There are many different genres of romantic anime this year, but insomniacs After school possibly the most original of the bunch. In stark contrast to the decline in romance titles over the past few years, 2023 has seen many wildly successful films that fall under the romance umbrella. With so many different sides to love and relationships, it’s hard for a story about high school romance to stand out from the crowd. People who lose sleep after schoolhowever, no problem naming itself.
Insomniacs After School is Hi-Dive’s big spring romance title and it has fans buzzing around on the internet. At first glance, this series may seem like nothing new and exciting. After all, the setting of the astronomy club and the high school has been used countless times before. But after just the first episode, it became clear that Insomniacs After School was doing something that no other romance anime is currently doing. Instead of going the romantic comedy route like other popular anime, such as the shojo/shounen combo, Tomo-chan Is a Girl! or Love Killer, this series takes a more serious look at the struggles of high school students, making it completely different from anything that’s airing today.
People who lose sleep after school take a serious look at school pressure
Insomniacs After School focuses on Ganta Nakami and Isaki Magari, two high school students who meet by chance in an abandoned astronomy club. Ganta is grumpy at not being able to sleep at night, causing him to doze off during the day. On the other hand, Isaki is quite popular despite being unable to sleep. The two of them run into each other when Ganta is sent to the club room to retrieve the boxes and finds Isaki napping there, only to realize that they are locked together. This encounter led the two to confess that they suffer from insomnia, which they find difficult to share with others because of how society might judge them.
Instead of focusing on the minutiae that high school cartoons often fall victim to, Insomniacs After School takes a more serious but somewhat relaxed approach to themes of mental illness. spirit, stress and friendship. Ganta and Isaki are two very different people, but they find solace in each other. In the end, the two do things they’ve never done before, such as sneaking out of the house at night to spend sleepless nights together. Although both have their own difficulties, when they are together, they can only be themselves. The movie is able to make the two characters feel real, something that has fans raving about how good their chemistry is with each other.
Instead of looking like a romantic comedy anime, Insomniacs After School is more like a coming-of-age story about two teenagers who happen to fall in love over time. The series shies away from exaggerated gimmicks and instead focuses on telling a heartfelt story against a stunning starry backdrop, making the series feel like a comforting hug. A must see for fans of all different types of cartoons this season, People who lose sleep after school currently airing on Hi-Dive.