An anime to watch when you are having a bad day
People watch anime for a number of reasons. Some watch it to escape the monotonous nature of their real lives, some watch it because they love the art, while some watch it for all those cute anime girls.
No matter for what reason you watch anime, there is a show or movie for everyone.
Here, we will talk about one show that you can watch if you are feeling low, if you have just come home from a hard day at work, or if you just want to curl up in your blanket and watch something that will make you feel cozy and warm.
We are talking about Gakuen Babysitters (School Babysitters).
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| The entire cast of Gakuen Babysitters |
So, what is this anime all about?
Aired in the winter of 2018 and produced by the studio Brain's Base, Gakuen babysitters is about a teenager named Ryuuichi Kashima and his younger brother Kotarou. After losing both their parents in a fatal plane crash, Kashima is trying to adjust to his new role as the guardian of Kotarou. At the mass funeral which takes place for the victims of the plane crash, Kashima is approached by Youko Morinomiya, the chairman of an academy, who has also lost her son and his family in the crash. She decides to take both Kashima and Kotarou under her care.
But there is one condition. In return for the roof over his head and getting the chance to study in the academy, Kashima must help as the school's babysitter. The babysitter's club was established to look after the infant children of the academy's faculty. Unfortunately, the club is short-staffed. So now Kashima is not only responsible for his own younger brother but the other kids as well.
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| Ryuuichi not only has to attend school but handle the kids as well! |
What makes this anime so heartfelt?
Gakuen Babysitters is like a warm blanket on a cold winter night. It is a show that is filled with cute moments that will make you go 'awwww' every now and then.
The show is episodic in nature which means that there isn't really any major development going on in terms of story. So you can just jump in and watch any episode you want. Most of the episodes are centered around Kashima and the kids, with one kid and his/her problem being the focal point of the episode. For example- there is one episode that highlights the problem Kotarou is facing in coping with it all, while there is one that highlights the relationship between Taka and his elder brother Hayato.
The show also has a slight romantic angle, with two girls namely Maria and Yuki interested in Ryuuichi. But this angle is pretty much downplayed, which also feels right considering the fact that the show is predominantly about Ryuuichi and the kids. The show does touch several points such as the death of Ryuuichi's parents and its effects, the romance, and the struggle of Ryuuichi between living his own life while also being there for Kotarou. But it mostly does this in a lighter tone.
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| Maria and Yuki are the two girls having a thing for Ryuuichi |
Let's talk a bit about the technical stuff (the characters, the art, and the sound)
Since Gakuen Babysitters is predominantly episodic in nature, it would be wrong to talk about character development as such. It will be safe to say that all the characters are pretty much likable, with Ryuuichi (amongst the adults) and Kotarou (amongst the children) being the highlight of the show. The rest of the cast including the likes of Hayato, Maria, and the kids also does well to fill in the gaps. The show goes very easy on the characters, portraying them as your normal everyday life ones, which is again a plus point. There are no over the top emotions (except the cuteness) or plots involved, thus making it ideal as a comfort show.
The art is pretty normal and not something that you might pay special attention to. The character sketches and background combine well with each other and mostly give off a cheery and bright vibe. The OP - "Endless Happy World" sung by Daisuke Ono and the ED - "Oshiete Yo" by Hyorotto Danshi work well to give the show a happy go lucky nature.
Overall
Anime doesn't have a dearth of shows with cute characters. But what's important is how these characters fit or blend in the overall show.
Gakuen Babysitters isn't just about the cute kids. It's about how happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. We might lose people, but our life doesn't stop, it won't stop. We keep moving forward, and we keep adapting.
Maybe the show touches a bit less on the serious nature of Ryuuichi and Kotarou losing their parents, but that's okay. The show does well to make us realize the importance of family. Just like Ryuuichi, you might struggle to have a life of your own, or might be burdened with the responsibilities of your family, but that's okay. After all, the family is what remains when everyone else is gone.
You just need to find happiness in those small, seemingly mundane everyday moments of your life.
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