Image creds: https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/kurokos-basketball-season-3-is-coming-to-netflix-in-september-2021/

Okay, the title is a bit exaggerated. Other things changed my life more significantly than this one anime, but Kuroko No Basuke (Kuroko’s Basketball) did something to my dark, dingy heart. I was not blessed enough to find this anime or manga sooner in my life, but when I did, it was the right time.

Flashback to undergrad. I was in my third and final year, thankful to graduate early because I was sad, lonely and feeling low. Majority of my friends had moved out of state or transferred, I dropped out of my sorority due to unmatched morals and I had to quit boxing on the university club team to attend my three hour advanced painting course. There was no way to hide the fact that I was depressed and, after a couple horrible roommate experiences, missing home.

Scrolling through https://myanimelist.net/, I decided to take a dive back into sports genre anime. I had watched Eyeshield 21, Haikyuu, bits of POT, and Free!. The only basketball manga I knew of was Ahiru no Sora. All of these shows were fine but missing that little extra something I loved in anime. I gave Kuroko a chance one night when my roommates were being obnoxiously loud and I just wanted to drift away into a land of peace and exaggerated sport scenes (Yes, I’m looking at you Eyeshield 21).

It took one episode before I felt it: that weird sensation you get when you are watching a game-changing anime. One that makes your heart beat with excitement and leave you feeling all giddy about the next episode.

For those who are lost and want to know what Kuroko’s Basketball is all about before I analyze it, let me give you a synopsis. Kuroko is a plain, invisible high schooler both on and off the court. Coming from a renowned team in middle school, he goes to a ‘no-name’ high school, Seirin High, in order to play basketball his way and beat the teammates that caused him to eventually hate the sport. With his new high school team, he finds a way to play his own basketball and enjoy the game, all while trying to defeat the Generation of Miracles.

So, with a plot like that, how could you go wrong? The genius artist and animation team behind this creation knew exactly what they were doing and churned out a phenomenal anime adaptation of a popular sports manga. The graphics are wonderfully consistent and the music throughout the show hypes you up for every game. The character development is slow at first but picks up when there’s a big twist and harrowing obstacle Kuroko has to face. Lastly, there is no silly superpower-like abilities. Most of it is believable or just a hint exaggerated, but everything falls under the realm of possibility. 

Now, for the last bit: why did it change my life and how did it help or hinder my mental health? And, why in the world should I sit here and convince others to watch it?

When I felt extremely alone, abandoned by friends, trapped in my situation, I watched Kuroko go through the same things. Imagine being so plain that people don’t even know you are there standing right in front of them? Rather than sit and mope about his plainness, he used it to find strategies that worked for him on the court. This is where he would use that misdirection power to turn into a shadow, embracing his invisibility and ends up becoming a irreplaceable team mate (and friend to many). So, it may sound strange, but how could I transform my loneliness into something more healthy?

It took some trial and error but after a few months and a lot of talking to my negativity kindly, I had re-structured my daily routine to fit in more self-care, socialization and productivity on my own. Almost like when I was still on a sports team and training. Instead of my cheer squad or boxing team club house, I would spend extra time in the art studio on personal projects or facetime friends that were too far too visit. I would box on my own and teach Zumba classes. I made sure to give myself a break, knowing that I had two choices: sit and wallow, or, get up and do something about it. Just like Kuroko.

Mental Health Fact Time: Major Depressive Disorder and other forms of Depression are a serious mental illness. It is not just feeling a bit blue or sad every now and then. There are symptoms and diagnostic criteria you must meet to be evaluated by a mental health professional. Please, do not Google search the DSM and try to diagnosis yourself. This can lead to misconceptions, extra stress and placebo symptoms. It is great to monitor yourself so that you can bring your observations to a professional for diagnosis. I say this because I have personally witnessed the trouble self-diagnosing can cause. Remember, you are not alone and there are resources out there to support you. Call Crisis numbers if needed and reach out to local counselors if you feel like you would like extra support!