Barakamon shows that you don't need aliens, magical powers and love triangles in order to create an exciting anime. Barakamon is not a tale of good triumphing over evil or a couple finding true love within one another, but rather an example of why our uneventful daily lives is story enough, even if said life involves being assaulted by small children.
There isn't a great deal that occurs in Barakamon's regrettably short 12-episode run. There is no overarching, deep story to keep you on the edge of your seat, and by the end of the final episode, not a whole lot has changed from the
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beginning. If you were to explain the story of Barakamon to one of your friends, they would likely respond by saying "That's it? Sounds boring." And they would be horribly wrong, as Barakamon is easily one of the best anime of the entire year.
The characters in Barakamon are the story. It is about Handa Seishuu, a 23-year-old calligrapher prone to anger and misfortune, and his friendship with the villagers who continually screw him over through a myriad of hilarious accidents. He does not undergo a great transformation by the end of the anime, but simply experiences the joy of human companionship, and no-- this theme is not told through preaching morals. Barakamon is very subtle with its themes, choosing instead to develop characters gradually and believably rather than through melodrama. As immature as Handa and the characters often are, Barakamon is actually a surprisingly mature anime.
When Handa finds himself staring in awe at the starry night, the writers do not feel the need to explain what Handa is feeling at that moment. At that point in the story, Handa has been characterised so believably that empathising with his thoughts and feelings becomes natural. He's not a walking gag, an archetype made to appeal to the audience's most basic instincts. He is his own person, highly flawed and vulnerable to mistakes. Whereas most anime protagonists are so dull, so devoid of personality or history that you could throw them into just about any other show, Handa feels at home in his own series.
And the same can be said for all the other characters. The kids, especially Naru in particular, are unique in the way that they actually behave like kids. Naru is mouthy, aggressive and intellectually inferior to the adults. She collects bugs, finds poop funny, eats live snails (ugh!) and annoys Handa in just about every way possible. Naru is not cute in the same way that loli characters are. She is an actual child, not a pretend-child created to please the nether regions of lolicons. Just like real, living kids, Naru and her companions are often frustrating and bring ruin to just about everything they encounter, but that energy is precisely what makes them so endearing.
The humour of Barakamon is also surprisingly thoughtful, and it hits the mark more than perhaps could ever be expected from an anime. There were no moments where the joke fell completely flat (as was sometimes the case with similar anime like Silver Spoon and Gekkan Shoujo). There are few, if any puns and stereotypical Japanese humour, even if it does still follow the typical manzai format of stupid-thing-happens-and-people-react-to-stupid-thing. The stupid things in Barakamon work because they are actually rooted in reality. It doesn't create its comedy through the characters reacting in some ridiculous, unbelievable way, but through the kinds of accidents that typically follow from playing with children. And from Handa suffering.
Unlike most slice-of-life comedies, Barakamon knows how to strike a perfect balance between its humour and the more heart-warming moments. These moments are well-placed and purposely kept rare so that they may carry meaning. What most anime are incapable of grasping is that in the real world, we find beauty in between mountains of hardship; it is not something that can be created artificially and sold and traded at the dollar store. Barakamon understands this, which is precisely why its events feel so natural, even if they do not carry any huge wave of emotion along with them.
Barakamon also deserves some praise for its willingness to tell a story with characters of all ages. There are the kids, a few teenagers in the local high school, the adult protagonist and his friends from the city, and the middle-aged and elderly villagers. It does not focus solely on 15-year-olds, and for that Barakamon is all the more special.
The calligraphy aspect of the show does have its share of issues, though. Because the focus is almost entirely on the comedy and the slice-of-life, there isn't much detail given to the calligraphy world that Handa is a part of. What makes a good piece of writing? What makes a bad one? Why is Handa's new style so much more meaningful, and what is it even like to be a calligrapher? None of these questions are fully answered. If you don't have any knowledge of calligraphy (and I expect you won't-- I certainly did not), then it's likely these scenes will not do much for you. I found myself much more invested in all the immature shenanigans that occurred between Handa and the villagers. At the very least, I suppose it did show that there's a bit more to calligraphy than simply slapping cool-looking kanji on a piece of paper.
Barakamon looks and sounds great. While there's no gorgeous setpieces and scenery to bring heaven to your eyeballs, the artwork is still very attractive and consistent. The opening track is also pure bliss. I would recommend giving it a listen any time you're feeling awful; it's like magic.
Will Barakamon shock and bring you to tears? Probably not. But it will almost assuredly change the opinions of anyone who previously found the slice-of-life genre boring, and what it lacks in emotional value it makes up for by being executed nearly to perfection. It is one of the most enjoyable, pleasant experiences I've had with an anime in a very long time, and anyone who simply wants to have a good time and relax would be doing themselves a huge favour by giving Barakamon a try. Its greatest sin is that there just isn't any more of it to watch.
As for the best anime of 2014, Barakamon is the winner in my eyes.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Barakamon
Japanese: ばらかもん
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
12
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Jul 6, 2014 to Sep 28, 2014
Premiered:
Summer 2014
Broadcast:
Sundays at 02:20 (JST)
Licensors:
Funimation
Studios:
Kinema Citrus
Source:
Web manga
Genre:
Slice of Life
Duration:
22 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#1972
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#309
Members:
662,421
Favorites:
12,949
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 196 / 198
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Your Feelings Categories Dec 31, 2014
Barakamon shows that you don't need aliens, magical powers and love triangles in order to create an exciting anime. Barakamon is not a tale of good triumphing over evil or a couple finding true love within one another, but rather an example of why our uneventful daily lives is story enough, even if said life involves being assaulted by small children.
There isn't a great deal that occurs in Barakamon's regrettably short 12-episode run. There is no overarching, deep story to keep you on the edge of your seat, and by the end of the final episode, not a whole lot has changed from the ... Oct 16, 2014
Watching Barakamon was like going to a birthday party or a picnic outdoors, chock full of excited children running all over the place, doing what they do best. As an adult (supposedly), you feel slightly out of place but the child in you just wants to jump up and down with them in frantic jubilation without a care in the world. There is a cake too: a black forest with strawberry toppings and as you immerse yourself in the jovial mood, you admit that the feeling of sharing a slice with everyone is sweeter than the cake itself.
And what a slice it was! For a slice-of-life ... Sep 28, 2014
Barakamon is a work of art. However, it’s more than just calligraphy as words alone cannot describe the exact nature and discovery of Barakamon. For instance, the show takes place on an island involving a young man named Seishuu Handa. Coming from a more urban based background, his life changes forever as he finds his new life on the natural island of Goto. Of course, this doesn’t happen after he delivers a sucker punch to an elder curator. When someone throws a fit like that, it’s easy to guess that consequences are destined to follow. But can we really call a journey to Goto Island
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Sep 28, 2014
One of the hallmarks of a quality slice of life show is its ability to make you forget about the real world and immerse you in their world, if only for a few minutes. You laugh alongside the characters as they do silly things, get anxious as they struggle through trials and tribulations, and then feel relieved when those problems are resolved. Barakamon does an excellent job of accentuating this aspect of the slice of life genre. Through a cast of quirky and unique characters along with simple yet powerful storytelling, Barakamon portrays the life of a man who strives to discover his true identity
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Sep 27, 2014
When the last season of animes started, i was looking forward for just three animes: Tokyo Ghoul, Akame ga Kill and SAO2. Nothing more than that. I wasn't a big fan of slice of life anime, even though i had watched some after, i used to think that this genre was boring.
Barakamon prove that i was wrong. The show don't let the rhythm down in all of the 12 episodes. All the characters are good, there's no one that i've disliked, and that's pretty difficult in all anime. The comedy on Barakamon it's natural, not something forced with stupid jokes, the characters are just funny. Handa ... Dec 31, 2014
Without fail, this anime had me in stitches after hours and hours of watching all the episodes for 2 days. (sorry, I didn't finish it in one because of chores.)
Truth is, I saw a screenshot of this anime in my profile and I was interested in seeing it. It was a picture of mangas being piled up in a bag. Two of those mangas were my favorites; namely, Soul Eater and Fullmetal Alchemist. I got interested so I looked it up without viewing its synopsis and started seeing it. I was first in distraught when I found out that the first episode tackles ... Jun 22, 2015
Without a doubt, Barakamon is one of the most relaxing anime out there in existence. If I had to describe Barakamon in short, it would be that it has been, a true panacea.
Barakamon's story isn't anything groundbreaking or intricate, in fact, it is the authentic simplicity of the show, that truly permits one to adore this show to its utmost. With a soothing atmosphere and a refreshing cast of characters, Barakamon is one of those shows that rewards anyone from an arduous day of work. The story revolves around Handa Seishuu, a young and enthusiastic calligrapher with pride and talent. Despite this, after having ... Dec 25, 2014
Some 'people' may describe Slice of Life is nothing but a boring genre, the phrase for someone who dislike SOL is "Why do we have to watch anime that tells the life we live day to day?", but the truth is not like that. One of the main objectives of a Slice of Life genre is delivering a straight message of life itself. And Barakamon is a great example to prove that.
Barakamon begins with a small plot. A small plot that circles Barakamon is not giving the anime a weakness, but it give the story a power to weighted the story itself. One of the ... Sep 28, 2014
Our surroundings shape us.
Barakamon is a comedy slice of life manga adaptation of the same name. It follows a story of your average shut-in protagonist thrown into an entirely different countryside setting, and how said setting changes him. One of the better actual slice of life shows airing these days, it's not all flowers and daisies but it definitely went the right way. Plot: Seishuu Handa, a famous calligrapher gets sent to a remote island after misbehaving in a calligraphy contest. There, he starts learning to adapt to a different lifestyle, while he develops his own new writing style. The plot is rather simple and nothing we haven't ... Oct 5, 2014
Well, my review got deleted for not following the guidelines so I uploaded it. ~
Barakamon, a funny, relaxing, slice of life anime that's overshadowed by other popular anime that are airing alongside it, such as SAO II, Aldnoah Zero, Akame Ga Kill, Tokyo Ghoul and Zankyou no Terror. If you want to get a relief from all these popular action-packed, horror anime then you should definitely check Barakamon out. With that said, it's an anime that everyone can enjoy. The story is basically about Handa Seishu, a calligrapher who thinks that he's the best at whatever he does, and therefore is very hard to socialize with. ... Sep 27, 2014
This anime is definitely a refreshing and unique slice of life anime, watching it gives me nostalgia of whenever I have failed at something and had build evaluate and try again, which I’m sure everyone can relate. Watching the show and characters interact is a great joy; seeing each person going through new experiences and emotions. Barakamon is definitely a wonderful addition to the slice of life genre, that people can relate to and enjoy.
=Story 9/10= This story features a calligrapher, Handa Seishu, that is suddenly forced to live on a small island to better focus on his calligraphy. As someone who has lived in ... Sep 27, 2014
Often, the slice-of-life genre is viewed as what is more or less the Seinfeld genre of anime - that they are "shows about nothing." This is by no means a bad thing - shows like Non Non Biyori to a stellar job of proving that a show about the most inane daily activities can be greatly entertaining and sometimes even emotional. But that is also no excuse to produce SoL shows that have no true plot or character development. And that's where Barakamon comes in.
Barakamon is, at its core, the story of a calligrapher named Seishuu Handa, and his interactions with the people around him. ... Dec 10, 2014
This anime is one of the best I've seen in recent history. The story, though simple, is heartwarming in the truest form. The episodes are mostly day-to-day adventures, but each one is clever, uplifting, and very often hilarious.
The regular animation is nice in and of itself, but I gave it a 9 for two reasons. Firstly, as calligraphy is a central part of the plot, it obviously has to show up on screen from time to time. The creators did an excellent job of designing beautiful calligraphy that is just is amazing animated as in real life. Secondly, the ED is just plain and ... Nov 18, 2014
Barakamon… Ah, the feeling of watching something so laid-back is really refreshing. First thing that came into my mind when I heard Barakamon was, to tell you the truth, Digimon. I’m sorry, I really am! Good thing I was wrong. Phew. * wipes sweat *
At first I was like, “Pshhhh… Another gorgeous looking guy. I bet this show will target adolescent girls.” But, MIGHTY ZEUS SMITE ME FOR BEING AN INSOLENT FOOL! I am wrong in million ways. I’ll keep my review short and simple. Story: 8 Handa Seishu is a 23-year-old calligrapher (most good-looking you’ll ever see). He’s forced to live on a small island ... Mar 1, 2015
Well first review, I'll go for it... What could I say: this anime may not have action or romance but it has something very few animes could claim to have: authenticity. The characters are coherent, natural and really lovable. The overall art is great and some scenes are truly astonishing. In term of personal enjoyment, it has been a while since I smiled so much during an anime: the humor of the situations is light and there're a lot of heartwarming scenes. Too short might've been the only flaw but the ending was at a perfect place to stop. It was damn near perfect, im
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Jul 21, 2017
Barakamon is a slice of life about enjoying the little things of life and, unlike most of its comrades in the genre, is not conformist mediocrity. Everyone knows the premise by now, so allow me to expand a bit on what makes it interesting.
First things first, Naru. She is the face of Barakamon, and for all right reasons. Her adorability is over nine thousand, and the voice helped a lot in convincing me she is an actual child. Instead of hiring an adult woman to force her voice, they brought a kid and well, it paid off. Every ounce of her childlike nature and ... Jan 10, 2015 Barakamon allows you the chance to peer into a story of struggle and self growth, without being bogged down by melodrama. Each episode is well timed and made good use of comedy, providing a very relaxed ride while you watched the characters continue on their journey. I very much enjoyed this fact. Unfortunately this made for a very predictable story as well. By episode 6, I had no doubts about how this anime would end. I know some people do not mind this, but I enjoy just a little mystery when it comes to the conclusion of a story. The art ... Oct 7, 2014
The hype left me hanging... I still want more of Barakamon!
For a simple series such as this, using nature as an element to pique the watcher's interest is of pure genius indeed. Barakamon, in my opinion, had hidden intentions of giving Japan's tourism faction, most likely the premise of Gotou Islands in Nagasaki, a simple push. But the fact is, my speculation may prove wrong at some end. Barakamon started with a bang. The first episode, with no further meaningless addition introduces the beautifully depicted countryside. For a young adult who grew up his entire life sheltered in the city, living far from civilization may spell ... Sep 27, 2014
The summer 2014 anime "Barakamon" has stood out to me as one of the "best slice of life" for this season. Why you may ask? Well, watch it if haven't already and those who have watched it will hopefully understand/agree to what I have to say. Let's begin! :3
Barakamon is about a guy named Handa Seishuu, who is a calligrapher that is sent to the calm location "Goto Island". This was due to his actions of punching an elderly curator that criticized his artwork during a Calligraphy Exhibition. From here on, Handa meets many wonderful villagers and befriends a little girl named Naru and ... Feb 5, 2015
Barakamon, a really nice, light hearted, warm slice of life anime. In this world of digital media, internet and smartphones, Barakamon takes you to a calm and soothing country lifestyle filled with outdoor activities, interesting characters, nice comedy and gives the message that coming out on top isn't always necessary. Sometimes, you have to enjoy what you have and things will sort themselves out.
Taking it slowly and calmly and delivering it's message well is what this anime is about. Story 9/10: Our main protagonist, Handa is a NEET (not gaming but into calligraphy) living in tokyo and a professional calligrapher with no friends and group activites. He ... |