Anime Recommendation: Mob Psycho 100 by Ria Purohit

 Anime Recommendation: Mob Psycho 100 

Ria Purohit 

11th Grade 

I know people have their own reservations against anime, thinking it’s childish or weird or anything of the like. But as with any genre of entertainment, there are some truly wonderful stories that anime manages to tell that I personally love. A show that depicts its message wonderfully, as you probably guessed by the title, is Mob Psycho 100. 

This show touched my heart that very few shows have managed to do. It’s about a young boy named Shigeo Kageyama, who has unbelievable psychic powers. He could rule the world with the powers that he has, but he doesn’t want anything to do with that. Shigeo wants to be a regular middle schooler; he wants to improve on his fitness, so he works hard to do so. He wants to try and confess to the girl he likes, and he’s mustering up the courage to do so. He learns, with the help of his boss and mentor Reigen Arataka, and his family and friends, about being a good person despite being blessed with certain abilities. Of course, because this is a world with people that have psychic abilities, there are others that have these abilities, and Kageyama and his group get into beautifully animated fight scenes that carry emotion every time they appear. Each fight contributes to Shigeo’s development as a character and as a person, showing the viewer that it doesn’t matter how talented you are at something, if you aren’t a good person, it means nothing. 

Now the plot I explained might seem a bit preachy and boring to some, but the show integrates the message so expertly that it doesn’t feel like you’re watching a PSA. It feels like you’re watching a feel-good animated sitcom about the life of an esper child. There were moments in the show that got me excited, that made me worried, scared, and full of joy. I don’t typically cry at movies or shows, but I do feel something in my heart if the media is moving me, and this show did that to me multiple times. I absolutely loved it!

I personally like stories that tug at my heartstrings and make me introspect on myself, but if that’s not for you, you can watch the show for the fight scenes! Like I said before, the fight scenes are so wonderfully animated, that it’s a wonderful spectacle to see. The fight scenes will get your heart pumping, and will make you think about them days later. If none of those aspects interest you, then I hope you give the show a try anyway, just for the sake of trying. Maybe the way I explained didn’t appeal, and you might find the show enjoyable for different reasons. 

Either way, I genuinely hope you check out Mob Psycho 100, and I hope you enjoy your time watching it!