Hitori Bocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu (ひとりぼっちの○○生活) is a Japanese yonkoma manga series written and illustrated by Katsuwo.It was serialized in ASCII Media Works' Comic Dengeki Daioh "g" magazine from September 2013 to April 2021. Eight volumes have been released. An anime television series adaptation produced by C2C aired from April to June 2019.
Story
Bocchi Hitori is a girl with social anxiety who has difficulty communicating with others. Before starting middle school, her friend Kai Yawara, who will be attending a different school, tells Bocchi she is breaking off their friendship until she can make friends with her entire class at her new school. Thus, Bocchi is left with the task of befriending everyone in her class before graduation.
Characters
Bocchi Hitori (一里 ぼっち)
A girl whose social anxiety makes it hard to talk to people. When her only friend Kai breaks up with her, she is tasked with trying to befriend everyone in class, usually passing out whenever she does. Her name is derived from "all alone" (ひとりぼっち).
Nako Sunao (砂尾 なこ)
The first friend Bocchi makes upon entering middle school. She has a tough appearance, but is actually kind and supportive of Bocchi. Her name is derived from "honest child" (素直な子).
Aru Honshō (本庄 アル)
The vice representative in Bocchi's class. She often puts on an appearance to hide the fact that she is actually somewhat unfortunate. Her name is derived from "having a true nature" (本性ある).
Sotoka Rakita (ソトカ・ラキター)
Bocchi's classmate who comes from another country and considers herself to be a ninja. Her name is derived from "came from outside" (外から来た).
Kako Kurai (倉井 佳子)
The public morals officer in Bocchi's school. She has a policy against making friends as she wants to become strong enough to live by herself. Her name is derived from "dark past" (暗い過去).
Kai Yawara (八原 かい)
Bocchi's friend from elementary school. Concerned over Bocchi's social anxiety after ending up in a different middle school, she breaks off her friendship with Bocchi in order to encourage her to make new friends. At the end of the series, she re-establishes her friendship with Bocchi after Bocchi is able to reach her goal. Her name is derived from "soft" (やわらかい).
Ito Kurie (栗枝 衣抄)
Bocchi's classmate who is a student librarian. She is shy like Bocchi. Her name is derived from "create" (クリエイト).
Peko Onaka (尾中 ペコ)
Bocchi's classmate who loves sweets. Her name is derived from "very hungry" (お腹ペコペコ).
Hanako Yamada (山田 花子)
Bocchi's classmate who is a member of the school's tennis club.
Ino Kawai (河合 依乃)
The homeroom leader of Bocchi's class. Her name is derived from "the cute one" (かわいいの).
Mayo Ojōsa (小篠咲 真世)
Bocchi's classmate who comes from a rich family. Her name is derived from "I'm a rich girl" (お嬢さまよ).
Nosaki Futago (二子 乃咲)
Bocchi's classmate who is the older twin. Notsugi calls her Saki. Her name is derived from "the elder twin" (双子の先).
Notsugi Futago (二子 乃継)
Bocchi's classmate who is the younger twin. Nosaki says her voice is too loud. Nosaki calls her Tsugu (not Tsugi). Her name is derived from "the younger twin" (双子の次).
Rau Minagawa (美奈川 らう)
Bocchi's classmate who is the most popular person in the class. Her classmates call her Mīna. She sings bad songs in a loud voice.
She used to go to the same elementary school as Kō Futō and Kō was her only friend then. Since Kō refused to go to school, she has behaved to make her classes fun so that Kō doesn't feel nervous. Her name is derived from "everybody laughs" (皆が笑う).
Kō Futō (布藤 香)
Bocchi's classmate who refuses to go to school. Her name is derived from "truancy" (不登校).
Teruyo Oshie (押江 照代)
The homeroom teacher of Bocchi's class who is called "Teru-chan" by her students. She has an irrational fear of Nako. Her name is derived from "I'll teach you" (教えてるよ).
Kakeru Omoi (恩井 翔琉)
Her name is derived from "Transmit Feelings" (おもいかける).
Mari Inakana (稲金 真理)
Her name is derived from "Rural Accent" (田舎訛り).
Media
Manga
Hitori Bocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu, written and illustrated by Katsuwo, was serialized in ASCII Media Works' Comic Dengeki Daioh "g" magazine from September 27, 2013, to April 27, 2021.[2][6][7][8] Eight volumes were published from November 27, 2014, to June 25, 2021.[9]
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced after the final episode of Mitsuboshi Colors, the anime adaptation of another manga series by the same author, on March 25, 2018.[2] The series was directed by Takebumi Anzai and written by Jukki Hanada, with animation by studio C2C. Kii Tanaka was the character designer and the chief animation director. Ryuichi Takada and Hidekazu Tanaka composed the series' music.[19] The series aired from April 6 to June 22, 2019, on the Animeism programming block on MBS, TBS, BS-TBS, as well as AT-X.[20] The opening theme song is "Hitori Bocchi no Monologue" (ひとりぼっちのモノローグ) by Chisaki Morishita, Minami Tanaka, Akari Kitō, and Yuuko Kurose, while the ending theme song "Ne, Issho ni Kaero" (ね、いっしょにかえろ.) by Morishita.[5] The ending theme for episode six is "Bakushō Bocchi Juku Kōka" (爆笑ぼっち塾 校歌) by Morishita, Tanaka, Kitō, and Kurose.[21]
Reception
Gadget Tsūshin listed a line from the sixth episode's ending theme in their 2019 anime buzzwords list.[23]
