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This anime spoke to me on several different levels. From a more analytical perspective, the story is very well written and is developed in an intriguing way, which compelled me to watch the show even though I prefer to consume media in the form of manga more often now. As a slice of life anime it offers a unique insight into day-to-day living that a more character arc and action driven show could not. It allows exploration of the character dynamics while providing a lighter canvas that's undercut by terribly dark themes. Every episode has a little revelation as to what happened to Kotaro. The ... premise is clear, but we see his trauma and feelings expressed in little realistic ways over time, which helps flesh him out and make him more sympathetic. We see the lives of people portrayed for a lot of these characters, not just anime characters meant to fill a certain trope or niche, though it does use visual shorthand and tropes to introduce us to each character. These characters all have their motivations, backstories, and personalities. As such, Kotaro Lives Alone is a good blend of comedy, tragedy, and heartache.

From a personal perspective, I couldn't help but see myself in Kotaro's shoes. I feel a lot of shows and manga tend to dramatize poverty and neglect so that it can be used as a story device. The effects of neglect are used as a baseline, but are ignored once it becomes inconvenient to the plot. Characters are forced to heal for plot progression or for romantic relationships. I like that Kotaro Lives Alone depicts trauma not just in child characters but in adult characters in a way that shows how long of an impact it has on you. Yes. I am a functional adult now. I'm not the child that would sit alone in a house filled with trash, broken dishes, and arguing parents trying to disappear into the background. I can live on my own now. But just because I try to be strong, it doesn't mean the scars have left me. It's shaped my personality, my bad habits, and sometimes it overcomes me. Maybe it's not a rubber glove that makes me do unreasonable things, but showing characters reacting to triggers in similar ways as well as having a support system there to help them makes me feel... less lonely.

The adult characters do a good job of showing the longer lasting impact of childhood abuse as well as how they can strive to stop the cycle of abuse by being there for others. It's what I want to do, it's what I wish was done for me, and I think it's not done nearly enough in anime. Not all jobs are fancy. We really like to watch shows where people are doing well with extraordinary lives. So many of us are ordinary. But just because we do ordinary things, it doesn't make our stories less interesting, and it doesn't mean they shouldn't be told. This is one of the strengths of slice-of-life anime. It can be heartwarming and relatable. We can use familiar media to show a deeper meaning to things. Sometimes allegories and grand stories about war in another planet do this well. But sometimes we need to see it in a familiar setting. I think this is what makes Kotaro Lives Alone special to me. It is one of those slice-of-life that tries to use daily life and small stories to show us something more important, which is why it's so easy for people like me to connect to it.

Kotaro's characterization in the show is excellent. We see little personality quirks and ideals that are attributed to his background. He is easily understandable and while not every child gets to live alone like he does, his mannerisms are something that are far too common for far too sad reasons. It is a terrible thing that so many people can look at Kotaro and realize that they aren't so different from him. Yet it's such a beautiful thing as well, to see that there is hope, and that we are not alone.

How is it that an anime with such a simple premise and simple art style tells such a profound story? How is it that there is so much depth to short episodes disguising the real message they're telling? This is an anime you pick up because it looks charming, but becomes an anime you can't stop watching because it's too touching.

Anyone who is struggling with childhood trauma can appreciate the intentions of this show, though it may strike many painful chords. I believe this is a simple telling of a sadly universal story that capitalizes on the benefits of the genre.

This show may not be everybody's cup of tea, but I think it has a charming message, and is worth a watch at the very least for anyone who likes slice-of-life anime.