REVIEW: ‘Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid’ Is A Fitting Ending

The Rascal Does Not Dream light novels have gone from being adapted into an animated series to tackling the later volumes in a cinematic format. With the recent arrival of Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid, this latest installment reads as a successful wrap-up before launching into its university arc. A mixture of slice-of-life with a dash of existentialism focusing on growing up, Knapsack Kid shines its spotlight on Sakuta Azusagawa (Kaito Ishikawa). If you’re going into this thinking it’s a standalone film, it is not. Make sure you watch everything leading up to this point.

In Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid, Sakuta finds himself in a familiar situation. Mai Sakurajima (Asami Seto) is graduating from high school. His sister, Kaede (Yuriko Kubo), is coming into her own and becoming more independent. His future beyond high school is looming on the horizon. And his mother, after being hospitalized for two years, is recovering well. Things seem to be sliding into place for everyone in his life. Sakuta is struggling now, whether or not he realizes it.

But he knows something is coming. A miniature version of Mai, as seen previously in Sister Venturing Out, keeps showing up. A mysterious scar appears on his abdomen out of nowhere. It isn’t until Sakuta realizes one day he is invisible that something is wrong. Fans of Rascal Does Not Dream will find this moment surprising, even in its familiarity. But Puberty Syndrome spares no one, especially if they refuse to accept what plagues them. In the case of Sakuta, adulthood and the loss of innocence is the trigger.

While Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid labels itself a film, it plays more as a longer anime episode. The slice-of-life feeling of the story plays into this, as does Sakuta’s arc. The animation itself, while good, lacks the cinematic visual punch one might expect when thinking of a film. That said, the seaside town feels inviting, and the grounded visuals, particularly the environment Sakuta makes home, feel lived in and cozy.

The overarching themes prevalent in Rascal Does Not Dream are prevalent here in Knapsack Kid. The message surrounding acceptance of one’s limitations and fears is a recurring one. For Sakuta, the fear of what’s next, but also the acceptance of how he has had to grow up since his mother’s decline, haunts him. With college looming over him, the future is calling. Decisions need to be made, but all he has done so far is make decisions for others. Be the caretaker and fixer of problems. Who will come and fix his?

As a fixer in my life, Sakuta’s struggles are relatable, as is the dilemma of an unhealthy mother. The idea of building a future seems foreign when dealing with the issues surrounding you in the present. It isn’t until you can find your support group that the idea of a future feels real and tangible. In Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid, this support is shown through Mai. Having someone there who sees him, knows him, and believes him is all Sakuta needs to persevere. This highlights the lesson of how important it is to find one’s support group. Without them, it is easy to succumb to our fears.

Mental health has been a prominent theme throughout the Rascal Does Not Dream series. Here, it plays out in Sakuta’s reconciliation with his mother. The dynamic between child and parent, particularly as the child grows up, is constantly developing. At the end of the day, though, parents are human. Parents aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. And it isn’t until Sakuta lands upon this realization that things shift.

As an ending, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid nicely wraps things up. For most of Rascal Does Not Dream, Sakuta has been helping others. In Knapsack Kid, he is the one who finally needs help. Focusing on Sakuta reminds us that no one is perfect, not even the helpers in our lives. And when he succeeds, it is all the more rewarding. Next up for Sakuta and the gang? College!

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out and Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid in theaters nationwide as a double feature on March 24 and 25.