“WataMote: No Matter How I Look At It, It's Your Fault I'm Not Popular!” is a twelve-episode anime that aired from July to September 2013. Directed by Shin Oonuma, known for “ef: A Tale of Memories” and “Kokoro Connect”, this anime is based on the manga of the same name, which currently has twenty-four volumes. The story follows Tomoko Kuroki, a fifteen-year-old high school student who suffers from severe social anxiety and depression. This prevents you from having a normal social life and affects your confidence in relationships with other people, highlighting your daily struggles with social situations.

The series' title is a clever choice, as it reflects that it's not just Tomoko's fault that she's not popular. Social anxiety is a difficult barrier to overcome, especially in the highly competitive and socially demanding environment of high school. If Tomoko could stop worrying about being popular and just be herself, she might find that her quirks and unique personality would make her stand out in a positive way.

Despite its unique storyline and focus on mental health issues, “WataMote” did not get a second season, which sparked debate among fans on Reddit. One of the reasons mentioned is that The series did not find its mainstream audience in Japan until it gained popularity internationally, especially among 4chan users. At first, Tomoko's portrayal of social anxiety and constant failure was difficult to watch for many, which limited her appeal in her home market.

Additionally, Japanese audiences tend to prefer series with protagonists who overcome obstacles more triumphantly. Isekai fantasy and light comedy stories are popular because they offer escapism and a more optimistic narrative. On the other hand, watching Tomoko struggle and fail repeatedly may have been too close to reality for many viewers, making the series less engaging.

Discussions on the Reddit forum also suggest that “WataMote” may have been ahead of its time., addressing mental health issues that were not as widely discussed at the time of its broadcast. Today, these topics are more recognized and understood, which could have allowed for a different reception if the series had been released later.

• «WataMote didn’t really find its Japanese audience until it became an international hit among 4chan users. Japanese readers came to accept it as more characters were introduced and Tomoko’s autism became much less painful to watch. Throughout the entire anime series, Tomoko basically never surpasses anyone, and perhaps that’s a hard sell to Japanese audiences who are constantly consuming pointless isekai power fantasies and lobotomized titles. Watching a loser constantly fail at life probably hits too close to home.».
• «It really should be reinvested since the direction of the series has changed. But it should be done differently from the first season, since it only managed to adapt 20 chapters.».
• «The first season was a complete failure.».
• «To be brutally honest, I've heard many reasons. It wasn't popular with the Japanese. The anime was only made to boost sales of the manga.».
• «The series did not perform well on television, and album sales in Japan were lower than expected.».
• «Something about Japan having terrible taste and not buying Blu-rays».
• «I'm honestly surprised at how many people have watched the anime and think the story ends there. They don't want another season because they think it's going to be another twelve episodes of super scary moments, when in reality the story turns into something worthwhile.».
• «And meanwhile, anime with no real representation of social anxiety like Komi-san get a second season».
• «Sometimes I think it's better that there isn't another season with how good the manga is. Something becoming really popular changes that.».
• «Because unlike Tomoko, most people are normal and can't relate to her as a character. Also, her plot is quite realistic and in this genre of school life she tells simple or very dramatic stories, on the other hand, Tomoko's story is very unique and kind of breaks the mold.».
• «Then it gets so good it's a shame we'll never see all the characters from the anime.».
• «The problem is that even if it aired today it would need a few seasons. 3 to 4 seasons to catch up on the current themes of the manga.».
• «Because anime was created to spark people's interest in manga. Most of the time, when that happens, a second season doesn't happen.».
• «The anime did not do well in Japan, although it was a success internationally. Furthermore, this was only done to further promote the manga, which backfired.».

Source: reddit