Usagi Drop - Review

Long overdue but as long as it's done, right? Kami-sama no Memo-chou is next.

Do you like the slice-of-life genre? Do you like a story that is realistic in virtually every way? Do you want to feel all warm and fuzzy after every episode? If so, then Usagi Drop is the anime for you! Continue reading and you'll see why.

Art (8/10)
To be honest, the art threw me off quite a bit for the first few episodes. It was unique, but didn't really appeal to me. Although as the series went on, I got used to it and felt that it nicely complimented the feel of the series. To me, the artwork, especially the parts before the OP, is more soft and relaxing than most of the artwork in other anime these days. This style effectively sets the mood for the series, making it a great addition to one's viewing experience.

Characters (9/10)
Excellent character development. That phrase can easily sum up my thoughts on this category. Despite the main protagonists Kawachi Daikichi and Kaga Rin being on the receiving end of most of the show's the development, it is great to see some of the supporting characters getting their fair share of development, too. But since the two mentioned above are the main characters of the series, I'll focus more on them in this category. When you first see Daikichi, it is easy to write him off as a lazy and uncaring 30-year-old man who is living a regular, boring life. But during the one year after Rin enters his life, you can see that he is actually a hard-working and caring individual. Alongside Rin, the two go through their new lives together; through both times of hardship and times of joy. Despite the story only being a year-long, it is evident that the two undergo massive transformations. Looking back and seeing them grow and mature together was heartwarming. These days, it's hard to find anime of this genre that are able to develop characters so well in such a sort amount of time. Luckily, Usagi Drop was able to to just that.

Sound (7/10)
Arguably the weakest category of the series, but still quite decent. The OP and ED are considered upbeat in my opinion - more so the OP than the ED. In the end, they, along with the BGM, didn't leave a lasting impression on me as they quickly faded from my memory. The highlight of this category was definitely the voice acting. Though there weren't many big name seiyūs in the cast, the presence of 10-year-old Matsuura Ayu was a lovely surprise. This was the first time that I had watched an anime with a child voicing a character, let alone the main character. Nonetheless, I felt that she did a great job considering her age and that the producers decided well in choosing her to voice Rin.

Story (9/10)
First off, let me say I haven't read the manga. After watching all 11 episodes, I've heard that some things in the anime version didn't match with the manga version. Nonetheless, I will base my review solely on the anime version. The story, despite it being only one year long, was really good. It didn't feel rushed nor was anything exaggerated/unrealistic. In fact, I think this has been the most realistic anime of this genre that I have ever watched - fully worthy of being slice-of-life. The story is enjoyable and heartwarming, never ceasing to entertain me or helping me to unwind after a long day. The fact that this is all done in only 11 episodes adds to its list of positive aspects. Overall, it's a lovely story that has the potential to appeal to the general audience.

Overall (8/10)
Easily one of the better anime of the Summer 2011 season, and arguably the best one out of those in the slice-of-life genre. Considering the fact that there's still material from the manga not animated, a second season is still not out of the question. The question now is if people are willing to wait for an indefinite amount of time or will they give in to the temptation to see what happens next and read the manga. Aside from that, I wholly recommend Usagi Drop to anyone looking for a laid-back and heartwarming story. None of the action, violence or gore that you find in other genres; just a lovely story about a single man learning to raise a child. Keep your heart and mind open when watching it and I am confident that you will be able to enjoy it just like I did.