I feel like I've slept on SNAFU for a long time because I just never worked up the courage to read such a classic. Finally I gave it a read and SNAFU comes in and flips the script in the best and most hilarious way possible. What's fascinating is that Watari Wataru doesn't even do anything that unique. It's literally all writing, not cheap tricks (phone reincarnation or reincarnating as a garden shed), just his brain working to build a good story out of the shit the anime space of 2009 gave him. And boy did he get success, this series has an ugodly amount of clout and I finally see why after finally reading the story itself. Diving into SNAFU feels like taking a step back into the early 2010s, a period rife with its own unique blend of cultural and social nuances. For those of us who have lived through those years, there's a certain nostalgia that comes with revisiting the themes and dynamics of high school life from that era.
First off, let's talk about our main man, Hachiman Hikigaya. This guy is the definition of not your average high school protagonist. He's got this gloomy view of life that's actually pretty refreshing (ironically?) Though I couldn't help but feel a bit of the Seinfeld effect. Most stories have these optimistic heroes, but Hachiman? He makes you think and laugh with his cynical take on everything.
Then there's Yui and Yukino. Yui is this burst of sunshine, but she's obviously got her own battles which I hope get fleshed out in the novels more than the anime, which adds layers to her character. Yukino, with her sharp wit and hidden vulnerabilities, creates this dynamic with Hachiman and Yui that's just so interesting to watch unfold. They're not your two dimensional anime high school girls; they've got depth and real issues they're working through, making their journey together something you really get invested in.
But not every character hits the mark. Take Zaimokuza, for example. He's supposed to be the comic relief with his 2009-esque Japanese internet comedy, but honestly, he comes off more annoying than funny. Yet he's balanced out by other side characters like hayama and totuka who I want to see in the later instalations...
What's truly baffling is how SNAFU manages to stand out despite the light novel industry's love affair with recycling the same old plots and characters. I want to add that this is not a replicable story. Few writers are actually able to replicate what Watari did in the 2010s with this series. I don't think we should let this one good series make us forget that the LN industry needs change. We need a more tropes and LN writers need to look outside of their own industry for inspiration.
But hey, that's just my opinion. I am going through making a bunch of reviews for stuff so if you're interested give me a follow
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