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FEATURE: Alliance Of Outsiders — The Beautiful Theme Of Connection In Mob Psycho 100

Mob Psycho 100 is the creation of One, the manga artist whose breakout hit One-Punch Man turned him from an unknown artist working on a webcomic to a singular superstar. One-Punch Man’s world is a veritable carnival of One’s trademark humor and outlandish characters, and the success of the anime owes a lot to the fact that its audience can both be thrilled by it and amused by its blend of droll and parodic comedy. Thus, it comes as no surprise that One’s next hit was Mob Psycho 100, a series with an anime adaptation that’s a visual feast with a heart that beats for outsiders and underdogs.

A theme of connection among misfits is fairly common, serving as plot fodder for everything from teen comedies to The Avengers. It’s likely because its relatability is unmatched. Nearly everyone feels like a stranger in the world at one point or another, and the discovery of kinship is a joy that’s incomparable. That said, truly special pieces of fiction take it further than that, diving into why we feel and connect this way and the various ways in which it happens. I believe Mob Psycho 100 does this consistently and excellently.

The primary relationship in Mob Psycho 100 is between Reigen and Mob, the former a con artist medium who comes off as kind of a paranormal-obsessed Saul Goodman, the latter a middle school boy with psychic abilities that can become terrifying when his emotions run too high. Reigen serves as Mob’s boss, his hypeman, and his moral counsel. Even when many others see Reigen as nothing more than a huckster, Mob looks up to him. The two guys are seemingly destined to be loners but are instead bound through this desolate association with the world. It provides a mutual understanding, despite Mob being initially bombarded with Reigen’s claims of spiritual proficiency. They both struggle with what the world wants from them, and as such, how they present themselves to it, meaning that the mentorship is mutual.

This carries on to the rest of the show. We find an affinity among misfits wherever Mob goes. This is perhaps most evident when he joins the Body Improvement Club after falling in with the lazy Telepathy Club group. The Body Improvement Group’s leader Musashi Goda allows the Telepathy Club to use their room, mainly because they’re at least there for a purpose — in comparison to his treatment of wannabe delinquent Onigawara, who he eventually persuades to just do something with his life. However, standing around their classmates, they’re hulking and imposing, containing far too much energy for exercise than the average aloof kid.

But, like Goda’s request, they desire things: more strength and brotherhood. Mob wants to get in better shape to impress a girl, but he stays with them after his first run ends with fainting because their aspirations are tied. It’s a good vibe to be in the company of those that celebrate growth and change or even general birthday party joy. Like Reigen and Mob, the Body Improvement Club and those in their circle give one another the courage to be more than what others have deemed them and to want more than what’s expected.

Even if they did betray Mob — which they would never do, because the Body Improvement Club is flawless — his capacity for forgiveness means an open playing field for those that want to do better. Take Hanazawa, the Black Vinegar Middle School student whose pride brings him into psychic conflict with Mob. After being beaten, Hanazawa realizes that one doesn’t need to lord themselves over others, even if they have the strength to. As Uncle Ben once said “With great power means just being cool with it, bro” and Hanazawa becomes peers with Mob. It’s a common theme among characters — Mob’s willingness to see an antagonist’s capabilities for good in a way that they can’t (as with Reigen) allows them the opportunity to evolve.

In one of the most beautiful scenes in the anime, Mob puts Emi’s writing back together after her friends tear it up. Emi, alone in her friend group in this interest, is moved by Mob’s declaration that he should consider his emotions more. This gives her the impetus to do the same, and she helps Mob pick up the pieces of her manuscript. It’s a gentle moment, one that reminds us that our abilities might make us special, but they don’t necessarily make us better. In Mob Psycho 100’s world, that’s accomplished through connection.

Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

By: Daniel Dockery

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