Hidamari Sketch

Under normal circumstances, Hidamari Sketch would be a pleasant and slightly above-average slice-of-life story about a group of girls attending an art school and living in a dormitory. The girls are likable, and the teacher is absolutely adorable, but the overall premise isn't groundbreaking. What sets Hidamari Sketch apart and makes it unforgettable is its visual execution. Hailing from the Shaft studio, a name synonymous with distinctive animation in the anime community, Hidamari Sketch embodies the essence of "shaftism." Packed with typical Shaft expressive techniques and animation style, the series boasts a truly unique and irreplaceable atmosphere, exuding a strong personality that lingers in your mind. Not everyone may appreciate it, though. The way the series plays with details, backgrounds, and colors – sometimes looking incredibly cheap and other times beautifully and elaborately done – or how the authors incorporate real objects into animated shots can leave some viewers perplexed. The unconventional editing might make people stare, or shake their heads, but the undeniable creativity and originality are hard to overlook. Moreover, many of these artistic choices make sense; as a seasoned anime viewer, I usually understand why a particular detail is there and why there is hardly any background in a specific scene. Perhaps it's because I've seen a lot of anime, including quite a bit from Shaft, so my brain is used to it, and more importantly, enjoys it. I appreciate the storytelling style as well; the episodic jumps between different school days without much continuity strike me as a great idea. In short, thanks to these aspects, what would have been a slightly above-average and likable slice-of-life transforms into something great, crazy, and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it, recognizing that this series isn't for everyone, and I would gladly dive into the next season. 8/10. (10.01.2024)

The second season of Hidamari Sketch is just as fantastic as the first, perhaps even better – or at least, it felt like I enjoyed it just a bit more. It seamlessly fits into the overall narrative puzzle, offering a beautiful addition to the story. The (chronologically) first two episodes of the series are cleverly tucked in here, allowing me to put the entire school year of the main heroines into perspective. It's amusing how the two seasons are uniquely linked, with all the disconnected parts falling nicely into place. While the first season (excluding specials) concludes with Christmas, the second one (again, without specials) wraps up with New Year, directly following that Christmas (and the way the heroines start singing the opening from the first season at the end of the episode is the literal cherry on top). Simply put, having recently seen the first season and vividly remembering it, I thoroughly enjoyed this interconnection, picking up on various details that might have otherwise escaped me. The characters are still delightfully quirky, entertaining, and endearing. The stories remain enjoyable, occasionally warming the heart. Overall, I had a consistently pleasant feeling and I was smiling throughout, making it an ideal bedtime show for me. There seem to be fewer shaftisms this time, but it remains an interesting and visually original spectacle. Moreover, I would say that animation-wise, this season is overall a bit better. In short, an excellent show. 8.3/10 (27.01.2024)

With the new school year in Hidamari, we have two new dorm mates, Nori and Nazuna, joining the crew. These girls are undeniably cute, though I must admit, I was hoping for the new characters to be a bit more striking and entertaining. Still, I found myself warming up to them fairly quickly (they're alright, but there's room for improvement). But the changes don't stop there. This season brings significant adjustments to the storytelling style. I'm not sure if I've just become overly familiar with the series or if this season is genuinely less visually imaginative, but it feels like that distinct shaftisms have taken a backseat. The third season feels more ordinary and commonplace to me. The strongest elements from previous seasons remain, but there are fewer of those signature cuts and deliberate shots and details that made the series stand out. Now, we have a more chronological story, moving through April, May, June, and July with only occasional detours that tie back to the main storyline. For instance, the girls might mention something they did last year in the first half of an episode, and then we see that event in the second half. Is this chronological storytelling better for Hidamari Sketch? It's definitely clearer, but I can't shake the feeling that the series has lost a bit of its magic. Thankfully, the humor is still intact. The jokes range from pleasant and cute to original and complex, and they never fail to get a laugh out of me. This keeps me in the right mood to enjoy the stories of the Hidamari dorm residents and their teachers. Once again, Teacher Yoshinoya steals the show for me — I never tire of her. I also appreciate the dynamic between the energetic and voracious Miyako, along with Hiro and Sae, who sometimes take on a parental role. Watching Yuno's character slowly evolve is also a highlight. In summary, while this season felt a bit weaker to me and it seems like Hidamari Sketch may have lost some of its personality, the humor and charm are still there. Even though the new girls didn't quite elevate it, it's still an above-average slice of life and comedy. 7.5/10 (17.02.2024)

This particular segment of Hidamari Sketch composed of two special episodes has been the weakest I've seen so far. The main letdown was mostly the first episode, where neither the museum visit nor the pool outing really grabbed my attention. Almost nothing felt funny, and the girls didn't seem as cute this time around. The museum visit was honestly a bit dull, and the pool scenes felt too generic and cliché for the genre. The episode only picked up for me in the last few minutes during the sleepover, especially with that final gag featuring pictures of sleeping Yuno. On the flip side, the second special turned out much better. It was elevated not just by my favorite teacher Yoshinoya, but also by the landlady and the focus on food, which is always a delightful theme in this series. Plus, I noticed a slight change in the animation style here. The colors seemed a bit brighter, and the outlines sharper than usual. The music also seemed louder than what I'm accustomed to, or perhaps it just didn't quite fit some scenes this time, making it more noticeable. This was also the first time we saw 3D animation in the series, and as is often the case with 3D in anime (especially back in 2011), it didn't quite land well. Frankly, some of the 3D models of artistic works, statues, and sculptures from the museum, even the bubbles in the second episode, were quite jarring. So, where does that leave us? While I adore the girls from the Hidamari dorm, and the second special was just as fun and cute as previous episodes, the first special falls short of deserving anything more than an average, at best slightly above average rating (maybe a 5.5/10 at most)... Once again, I'm teetering between a strong 3 stars and a weak 4 stars, but as a fan of slice-of-life and cute girls doing cute things, I'll probably lean towards the higher rating, even if begrudgingly... 6.5/10 (20.02.2024)

This season of Hidamari Sketch was a real joy for me, perhaps even as much as the first one, especially in the middle episodes where I found myself enjoying it even more. What made it stand out this time? It's mainly because the series is slowly approaching its conclusion, and with that, some subtle hints of melancholy were added to the cheerful world of the Hidamari dormitory. They started addressing important themes like life after school and the enduring nature of friendships. Spending the last three months with these girls, they really grew on me, and that touch of light melancholy worked incredibly well. At the same time, the middle of the season felt like the creators wanted to contrast this with as much fun as possible, almost saying, "Let's savor this last part before the finale!" Thanks to this, the jokes seemed a tad funnier this time around, and some plots, like the school festival, I enjoyed much more than when it was featured in previous seasons. There was a moment where I was considering giving it the highest rating, seeing how entertained I was on one hand, and how it managed to touch me emotionally here and there. However, the last two episodes (Christmas and New Year) felt somewhat average compared to the rest of the season. I believe they could have been more impactful and didn't quite have the extra emotional punch I was hoping for, despite the last episode having excellent accompanying music. So in the end, Honeycomb will receive an 8.4/10 from me. Now, it's time to grab some tissues and head to the grand finale... (09.03.2024)

A satisfying conclusion to the entire series, particularly the very last episode. While I anticipated it to be a more emotional rollercoaster (unlike Yuno, I didn't find myself reaching for tissues), I still found it enjoyable, especially the cleverly done flashback in the final episode detailing how our two high school graduates first crossed paths. With something ending and new beginnings on the horizon, the tale of Sae and Hiro at Hidamari Dormitory has come to a close. Whether Yuno will mature into a responsible third-grader, setting an example for others, or if poor Miyako will now starve without anyone to cook for her, I may never find out. Nevertheless, it's been a charming series. I initially started watching because of the unique animation style courtesy of Shaft studio, and now I'm left slightly moved and full of stories from the lives of these six girls. I hope to remember them fondly. If not, it would truly be a shame. The final bell has rung, and I'll give it an 8/10. (09.03.2024)