Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet: ‘Bocchi the Rock!’ Review

As the low lights illuminate the stage at the cozy music club ‘STARRY,’ we get our first glimpse of the Kessoku (zip tie) Band. A cool collected bassist, a cheerful drummer and a box of ripe mangoes on guitar.

That’s how our protagonist and master guitarist Hitori ‘Bocchi’ Gotoh (whose online username is guitarhero) makes her onstage debut. Used to playing her guitar in the comfort of her cramped dark closet and uploading videos on the Internet for three years, Bocchi’s dream was to be part of a band, to become popular or at the very least, make some friends. So, when asked to be a last-minute guitarist for a band, Bocchi doesn’t refuse. More like, Bocchi is too socially anxious to even get a word in edgewise. Kessoku Band’s debut does not go as expected; they’re all out of sync. Bocchi might be able to shred on guitar when performing solo but playing with a group is a different ballgame. That isn’t even getting to the part about overcoming the fear of performing before a live audience.  

Hitori Bocchi (literally meaning ‘alone’) spends her time like Walter Mitty or playing guitar. Rather than face reality, she lives in her head, where it’s safe. She feels at home in small dark spaces like cupboards or trash cans where she’s often found hiding. On a good day, Bocchi can summon the courage to look people in the eye. On most days, Bocchi either passes out or turns to dust.

Though Bocchi the Rock! is primarily a show focused on music, it also deals with how difficult it can be for a person with extreme social anxiety to live day to day, which is especially highlighted in this slice-of-life anime. Bocchi’s internal monologues and mental gymnastics to get herself out of situations with people are as hilarious as they are endearing. Though the tempo at which Bocchi makes progress is larghissimo, by the end of the season we see she’s slowly coming out of her shell, although not quite.

The other half of Bocchi the Rock! is centered around the music and specifically, the struggles of a musician. It’s not an easy task, breaking into the music scene. Bocchi the Rock! illustrates that well and paints a realistic picture exploring the difficulties one faces. There’s a lot of work that goes into being in a band, the hardest thing isn’t even coming up with the music and lyrics. There’s so much to do, whether it is making sure you’ve met your ticket quota to the difficulties in obtaining a place to perform. Practice sessions mean renting out a studio, then there’s reserving a venue, making and selling band merch at concerts, bringing out an album (let alone a single), making sure your instruments are in top form, to name a few. The long and short of it is that not only does it take time, but also money.

As for the songs, there is the question; do you cater to the masses or write for yourself? Bocchi may be an introvert but the lead singer Kita is your textbook extrovert. Keeping in mind Kita-chan’s aura that shines with the power of a thousand massive stars, Bocchi struggles to picture how it’ll be for someone like that to sing gloomy lyrics.    

Like a ship having designated positions for its crew to stay afloat, so does Kessoku as a band. The members have to work in absolute tandem. Each member has a specific part to play, other than their instruments. And like any ship, if you want smooth sailing, you need to have complete understanding and respect for one another. It’s something that Kessoku– despite being an all-girl band – miraculously excels in. They support one another, are humble enough to admit areas they lack in and work together to get past their hurdles. Their ties are strong and their band’s name reflects that. Although Kessoku is translated as ‘zip tie,’ it’s actually a pun on Kessoku (結束), which means unity.

Bocchi the Rock! is a musical treat peppered with improvisations and techniques the characters use when performing. There’s a scene when Bocchi performs impromptu live on the street alongside a bassist (Kikuri Hiroi, who plays psychedelic rock). Kikuri’s improvised bassline complements the guitar, the resulting sound is a fun take of one of Kessoku Band’s songs. It is powerful, energetic and the strong bassline gives Bochhi better confidence to play live.

The best concert in this season is the last one. Bocchi’s guitar’s E string snaps in the middle of a song and she’s unable to tune her B string as the peg is broken. On stage, as her solo begins, Bocchi in a stroke of genius decides to grab a can and plays slide guitar. Not only does she overcome her broken string/tuning dilemma but she also manages to give it a bluesy twist. And boy, does it make a difference, especially in a rock song. It’s something the Rolling Stones pioneered in the rock scene in their rendition of the Lennon-McCartney song “I Wanna Be Your Man,” where Brian Jones played bottleneck guitar.

The soundtrack of the show is amazing, which is to be expected of a music anime. There’s also been a physical release of their self-titled album and their digital album topped Billboard Japan’s weekly chart for the most downloaded album in the post-Christmas week with over 73,244 (and counting) copies sold!   

In terms of visuals, the animation isn’t restricted to 2D alone. It incorporates a variety of styles and techniques, all of which is often used to illustrate Bocchi’s internal meltdowns with hilarious results. From zoetrope sequences to claymation to CGI to live action, the sudden change in animation style is surreal and makes you take a step back. It further hammers home the fact that Bocchi’s mind is so far removed from reality. Each character in Bocchi the Rock! is distinct with her own quirks, and it comes through in every single shot in this anime, whether it’s members walking down the street or in the middle of a performance. The change in body language is clearly portrayed, from the awkward robotic movements of Kessoku Band’s debut to the smooth, confident playing and Kita’s head tilt in the final electrifying concert. Perspective shots and cinematography coupled with the clever use of lighting add another layer of dynamism to the show, whether it’s close-up shots of the girls as they play or showing Bocchi’s isolation.

The little easter eggs and references in the show are also fun to spot, from Bocchi undergoing cyberpsychosis (Cyberpunk: Edgerunners) to waking up to an unfamiliar ceiling like Shinji (Evangelion), to Dragon Ball and FLCL. Of course, being a music show there have to be music references. All of the members of Kessoku Band share their surnames with the corresponding members of the rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. And Bocchi’s Shiba Inu is named Jimihen, after Jimmy Hendrix! 

Bocchi the Rock! may not be the heaviest anime out there. There’s no action, no fight sequences, nothing earth-shattering but at the same time, it’s upbeat and inspiring. The story is charmingly simple, just a lonely girl with her guitar trying to make it through life on this blue planet. She’s awkward, and relatable, most of us have been a Bocchi or had a Bocchi in our life. You’ll be feeling secondhand embarrassment from seeing her antics and cheering her on as she overcomes her hurdles. She’s a hero all right, a “guitarhero,” wielding her guitar as a sword, fighting her anxiety.