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This anime is great up until around episode 21. After that supporting cast members start having their life stories fleshed out. Most of these episodes are quite boring, the motivations provided are often bland and even when they aren't they feel drawn out.

Around this point is when the tone becomes an issue. I'm sure most anime veterans are used to the same music being used for every "dramatic" or "inspiring" moment in an anime. Sometimes well, sometimes not but it always feels a bit like the creators are cheating a little to add emotion to a scene that doesn't otherwise earn it. This anime ... takes that to the next level. By the end of it you will be rolling your eyes every time you hear one of the same three songs played for some inane plot point. This is especially frustrating by the end of 99 episodes.

What really creates this issue is the overuse of flashbacks and recaps. It feels like you are being treated like an idiot. Many episodes will recap on content used just 5 minutes prior and most episodes will reuse scenes from earlier in the series. When you reach the three recap episodes in a row this becomes painful. I highly recommend skipping those episodes if you choose to watch this.

There are a few plot holes here and there but over all it is an enjoyable anime that is ruined through being dragged out. The main character is interesting, the MC's brother is OK the rest of the cast is OK to good with a few annoying characters that don't really detract from it.

If you can find a fan edit or omnibus this would be a great watch. As is it feels like a chore too often. 5/10

This is a very happy go lucky kind of anime. It follows the common "hard work + perseverance = results" trope but with its fantastic characters and heartwarming tone it accomplishes what many other anime fail.

The story is nothing special pretty much just slice of life but with an over arching goal. The real shine comes from the characters which all translate emotion great. From the first episode you will want to see more of Naru, the primary supporting cast member. Most other characters also work well and are what makes this anime so heartwarming.

The other success of this anime is tone. Often tone is ... where anime falls flat, either becoming too serious or directionless. However Barakamon maintains a feel good tone throughout only pausing to create tension usually hinged on the risk of losing this atmosphere. This works well to keep the watcher engaged while remaining relaxed.

If you are looking for a comfy anime this is a great option 8/10