Waste of time.......... Seriously......why? Why did I even watch that?
What is Watamote? It's a story with a beginning and no end. It's sad in a pathetic way. It is hardly even a story and certainly not worth animating and making into an anime.
Story (what little there is)- Watamote is about a first year high school student who is socially awkward and wants to get a guy to talk to her, although towards the end she just wants someone to talk to her. It's not exactly a unique story or a very interesting one unless it is done really well, which it isn't. A story has a start, a middle (climax to the turning point) and an end. Watamote has a rough start, then as the snail races by in a blur, it makes it's way to the climax, and then it never really makes it. It's the little engine that couldn't. I suppose you could argue that it does make it to a very bland and tiny climax and even gets over the hill all the way, but I think a story about me brushing my teeth has more climax that Watamote, and it has an end. In the last episode, the main character isn't much better off than she was in the beginning. There is an open possibilty for things to turn around with the help of a student council member who takes a liking to her, but it doesn't actually turn out to be anything by the end of the last episode. Therefor, there was no point in watching those twelve episodes. I wasn't entertained with a story. I wasn't laughing, although this is supposed to be a comedy, I found it more sad, pathetic, and annoying. I wasn't moved because I didn't really feel anything for the characters and there was no story to be moved by. Perhaps if they hadn't taken the comedy route, maybe something would have come of it, but as is, I just feel annoyed that I wasn't my time and internet usage on that. As for passing the time, at moments, it made time go slower I swear. In other words, this is a waste of time and I won't even give it a 3 for story.
Animation- Average. The animation wasn't bad. I rarely see any that is really bad though so it may just be I don't know what I'm talking about. I do not understand why the main character and her brother have the blue under their eyes. If it's just from lack of sleep, why don't any other kids have it? If it's genetics, why don't parents have it? If it's lack of sexual pleasure or pleasure period, why don't others have it? Is it just there to make them ugly, and if so, why does the brother still have friends and a life and everything. However, I don't blame the animation for this, I blame the story for not explaining. I just put that in the animation section to make this section look longer.
Sound- Normal. The only thing I can really comment on are the openings and endings. I actually liked the opening (rare!). The endings were interesting because they were different sometimes. It wasn't always the same song. I actually liked one of the ending songs too. Actually, the use of different songs for the endings is the main reason I won't give this less than 1 point overall.
Characters- Not boring. Other than that, there isn't much to say. They weren't flat and we had some background on the main character. On the other hand, other than the main characters best friend, none of the characters changed over time. Technically the best friend didn't change during the story so she doesn't count. In other words, none of the characters changed. Even though the characters felt developed, they weren't developing throughout the story, there was just enough background and flashbacks to make them seem developed.
Overall, the story doesn't move. You know how you watch Pokemon and Ash is like the same age FOREVER. Watamote is kind of like that, only worse. At least Ash sort of progresses. The main character in this doesn't progress. Despite several doors of opprotunity, the writers keep the character in her in the hallway. Perhaps they wanted to focus more on comedy than on story, but they failed at both.
Also, if you do bother watching it, you will notice throughout the anime there are scenes and thoughts/dreams that reference other animes. Perhaps this is another poor attempt at comedy, but I found it somewhat fitting. After all, Watamote is far from an original idea and it wasn't able to take the old tired and used idea and give it new life, so why not reference other animes.
On the other hand, I do like when animes reference or use the name of actuall animes in them. It feels more like they are in the same world as me and it sounds better than beeping things out or making up stupid names or coming up with a bunch of crappy little ideas.
So overall, I give this a 2.5. It's not the lowest I ever rated something. I did consider giving it a .5, but if I gave the third season of Shakugan no Shana a 1, then this should at least get a 2.5. Besides, I liked the changing of ending songs and the references to real anime, and I was actually able to watch the whole thing, so a 2.5 is deserved I suppose.
Screenshots
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