Handa-kun

Serving as a prequel to the hit series Barakamon, this 2016 comedy from Diomedea rewinds the clock to focus on a young Seishuu Handa. Despite his genuine talent for calligraphy, the teenager suffers from crippling angst and an unwavering belief that everyone at school hates him. Reality, however, is the exact opposite: his peers revere him as a moody, misunderstood genius. Across twelve episodes, this fundamental misunderstanding fuels a series of ridiculous situations involving tough-guy delinquents, secret admirers, and even cross-dressing escapades. The show leans heavily into absurdist humor rather than the heartfelt slice-of-life tone of its parent series. Earning a respectable 7.3 score, it transforms Handa's teenage neuroses into a relentless string of comedic misunderstandings. Fans of shows about oblivious boys making fools of themselves will find plenty to laugh about in this entertaining spin-off.