Mob Psycho 100

Mob Psycho 100 started as a web comic by ONE, the same artist who created One-Punch Man. It ran online on Shogakukan's Ura Sunday site starting in April 2012, and later on the MangaONE app, until it ended in December 2017. The full story fills 16 book volumes. Studio Bones made the anime, with Yuzuru Tachikawa as director and Hiroshi Seko writing the scripts. The first season has 12 episodes and aired in Japan from July 12 to September 27, 2016.

The hero is Shigeo Kageyama, a quiet middle school boy. People call him "Mob" because he looks plain and blends into the crowd, like one face in a big group of people. But Mob has a huge secret. He is an esper, which means a person with psychic powers. He can bend spoons, lift objects with his mind, and fight ghosts and evil spirits. In fact, he may be one of the strongest psychics alive.

Mob does not want to use his power to show off. He wants an ordinary life. He wants to be good at school, make friends, get stronger in his body, and maybe get noticed by a girl he likes. To stay safe, he keeps his feelings locked away. When strong feelings build up inside him, his power can grow out of control. The show often displays a number on screen that climbs toward 100 as his emotions rise, and this counter adds real tension to every scene.

To learn how to handle his gift, Mob works part time for Arataka Reigen. Reigen calls himself a great spirit medium, a person who talks to ghosts. In truth, he has no psychic power at all. He is a smooth-talking con man who pays Mob very little and lets the boy do the real work. Still, Reigen often gives Mob honest and kind advice about life, and their odd friendship is one of the best parts of the show. Other key characters include Ritsu, Mob's younger brother, who is smart and popular and feels jealous of his brother's power, and Ekubo, a cheeky spirit who calls himself "Dimple" and hangs around Mob with his own plans. Over the season, Mob also meets other espers, some of whom think psychic people should rule over normal people.

Under the jokes and wild fights, this is a coming-of-age story, which means a story about a young person growing up. It asks a simple question: does being special make you a better person? Mob believes the answer is no. He thinks kindness and effort matter more than power. The show also pokes fun at fake psychics, cults, and people who chase popularity. It mixes silly comedy with honest, heartfelt moments, and it never feels like a normal action show.

The animation is a big reason fans love it. Bones uses bright colors, hand-painted effects, and shapes that melt and twist when Mob's power explodes. The first season won Best Action and Best Fight Scene at the first Crunchyroll Anime Awards, and it was nominated for Anime of the Year. Anime News Network named it one of the best shows of 2016, and both Polygon and IGN later listed the series among the best anime of the 2010s. The manga also won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2017. For viewers who want big action with a warm heart, Mob Psycho 100 is a great place to start.