The best animations that explore social anxiety

Key Takeaways

• Some anime impressively depict social anxiety through memorable stories and relatable characters.
• Some series, like My Roommate is a Cat and Hitori Bocchi, explore social anxiety with hope and a bit of comedy.
• Shows like March Comes in Like a Lion and A Silent Voice deeply explore anxiety and depression through uncomfortable but beautiful storytelling.

The great thing about animation is that it allows storytellers to talk about any topic, and the means of animation mean there is clarity and flow, which can make animation more impressive.

Social anxiety is a growing phenomenon around the world in recent years, and is a topic that is portrayed to a large extent in the media. Animation is another medium that explores social anxiety in depth, and there are some truly great examples for viewers to choose from. Here are some of the best anime that explore social anxiety.

10 my roommate is a cat

Struggling Writer Gets Help from Furry

Subaru is an introverted writer who struggles with social anxiety. However, the situation worsened when he lost his beloved parents in a car accident. This meant that not only was he trapped, he was alone and had no one to talk to.

By chance, he finds Haru, a stray cat, and adopts him. Gradually, the two begin to understand each other. Because of Haru, Subaru slowly opens up to other people, and they begin to show kindness to him. The theme of social anxiety is prominent. my roommate is a catAnd it is not trivialized in any way. my roommate is a cat It may have a somewhat heavy premise, but it's a very wholesome watch.

9 Hitori Bochi’s OO lifestyle

Botchi Hitori wants to be friends with everyone

Social anxiety can be very difficult to overcome, and many times sufferers continue to suffer with no way to overcome their anxiety. hitoribotchi Because it is an adaptation of a 4-koma manga that is usually aired for gags, it has a much more hopeful tone. Bocchi has severe social anxiety, but also has a goal of becoming friends with everyone in his class at his new school.

There are plenty of gags and her social anxiety is implicated in them, but the animation never goes overboard. Bocchi as a character is endearing, and the dynamic she begins to form with her new classmates and eventually with her friends creates a very hopeful tone.

8 Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me to You

A little support can go a long way

Social anxiety is essentially a communication problem. Difficulty not understanding people around you and vice versa. Where this story comes from from me to you It's really stable. The show, which follows the rise of Sawako Kuronuma, is quite popular, having had three anime seasons and even a live-action adaptation.

It's a story about how good things can happen if a person just takes one step forward. Sawako, who is socially awkward but kind-hearted, becomes friends with two of her classmates and they support her. As a primarily romance anime, Sawako must begin to find a way to overcome the barriers that may arise due to communication problems. This is especially true when your hopes of being close to the person you like are at stake.

7 strange taxi

A true hidden gem that offers a unique perspective on anxiety.

2021 strange taxi It was a true animated gem that many people failed to appreciate until later. It emerged as follows: BeastarsWe tracked down a mystery involving anthropomorphic animals and a missing girl.

Social anxiety strange taxi It's not necessarily shoved in the viewer's face, and without delving into spoilers, some people may begin to recognize the social anxiety that the characters, especially protagonist Odokawa, have to deal with. The central mystery draws the viewer in, and once the viewer is hooked, the story doesn't let go.

6 WataMote: No matter how you look at it, it's your fault that I'm not popular!

very uncomfortable watch

watamote It's not for everyone. It can be quite difficult to watch. Some people may find it cringe-inducing, others may find it painfully honest. watamote It's the story of Tomoko, an unpopular girl who wants to be popular at her new high school, but finds it never easy due to her extreme awkwardness.

Problems Some People May Experience watamote How mean to the main character. A shy girl who can be somewhat naive when it comes to social interactions is brutally examined in this show, and her lack of self-awareness doesn't help her cause much trouble.

5 March comes like a lion

An uncomfortable look at anxiety and depression

March comes like a lion The story of Rei Kiriyama, a talent prodigy who lost his entire family in an accident and had to be taken out of a foster home because he was too young and precocious.

The story allows viewers to see Kiriyama's inner workings as he struggles with loss, a potential career, and the kindness shown to him by the Kawamoto sisters. With their help, Kiriyama begins to solve life's big problems. Kiriyama's struggles with anxiety and depression are studied without making it too overwhelming. March comes like a lion It may be uncomfortable, but it shows true beauty in that discomfort.

4 Neon Genesis Evangelion

The struggle to connect documents and new sources

Neon Genesis Evangelion When you think of social anxiety, anime isn't the first thing that comes to mind. The loud noises, machines, and global disasters within the show can actually get in the way of a very personal story.

The Struggle of Shinji Ikari Evangelion One of the connections. Shinji, abandoned by his father and with his mother dead, suffers from the fear of truly getting to know people. The show's controversial ending delves deeper into this idea, and it's no secret that director Hideaki Anno suffered from depression and that it greatly influenced this work.

3 Bozzi the Rock!

Sleeper hits of 2022

Bozzi the Rock! didn't catch anyone's attention when it was released in 2022, but it soon became a global hit as fans fell in love with the great music, relatable characters, and especially Bocchi himself.

Bocchi's story is similar to most others. Animation that deals with social anxiety; It revolves around finding connection, struggling with social anxiety, and more. Bocchi shows an almost extreme degree of social anxiety. At times it may feel like Bochy's anxieties are played for laughs, but it never feels mean-spirited. Bozzi the Rock! It also features really good music, so good that the animated band actually performs.

2 quiet voice

difficulty of salvation

quiet voice It was released in 2016. It's a beautiful film that tells the story of Shoya Ishida, a young high school student trying to save himself from his dark past as a bully. The film questions whether the concept of redemption is possible and whether people can successfully escape their past and become better people.

It also deals with the social anxiety issues of Shoya and the girl he bullied, Shoko. Shouko, who is deaf, struggles with her disability and how it makes those around her feel, while Shouya is cut off from the world, afraid to even look into his metal-walled silo.

1 Welcome to NHK

Sato’s battle with anxiety is all too real.

Welcome to NHK Released in 2006, this is the story of college dropout Tatsuhiro Sato, who finds himself caught up in a conspiracy by NHK (Niho Hikikomori Society) and unable to connect with society. But all this is about to change when he meets the mysterious Misaki.

Viewers can understand Saito's anxiety through his eyes. There are people who care for him, but Saito has difficulty communicating with them. Welcome to NHK He has a very realistic view on things, and a lot of the optimism that sometimes accompanies stories like this isn't found here. Saito struggles, and viewers are forced to watch as he fights to keep his head above water, somehow unable to accept the help offered to him. Welcome to NHK It may seem bleak, but it features an entertaining cast and still holds up pretty well almost 20 years later.