Hyouka: Motsubeki Mono wa

Eru Chitanda is once again curious! And thanks to the mystery group that made us all curious on Sundays, the series brings forth this OVA. Now grab some Hyouka and Ice Cream/I Scream because it's summer time and a little mystery on the weekends to exercise your brains can be fun.

Hyouka: Motsubeki Mono wa which literally translates to Hyouka: You can't escape is a special episode bundled with the third volume of the manga.

Unlike the original series however, there's some major differences. Take for example, the beginning of the scene. Less than 1 minute into the OVA and there's already a semi-fan service scenes ... that may some of us curious, in the way that isn't defined as "mystery".

Oreki still remains with his stoic ways and unenthusiastic style while his friends are hogging all the fun. Yup, the fun in the sun at the swimming pool. With the curious Eru Chitanda and the others in their bathing suits, it's no surprise that Oreki still remains his usual style as he is described as the guy who doesn't particularly like to do anything that involves effort and if required, tries to end it as quickly as possible. Just as Mayaka states:

"Swimming trunks and Oreki doesn't mix".

And amen to that because it would be like mixing oil and water together. What do you get? A very unorthodox Oreki.

Eru on the other hand being the curious girl that she is remains her usual self. She and Oreki's interactions in this OVA balances out their awkward moments and can be see as strangely entertaining.

Luckily, this OVA isn't completely about fan-service, curiosity, and Oreki's stoic expressions. There is a bit of mystery in it. And who else better than to sum it up than our very own Sherlock Holmes, oops *Hōtarō Oreki.

Like most of the previous mysteries of the series, the usage of word play becomes part of the mystery to illustrate its style in the eyes of Oreki. While usually fun and intriguing to watch, a little bonus like the ice cream/I Scream style is added in the form of fan-service curtsey of Eru Chitanda.

Overall, this OVA was a fun watch and entertaining. While not a blockbuster hit, it's fun to observe the interactions between club members Eru Chitanda and Oreki-san. Both of them sparks some special bonding in this episode and in more than one ways than one ;). A mystery OVA mixed in with fan-service, fun, and excitement in the form of Hyouka is something to take an eye on. It shows that while Honobu Yonezawa (the author of the series) likes to play with the viewers' heads with his mystery genre, he can also spawn fun. The Classic Literature Club is of course all about mysteries but this OVA brings forth just relaxing animation. We all need it sometimes especially for the summer days and what better yet in the form of Hyouka.

Anyways, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show from this latest bundle of the Hyouka chronicles.

This fanservice pool episode adds nothing to the main series of Hyouka, in fact, I would argue that by heaping clichéd writing and unmotivated male gaze at boobs moments on the anime, it detracts. Not that these things are bad in and of themselves - but they're notoriously lacking in the rest of Hyouka, and they end up mixing very poorly with the rest of the series. Not only that, but the characters seem like pale caricatures of themselves.

There's no reason to watch this: if you want fanservice, there are better places to get it, and if you like Hyouka, it is unlikely that this ... will add anything to it.

Generally when it comes to OVA's, I view them through the lens of their parent anime. This practice holds especially true with the Hyouka OVA.

OVA's are judged based on their parent anime because customarily they lack the screen time to create a new story or experience, characters don't undergo any vast changes, and there are no fulcrum point events that a series rests upon.

In the Hyouka OVA, the audience is given insight into what happens between episodes 11 and 12 of the parent anime. Although there is nothing ground breaking to be found in this OVA, if you enjoyed any aspect of Hyouka, ... you will assuredly enjoy this OVA.

The OVA fits in perfectly with the rest of the series. Its animation is top notch, the sound is superb, the characters interact as they should, and it is definitely enjoyable. If there was to be a question brought up regarding this OVA, it would be, "Why wasn't this OVA just included in the parent anime?".

For those that enjoyed Hyouka, I highly recommend this OVA to you with an 8/10 rating. You might just find yourself to be "curious".