As someone who isn't normally a fan of romance media, I love it when I manage to find one that actually manages to appeal to me. Insomniacs After School is a manga I only learned about upon reading about its anime announcement on Anime News Network. The premise seemed interesting, as I'm a sucker for media involving people who bond over something they have in common, so I figured I'd check the anime out when it aired. Now that I have, I'm glad, because Insomniacs After School is a really good, down-to-earth romance that actually manages to subvert quite a bit of cliches that are all too common in romance anime. The story centers on two very different kids, grumpy and sleepless Ganta Nakami, and the cheerful go-getter Isaki Magari, who couldn't possibly be friends as far as their classmates can attest to. One day, Ganta goes to the defunct observatory for a nap, but finds that he's not alone, as Isaki is there for that same purpose. Ganta is surprised to learn that Isaki is also afflicted with insomnia, just like him. Upon this discovery, the two of them decide to share the observatory, and the two of them grow closer as friends the more they spend time together.

I will admit, I've only read volume one of the manga so far, so I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone who has only seen the anime in its entirety. Though I did find out that the Insomniacs manga just ended, so now I have incentive to actually read it, so look forward to a review of that in the future. Anyway, from a technical perspective, the animation is pretty good, if not the flashiest. Considering this is a fairly down-to-earth romance that relies more on subtlety and contemplative quiet rather than melodrama and bombast, it fits the feel of the show, so it does its job. LIDENFILMS has a bit of a reputation for their output not always being the most consistent in terms of quality, and even their best looking shows don't always hit the mark. That being said, it does capture the look of the manga pretty nicely, and they really put their all into showing just how beautiful the night time can be, with luscious, sparkling night skies full of stars, or shallow pools reflecting it and creating an absolutely beautiful feast for the eyes. While the animation doesn't have much in the way of motion, it manages to make up for it by keeping true to the show's atmosphere and really showing off when it matters, so I think LIDENFILMS hit a home run this time around. I don't have as much to say on the soundtrack. I mean, I liked the opening and ending songs, but I couldn't tell you the first thing about them, and the BGMs did their job. I guess a part of it is because Insomniacs focuses more on its usage of ambient noise and having it play into how even the most quiet of stimuli can keep someone like Ganta awake.

Since this is an adaptation of a longer manga that clocks in at 14 volumes, Insomniacs' anime doesn't get to cover all of its material as it has 13 episodes to contend with. But the anime does manage to do a pretty bang-up job with its cast of characters and making them into a fun, interesting ensemble, even if we don't get the whole picture behind them yet. Ganta and Isaki are a great couple to follow, with their own methods of dealing with their insomnia and trying to make the best out of their newfound companionship, and the anime takes great care to really build chemistry between them, making their friendship and later romance feel all the more palpable and compelling. For anyone worried that Isaki was going to be made out to be some Manic Pixie Dream Girl whose only purpose is to magically solve all of Ganta's problems just because she's there, don't worry, they don't take her in that direction. She's just as much a fleshed out character as Ganta is, with her own worries, strengths, weaknesses, and so on. This is also reflected in how the anime, and by extension the manga, deals with their insomnia, as it's not interested in being tragedy porn that makes them suffer 24/7, but developing the two leads' relationship and helping them find some point of balance, whether it be decorating their curated safe space or just exploring the city during the night time. Honestly, the only character I can say I actively disliked was Kanikawa, Isaki's blonde friend who's an arrogant little brat who spends a lot of her time whining and insulting Ganta over nothing.

For anyone looking for exaggerated rom-com antics straight out of shounen romance manga or the cheesy shoujo romances that rely way too much on loud, over-the-top melodrama, you're not gonna find it here. People might take issue with Insomniacs' slow pacing and down-to-earth tone, dismissing it as boring. Some might say that it doesn't do enough to really articulate just how much having insomnia utterly sucks. Insomniacs After School is meant to just be relaxing, and any drama it has is always tackled in a down-to-earth manner, never dragging it out. Honestly, the anime's only real flaw is that it's a 13-episode adaptation of a much longer manga, and only covering just a small part of a bigger story. The ending is fairly open-ended as a result, though not as bad as others that I know of. As far as its portrayal of insomnia goes, I can't really say, as I don't have insomnia myself. But others who do struggle with insomnia have praised both the manga and anime for treating the issue with sensitivity and kindness, rather than using it for misery/tragedy porn. Granted, I have yet to read the entirety of the manga yet, so who knows how it'll deal with the issue further down the line, though since the manga just ended, now I have incentive to read it and judge for myself.

Overall, the anime of Insomniacs After School may not be the flashiest nor dramatic show out there, but it's still a very good, well-made romance anime that does exactly what it set out to do.