Connor reading “I was prepared to fap but not prepared to feel” made me spit my water 💀

"it's not hentai if it makes you cry" what a masterpiece still 10 years later.

It's crazy how 4Chan is always root of something on the internet.

In 2013, I started a project with a few others on the Katawa Shoujo forums known as Katawa Seiyū, a voiced play through on UKposts, being one of the directors until I had suffered a mental breakdown and had been unable to continue my work on the project. This project was actually one of the early voice over projects for Sydney (including talents like LilyPichu as well). I wanted to apologize directly at some point for the working conditions and the lack of professionalism this project had, primarily due to my youth, lack of experience and maturity, and poor mental health. I don’t have any regrets for being the spark for this project starting, because even if it failed, it brought together talented individuals and helped bring a voice to one of the best visual novels I’ve ever read, even a full decade later removed from my initial reading. Sydney, if you do read this, I apologize for Katawa Seiyū not being a better project to work on, but thank you so so much for your hard work. I’m so proud to see how far you’ve come since then. Wha~haha~!

I just can't believe how much passion was in the project. They were working for years without getting paid. Massive respect to them.

Honestly I think the cleverest part of the story is the fact that your protagonist is also disabled. A big part of Hisao's character development is that he has to learn radical acceptance of himself as a disabled man, and in the process, he's able to better relate to the girls as people; he accepts that they're disabled, and it means he can realise that their personal problems have little to do with their disabilities themselves. Hisao's main "problem" in life isn't that he has a heart condition, it's that developing a heart condition alienated him from his old life and he doesn't really believe he has any life left at all - he ended up being really lonely, which absolutely would be a relatable trait for 4Channers and other terminally-online weebs. The same applies to the girls; their disabilities contribute to their issues in life, but their main problems AREN'T "well she's blind/deaf/scarred/an amputee". He has his own story; notably, he responds differently to the letter from his crush depending on what route he's on, and where he is on his own journey to self-acceptance, and I really appreciate that. They COULD have been lazy and gone in the direction of "Some NORMAL Guy ends up living near The Disabled School and learns that disabled chicks are hot!" (which is, I think, what a lot of people who assume this game is ableist based on the premise think this game is about) but the story and characters would have suffered massively for that; the girls, inevitably, would have become an Exotic Other, rather than be allowed the space to breathe. Hisao having an invisible disability (which the girls can't exactly relate to either) forces the player to empathise with disabled people on a one-to-one level first, and THEN you have the opportunity to relate to the girls (and THEN maybe date them). idk, I like that they put the effort in, starting with Hisao. Love that.

Emi showed me determination and focus. Rin taught me about passion, the search for fulfilment while staying true to myself Shizune showed me commitment and responsibility Lily taught me about maturity and how to make the best out of my weaknesses And Hanako helped me overcome the chains of the past All of them taught me how to build trust in others and open up my feelings. Man what a fucking masterpiece

In Russia, there is a project similar in history, called Everlasting Summer. Also born on imageboards and went through 9 circles of production hell, he came out and became dearly loved by domestic fans.

I’m so happy this video is blowing up Katawa Shoujo is a masterpiece

Having Sidney, Joey and Connor voicing comments cracked me up xD It's literally insane how this project advanced on sheer passion alone. So many times irl gets in the way of even important stuff, that the fact that they kept up at it is no less of a miracle. Can't even imagine how many times they thought individually - even i do all my story line, there's no way we will able to finish this. Thanks garnt for highlighting the story

Im a sucker for any "look at the crazy thing 4chan did" videos. I'm also a sucker for unexpected great writing. So, as a nonweeb, i downloaded this game with serious trepidation. Pleasantly surprised and glad i did. An example of passion fueling quality, not money.

Katawa Shojo didn't teach 4chan how to feel. Katawa Shojo gave 4chan a reason to feel.

Damn, I haven’t heard someone talk about Katawa Shoujo in years. Absolutely loved that VN, both for its plot and its PLOT.

I am still amazed at how Hanako had more character development in Lily's route than her own.

20:24 Hearing the name Mike Inel blew my mind knowing what he does now and seeing what he did beforehand

Despite 4chans general degeneracy, it also is one of the few communities that has a magical ability to bond together and do incredible things. beyond katawa shojo, they also have shut down multiple CP rings, found and gotten people who abuse animals arrested, or on a more lighthearted note, finding a “he will not divide us” flag in a field weighing 24 hours by looking at the stars and planes flying overhead.

RIP Raide, director and main artist of Katawa Shoujo. Passed away too soon, 2 years ago.

One of the things I love about Katawa shoujo is that the MC Hisao feels like an actual character. So many VNs get lazy and use the MC as a stand in for the player, but Hisao actually feels like his own person with flaws and ways in which his disability impacts him and the story. Also, the soundtrack SLAPS and is so nostalgic to me everytime I hear it

There is a really similar but still inspiring story about a novel "everlasting summer" , it also was made by a group of independent people who managed to produce the most popular novel in eastern Europe At least please give a chance to Everlasting summer and if it touches you there is hell a story to tell about it's development

Katawa shoujo is definitely one of those "go in for the _plot_ but stay for the plot" type of games.

I love that Katawa Shoujo came from 4chan, it makes you automatically think it's going to be vile and gut-wrenching, but it's gut-wrenching in a completely different way, it's too sweetly wholesome. It's not everyday that you hear about a game that changes lives and perspectives like Katawa Shoujo here.

oh man, getting Joey, CDawg and Sydsnap to do voices reading 4chan comments was a great addition, I love it :)

Can we take a moment to also appreciate that this video itself has some S tier editing?

Katawa Shoujo was an impossible project that genuinely touched me, I struggled with empathy towards others but going through Hanako's story genuinely made me realise that I wasn't after sex but rather a meaningful relationship. The fact that the game actively pushed you away from going the horny route because of your characters heart condition actually gave you a moment to pace yourself and learn more about the characters. Also the line "Did your mother give birth to you in a minefield" is still referenced in my friend group to this day.

Casting Connor as someone who has played a visual novel is the most immersion breaking part of this vid

A quote that stuck with me throughout basically my while life was from the librarian. "I'd rather try and fail then, then never try at all, not knowing if I wouldve failed or not." something along those lines. It probably wasnt an original quote but damn did it hit me when I was 14.

I stopped browsing 4chan by the time this released, i cant believe the actual madlads did it.

I think the story behind the production is just as moving as the visual novel. The amount of dedication and soul they pour into this project knowing that it can end at any moment is truly inspiring.

Katawa Shoujo helped me a lot getting through the roughest parts of my life. As a ADHD autistic kid who lost their father figure and grandfather 4 months apart I was torn apart mentally. Finding Katawa Shoujo in late 2014 through slyfoxhound it helped me relate to fictional characters with physical and mental disabilities like myself and gave me a sense of joy and happiness. Thank you Garnt for pushing this VN back into the limelight.

Wow, I played Katawa Shoujo... far too long ago honestly and never knew it actually originated from 4chan, I'm honestly blown away by it. It was one of the most unique and memorable reads I've ever gone through. Massive respect to the devs who dedicated so much time to bring the project to life.

everlasting summer everlasting summer everlasting summer

Every audio cue hits me like a brick. Man, Katawa Shoujo really is just that type of game that changes your life forever.

I don't do VNs much, but this is such a great story, how this one was made, and it's the perfect opportunity to drop one of my all-time favourite quotes: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ― Calvin Coolidge

This is the first visual novel that I decided to try because Gigguk’s recommendations tend to be pretty good. This is the first piece of art that made me wish a fictional character was real. The character building was so surreal. Highly recommend giving it a go at least once.

Katawa Shoujo and the production story itself deserve an Anime series

I 100%d this game on stream when i was 13, lots of memories for me hahaha

Katawa Shojo was actually the first visual novel that ever made me feel shades of pain, joy, depression and relief in a single playthrough. I'm glad everyone else related to the collective gut punch that was this hentai game about broken people.

I remember playing this from the 4chan downloads and the later full game. My lord, I’m so happy that this is now getting the Light it deserves. I played it not for the erotica, but for the wonderful portrayal of disability in an environment where they are accepted and aided. I read each chatbox to the fullest. I loved it. There were hiccups. There were cringe worthy moments. But thats life. That’s life for us with disabilities too. There’s moments almost exactly like what you see in the story. Self doubt, tears, and moments of anger. It took a team of social outcast and (according to one of the devs) even included a member with disabilities.

that fuckn piano roll, that main menu theme It just reawakens the shy, dumb, insecure teen that blasted trough KS on a recommendation from a friend A piece of work fueled by nothing but will, with no promise of anything, let alone financial interests.. has left a mark on a whole generation What a time to be alive, Bravo 4leaf studios, bravo

This reminds me of how a handful of people translated Umineko out of sheer passion and they ended up becoming a key part later on in the story

The genius thing about Katwa Shoujo in my opinion is that, while all the characters are disabled, all the girls are, in fact, in terms with their disability and already way pass that. It is the girls who help the main character adapt to his newfound disability, while the girls personal issues revolve around struggles that have little to do with their actual disability. It is genius.

Have you heard of "Everlasting Summer"?

Damn I actually bursted crying at the end remembering how this game made me feel

Hanako’s route actually did break me. There’s a scene where you’ve been pushing past her boundaries for a while now and she’s always lets it slide/it’s been for the best because she keeps people out. But she sets a hard one “Leave me alone, I need to think.” If you push past again she screams at you that she’s not a child and sometimes she actually needs to be alone. You can apologize but the damage is done. Your relationship is never the same. The game actually has so much nuance and care in it.

Lilly broke me IRL for a solid week. Like, that route was PAINFULLY hard hitting for me. Don't know why, but god damn it felt like I had Hisous heart problem for a solid week.

It's literally everlasting summer

I remember this game from 2012. I read about it in actual game magazine, downloaded it and played it. It was quite cool, and to this day it's one of the only two visual novels I played through. I never knew it was developed like this and originated from 4chan of all places. Thanks Gigguk, it was educational.

The fact a animator legendary like Mike Inel was involved in this is mind blowing

The fact they managed to maintain a consistent artstyle throughout the whole game is an amazing feat *in on itself. Edit: *in and of itself

I would absolutely love to see more content like this. I know it takes a ton of time, research, and editing, but MAN. This is quality.

Honestly one of my favorite pieces of media to have ever come out. This one hits HARD. And that guy who wrote Rin's story... My god did he hit on that one. A home run. Emi is my favorite girl, but Run has my favorite route just because of how emotionally heavy and beautiful it is.

I'm glad Gigguk can put Katawa Shoujo in the spotlight. It's an amazing game with a very interesting take on the dating VN genre. It also has one of the longest fanfictions ever.

I just realised how absolutely cracked gigguk is at story telling.

In Russia, too, there is a Visual novel (Everlasting Summer) with a similar story of creation!!! Look at her plz!

Everlasting summer

Katawa Shoujo is literaly the single best thing 4chan ever gave humanity, full stop

It's a miracle that Katawa Shoujo exists and it never would have happened were it not for people passionate enough to see it become a reality. Katawa Shoujo is really something special and I'm glad you brought more attention to this wonderful visual novel.

Anyone working on projects at work with any kind of team knows how much problems or difficulties can occur during that, even with a team, that works well together. Especially with completely new projects. As we can see here as well. But it's legit insane how just some random strangers on the internet still decided to do that, some decided to see this through the end and actually managed to create and finally finish this. Thank you for talking about this, I'll download it and play it eventually.

Man… thanks for the video. my pal chose this video for me at random and ... in short, you turned my world upside down. I finally did something that I hadn't gotten my hands on for so long before - I didn't just play my first visual game (Lilly stole my heart), but also started watching anime ... it's like a catalyst in general. Thank you so much for changing my life!

As a game dev who has lost all motivation, due to making a game with no prio experience and with no payment, for the past 15 months, I have to say that this story makes my heart smile :') Thank you Garrnt and thank you 4leaf studios for givivng me the push I needed. I'll definetely check the game out.

Literally binged watch an entire gameplay with every routes of Katawa Shoujo due to leaving my PC on autoplay. ( *I have never been happier to witness such a true beauty of a visual novel* )

This is one of the most powerful videos I've ever seen in my life. You did an excellent work portraying the struggles of this team.

Shout-out to Rtil for being the only artist I can think of still making fan-art for this game after all these years.

Garnt speaks about how improbable it is for so many talented people to congregate, but I believe that talent wasn’t something they had but something that developed through their unwavering perseverance and passion. I think it’s important to remember that talent isn’t intrinsic to anyone, it’s acquired and I’m in awe that people saw this project through. Simply wow.

I gotta say as good of a story this is, gigguk himself is a great storyteller.

When the video reached the part of 4chan's reaction to the final game, my eyes got teary and I don't even know why. I must be getting old. I feel ready for this game to crush me.

24:57 Connor saying "I was prepared to fap, but I wasn't prepared to feel!" Sent my sides to the moon

I remember when this came out and a lot of people just being in awe that they actually completed it. Truely, the story behind the game is equally as grand as the story they made.

Reminds me of Everlasting Summer

Came here to write about Everlasting Summer, and there are a lot of comments about it. Lol, but still, we all here really want to hear from foreigners a story about our game, because it hurts as much, as this game. Just check Lena's route....

Joey and Connor do a great job voice acting the 4chan lines at the end, but the amusement in their voices is so tangible I can feel it 🤣

This feels like an old internet historian video he'd make in between the "he will not divide us" saga to remind us there is still good in this world. Excellent work.

Gigguk releases a video about a hentai novel . Russians: The time has come gigguk. Everlasting Summer or death.

3:30 just HEARING concord gets me teary, that’s how emotional playing this game was for me. Goddamn Katawa Shoujo is so good.

I'm so glad Garnt came around to finally cover Katawa Shoujo, it deserves every bit of the spotlight it'll likely get now. Pumping 150 hours into this visual novel, getting to see all the different routes, it genuinely changed my perspective on countless things about life.

As a simmilar age person to yourself giggugk, who gets every single little neat reference you make and has been following your for over a decade now i must really say that this channel has come so damm far. The pinnacle is hands down your ability to story tell. Going from skechy rants to telling a story enthralingly enough for me te get glued to a screen, shed a tear in the middle and insta - download the thing you presented is truly amazing. Cheers man!

It would be interesting to hear your opinion on the Russian visual novel "Everlasting Summer", which has a similar history of development, was developed in parallel with the katawa shoujo and was released two years after the katawa shoujo.

This is the epitome of a Gigguk video. Great job man.

What a fucking video. I've replayed Katawa Shoujo almost every year since the first time I played it back in 2015 after being told by some fellow music students to "just play katawa shoujo", and I can't express how grateful I am for that random message during a convo on Messenger so many years ago. As a video editor myself, I loved Bakashift & RBKapoor1's work here, and am so glad that another video about KS has come out talking about its legacy. Thank you Garnt and everyone who worked on this one! (now I will brb, gonna start crying again, Emi/Lily best girls)

Lilly's route just hits different. To me, it's the route that feels like it truly has an ending because Hisao and Lilly actually had plans for their future in it

real talk I started reading the visual novel out of gigguk's recommendation, so far I've only finished emi and rin's routes, both good endings (because my god I don't think my heart could take the bad ones, or worse the neutral ones), I'm 23, this year I turn 24, in six months I'll finish college and I'm at the point where I feel so lost, I've made many wrong turns in my life that have left me pretty unhappy and without much hope for the future, but somehow, after reading it, it makes me feel like I still have time that I can somehow manage to be happy, looking forward to the next routes

Literally JUST finished playing it today for the first time. It's my first visual novel and it was without a doubt one of the greatest pieces of media I've ever experienced. The stories of each of the girls was phenomenal, the art was beautiful, the music was incredible (air guitar was my favorite song). It makes me very sad to know that I've finished it and even more sad to know that I'll never find something quite like this again but man, it was worth it every step of the way. I'll never stop raving about Katawa Shoujo.

Katawa Shoujo isn't just a random visual novel, it is THE visual novel you should be playing right now. With or without the h scenes, it is truly one of the most touching games to ever exist, and not only that, it's completely free to play. It's an emotional roller coaster in all the meaning of the word. I recommend this game to anybody who loves visual novels or if you're just starting to delve into that genre. You won't want to miss it.

It's been ten years. I recall playing this game as a dumb high school kid, going through un-diagnosed mental illnesses beyond childhood ADHD. Even now, as an adult, seeing Rin, my first route, still tugged at my heartstrings. I didn't really follow any guides and went with my gut choices and ended up with her. I still recall the tender fondness going through her route and almost crying when I got her good ending.

Even though its been years since I've seen anything about Katawa Shoujo, I still love it to this day and see it as a masterpiece in visual storytelling. I remember the Lily, Emi and Hanako story paths move me to tears; and they still move my cynical 30 year-old heart to this day, over a decade after it initially released.

Nice to see this game shared with people who've never played it. Found it around 7 or 8 years ago and it genuinely changed my life and the way I looked at the world

I want to add that a very similar project was started on a Russian imageboard 2ch around the same time, where a ragtag group of devs began making a visual novel named Everlasting Summer, a touching story about a depressed shut-in who gets isekai-ed to a soviet pioneer campus on a bus, from where he can't escape, and has to find his way out, while romancing a group of well written characters. Some endings hit you so hard in the feels, you can hardly recover from them. The main character is so relatable and realistic, because the devs are really familiar with the imageboard culture. The game was too published for free to overwhelming critical praise. You should definitely check it out.

I remember playing Katawa Shoujo back in 2019 and being utterly amazed at how well written and heartfelt a lot of it was. To this day I still feel immense emotion even thinking about Hanako’s route and playing through hers and Lily’s route still gives me a warm feeling I can’t find anywhere else. Hanako best girl, Katawa shoujo best VN

Bro this video is SO GOOD! I can't recon how long ago a story from youtube had my indivisible attention for this long. I kinda feel motivated even! Thank you!

The part about downloading RAR files for fan translations of light novel games made me age 10 years older lol. All I can think is the days where I would have my Notepad application open as I played those games on my PC

Man, I feel like a boomer. I remember how huge this was when it came out and how much it changed me as a person. Katawa shoujo is a masterpiece.

Garnt giving us a history lesson? It's time to get a weeb degree in 4channing. This, along with Snoot Game, just prove 4Chan just comes up with visual novel bangers all the time.

I haven't even played the game and this video is already hitting me in the feels. You are an amazing storyteller. The way you tell us about these things is just way better than anyone I have ever seen. I can't imagine the work you put into this video, and now I can't wait to see the work they put into that game. I have never played a Visual Novel, but this may be my first. Thanks!

Dam man, this was a throw back Thanks for making this video, loved every hour I put into Katawa Shoujo!

That visual novel is the best piece of romance story that was ever written, and I'm saying this as someone who doesn't enjoy romance in general. Some of the characters are so masterfully written that they feel more real than some people I know irl.

“What's the word for when it feels inside your heart that everything in the world is all right?” This part broke me. I bawled like a baby back in 2013.

Holy shit Gigguk talking about Katawa Shoujo I feel literally enlightened, because Hanako was and still my first wife I'm in tears rn

Oh, like an Endless summer in the style of the USSR, a one-on-one story

It's worth noting that this nearly happened AGAIN very recently with an art piece of a bunch of NEET girls, and the 4chan devs actually got some stuff off the ground... before the original artist told them to stop, because he was working on it himself.

I binged every route in high school, and I never cried and felt so empty as much as when going through it. Gave me some true to life lessons and I'll never forget all the emotions experienced while going through it. Even learned some of the tracks on piano it's so good. This was beyond something else