Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions: Depth of Field - Love and Hate Theater

The first time my daughter found this on Netflix, I rolled my eyes. "Not another teen romance," I whined. 24 episodes later, I was blown away. I was hooked. 'Love Chunibyo and Other Delusions' is NOT your stereotypical teen angst romcom. It deals with complex psychological issues, and some very deep subject matter. It is animated more beautifully than anything you can imagine. The characters are relatable, the premise is believable, and I'll be honest, speaking as the son and husband of psychologists, this show is INCREDIBLY smart in dealing with young teens and the pains and pressures that follow the transition into high school and young adulthood. Peer pressure. Love. Loss of family members. Sexual awakening. Trying to fit in while being embarrassed about your past. It is in turns moving, hilarious, frustrating, exhilarating, and romantic. There are times when the supporting characters will make you angry with their annoying personalities. The two protagonists, Yuta and Rikka, are trying to navigate first feelings of love while dealing with their "Chunibyo" (Japanese for 'Eighth Grader Syndrome') Which they use to escape the mundane life of high school and reconnect with their imaginative childhood. Yuta is embarrassd by it, but Rikka uses her Chunibyo to help her deal with the intense pain of losing her father at a young age. Her fantasy world is an escape from reality. One very welcome stabilizing character in this show is Rikka's older sister Toka. A very strong supporting female character who "battles" Rikka's imaginary character with a soup ladel. Sound ridiculous? Trust me. Watch it and you'll be amazed. After the final movie "Take On Me" aired, we were left wanting more. You will not be disappointed.