When we think of the most popular anime series of the year, Chainsaw Man is surely at the top of the list. On the popular anime website “My Anime List”, both Bleach TYBW arc and Chainsaw Man competed for the highest-ranked ongoing series for a long time. However, just a few days ago, a slice-of-life anime jumped several spots (even surpassing Chainsaw Man) to become the 2nd highest-rated ongoing anime.
Chainsaw Man was beaten by Bocchi the Rock on MAL by a 0.01 rating difference, becoming the second most popular anime airing right now, as Bleach is first on the list.
Bocchi The Rock achieved a rating of 8.83 recently which made it higher than Chainsaw Man, which stands at 8.82. This also happened a few days ago on the 14 of December for a few hours only. After a few hours, Chainsaw Man regained its 2nd spot. Today, Bocchi The Rock is back in business and who knows how long it will maintain its lead?
Bocchi The Rock has been an underdog anime this season as it features a surreal art style and a simple story which makes it pretty appealing. It is pretty similar to “K-On!‘ as they both feature high school girls playing music and the main protagonist which is good at playing the guitar but they are shy to show this.
Why is this big news?
As we all know, the production budget and production studio of Chainsaw Man, MAPPA, are pretty big as compared to Bocchi The Rock. The popularity of Chainsaw Man was also on another level as Bocchi The Rock was not even known at the time when Chainsaw Man got announced. So, this is not something you will get to see every day!
The reaction of Fans to this
MyAnimeList ongoing anime rankings also made it to the comment forums in Japans, and Japanese fans had a mixed reaction on Boochi The Rock’s success worldwide. Here are some of the comments seen on the Japanese side of social media.
I don’t understand what’s going on, for me it wouldn’t be something I would see more than once.
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MAPPA losing to a slice-of-life? Uff, that must hurt
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Bocchi the Rock! consolidating itself as the best of the season
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It’s interesting the way popularity works abroad, the most unexpected end up taking the highest positions.
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I’ve never seen a Kirara anime so successful in one season
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Synopsis of Boochi The Rock:
“Boochi is a socially awkward girl who has been passionate about playing the guitar since childhood. One day, she meets a girl named Nijika who sees her guitar and invites her to her club, Kessoku Band, as their guitar had left them before a concert. When Boochi joins the band on a whim, she meets the fantastic bassist of the band, Ryou Yamada. A few days later, the previous guitarist of this band, the one who left them, joins them as the bright Kira Ikuyo. What new experiences will our anti-social Boochi do in this new environment and will she be able to showcase her real talent for guitar in front of everyone?”
