The story of Tari Tari is best described as arc based plots. While overall the story is very enjoyable, I also believe it takes a very safe approach with regards to adhering to common tropes rather than striving for the something new and interesting. This isn't necessarily a bad thing considering that the story is presented in a satisfying, coherent fashion, but playing it safe also creates a lack of remembrance. While the show revolves around the choir (and sometimes badminton) club, there are also many issues addressed outside of the club that the audience can relate to.
One of the strongest qualities that Tari Tari has is that it doesn’t try to be something it’s not. It’s not a part of the romance genre and it strictly stays that way. It also doesn’t utilize fan service as a cheap gimmick to attract an audience because that isn't what the series is about. Despite appearances of being a run-of-the-mill moe slice of life, Tari Tari grasps strong themes and articulates them pleasantly. It’s a heartfelt story about coming of age and dealing with the struggles of life.
The art and animation for Tari Tari are nothing too exceptional, but still good in my opinion. I really enjoy the quality that P.A. Works brings to the table, and I've enjoyed many other works by them. From the characters to the setting, and the animation itself, Tari Tari is visually pleasing.
The sound portion of Tari Tari caused me a slight bit of confusion. Given that the series is of the musical genre, I figured there would be more music involved in the sense of frequency versus actual quality. Instead what I got was quite a bit of the opposite, which I was perfectly content with. While there is a feeling of a lack of musical performances, Tari Tari's quality of music was exceptional.
Something unusual, yet intriguing about Tari Tari is the lack of a real main character. It's not required for a series to necessarily have a main character, however, in this case, the lack of one causes a slight impairment to the series. Supposedly the main characters are the members of the choir (and sometimes badminton) club, but realistically the differences in amount of character development is drastic. Wakana's story arc expands throughout nearly the whole series, whereas the other characters get substantially less time to develop. While the characters themselves are entertaining and likable, with Wien as a notable mention, it's a bit of a shame that they don't get much of their own story. On the contrary, side characters such as the principle and vice-principle get a bit of unexpected character development as well. There is a sense of realism depicted by the characters of Tari Tari; they each have charm, individual problems and aspirations, strengths, and weaknesses. It makes them a likable bunch.
With all things said and done, I thought Tari Tari was nothing short of impressive. It was remarkably refreshing to watch a series that doesn't capitalize on fan service (of the sexual manner). Hopefully more anime in the near future will keep an open mind and adapt this mindset. Sadly, I doubt it.
The beauty of music is that there is no good or bad, better or worse. Each and every song is just right for someone out there; it just may take a while for the right person to listen. While Tari Tari doesn't perfectly hit all the right notes, it certainly stirs the melody of the heart. If you enjoy slice of life with a dash of drama and music, Tari Tari just might be the right song for you.
