone. the ones that hit the hardest is the tissue talk, the talk about daily meals not being guaranteed, gloves, and when his friend took advantage of him and he let it happen. And the part that really gets me is that Kotaro understands the world to a certain extent. He understands sad things to a certain extent because he's still a child. He doesn't know everything yet and he lets loose some details about his troubling past and the adults around him have to deal with them and lift him up.
And something I really love was that the adults around him slowly figure out his life and try their best to keep him happy. They can't just tell him outright why these things happen or why his life is so sad, but what they can do is be there for him. Be the adult figures he needs in his life.
And I saw people saying that he should've been older, but I disagree. What makes this story so wholesome is that he's a 4 year old kid who doesn't know any better because he's 4. If he was 10 or a teenager, he would be really hesitant to share his life and he would've probably ignore them. The biggest gut wrenching part of Kotaro Lives Alone is that he lets out these small, but troubling details, because at 4 he doesn't see them as an issue. After all little kids don't really have a filter and he innocently shares parts of his life without knowing that they're not okay and that he wasn't okay.
I loved it when karino said ' that's my boy ' when he saw kotaro light up with joy and sing when he was there
One of the saddest moments I saw was when he took the balloons and drew his parents
😭😭😭😭😭😭
After watching it, I still think this Anime is more wholesome than dark or sad. I mean I cried like a baby, yes, but everyone is just so precious and show how to treat each other right.
Kotaro is a good boy and is allowed to feel that way
My thoughts as well.
I went into this anime blind, I thought it was just a funny slice of life anime. Little did I know this would be the first anime that would literally make me ugly cry since I first watched Girls Last Tour.
I watch these type of anime in the middle of the night so nobody can see me sobbing and crying crocodile tears
I binged this anime in 2 days and it was amazing, I haven't cried or felt this way about an anime in so long. I'm looking forward to a s2!!
SAME! I came across it and was intrigued and then finished the show next day ready to fight for little Kotaro. I really can't wait for a second season of this show, the storytelling is absolutely beautiful and heartwarming/wrenching.
they really pull a bait and switch with the happy, cute opening and then bam tears, tears and more tears... I loved this show though, it was genuinely very moving, heartwarming and heart breaking in equal measure.
It's sad, incredibly sad. But you know Kotaro is such a role model, he's insanely thoughtful, observant and emotionally intelligent. I want to be as strong as he is. I wish I could give him a tight hug. ❤
I think what I really love about Kotaro’s lives Alone after binging the whole season within a few hours, is that even though his parents haven’t been the nicest to him or have even provided a great life for him, the best way we all can live life is to understand everyone’s situations and adapt around them, or maybe that while everyone may have a family, you can also have a family of your own just by being well known in your community. Friends who take care of you and look out for you everyday, basically makes them family. There’s just so many ways you can interpret KLA but I think it is a dark, yet wholesome anime. It hits home weirdly enough and although I didn’t exactly go through the hardships Kotaro faced I do indeed understand the pain. I cannot wait for season 2!
P.S The Animation quality is unique and not every animation needs to be top notch to tell a great story.
this show broke my heart multiple times. and the fact there are probably a lot of kids like kotaro in real life...
I just finish the watching the show. If I was a kid I will not see the deeper meanings between the interactions of Kotaro with the characters but I have the same situation with Kotaro but the difference is that there were no people that help me or was with me and wasn't brave as him. Its a show that will make you cry and appreciate what you have now. 10/10 great show.
That balloon scene was indeed emotional.
When I watched this show I felt more like I could relate to the manga author since we, the audience, discover all the signs of neglect and trauma the kid has endured as he does and Kotaro is written in a sympathetic way so that we like him the same way the manga writer did.
the moment when you realize that he isn't a weird future reincarnation of some samuari lord, it gets super depressing.
10/10 worth watching.
The tissues scene broke me. I watched this anime just to pass some time, thinking it was going to keep me from boredom and it definitely did. Still, I wasn't prepared to get my heart broken like this. Indeed, it was beautiful. Yet, it also hurt me a lot.
I hope this anime gets more recognition
they never showed us him crying like a normal child
but the day I see Kotaro's crying face , I don't know how I would react
This anime was so cathartic. It's so precious to see some of your own experiences and feelings caught in this anime. What got me the most was when Kotarou's neighbours want to organize a birthday party for him and he says 'I never thought of me being born as a good thing'. It hit me right in the feels.
Put it on while making breakfast ended up crying while eating not what I expected
This is my new favorite anime, and you summed it up so lovely.
The Netflix preview made it look like a cute slice of life
2:22 I wouldn’t say he did it just because. He sided with editor because he editor explained that he was really just trying to help Karino and that he believes in him. Kotaro not only believes in Karino and cares about him, but very much supports improvement as he himself is trying to improve all the time. So he acknowledges the editor’s actions as helpful and mimics them in hopes of improving and supporting Karino
I had originally watched the J-drama adaptation of Kotarou Lives Alone (I was on a J-drama hype after finishing Gekikaradou), and I find it to be extremely gut-wrenching at times. I loved the story so much that I decided to start watching the anime adaptation as well. I have yet to finish it due to work, but this video is making me want to binge-watch it!
Omg I absolutely have to watch that!! Where is it?
Almost every character in this anime has somewhat a negative life specially Kotaro, but joining two negatives creates positive, and i think this anime shows it, which is why I love it.
This anime made me realize I could cry for nearly three hours straight.
This is not a dark anime in my opinion. There are sad moments but the overall thing is how love can help anyone. Kotaro is not even related to these adults and they care for as if he is their child. It shows how it takes a village to raise a child. I'm a clinical social worker and I see so much hope in this anime. Working in child welfare and being a therapist I have seen stories like this were love and care can help change a young child's life. I guess it depends on what one has experienced how one would react to the anime. If you have unresolved trauma you might not see the positivity in this anime and only focus on the negative. I'm a huge fan and watched this anime multiple times. I even got my mom loving this anime. We joke around and she calls him Koko and she'd his adoptive grandson since I said I adopted him. I agree there needs to be another season.
I would love to see your take on Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan!
It might only have one season out and the manga might not be anywhere close to being finished but I haven’t really seen anyone really talk about it outside of recommending it (although I may have just been missing them).
It might be the best representation I’ve personally ever seen of the comedy that comes along with being disappointed with how life ends up going and ‘wasting’ potential (as someone who’s been dealing with very similar emotions at a very similar age)
I skipped this when it aired but that does sound like a good time! Might have to check it out.
@@AnimeInRetrospect It’s a great time! Just be prepared to have a bit of an existential crisis at least once per episode while laughing. I hope you enjoy it!
It started off so light hearted then it got so dark so quickly. It really is a touching story I hope it gets a second season. And yes you learn why Kotaru lives alone.
This anime was a gut punch. Every time Kotaro did something adorable, you realized why and it’s oof. I still absolutely loved it and can’t wait until season 2. It did have a lot of sweet moments as well.
When I tell yall I cried at least once every episode I am not joking. I've always been a huge fan of stories about found family and seemingly mature children who've had it rough and this story really just took both and turned it into something out of this world. And it wasn't just nonsensical angst, like something a character holds at their back but never talks about again. We actually got to see how all the things Kotaro had gone through impacted the way he responded to certain situations and his mindset.A nd despite it all, he still was just a kid who wanted to have fun and be loved. It's a really wholesome anime and I can't wait for the next season
Thank you for talking about this anime! I've never seen other people talk about it, and I can't wait until it gets more popular.
When I saw this anime that was released on Netflix, I thought it was going to be terrible or bad. So I watched it blindly without reading any reviews or anyone opinion on it, and man it hit so hard. I never expected it to be so dark and sad with just the story alone. Watching it blindly without knowing a single thing about it, made me feel like I'm in the neighbors shoes. Slowly learning more and more about Kotaro and his situation which hit even harder.
Saw this vid in my recommendation section
So I decided to watch 5 episodes and umm
I’m crying
What hit hardest the most was the balloon scene and the tissues one
The unique art style is plus in my opinion.
It differentiates itself from the mind numbing formulaic shows out there.
It's also the contrast it brings to the theme of the show that makes it hit even harder.
Kotaro lives alone made me cry tears of happiness and sadness. It was an emotional roller coaster
Exactly my sentiments
I'm watching this after seeing the first 4 episodes. I'm loving it.
It really hits a spot that other more popular ones just can't reach.
I'm watching it in English and it's actually pretty good.
This anime makes me really sad to see kids having to go through such hard times, I was lucky in the fact that we were never left alone in the house without any food, but knowing kids go through this breaks my heart, every child deserves loving parents but not all parents deserve kids
IM SO GLAD PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ANIME MORE ITS SO GOOD !!! keep up the good work :3
I just finished watching this and I was so happy and sad the whole way through. I ended up rewatching clips on TH-cam to help with the loss of an amazing show I’ll never get to experience the same way again. Now I’m here!
This anime is something. It had me crying, laughing, and all over the place. I love it so much. It’s my favorite anime of 2022 so far. I love kotaro so much. Never have I ever want such a happy ending for a fictional character.
Most wholesome and dark anime ever
Good video. It's probably one of my favorite videos you have ever produced.
This anime is also one of my new favorites.
That balloon scene killed me
I was expecting all the sad stuff with Kotaro but I didn’t expect Kotaro to find the trauma in his neighborhood and help people address it. It felt very real in a way I didn’t expect because everyone does have their own issues they are dealing with.
I just want Kotaro to live a happy life with his adopted family, and never have to worry about being alone again, man this poor kid 🥺
NGL, it is really is a dark anime.
It might look like a light anime but BRO! It wasn’t.
You’ll have a whiplash watching it…one time you’re laughing then 5 mins later, you’re crying your heart out.
I ABSOLUTELY love the characters, the plot, the animation and the relationship that they have is really like how you’ll meet a real person…it is SO GOOD. Never underestimate this anime…it’s a must watch.
The final episode at the grave really got me man.
Good vid keep it up my dude :)
Thanks!
I cried each episode 🥲🥲
You actually described this so beautifully that it needed my comment literally,I never comment on videos
The way I absolutely BAWLED at the ending of episode 9, I'm ready to donate to help build his castle 😭😭😭
It definitely was a lot darker than I originally thought this show was going to be, also extremely heartwarming when all his neighbors are basically taking care of him.
I just imagine if I was in Kotaro situation Idk how to handle all those burden he had..I MEAN HE'S JUST LIKE 4 Y/O BROO *cry
The tissues and gloves 😭😭😭 Heartbreaking
I seldom watch anime but I am glad I noticed this anime on Netflix today: finished it in one sitting. My favourite anime thus far.
Each episode of this anime literally make me literally crying.
So bittersweet, but also so wholesome. Just watched it and loved it so much.
Easily my new favorite anime channel on TH-cam
This anime may look wholesome but damn, it's heart wrenching.. with the tissue eating revealiation to the mom touching him with gloves, when his orphanage friend lie and basically trying to steal his money. He even teach his friends to approciate their parents..
I clicked on it as i had time to watch one episode but later did I know I was glued and binged the whole 10 episodes in 2 days. This is of the greatest anime I have watched in recent time and man I love it so much, not to mention the amount of tissue I had to burn through.
Man the times I cried during this show 😭 it was such a wonderful anime to watch really pulled my heartstrings!❤️
As a parent no matter what you are going through even if you've been abused by your spouse or have a depressing mental illness you don't leave your child alone, you are a terrible mother if you do that and a vile person, what you did can never be forgiven. I don't even feel sorry for his mother that she killed herself but i felt very sad for Kotaro cause he won't be able to see his mother again and that would make him so sad, i can't imagine the sadness he would go through, let's be honest Kotaro went through more than what his mom did and he's the real victim here of both his parents.
I mean it's hard to compare who was suffering more. it was certainly more unfair to kotaro but kotaro's mum (who clearly cared for him) still was suffering so much that she literally couldn't look after him and went and took her own life. that's seriously a soul that feels it's suffering so much and so utterly lost that it's completely give up any and all hope. if you've ever been in that kind of endless despair, I think you feel sympathy and empathy for the mother regardless of her actions. she clearly is a terrible mother and extremely incapable, that's for sure, but was she a vile person through and through? I don't think so
I love slice of life anime for the light-hearted feelings of being young, but this anime felt the most real despite it's absurd moments because it delved into the problems everyone was having. I went to a school where a lot of kids didn't have the good life or good parents, and while I couldn't relate, I felt like some of the characters in the anime were people I've met before. Seeing how Kotaro viewed the world vs everyone else was heartbreaking, and seeing more and more people come into Kotaro's world and care for him brings relief that he'll have people who he can one day talk about the pain with.
I’m 5 eps in and had to stop this video. I see so much of myself in kotaro. I try so hard to be kind and respectful, but life always has its kiss for me…
Just watched all 10 episodes in under a day and I cried a Nile river 😭
I watched this the other day when I sat down to eat dinner, having never heard of it. I ended up binging the whole thing and shedding so many tears, I was in no way prepared for it
I couldn't make it pass the second episode. Felt like my heart was being squashed.
It hurts but heart warming in alot of ways as well especially when you can relate to alot of this
This anime hits you. This is really an anime about child neglect and how to overcome it.
I just want to say I saw your video pop up on my timeline about 5 before I decided "dang I better watch this anime" came back after binging in 1 day to watch your video 👍
I cried in every eps. :'( it hit me when Karino found out Kotaro used to eat tissues :'((( and the fact that his mom left him alone, died unknown, his father used to abuse him before separating with his mom. woah his past was so dark
I think I cried at least once every episode. I wasn't expecting it to be so gut wrenching.
"That's my boy"....
Kotaro lives needs to be the final arc.
I enjoyed your review of the anime Kotaro Lives Alone. You explain it so well and using roses and thorns as an analogy was great. You do it justice without giving away spoilers.