Animated Classics of Japanese Literature [Season 1 Episodes 7-8]

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re scrolling through your anime queue looking for the next big isekai or harem fix, Animated Classics of Japanese Literature Episodes 7-8 (“Botchan”) isn’t it. And honestly? That’s exactly why it’s worth your time.

This 1986 gem—recently resurrected by the subbing heroes at Orphan—drops you into the shoes of Botchan, a hotheaded Tokyo kid who bumbles his way into a teaching gig in a tiny, gossip-ridden country town. Think of it like GTO but without the delinquents and with way more passive-aggressive teachers side-eyeing each other over miso soup. The animation’s old-school, sure—soft watercolors, slow pans over rice fields—but that’s part of its charm. It feels like flipping through a vintage manga, not a hyper-polished modern series, and that nostalgia hits hard if you’re tired of every show looking like it was made for a TikTok edit.

What makes “Botchan” click, though, is how relatable it is—even 37 years later. Botchan’s fish-out-of-water panic? We’ve all been there: starting a new job where everyone seems to speak a secret language (here, it’s the town’s obsession with “proper” country etiquette). His frustration with the school’s two-faced staff? Same energy as dealing with a toxic group project partner who smiles to your face but talks trash behind your back. The anime doesn’t sugarcoat it, either—there’s no magical power-up or cute love interest to save the day. Botchan just… deals. He yells, he makes mistakes, he learns to laugh at his own cluelessness. It’s messy, human, and way more real than half the “slice-of-life” shows out there.

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: why don’t we get more anime like this? If you’ve ever vented about the flood of light novel adaptations (looking at you, 100th Isekai About a NEET Who Becomes a God), you’re not alone. Fans on MyAnimeList have been begging for years: “Where are the adaptations of real Japanese literature?” One user put it bluntly: “All we see are light novel adaptations these days. But where are the novels that are actually good?”

“Botchan” is the answer to that question—sort of. It’s based on Natsume Sōseki’s 1906 classic, a book that’s basically required reading in Japan. But here’s the thing: this isn’t some stuffy “educational” anime. It’s funny. Botchan’s inner monologue is pure gold (“Why does everyone here care so much about how I eat my rice?”), and the town’s absurd drama—like a feud over whether the school should serve sweet or savory tofu—feels straight out of a reality show. It’s smart without being pretentious, which is a rare win for literary adaptations.

Critics might say it’s “too slow” or “not exciting enough,” but that’s missing the point. “Botchan” isn’t here to blow your mind with plot twists. It’s here to make you nod and think, “Yeah, I’ve been that guy.” The final scene—Botchan standing on a train platform, watching the town fade away, feeling equal parts relieved and nostalgic—stuck with me for days. It’s the kind of quiet, emotional beat that modern anime often skips in favor of flashy fight scenes.

So, should you watch it? If you’re tired of the same old tropes and want something that feels like a warm hug from a bygone era, absolutely. It’s short (two episodes, 30 minutes each), it’s free (shoutout to Orphan’s hard work), and it might just make you pick up the original novel. And if nothing else, it’s a reminder that anime doesn’t have to be about saving the world to be worth watching. Sometimes, it’s enough to watch a guy learn to stop being a jerk and start being a human being.

In a world where every new anime feels like a carbon copy of the last, “Botchan” is a breath of fresh (if slightly musty) air. Give it a shot—you might be surprised how much you laugh. And hey, if you hate it? At least you can say you watched a “classic” without falling asleep in class. Win-win.