In the evergrowing subsection of music-based anime series, Bocchi The Rock! is the next anime set to mesmerize both music fans and fans of simply great storytelling with its series premiere "Lonely Rolling Bocchi."

Warning: The review features spoilers about the episode.

Viewers are greeted to Hitori Gotō, who's dealt with something many faced in school: social anxiety. Their inability to communicate with classmates has made it a bit difficult to make friends. After seeing a boy band on their screen, however, Hitori decided to dive into the world of rock music. Armed with a guitar, they spent three years perfecting their craft and uploading covers under the clever YouTube name guitarhero. Unfortunately, their social anxiety made it even worse for them in terms of trying to get a band together in junior high. Now as a high schooler, Hitori is determined to make this dream a reality.

Fortunately, fate would be on Hitori's side as they run into Nijika Ijichi, a second-year student from Shimo-Kitazawa High. Nijika recruits them for their rock band Kessoku Band's forthcoming live show at the local club Starry. Much like Ringo Sheena and Doll$Boxx's F Chopper Koga, Hitori needed a strong stage name that would wow their impending audience. Bassist Ryo Yamada decides to christen Hitori "Bocchi," which is a Japanese nickname given to people who always do things alone.

When it came to performing at their first show, Hitori suffered from stage fright. They decided to play their guitar inside a tall cardboard box on stage. With real-life musicians such as Rammstein's Christian "Flake" Lorenz playing keyboards while walking a treadmill and The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne performing in a hamster ball, Hitori's box performance wouldn't have felt out of place at the Hollywood Palladium.

Overall, the debut episode of Bocchi The Rock! delivers big time with a strong introduction to the main character and their visions of eventually headlining the Zepp Super Arena. A strong factor in this show is Hitori's inner dialogue, which truly helps move things along with loads of humor. One grand moment was a fake-out ending credits scene midway through the show. Another interesting note is the plot point surrounding Hitori's guitarhero page. At one point in the show, Nijika and Ryo both share their admiration for guitarhero's covers in front of Hitori, not knowing their new member is who they're praising. It'll be interesting to see how Hitori's new bandmates will react when finding out the truth.

Will Hitori obtain their dream of packing arenas across town? That's not yet determined, but the journey getting there will certainly be one filled with exciting moments along the way.

The series premiere of Bocchi the Rock! is available to watch on Crunchyroll right now.