Ranked #208

Minami-ke

Story (8/10)

Minami-ke is a slice of life comedy centring on the three Minami sisters (no mention of any other family except a distant relative) and their friends as they go about their lives – usually with hilarious consequences. Each episode is portrayed in short segments spread throughout, much like azumanga diaoh with each segment having its own theme, but usually fitting round a general episodic storyline. The vast majority of the story takes place at the girls various schools (each sister attends a grade school) and at home, giving a wide scope for hilarity to ensue, with most of the comedy coming from the younger sisters Chiaki and Kana.

Although there may not be a storyline moving towards a dramatic ending, as the genre’s nature is, each episode is well written to bring a smile to the face. The way the story is portrayed with the characters and the styling, make this one of the most fun and enjoyable series that you’ll watch – its just good fun.

Art (9/10)

The art in Minami-ke is commonly called soft art, whatever they call it, it fits in with the story and the characters brilliantly. The character designs are some of the best I have seen, every aspect of the characters is well animated, and I love the facial animations – especially the tear drop mouth. The backgrounds are all nicely done, and the schools and Minami home are all animated well.

My only complaint with the animation is the tendency to switch styles when the girls are being serious to a more hardened styling. The first time it happens it’s quite a shock, usually involving facial close ups, with additional details added to the eyes and nose detail – it just seems out of place with the rest of the animation being so soft, and they could probably have had the same effect without resorting to a different animation style. This is a small complaint though and the rest of the artwork is beautiful.

Sound. (9/10)

The OP isn’t to my tastes but is lively, happy and catchy, generally a good mood setter for the series, the ED is again lively and if anything catchier than the OP. The voice acting is of a high standard throughout the anime, everything sounding right, from Kana’s relentlessly enthusiastic voice to Chiaki’s slightly deeper (not in a bad way!) dead pan voice work really well with the characters.

The background music involved reminds me of the background music from azumanga diaoh - it sets the pace of the segments where it is used, and is normally timed for comedic effect and adds in that extra little bit of fun to the anime.

Characters (10/10)

This show works because of its strong range of characters and supporting characters throughout the series, with most of the supporting characters getting better development than main characters from other animes.

The Minami sisters work brilliantly well, with Kana’s abundance of energy and lack of common sense being offset by Chiaki’s superior wit and intolerance for idiots. That said it’s up to Haruka to keep the peace, although this is not easy as both siblings vie for Haruka’s affection at every turn.

The supporting cast is very strong, with a few strong recurring characters, each of them likeable, my only complaint was about the gender bending Makoto/Mako, while his initial cross dressing was hilarious, the more often ‘Mako’ turned up the less I liked the character, however this was somewhat offset with the introduction of Touma (not really a gender bender, as had it forced upon her) later in the series, which seemed to give Makoto a counter balance which I felt was needed.

What makes this show such a success is the way the characters combine, and would not have been half as funny if the extensive range of characters were not involved. The continual battle of wits between Chiaki and Kana is brilliant to watch, and the way they both manipulate their friends into their schemes is highly amusing.

Enjoyability (10/10)

This is one of the most enjoyable series I have seen, the characters are wonderfully developed and animated and the scripting for the episodes is brilliant – you’ll get at least on good laugh out of every episode, which is basically what this type of series is about, putting a smile of the viewers face.

Overall (9/10)

Miname-ke sets a high standard across the board for it portrayal of brilliant characters, fantastic animation and brilliant use of music. Each storyline brings something new, and you never know what to expect except that its going to be hilarious. I had been looking for a while for something that could compete for laughs with azumanga diaoh’s slapstick comedy and in Miname-ke I found it – in fact its probably the best anime of its type out there at the moment.
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There are simple things in life that make you sit back and smile. Little, inane things that manage to get you to grin. And then there are things in everyday life that would make you howl with laughter. Minami-ke is a short anime series that reminds you that life really is a funny thing.

The anime follows the day to day lives of the three Minami sisters. They live with one another in a comfortable apartment and every day is pretty much a new story for them. Or sometimes it is the same old story. Either way, they go to school, get into shenanigans (or at least try not to get into any), and they do regular things that girls going to elementary school, junior high and high school would do. Minami-ke manages to blend both genres of slice of life and comedy into one. Though the comedy is given top priority (what with its side-splittingly humorous situations, gags, one-liners, parodies and jokes) it never forgets that at its heart is also the story of a family. While slice of life incorporates drama, romance and other elements into it, this anime focuses mainly on the comedic aspect. It makes the storyline a lot more interesting.

Minami-ke brilliantly manages to pull out of us numerous smiles, chuckles, guffaws, and laughs without trying hard or being over the top. The fact that most of the jokes are part of witty dialogue or silly situations makes the comedy even richer. It does not rely on shaky slapstick or crude fanservice to get the audience to enjoy the anime, and this is commendable all on its own.

There is also a little segment included within the series that is tear-inducingly funny: the Sensei and Ninomiya-kun shorts. Basically it is a TV show that the Minami family follows, but it is in essence an amazing parody of J-Dramas and just a ridiculously comical addition to the anime.

The art for Minami-ke is very soft and has a gentle look to it. The colours used are bright pastels, giving the anime a vibrant look. The character design is also easy on the eyes and some of them are actually very cute. One of the better, more unusual aspects about the artwork for Minami-ke is that it utilises a "realistic" art style for the characters during moments of random close-ups. It actually adds to the comedic appeal when a cute character's face suddenly looks hardened and scary as they mutter their plans/foils/schemes to themselves or other characters.

Sound is also particularly very good. The voice acting (seiyuu work) of the series is actually very good. The characters deliver their lines with quick wit or dry cynicism, energy or with tones of deadpan quite accurately. The background music is very energetic and playful, utilising instruments such as the harmonica especially to create a more spirited score for the anime. The theme songs are poppy and enjoyable as well, and you may find yourself humming along to them or even singing a few lines along while the credits roll.

Minami-ke's Minami family is one of the reasons you'll be sticking around for this anime. The three sisters Haruka, Kana and Chiaki each have their own personalities and certain appeal to any viewer. Haruka, the eldest, is a more level headed though easygoing girl who lets very little bother her except for her sisters. While she is responsible, she does have her insecurities, but her reactions and actions to certain things are certainly more unusual and mature than one would expect. She is not your run-of-the-mill high school girl.

Kana is a high spirited moron. No kidding--she is loud, aggressive and gets herself and other people into loads of trouble because she does not understand the concept of stasis. Her lack of composure however is not mean spirited or irritating, which manages to make her stupidity acceptable. She does however bear a certain resemblance to Matsuoka Miu of Strawberry Marshmallow fame in terms of personality.

Chiaki is the youngest Minami sister and is a little prodigy in the making. Her forbidding, cynical and dry attitude provides the anime with some of its more clever jokes surrounding her dialogue and banter with Kana and her classmates. Despite her maturity, she is revealed to be just a kid in moments where her ignorance for more grown up topics is shown.

The supporting cast of Minami-ke is incredible. Each character that appears and has any significance pulls their weight throughout the series, adding to the comedy gold. There's Hosaka, a delusional, sweaty, attractive young man who is ridiculously in love with Haruka and always fantasises best with his shirt off (much to the disgust of whoever is around him). Plus, there's Fujioka, an unfortunate friend of Kana's who likes her but whose feelings are simply not noticed. And then there's Makoto, Chiaki's classmate who provides the anime with some of the most hilarious gags involving himself and girls' clothing. Adding to this also is another Minami family consisting of a tomboy named Touma and her three brothers.

All in all, Minami-ke manages to be an incredible comedy series. With that touch of slice of life, it manages to be an excellent series on the whole. It should not be missed especially if you're hankering for a lighthearted anime that can put a smile on your face without sacrificing any aspect of itself for the sake of a laugh. It's good fun and sometimes that is just what you need.

Making people upset about life is easy. Getting them to laugh about it is hard. Minami-ke manages to make us laugh and laugh hard. read more

Funny doesn't even begin to cover it. I laugh out loud every episode. This show just really cracks me up. It's just so absurd and lively and hilarious.

Story: There's no real continuous plot. It really is slice of life in that Seinfeldian "show about nothing" sort of way. Despite the fact that there's no real story line, it manages to find such absurdity and humor in what should be the simplest, most mundane human interactions and relationships.

Art: Even the art is funny. The characters' expressions and body language just adds to the unexpected humor of every situation, whether it's their over-the-top enthusiastic poses or the random adult glares they give each other once in a while. The art is also consistent and despite the fact that the background characters all look similar, I find that they're all easy to distinguish from each other and that they are consistent through the series, which I like.

Sound: Okay, if you've ever seen any of my other reviews or anything -- I normally do not pay any attention to openings and endings, except to generically note that I don't like them. I *LOVE* this show's opening and ending for some reason. It's bouncy and bubbly and absolutely perfect for the show. The opening is one of those cheerful running openings (like Gokusen) and it just hits the nail right on the head in terms of attitude and atmosphere of the show.

And the actors who do the voices of the three sisters do such a great job, especially the two younger sisters -- Chiaki is so deadpan and dry and Kana is so mindlessly enthusiastic. Perfect. =)

Character: I don't know if I've ever seen just a compilation of silly, hilarious characters in one show before. And it's really amazing that the show manages to balance all these ridiculous personalities together to work at making such a funny show without going too far and tiring out the audience. Even the supporting characters you see for one or two episodes, like the various classmates of the girls, are charmingly wacky and endearing. And don't forget the main characters! These girls are each so individual and carefully created that you can almost guess how they'd react in conversations they've never had in the show. They do a great job of subtly filling out all the details of their unique personalities that you get a very strong feeling that they're real and you know them, from the serene and nurturing Haruka to Kana's crazy, pedal to the metal perspective on life and the fact that little Chiaki makes you wonder if a dry, jaded old man somehow got stuck in an elementary school girl's body.

Enjoyment: I love this show. I've already rewatched episodes and it still cracks me up on repeat viewings. And I think other people love this show too, but this is just my guess. ;) Go watch this show!! read more

Okay well considering there are 7 reviews about minami ke when i finished watching this. So How am i going to get this review noticed? Easy and in one sentence too.
95% like Ichigo Mashimaro
But what do you expect from the same production company? (Domu)

Now with that said. Everything about this screams Ichigo Mashimaro. Sure theres only "3 main characters" as opposed to 5 main characters. Three would be the bare minimum for a slice of life comedy about a plain depiction of the days of the lives of the Minami sisters. Even before the show starts it says don't expect to much. What they say is 100% truth considering its practically Ichigo-M sequel. Now it is up to the viewer to figure out if that is a good thing or bad thing. And in my opinion its a VERY good thing.

Two of the main characters are complete polar opposites.Kana is they energetic outgoing idiot, whereas Chiakiis the quiet conservative genius. The third sister, Haruka is only there as an easy medium to balance out the Minami-ke formula. Haruka is such a perfect "in-between" character that i love her the most of the three. She can be cool headed, hot headed, smart, AND dumb and still make it all believable. What also helps the characters out is such a STRONG Seiyu cast. Allthough it does feel like they did a little type-casting. Like Marina Inoue does the voice of Kana, she also did the voice for Yoko (Gurren Lagann) and Mina (Getsumento). And Minori Chihara (of Yuki Nagato and Minami Iwasaki fame) doing the voice as the usually quiet Haruka. A good thing about typecasting though is that you know that you're getting a perfect voice for that character and these girls are perfect for their roles. But one can't help that the characters are cookie cutter replicas of Miu and Chika (Kana and Chiaki)in manner attitude and habits.

Artwork is pretty standard fare coming from Domu, all pastel colors. It all works just fine to promote a warm cozy enviroment. Never any harsh, quick action moving, visuals. There are a few high kicks thrown in for laughs but overall the humor and comedy keeps the visuals from being too much of a distraction. Everything might be in pastel, but everything is accounted for. Laundry hanging on the balcony, to the different ingredients of their snacks and dinners. The enviroment looks very plain but lets not forget this is a story about 3 girls. So everything is usually going to be very clean and organized and you will notice that right away. Literally the only settings that are shown for this show is going to be the girls apartment and the classroom. Each episode will have a different location to keep things fresh but things are usually kept in those two locations. Another nice art twist is how they do the shadowy face and the teardrop mouth. They're good choices to keep the animations a little more unique.

The strongest part of the show is the comedy and if you know anything about Domu is that this is where they shine the best. No matter what setting they have, just as long as they have girls in the story they can make the funniest situations out of NOTHING. They can make drinking a bottle of water or sitting a table hilarious. And thats what most people will love about this show. Theres no story (comon its a sitcom) don't bother trying to find one. They tell at the start of every episode there is no story, just funny situations. There is not enough props for Domu for making some of the best sitcom anime in the industry ^_^ Whats so great about their story telling is that it feels so fresh and more hilarious with every new episode. You can watch any episode and will still be funny to you 10 years from now.

Well I'm sure I've beaten the cookie cutter aspect of the show to a pulp by now but one thing that isnt the same as Ichigo-M is that its not as infected with cuteness as its predecessor. And thats why I will score this higher than Ichigo-M. Me being american, sitcoms will always have a place in my life. Of course sitcom anime isn't for some people. If you don't like sitcoms or too analytical for a sitcom then please dont watch this. If you want to watch funny things unfold for random characters then this show is just for you! Regardless this is another hit made by Doumu. read more

When I first heard about this "comedy/slice of life" anime, it seems like all I ever heard was how much this title is like another anime called Ichigo Mashimaro. I have to say that they were indeed right, it is a lot like it! In fact just watching this anime, feels more along the lines of an actual "anime sitcom."

Story: 7/10
Since this is a "slice of life" anime it has to be rated on its episode by episode plots. Her we find ourselves partaking in the daily lives of the three Minami sisters, who live alone in an apartment. The story will range from one of the supporting male members trying to confess their love for one of them, to the girls having problematic trouble at school. One odd thing that caught my eye was the fact that more than 80% of the actual anime takes place either in the three sister’s living room, or at school. One important aspect that this title makes sure to do with its story, is keeping the audience entertained. This is especially true with "the slice of life genera." And I am happy to say that Minami-ke does it very well. The situations that occur can be down right funny at times. Kana is probably the funniest of the anime, she is so random and says things that might fly over the viewer’s head, its the kind of humor that is intentionally not suppose to make sense though. (especially since her sisters don’t get half of them either) Now its not all left up to this one character to keep the episodes funny, as Miname-ke is also complimented with a very funny supporting cast. One of the best ones is a guy named "Makoto, " he is not welcomed into the sisters apartment, (one of them isn’t too fond of him for her own reasons) so he decides to dress up as a girl in order to visit them when he wants to, which many female jokes are played off of. I can’t say that all the episodes are winners, as some were definitely better than others, but it overall came together. Unsurprisingly there isn’t any real end to this season, (there are two others, one of which will air next year) as you could pretty much place the final episode anywhere in the count and it wouldn’t matter.

Miname-ke doesn’t push any envelopes with its content, but does include some "female style jokes" that may raise an eyebrow with children, nothing over a PG rating though.

Artwork: 8/10
Its pretty good, it certainly won’t win any awards in the art department, as its suppose to come off more as a soft style anime, and that is how it can be best described as..."soft art." For some reason the characters mouths seemed to stand out for me, because of their more triangular shapes, they almost would remind me of rabbits...or perhaps fish. (maybe its just my own imagination) One thing I found to be kind of creepy, was when ever on of the sisters would get into a more serious mood, they drew them like evil eyed adults. Not sure why they did this, it seemed a bit out of place and unnecessary, and felt a tad over used in the end.

Soundtrack: 7/10
Both closing and opening themes are port-raid in a happy up beat song, it kind of makes you feel like you can do anything once you watch them both. (kind of gun-ho style of songs) The background music is pretty sparse as expected, many scenes occur with no tracks at all, trying again to appeal to a more relaxed feel. When it does play some it comes in the form of a soft "piano style" melody, I really liked it! The best part though is the character voices, all of them fit well with one another and I couldn’t find one out of place with the character.

Characters: 8/10
In any slice of life anime the characters are a crucial part of the series, you can’t enjoy it unless you like them. Thankfully these three sisters each have their own likable personalities; which range from out going (Kana), to very discrete (Chiaki), to some where in the middle. (Haruka the eldest) Some people may be turned off some what by Kana, since she tends to like doing things her own way, and does seem to interfere with situations at time, but nothing major. The only real bad thing I can think of regarding the characters, is that since this is a comedy title-- many of them (the supporting cast) tend to act like one another, and some of them we never really get to know who they are. To help with this though, the more unique supporting characters do get pretty good spotlight time, as the anime will tend to shift to their situations at times. Which was nice, and won’t make you feel like you’re just watching the three sisters all the time.

Bottom Line: 8/10
Minami-ke is a nice title if you’re in the mood for a more realistic sense of humor. The characters aren’t particularly deep, but the humor in this is what makes the anime a winner! The three sisters are a likable and funny bunch, and should capture your hearts when it's over. It's by no means a perfect anime, but regardless...this is still one "slice of life" anime, that is worth sampling a piece of. read more

I just recently finished watching Minami-ke, and now, among other watchers, I'm sure, waiting to see the second series because I just enjoyed it that much.

Minami-ke's story is simple: 3 sisters living on their own living their daily lives. The pacing is slow, but since the genre is slice-of-life, it doesn't need to go any faster. No romance can be found here (though there are the slight moments of infatuation and sexual references).

Each episode had something about it that usually would make one laugh out loud. There is just something about the girls' personalities and their relationship with one another that makes it so funny- especially with Kana and Chiaki.

I loved all the characters, personal favorite being Kana, the densest of this sisters and also the craziest. Chiaki, the youngest sister, doesn't take crap from anybody, yet she shows a gentle side around her older sister at times. The older sister is Haruka, the domestic sister who plays the role of the mother (where are the parents, anyway?!). All the characters are so silly and likeable- including every supporting one as well.

The opening and ending theme work well; I liked the upbeat and wacky feeling to the opening theme. I also really liked the music in the background, each track fit in with what was going on with the scene. The voice actors were perfect- especially with Chiaki, deadpan, arrogant, and with a no-nonsense tone.

To the bored, to the comedic anime-deprived, to anyone at all, Minami-ke is a perfect choice to brighten a day with its antics. read more

Minami-ke is a Slice of Lice, Comedy about the ordinary lives of 3 ordinary sisters. You can’t get more ordinary than this, yet the mild mannered comedy is a sure win.

This short series is a typical slice of life, portraying the usual daily lives of 3 sisters. The story is basically structured by going from one random short story/event to the next with not much liking these events together. There’s nothing complex about story as the events are just the usual things we all experience in life: eat, go to school, hang out with friends, study and sleep. The only thing that makes this slice of life interesting is the comedy side of things. There’s quite a lot of light-hearted humour scattered around, with a lot of it being some kind of pun or just making fun typical clichés. But the comedy wouldn’t be as good, if it weren’t for the likable characters.

The three Minami sisters are the main characters that make the series so enjoyable. First we have Haruka the well-mannered and responsible older sister, Kana the idiotic and eccentric middle sister and finally we have Chiaki the cute, cold-hearted little sister. The way they interact with one another is hilarious and the supporting characters are enjoyable to watch as well (Hosaka).

At first glance the animation looks as ordinary as the series with no need to flesh it out, on parodies and such. The change in their facial expressions adds to the hilarity of the series and overall it is also fairly fluid. The music is okay for this slice of life but it doesn’t add or take away anything from the viewing experience, as it feels more like a neutral element.

Overall Minami-ke is a great light-hearted comedy, showing the ordinary lives of ordinary girls however the level of comedy can seem pretty stale for some but the rest of us will enjoy it. I particularly enjoyed the “Sensei and Ninomiya-kun” moments that randomly popped up throughout the series. So if you tired of watching the same old shounen anime or just want more of the same thing from other similar comedies, then this is worth checking out.

^_^ read more

Summary of Story:
There are three of the Minami sisters: Haruka, Kana and Chiaki, who have an average life. The girls only have each other to depend on and help each other get through everything from love confessions to cooking.

Animation:
The animation may have been a little bit rough, but its high colors and smooth movements kept these points up! The facial expression of each girl where positively great, the use of going from detailed expressions to the simple lines was hilarious. The backgrounds were OK, nothing to really brandish about, and the background characters where OK as well, to the point where they all did look the same. Not like in Soul Eater... 9/10

Sound:
Opening Theme:
Keikenchi Joshochu☆ by Uran

Ending Theme:
Colorful DAYS by Uran

I really liked this OST, one because it was so simple, and added to the comedy in the show. Without it, some parts of the show would be really boring and unfunny. The opening and ending songs, of course sung by the girls, were so upbeat and matched the show perfectly. Also, this is my first time mentioning it, but the actors where perfect. Giving these girls and guys any other actors would have made such a smaller impact than the originals. Great work seiyuus! :D 10/10

Story:
Take three girls, sisters to be exact, and see their every days lives. The comedy. OH the comedy. As others have said, this show is a a story about... Nothing. There is no real plot line, seeing as it was based off 4koma. (4 paneled comics) There isn't supposed to be a plot. If there really where a plot, the show would not have been as funny. You could compare it to Ichigo Mashimaro. I mean, Minami-Ke is almost exactly like it. But I liked Minami-Ke a lot more. 10/10

Character:
The characters make this show what it is. Literally. There's the Minami sister. Chiaki (the old man shoved inside a 10 year old's body), Kana (Someone seriously give her Ritalin)and Haruka (The good housewife). The story revolves around them, and shows what sisters REALLY act like. They were so different, and so sister like. Believe me, I know. I have a sister Kana's age. Then you get to their schools. This is where the good characters come in. There's Makoto (In Chiaki's class) With his absolutely adorableness and love for cross dressing, he became my favorite character. His cuteness is over powering. Then theirs Akira and Fujioka (In Kana's class). Akira is a dork who lives next door to Kana, who wants a girlfriend with long hair. Fujioka has a huge crush on Kana, and is jealous over the time she is spending with Akira. Although, Kana doesn't notice Fujioka's feelings and sees him as a threat/gang leader instead. Then... And then there is Hosaka. I really do NOT know how to describe this guy. Seriously. Just watch the show. You'll understand afterwards. 10/10

Value/Enjoyment:
If you are depressed and need a great pick me up, watch this. You will forget you were even depressed, that's how much this show will have you smiling. 10/10 read more

1st Impression:
Silly, but genius. It's not your everyday-wacky-ultra-exaggerated comedy anime, This is a good example of comedy anime honestly.

Selling Point(s):
Character's charm, Light but yet silly enough hillarious moments, nice directing for the pace of the anime

Reason Of Liking the anime:
This anime almost killed me. From start to the end, i was forced to laugh out loud, even i 've tried as hard as possible not to. Mysteriously, with the 3 sisters , Haruka (gentle and kind), Kana (silly + idiotic) , and Chiaki (Moe(?) + arrogant), they have formed such great chemical mixture of charm, which cant stop the people from loving them. If you think those 3 sisters are enough, you better off check out the side characters .. though you might end out having stroke for laughing too much.

The story - well, pretty much common slice of life, but with the nice directing skill applied to anime, every momments is the classic, packed with tons of light humor. What's great is that, this anime doesn't even need to be shoved in fan services just to make a fan laugh! A definitely a must watch for those who look for true comedy genre anime.

a 10 for this classic comedy anime.

What I Dislike:
None

Advice(s):
1) For all ages, a must watch if you want to laugh your misery away.
2) Beware of traps.
3) No, you don't have to join a volleyball club.





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Minami-Ke is a bit of an oddball show, even for the slice-of-life genre. The character designs are more realistic than the far more popular Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star (and it took be a bit to get used to the whole tear shaped mouth thing), and the plot is somewhat sporatic, bouncing form episodic to continuity at random (all animes do this, of course, but in the same episode?). These aren't complaints, however, just the facts. Really I can't think of anything bad to say about the series except that the pacing's a bit slow at first. Stick with it, though, and a taste for Minami-Ke's unique style should develop. The characters manage to define themselves in the viewer's mind, even when they go several episodes without reappearing. The reaccuring elements are delightful, as are the more singular stories told (the later experiences several peaks, but hardly any lows from what I recall). Despite the potential for such, fanservice plays a very small part in the show, appearing here and there, but never making its presence known until the last couple of episodes. The whole thing is over before you know it, but fortunately, the show makes it clear that a second season is on the way. While this is a show that requires a bit of a gear sift to get into, the overall effort one makes is totally worth the end result, as Minami-Ke is probably one of the best anime of its kind. read more