Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren – The Complicated Nature of Chuunibyou

As I discussed in previous posts about the first season of Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, Chuunibyou is quite a complex term that encapsulates numerous ideas surrounding youth, adolescence and ones own imagination. At the very beginning of the first series there is a brief introduction to Chuunibyou, explaining that it is a complex idea, one that encompasses a variety of behaviour, and other social issues. What is interesting is that while there are clearly elements of the fantastical in Chuunibyou, with the role-playing of Rikka, Dekomori, Yuuta, and even Nibutani, it is also used to describe a far wider variety of ideas and behaviour.

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! 02 – Ordinary in an extraordinary way

At the very beginning of the series there is a brief introduction to Chuunibyou, explaining that it is a complex idea that encompasses a variety of behaviour and general social problems. What is interesting is that while there are clearly elements of the fantastical in some of the strange delusions that Yuuta as the Dark Flame Master and Rikka in her present form have to deal with, it is also used to describe a far wider variety of things than you might think. In Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai it is primarily used to explain the bizarre hallucinations and delusions of Rikka, although there are other characters who arguably suffer from it. In fact, the major question of Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai is whether or not Chuunibyou can be considered an illness at all, or whether it is merely a term used to describe a series of (often) interconnected circumstances that make life a little more interesting than it otherwise would be.

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! 01 – Extraordinary Delusions

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai is one of the more hyped series of the season largely because KyoAni, the studio behind many other good anime, like many other studios in Japan is producing it. While there are many interesting points about Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, the main element of the series is focussed on the mean behind ‘Chuunibyou’. Chuunibyou roughly means ‘Middle School 2^nd year syndrome’ and is used to describe those times in life where people begin to try an act ‘cool’, or what they consider to be cool. There is an element of fantasy and even delusions involved with Chuunibyou, with people pretending to be wizards or even thinking that they have special powers. As a term then it describes a fascinating element of life where the imagination has a powerful hold on people, a time where you are still children but wish to grow up and be adults.