(L+CR) Non Non Biyori

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by OkamiNoKaze

It's like higurashi episode 1 without all the deatch

Heh, that was my reaction when I read the synopsis.

If you based your impression of the country on school populations in anime, you'd think Japan was 95% female.

[erhyka]

Ohhhh man my eyes orgasmed, such beautiful animation! Hope the story and characters are as good as the animation.

[MisaoFan]

Spoiler for Episode 1:

The show is very calming thanks to the perfect portrayal of Japanese rural scenery. I'm surprised only four characters (and another mysterious one) were parts of the extremely small cast that comprise the show. There's not much talking aside from them, and it utilizes a very unique handling of its format: it's like I'm watching three anime shorts of the same series combined into one 30-minute series and feels so different to other 4-strips manga adaptations. The music was just serene so does the cast. Looks like it will follow the traditionnal four seasons theme as expected and the theme songs are charming. Like many shows of the season, I'm hoping the potential to keep going.

[Sound of Azure]

Well, it looks like I've found my quiet chill-out anime for this season. While it's still early, I quite like the character dynamics, as well as the understated atmosphere. I often love shows with a lot of bombast and bragadoccio, but the quiet end is great also. Good job, Silver Link.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Good start. I loved how they held the scenery shots for longer than I expected. And how we still don't quite know what "Hotarun" is thinking. I was less thrilled than I hoped to be with Iwai Kotori's rather extreme voicing of little Ren-chan, but I got used to it. I loved the voice of Murakawa Rie (Aoi in Vividred Operation) as Hotaru.

[Humble Loser]

I didn't know what to expect visually and was pleasantly surprised. Plus I like the reoccurring song Ren plays on the flute. The music fits the show well too. I'll tune in next time for more.

[Dr. Casey]

Hotarun's character design reminds me of Shana from Shakugan no Shana at times. This is a good thing.

I love how the first grader wasn't sure if they lived in the country or not. So cute.

[alunde]

The scenery makes me think of Totoro, the cows make me think of Goldfish Warning

[nojay]

My first thought was "an escalator school for Yezo High..."

Very laid-back, lots of scenery porn which I hope will continue as the series progresses.

[Random Wanderer]

Aaaaaaahhh. A nice, soothing anime about almost nothing.

I'm sorry to break it to you, girls, but I'm afraid that by almost any standard you are definitely living in the country. Out in the middle of nowhere. Coming from Tokyo, I'm astonished that poor Hotaru hasn't had a massive culture-shock breakdown.

This show looks like a keeper. I need at least one slice of life and/or Cute Girls Doing Cute Things™ series per season to keep me sane.

[Tranhieu]

The reason I love the manga so much is its capability of describing how beautiful country lifestyle is, and the anime even did a much better job! Hotaru's reaction when she sees the vast land spreading far to the horizon really reminds me of myself back in the day when I was out in the country for the first time, completely in awe with the scenery and even the air smelled different. The art quality really helps delivering the feeling this anime captures, of course it's not the best of the season but it's still up there.

Also the fact that folks in the country don't usually lock their door is so true, they just leave doors open when going out working in the field. The door is there mostly for preventing the animals to enter the house at night or when no one is in. The studio really did a good job picking up pieces from the manga and real life and utilizing them for the anime.

[Sol Falling]

Not super fond of the character design (seriously, the fifth grader being the tallest and prettiest while the 8th grader is almost as short as the first grader is kinda fucked up) but goddamn that background art and atmosphere are gorgeous. It's practically movie quality, I will be blown away if Silver Link manages to maintain it throughout the whole season.

[Kanon]

I think I found my slice of life/healing anime of the season. Very cute and relaxing, with pretty visuals and a soothing soundtrack.

[Dop]

That was really pleasant, definitely on my list for this season as a nice relaxing show.

[cyth]

Wow, pleasantly surprised. I didn't expect such beautiful background work and soothing soundtrack for a project of this caliber. There wasn't much animation, but I have to commend the staff for putting all their efforts into stuff that matter the most in atmosphere pieces. Maybe this is one instance of anime where long pauses in dialogue and quietness (call them budget saving, I don't care) actually work! Will watch some more.

[Ceral]

I have a problem with healing anime keeping my attention, but this was watchable and surprisingly good. I wasn't too interested in the show at first, but this was pretty much the only moe girls show this season, and I must say, Whew am I relieved! I almost thought I wasn't going to get my usual dose of cute girls. I am already liking the show more than the ones last season, maybe less is more?

There's something about this first episode, I think i've felt it while watching Lucky Star before, I'm not talking about the Otaku stuff, but there are certain parts where not much seems to be happening, there's no gag, no plot, yet even in that moment where nothing happens, it still feels pleasant and I still feel like I am enjoying myself. No over-acting trying to induce laughs, and no episodic extraneous subplot trying to make me feel sentimental. Because let's be honest, most of the time 20 minutes isn't going to be enough to tell a great story that's moving, sometimes, but most of the time not.

So the first episode it's just the girls, and pretty much nothing else but scenery, and I think that's great. I rather like the character designs, everytime I see a face, I think "cute", not always the case with moe charas lately. Nothing too crazy with the personalities, Ren adds spice with her eccentricity, but not overwhelming, I was also glad they didn't revisit height gags after the introduction of Hotaru. In anime, it seems there's always a short girl who has a complex and is extremely bratty about their height. It would be refreshing to see a girl who doesn't care too much.

[erika4dsl]

Scenery porn. Oh my goodness the animation was beautiful.
It's so tranquil and peaceful! I would love to live in a place like that it's like paradise.

I love these types of anime it's nice to watch after watching something action packed like Kill la Kill lol.

Anyways, it's kind of sad though because they're all in different grades so when they go off to college or whatever then the little girl would be all alone lol assuming that they don't get any new classmates.

[Dark Faith]

What a beautiful and relaxing anime, a perfect watch after going through all the other action/drama packed titles of the season. Nothing really happens, but that's just fine!

I like Hotaru, not only because I have an unexplainable attraction for that name, but because her reactions remind me of my own when I was younger and moved in with my grandparents every year for summer hollidays.
Going from the big city to the country (even if the girls try to deny it!) is a pretty big shock I remember freaking out about people not locking their doors as well haha.

[Guardian Enzo]

What's with the guy never being anywhere - on the bus, in the house, etc - and never saying anything despite being the brother of two of the girls? Is that a satirical poke at the direction this sort of series has taken in the last few years?

[Myssa Rei]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

What's with the guy never being anywhere - on the bus, in the house, etc - and never saying anything despite being the brother of two of the girls? Is that a satirical poke at the direction this sort of series has taken in the last few years?

Suguru's the resident joke even in the manga. His sisters don't pay him any respect, unless it's on the topics of grades. He doesn't have ANY lines too, he's just there.

So no, I don't think it's a commentary on modern schoolgirl series in general, especially since their teacher Kazuho also doesn't get much respect (and with good reason).