Ichikawa Kyoutarou may seem like an average guy his age. However, deep down, he harbors a secret desire to commit murder. His first target? The class idol, Yamada Anna. However, everything changes one afternoon when he strikes up a conversation with her in the school library, where she’s quietly enjoying some snacks. From that day on, Kyoutarou gradually realizes that he doesn’t actually want to kill his classmate, and his murderous desires transform into something entirely unexpected…

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu (2023) – Audiovisual Design

Visuals

I must admit that I didn’t immediately appreciate the artistic merits of this series. However, with each episode, it became clear to me that there’s truly no shortage of artistry here. The wonderful use of colors perfectly complements the atmosphere of the scenes presented. The character design is outstanding, showcasing an incredible amount of detail in crucial moments. This, combined with very expressive animation, often resulted in a striking effect, with emotions practically pouring out of the screen.

The main focus here is on the characters and their proper presentation. There’s also no room for complaints about the backgrounds. While indoor scenes may not present anything extraordinary, the outdoor settings can be truly eye-catching. Most importantly, the animators at Shin-Ei Animation managed to maintain consistently high quality throughout all episodes of both available seasons.”

Audio

In the lead role (Yamada Anna), we have a relatively young actress – Youmiya Hina. While she may not have a vast body of work, her portrayal of Anna was nothing short of phenomenal, perfectly capturing her delicate and innocent nature. As for the main character, we have someone with much more experience – Horie Shun. But it doesn’t end there, as the role of the protagonist’s sister was played by the living legend – Tamura Yukari. Additionally, we have names like Toyosaki Aki, Han Megumi, Asai Ayaka, Fukuyama Jun, Minaguchi Yuko, and Hosoya Yoshimasa. So, the cast is truly star-studded.

The soundtrack seamlessly blends into the series’ atmosphere. It’s subtle, often not taking the forefront, not even the second plan most of the time. However, there are moments where it asserts itself with full force, leaving a lasting impression.

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu (2023) – Plot and Characters

Introduction

When I was selecting seasonal series for spring 2023, this title immediately made it onto the list, although not as a priority. Mainly because of the somewhat misleading portrayal of the main character, who was initially depicted as a murderer. However, after the first two episodes, I realized that Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu was going to be something much more significant than most of the series that premiered.

A Quick Overview of Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu’s Plot

Ichikawa Kyoutarou may appear and behave like an average boy his age. However, deep down, he harbors a desire to commit murder. His hobby is reading books about serial killers. His first target is the class idol, Yamada Anna – a teenage model who is steadily gaining popularity. Everything changes one afternoon when he strikes up a conversation with her in the school library, where she came to quietly enjoy the snacks she brought with her. From that day on, Kyoutarou gradually realizes that he doesn’t actually want to harm his classmate. Moreover, his murderous desires transform into something entirely different…

As time passes, Kyoutarou discovers that Anna is not just an ordinary classmate to him. All thoughts of murder quickly fade into oblivion. Kyoutarou begins to mature and understand that fascination with the life stories of serial killers does not equate to emulation. Additionally, he finds meaning in life through Anna.

Anna quickly befriends him as well, taking the initiative at the beginning.

What is the series about

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu primarily focuses on the interactions between Kyoutarou and Anna. However, it also includes side characters or even secondary pairs, though they are never the center of attention. The entire story unfolds while the characters are in middle school age. It is the second three-year stage of education in Japan. This is an age where boys and girls begin to realize their feelings and emotions.

The theme of first, innocent love is primarily explored here. It’s done in a masterful way. Akagi Hiroaki (the main director – who, by the way, also created storyboards and directed some episodes of Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san) continuously amazed me from episode to episode. The amount of positive and warm emotions conveyed in each twenty-minute episode of Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu simply exceeded all norms. Furthermore, the excellent visual presentation, outstanding collaboration among all creators, and voice actors resulted in perfect coherence in every aspect of this work. The whole experience left an incredible sense of satisfaction.

Characters

Kyoutarou undergoes a long but very dynamic journey of character development. Anna has an incredibly positive influence on him. He works hard to overcome his weaknesses. He quickly discovers what jealousy is and the anxiety associated with it. Mainly because Anna is a fairly popular model and is seen as an idol at school. Most boys’ eyes are focused on her. Despite subconsciously realizing that Anna spends all her free time with him for a reason, these feelings still prevail within him. However, this often works out well for him because it gives him even more motivation to act. Moreover, his subconscious, materialized into the form of an ideal man created in his mind, helps him make the toughest decisions.

Kyoutarou also has a loving family he can always rely on. When his older sister learns about his relationship with Anna, she starts to support him strongly. Though she does it in her own way, which doesn’t always reach her brother. Similarly, the situation is seen from the other side with the main character.

With each episode, the main characters of Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu emotionally grow closer to each other. They both deal with their feelings in their own way. Slowly becoming convinced of how important they are to each other. This series excellently portrays emotional matters and different perspectives on various issues from both genders. Kyoutarou, as a boy, tries to nurture different aspects of his relationship with Anna. Anna, from a girl’s perspective, complements this relationship in matters that are not typical for a young man. Additionally, she gives him her warmth. It not only motivates him to act but also gives him a sense of fulfillment in moments when he needs it most.

Other characters

An important supporting role is played by Anna’s classmates. Especially Sekine Moeko, who quickly notices the sparks between the main couple. Moeko assists Kyoutarou in many circumstances, nudging him in the right direction or orchestrating certain situations. One of the secondary couples is Kanzaki Kenta and Hara Honoka. They have completely different personalities from Anna and Kyoutarou, but they quickly become friends with each other.

Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu (2023) – Evaluation and Summary

I didn’t expect this adaptation to be crafted with such care and almost love for the source material. Here, there’s no need to search for anything forced. Even in the first few episodes, it’s evident that the creators poured their hearts into this work, creating it out of pure passion. Not because it was easy to empathize with the main character. Quite the opposite, especially at the beginning of the series. Watching the reactions and character development of both protagonists, their emotions and feelings, brought me immense pleasure and provided a strong dose of sweetness every week. Though sweetness might not be the best way to describe the feelings I experienced during each viewing.

I eagerly awaited each new episode. None of them disappointed me. Furthermore, the finale of each one turned out to be a volcano of emotions and feelings, culminating in all the previous events.

If you enjoyed series like Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san or Kubo-san wa Mob wo Yurusanai, then Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu is an absolute must-watch. Now, we can only hope that the story will be concluded in the near future.

Finalny werdykt

Final evaluation

Which translation do I recommend to watch Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu?

• MTBB – koniecznie 2 ścieżka napisów. Poprawiono trochę woke dureństw z oficjalnego tłumaczenia, ładny typesetting. Kilka rzeczy wyłapałem, które przetłumaczyłbym inaczej, jednak pomijając te szczegóły, napisy godne polecenia.

Gallery