The Depth of Puberty Syndrome: A Look into Bunny Girl Senpai

If you are an anime fan, you know that certain hidden gems in the anime world come under many guises. They might not be as popular as mainstream shows, or they may be old, or they could be misunderstood based on their title—like “Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny-Girl Senpai.” This anime is perhaps one of the greatest mystery/philosophical shows I have ever seen, but it’s not mentioned nearly as much as I would like it to be. I adore this anime and would highly suggest it to anyone interested in comedy or message-driven anime. In this blog, I’ll try to explain why Bunny-Girl Senpai (BGS) is so meaningful to me with as few spoilers as possible. Even if I delve too deeply into the story, the spoilers will be mild and should not affect the overall viewing experience.

Basic Premise

Bunny-girl Senpai opens up with one of my favorite anime protagonists: Sakuta Azusagawa—a seemingly apathetic teenager who has no personality (or lots depending on your POV) and says everything in a loveable deadpan voice. One day, he walks into a library to browse the shelves and runs into a girl frolicking about wearing a bunny-girl costume (see where the name comes from?). As bizarre as the experience is, something isn’t right. Not a single person in the library seems to care or acknowledge her existence, as if she were invisible. 

Instead of running away terrified because he had seen a ghost, Sakuta chooses to approach the girl whom he identifies as Mai Sakurajima and learns that she is a victim of the mysterious Puberty Syndrome: a supernatural condition that afflicts teenagers with reality-altering symptoms like the one Mai is experiencing. Having some experience with Puberty Syndrome in the past, Sakuta decides to help Mai with her condition, and so begins our story, as well as a budding romance. 

Image Courtesy of Josh Whittington from Medium

Breakdown

What does it all mean? How is this outlandish premise supposed to become a social commentary? Well, the answer to that lies in examining Puberty Syndrome. It is not just a simple plot device created to advance the story but the linchpin that draws out the story’s messages. Puberty Syndrome is a fictional condition based on hyper-social awareness. Its gimmick revolves around the fact that societal pressure can have both mental and physical effects on a person. These societal pressures could come in the form of societal expectations, conformity, and interpersonal relationships. In the case of Puberty Syndrome, the effects of societal pressures manifest supernaturally and even have the power to kill those afflicted. In each case of Puberty Syndrome in BGS, you can see how each condition can be attributed to both personal and external societal factors. Throughout the anime, Sakuta has to find a way to help Mai and other characters overcome their own versions of Puberty Syndrome. Since society is too large a structure for one boy to change, he must examine the tragic and sometimes heart-wrenching lives of each character and do his best.

Message

There are many messages found within this anime, but the one I connected with the most comes early in the story (around episode 4). There is one particular scene around the end of the first arc which truly…inspires me. Due to circumstances filled with spoilers, Sakuta has to go out into a crowd of people and make an embarrassing, heartfelt confession that never ceases to amaze me. He was able to disregard his social conscience and self-doubt to speak wholeheartedly. The more I watch the scene, the more I realize I wouldn’t be able to make the same choice. And because of that, I think we could all benefit from being a bit more like Sakuta. 

Our modern world of connectivity has led to a time where we are more socially conscious than ever before. That’s not to say that being socially conscious is a negative trait, but being overly so isn’t healthy. The emergence of social media has allowed us to connect with millions of people and has spiked our social consciousness. It has us obsessed with how many people “like” us or believe we are “cute.” But we can’t let this social pressure morph us into inauthentic versions of ourselves. That is what I took away from BGS. I used to consider myself a pretty socially anxious person; being nervous to talk to people or even order at a restaurant because I wanted everyone to “like” me. But it doesn’t matter what others think of me. The only people’s opinions that matter are the ones I love and respect, and, most importantly, my own opinion. 

It’s because of hidden gems like Bunny Girl Senpai, which are such thoughtful emotional rollercoasters, that I love anime. Its ability to tell such compelling stories will always be incredible. The more anime I watch, the more I realize how much they have to say about our lives. If you’re searching for a mystery/philosophical anime with a little comedy sprinkled in between, check out “Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny-Girl Senpai.” Its first season is complete with 13 episodes, and there are several movies plus a season 2 to delve into.