Art + loli-looking characters + SD forms + school life setting + slice of life = Win?

Perhaps. The verdict is still unclear.

I do not know how to describe this anime. Many who have watched this probably felt that it was a tad boring and even I have to admit that it can get a tad boring. Still, there is just something there that is decent and I honestly do not know what it is.

This looks pretty much like a slice of life series, with a slightly cute twist to it. However, unlike Manabi straight where the cuteness can kill, this is more subtle. It is good and bad, you decide.

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Episode summary

A girl, Yuno, woke up on her bed, struggling to get out of bed as she got ready to go to school with the television reporting on horoscopes. As she returned, the show was over as another girl, Miyako appeared as she came in since Yuno was still dressing up for school. Miyako started to daydream about people buying gifts for her as she sat down, with Yuno telling her that she would leave her behind. As they reached school, they met up with Hiro (red haired) and Sae (spectacle blue-haired girl) who talked about how their teacher, Miyu-sensei (green hair!), had gotten a bad omen fortune when she wore her yukata for the festival in the temple. Yuno received a very lucky good omen fortune telling but Sae warned that good things might not be very good sometimes.

As they went to class, Yuno realized she had forgotten about her holiday homework when Miyako asked her about it. Miyu-sensei started on talking about the things she did in the winter holidays like hanging out with friends, going for KTV, wearing beautiful yukata for the new year festival and much more. As Yuno wondered what she could do, she went out to ask Miyu-sensei whether she could hand up her work tomorrow, but Miyu-sensei gave a very nice smile and said “no!”. Yuno then went back to her room and tried to finish the collage art work before 1 pm when the class started. She then added a copy of the postcard that Miyu-sensei said at the center as she finished just in time. Just when she was rushing back (with Miyako urging her on in the window, ha ha), snow started to fall.

As the class ended, Yuno told Miyako that she had finished her work during lunch break as her stomach started to growl. Miyako then passed her a origiri who was given by Hiro since she wanted to diet. They then went out in the snow as they were in charge of clearing and cleaning up today. Hiro and Sae then met them as Miyako ran around, trying to make an art. Sae and Hiro then rushed away as Sae took a picture from the 2nd floor as it was “Love and Piece (peace)” made from the footsteps, with Sae remarking that it was just like Miyako.

Hiro and Sae then talked about how they spent their time in snow when they were young. Sae said that she did what Yuno and Miyako did, with Hiro surprised that Sae being so cool did not look like someone who would do that. Hiro said that she liked to play but did not like the wet experience after playing with snow. We then saw Miyako and Yuno going home after playing, as they visited Hiro to thank for the origiri. They then went in as Sae and Hiro were also required to do the collage work. Sae then deduced that she had finished her work during lunch and handed it up, or else Yuno would not have played.

Miyako was hiding under the futon like a cat, as she felt warm after the snow play. They then talked about the pictures during the snow play as Sae asked about why she had “piece” inside. Miyako made some lame explaination about spreading her love in pieces toward the world, with Sae asking that it seemed more like a typo. Miyako then quickly changed her statement, saying she wanted to test how many people would discover the intended mistake. They then looked at the various other pictures, as well as stating how Miyako used the rubbish bins for the sculpture-like face snowman.

Miyako then asked for model fees (food), as Hiro went to grab some mandarin oranges, tea and rice cakes. Yuno then got a mobile message from Miyu-sensei as Miyu said that her work was good considering that it was rushed and the concept was decent. Yuno then explained to the others how she had used the postcard in the center, as they discovered that the cosplay-crazy Miyu had taken totally different poses for every single student. Yuno then received another mail, asking if she had received the new year card, with Yuno blushing and everyone having a wow. However, Sae looked like she was troubled when she saw it.

Hiro then said that she was on diet after eating too much rice cakes. Miyako then said how Hiro was eating only 2 rice cakes as she had unwittingly eaten food with a lot of calories during new year celebration. Hiro then only ate one origiri and gave the remaining one to Yuno, but Miyako told her not to be tricked because Hiro’s purpose was to diet. Yuno then said that Hiro was very sweet as Hiro did not want Yuno to mind. As the snow stopped, Hiro and Sae wanted to go to the supermarket before it snowed again, as Yuno went for a hot bath, realizing how her hands were sore red after the snow play.

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Thoughts

Ok, when I first watched this, it feels like 4koma completely. There is that same feel of Azumanga Daioh in this show, even though Azumanga is slightly more entertaining than this. However, to use Azumanga Daioh as an example, does speak quite well of Hidamari Sketch and I personally think that it is perhaps a good thing. It is a bit boring at the start when they start on the introduction and simple lifestyle of the girls, but somehow, there is this lure that I cannot describe what it is that fascinates me.

The four girls are pretty character-less, but some of the dizzy faces are pretty cute to look at, though not over-bearing for me to swoon like a mad cow. That is good, because I will soon have a moe overdose if this really continues with all the series that I am watching such as Manabi Straight, Saint October and VVV, which are all rather moe~ series.

The story and setting seems to be rather decent, with mundane stories similar to Ichigo Mashimaro and I do not know why I always enjoy slow and slightly mundane slice of life series. The artwork part was a tad disappointing too. I am expecting something like Picasso or something, but doing collage art is a bit juvenile. What is the age setting for this series? I have no clue yet but I presume it is middle school.

The cosplay teacher is perhaps the most interesting one for now, with her different cosplay postcards to all her students. I wonder if they will make the real postcards. I will not mind collecting a bunch of these postcards for hanging purposes, since they are all pretty cute.

Anyway, next week seems to be about the summer of Japan in August 31th, so I cannot wait for them to throw in all the yukatas. I love yukatas.

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