Having been a fan of anime since I was 5, it’s fair to say that I’ve grown up with the anime I watch. I watched Cardcaptor Sakura (the English dub version known as Cardcaptors in the US) when I was around 8 or 9, which was close to the age Sakura was. I watched the first anime adaptation of Fruits Baskets when I was the same age Tohru was. In college, I watched Nana and Honey and Clover, both anime that star people in their early 20s and in college or the real world. Now, as a 30-year-old, I gravitate towards anime and manga centered around adults, especially adults in the workplace.
With all that being said, it was no surprise that upon learning about My New Boss is Goofy, I immediately planned to watch it. As someone who has had her share of different jobs in different industries in my 20s, I loved the premise. We spend 40 hours a week at work, and while yes we do work, there are moments of comedy and joy we share with coworkers. It’s really not all work and no play.
About My New Boss is Goofy
Expecting the show to start lightheartedly, I snuggled into bed to watch the first episode. I was not prepared for the emotions I would feel during the cold open. The anime is centered around Kentaro Momose, a 26-year-old who is starting a new job. On his first day of the job, he narrates that the reason he is starting a new job is because he left his previous job due to an abusive manager. The abuse was so bad, that he was extremely stressed and developed stomach ulcers.
When he arrives at his new job, he tries to get a read on his new boss, Yusei Shirosaki. As they are out on an assignment, Momose is so nervous he doubles over from stomach pain. When Momose looks up, he realizes his boss is nowhere to be found. He starts spiralizing and fearing the consequences of this. Just in time, Shirosaki returns. It turns out he ran to a store to get stomach medication, but grabbed PMS medication since that’s what he would get for his ex girlfriend. As we can all see, Shirosaki is truly goofy.
Recovering from a Bad Job
The episode continues to a second part where Momose is in charge of his first proposal for this new company. Momose is extremely anxious about this task. He dealt with a lot of public humiliation and was made to believe his work was not good enough.
As a good boss would, Shirosaki senses that Momose is having a tough time on this assignment. He makes sure to have some moments with Momose that inspire him and instill confidence in him. Through Shirosaki’s guidance, Momose is able to tackle this project and does a great job.
Work Trauma is Valid
As I mentioned, this episode brought up a lot of feelings for me. In 2019, I left a job I considered a dream job due to an abusive manager. At the time, it was one of the most difficult things I had faced. Looking back today, I still feel so many things about it. I wrote about it and what I wrote then seems to encompass a lot of what I saw in Momose.
“What should not be challenging is your manager or your work environment. Working under pressure shouldn’t mean you deal with unfit management or working within a toxic work culture. The saying “people don’t leave jobs, they leave management” is full of truth. Terrible management makes you feel suffocated. If management does not value your opinion or fails to show you that you’re appreciated, you may feel resentful. When you feel at a disconnect with management, you may work in fear of getting unfairly reprimanded or that your job is on the line. When our jobs are 40 hours of our weeks, all these things can have a negative toll on you.”
The 4 Stages of Unemployment, Lisa De La Cruz
It is difficult to leave a toxic job environment because there is a lot of shame associated with quitting. While it was only the first episode, it seems that Momose is dealing with this shame as well. Even though he quit and has a new job with a manager who is different from his old abusive manager, the trauma does not just disappear. We witness Momose have to tackle his anxieties in many different ways in this episode.
What Happens Next
My New Boss is Goofy is based on a manga, but you already know I will be anime only until the season is complete. While I’m sure there are many funny moments to come down the line, I am looking forward to Momose’s healing. He has gone through a lot and I need him to believe he deserves to be working someplace free from abuse.
