A little slice-of-life romance always does the soul some good, as Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible Episode 1 sets out to prove. Let’s see if it was successful in doing that in this review!
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible Episode 1 Overview
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible or Kubo-san wa Mob wo Yurusanai in original Japanese is a romance and slice-of-life anime based on a popular manga written series by Nene Yukimori. It is being adapted into the medium of anime by Studio Pine Jam. This young studio has had several notable come out in recent years, notably Gamers!, Kageki Shoujo!!, and Do It Yourself.
Kazuomi Koga is directing the show. He has been directly involved in the productions of various anime series in the past, including Steins Gate 0 and Re: Zero. He also directed the second season of Rent-a-Girlfriend. Make of that what you will. This episode is also known as Kubo-san wa Mob wo Yurusanai Episode 1 in original Japanese.
– Kubo san wa Mob wo Yurusanai Episode 1 Review does not contain any spoilers –
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible Episode 1 Review- This Was Lovely
From the first frame that you set your eyes on Shiraishi, you know he’s not a traditional anime protagonist. You know that because he isn’t sitting in the window corner of the generic anime classroom. Instead, he is tucked away in the other corner, one without access to proper sunlight, air, or communication. He’s not the kind to think that he’s special because he doesn’t talk to people or think that others are beneath him in any way. He is someone who just wants to have a decent time at the high school and move on with his life.
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That’s where Nagisa comes in. Nagisa, or the titular Ms Kubo, doesn’t want Shiraishi to remain invisible as he is. She has her own reasons for doing so, but just in the first episode, she successfully convinced/coerced him into doing things to stand out thrice. Now that’s progress! There’s just one issue with what she’s attempting- Shiraishi isn’t forgotten because the world around him is being mean to him. He doesn’t get noticed because he doesn’t want to get noticed. He’s weird like that.
Honestly, not a bad premise for a show like this. This seems to have a lot of legroom for the things that it can accomplish because none of the characters are stiff in a way that would restrict them from changing either way. They aren’t dependent on each other for their survival and seem to enjoy each other’s company. They are also both delightfully weird, and their chemistry is more than acceptable to retain an interest in this show and to see it bloom as they spend more time together.
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Innovation is certainly not a priority here, as you’ll see shows with similar vibes or concepts throughout the history of anime. So far, the show hasn’t stood out in any meaningful way for people to pick it over the others of its kind. However, the one thing it did have going for it was that throughout watching this episode, I retained a big smile on my face. It was delightfully quirky and hit the beats it should have in a great pilot episode that would help anchor it into the public’s consciousness.
The production of Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible Episode 1 wasn’t anything special, but one still appreciates this traditional art in anime when we get it. The show also features Kana Hanazawa as the voice actress for Nagisa, so I guess the NFT money is running dry. Still, there’s a reason why she is so popular, and it isn’t because of the NFTs. Nothing here looks too out of the ordinary, which is a plus on shows like this. Overall, this was a very sweet start, featuring many tender friendships and blossoming relationships.
Verdict
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible Episode 1 was a solid start to what looks to be a very sweet show with quirky and delightful characters who appreciate each others’ company. Give this one a shot if you want to brighten a day, even for a short while.