Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic

Although learning different languages continues to be an interest for Shinobu and her friends, the new school year brings unexpected difficulties. Not only is there always something new and different to distract them from their studies, but Alice and Yoko also are having trouble adjusting to being in a different class from Shinobu and Aya.

Meanwhile, Karen isn't getting along at all with her new homeroom teacher, and it doesn't help that the teacher is having trouble figuring out how to make herself seem friendlier to her students as well. Craziness may ensue, but sometimes, all it takes is the right mutual experience to bring everyone together.

While some of those experiences may not be as well-thought-out as others (like when Alice and Aya act like juvenile delinquents to seem more grown up), the gang's new adventures are certain to warm everyone's heart as the fun and friendships keep growing in HELLO!! KINMOZA!

(Source: Sentai Filmworks)

Kujou, Karen Main

Touyama, Nao Japanese

Komichi, Aya Main

Taneda, Risa Japanese

Cartelet, Alice Main

Tanaka, Manami Japanese

Inokuma, Youko Main

Uchiyama, Yumi Japanese

Oomiya, Shinobu Main

Nishi, Asuka Japanese

Kuzehashi, Akari Supporting

Oonishi, Saori Japanese

Karasuma, Sakura Supporting

Satou, Satomi Japanese

Matsubara, Honoka Supporting

Suwa, Ayaka Japanese

Inokuma, Mitsuki Supporting

Murakawa, Rie Japanese

Oomiya, Isami Supporting

Tamura, Yukari Japanese

Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Producer

Kawamoto, Sachi Producer

Hayashi, Youhei Producer

Fukao, Satoshi Producer

Reviews

Jun 21, 2015

HaXXspetten

Recommended

Moeblobs? – Check.
Engrish? – Check.
Blondes? – Check.

Oh yes, after a long time of waiting it is finally time for the highly anticipated second season of Kiniro Mosaic.

I'm not going to bother making a super in-depth analysis of the anime because I really don't think it's necessary. Kiniro Mosaic is an intentionally simplistic show which requires very little explanation. If you've seen the first season of the anime (which you should have if you're reading this), then you'll know just what to expect. And you'll get it, because season two is pretty much just more of the same as the first one. Aya is still one ... of cutest tsunderes ever, Karen's English is still hilariously broken and Shino still has an unhealthy obsession with blondes. And that's all that Kiniro Mosaic really needs to be, because it's enough for it to successfully maintain its position as one of the best slice of life comedies in the anime industry.

One new addition to the franchise though is Kuzehashi Akari: a new homeroom teacher at the school and one of the more prevalent characters of this second season of Kiniro Mosaic. She has a complex about her popularity, as she wants nothing more than to be liked and respected by the students in her class. However for various reasons... she is not very good at this, and more often than not ends up scaring them off instead.

Some of the side characters also get more screen time than in the first season. There is the tennis club member Honoka who ends up joining Shino as her fellow sister-in-arms in the fanclub for blondes, Shino's absent-minded yet caring older sister Isami, and also Youko's younger siblings who reveal themselves to be some of the most hilarious trolls I've ever seen. As far as the main quintet goes however, they're exactly the same as they always were, and I don't think anyone could possibly feel bad about that.

The animation looks just as crisp and clean as the first season, with a heavy emphasis on moe artwork, and it feels perfectly suited to the tone of the show itself. The opening theme, "Yumiero Parade", is extremely catchy and fun to listen to, and it also has some variation to it as different characters sing a slightly altered version of it every week. There's also the one-time opening theme called "Kirameki-iro Summer Rainbow" used only in episode 10, which is quite frankly one of the best OPs I have ever heard in anime, and I'm still desperately trying to find a full version of it somewhere. The ED theme "My Best Friends" is less impressive but certainly passable as well.

But all-in-all, Kiniro Mosaic is simply a show which never fails to entertain during even its most mundane moments, solely due to the friendly atmosphere and how enjoyable the characters are. They're adorable, energetic and charismatic all at the same time, and they always manage to make you smile when watching the anime. Kiniro Mosaic might very well be the epitome of the "Cute Girls Doing Cute Things" genre, and this second season makes a very strong showcasing as to why.

Highly recommended.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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May 15, 2015

TheBasedMaki

Recommended

Do you want to escape the harsh realities of life? You sick of your anime list full of action, supernatural and mainstream shows with tons of fanservice? Are you tired of harem battles and complex story lines that lead to never ending episodes that go until to end of time? Do you want something new? Well you just found the right place. Ah.. Slice of Life. What better way to start your day by watching cute girls go to school and have fun along the way. Kiniro Mosaic has been one of my favorite cute-girls-doing-cute-things kind of show, and as a fan of the first ... season this show has made me love the Slice of Life genre more than before. So lets go on the review..

Story (7/10)
As for the story line is concerned, there is basically no such thing, but it offers us the main heroines of the story living their high school lives, enjoying each others company and making enjoyable memories that they will remember instead. The thing with Kiniro Mosaic or basically every Slice of Life show is that it doesn't need complex story lines or plot twists to make it enjoyable. You don't need to use a lot of your brain cells to know about how the MC will become a Hok*ge or how will Mr. Fantastic find the 1 piece, but instead all you need to do is click on one episode and let the show speak for itself.

As a fan of cute girls, this show has one of the most loveable and adorable characters in the Slice of Life genre in my opinion. Art has improved compared to the previous season, the settings and backgrounds became more vivid, colorful and brighter, making you enjoy the colorful happiness of this show. Life in the school and places in England has been displayed well in each episode. The art helps enhance the mood in specific situations thus making it one good colorful show.

But wait, there's more. No Kiniro Mosaic review will be complete if you don't mention how the characters speak in english, wait pardon me but I believe the correct term for this is Engrish. This is what happens when the seiyuus try to speak a language different from their native tounge. But does this make the show bad, horrible or dropped material? No. Engrish makes the show complete and more fun to watch. And everytime you remember Karen speaking engrish or basically all of them speak engrish becomes like an addictive drug, I found myself spending my hours watching them just speak english in youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1YSEDT-ZPc), my heart is not ready, it hurts, the moe is real. But kidding aside the engrish in this season took a major leap compared to the previous one, perhaps the seiyuus practiced hard for each english part in the script and I salute you for that.

OP and ED is one of my new favorite op and ed's in this season. The ED "My Best Friends" by Rhodanthe is one of my most played songs in my phone as of now, because it has this "English kind of tune" that is rare to hear in this era.

Overall Kiniro Mosaic Season 2 is a great slice of life show, like the previous season you wont get tired of the cliche comedy and friendly quarrels of every character. And even if you don't follow the chronological order of the episodes you still get to enjoy each and every one of it. If you like cute-girls-doing-cute-things kind of shows with a good sense of comedy. I definitely recommend this to all.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jul 25, 2015

BanjoTheBear

Mixed Feelings

(This has been adapted from my blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!)

In elementary school, my four closest buddies and I would call ourselves “The Five Musketeers.” That’s because we did pretty much everything together while at school: sports, group activities, hanging out, making jokes, etc. We always had a blast and created memories that will last a lifetime. While we slowly drifted apart to the point that we no longer see each other, I’ll always remember them as the best friends that I ever had. Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic follows a similar troupe, showcasing impossibly cute moments while demonstrating the bonds of friendship in a familiar way.

STORY

Kinmoza 2 ... (as it will be called from here on out) is the sequel to “Kiniro Mosaic.” Shino, Alice, Karen, Ayaya, and Yoko are back, alongside a few new characters, to bring about their signature adorableness once more.

This cannot be overstated; the Kinmoza series is near the top, if not the pinnacle, when it comes to cuteness. Often times, anime is known for shows being of the “cute girls doing cute things” variety. But in Kinmoza 2’s case, the second half of that phrase is dropped. It’s simply “cute girls.” The girls don’t do anything pertaining to the plot, they aren’t striving for a particular goal, and they aren’t necessarily interested in doing anything completely out of the ordinary. It really is a show designed around a bunch of girls being as cute as possible in everyday situations. They visit the beach, each other’s houses, other countries; they have picnics at school, tennis matches, study sessions; and they even gather at the mall and on the street. The anime is everyday happenings with the added benefit of watching these girls interact with one another.

There could be an argument for the anime being more than “just” a bunch of high school girls having a good time together. This harkens back to the introduction: the idea of friendships and the memories we share. Such a notion works to an extent, considering how much the girls do pretty much everything with one another. But the idea loses its focus when it goes back to Shino fawning over blonde hair or Karen acting extremely hyper. They are good friends and they are making memories they’ll never forget, yet they’re never too worried about the future or even the past. To them, and the anime, all that matters is what is going on now, at a singular moment in time.

At this point, there isn’t too much else to say, really. Kinmoza 2 isn’t looking to make you think critically or provide profound themes that inspire one to question his or her philosophical being. It’s a slice-of-life show aimed at making the audience smile. To that end, the characters are the driving force, not the narrative. This is evident in what the anime offers. Looking at it closely, it is (like its predecessor) a lot of repetition in terms of jokes, gags, and general comedy. Ultimately the situations boil down to whose shtick is holding the spotlight or is being used in unison with another character’s personality. The events don’t mean anything; rather than the characters and what they do being a byproduct of the situations they find themselves in, the only purpose is having Shino and the gang be as cute as possible.

ANIMATION

One of the ways in which Kinmoza 2 achieves maximum “moe” is through the art and character designs that it utilizes.

The art itself is very soft in its presentation. The colors aren’t invasive or distracting on the eye, there’s a soft, white hue surrounding the shots, and the locations visited provide the appropriate setting – the school, Shino’s room, their local meeting spot, etc. – without being overly intrusive. In short, the show is gently inviting the audience to relax and simply enjoy the characters and their antics. At the same time, the show incorporates “chibi” or “minimalist” techniques to make the characters less detailed, often smaller, and therefore cuter because of it all.

Inspecting the character designs, it’s easy to see once again how much attention is placed on making the girls as cute in appearance as possible. The veterans return with their signature looks – Shino with her medium-length hair and obscure fashion attire, Karen’s long blonde hair with matching Union Jack coat, and Ayaya’s blue twin-tails with constant blushing, to name a few. Newcomers Kuzehashi-sensei and Honoka maintain the cute factor as well. Kuzehashi-sensei’s side ponytail mixed with her secretary-like work outfit is a nice look for the woman and Honoka’s long brown hair and general plainness contrasts well with the other girls, proving that the show can create nice designs even for the additional cast members.

Actual animation remains somewhere around average. The anime mostly moves from one shot to the next in order to keep up with the quick pace of the comedy. Reactions are mostly comical expressions, actual movement is usually not too involved besides the occasional hop, skip, or hug, and even then, the characters are usually standing around. There does exist particularly high-quality animation sequences – such as when Kuzehashi-sensei and Karasuma-sensei attempt to high-five – but they are so few and far between that they aren’t entirely worth mentioning.

CHARACTERS

Like the plot, Kinmoza 2’s characters aren’t there to be expounded upon. They don’t develop and they don’t really grow as people. They’re more or less the same girls from start to finish. This is, again, a perfectly acceptable direction given the format of the anime and its overall goals. Since the characters are formatted as such, there isn’t a whole lot to say once more, at least with the main cast. Shino still wants to be an interpreter, Alice is continually mistaken for an elementary school student, Karen never stops smiling, Ayaya does her best to keep the others reeled in, and Yoko manages to go along for the ride.

So what is it that makes the girls so cute then? It’s already been established that the narrative does nothing for them and their individual quirks aren’t too compelling. The answer lies in something briefly mentioned earlier: character interactions. What the anime excels at is using the characters not on their own but in unison with each other, giving them the opportunity to be adorable through the relationships they share. It’s seeing the girls have fun together, and not simply being who they are by their lonesome, that provides the experience the show wants. For example, Shino loves blond hair, but it’s her doting nature and inseparable bond with Alice that brings glee to anyone who sees it. There’s Ayaya’s clearly romantic feelings and embarrassment towards Yoko that one can’t help but root for. And Karen seems to be on the same wavelength of every girl at once; she’s sporty with Yoko, serious with Ayaya, innocent with Alice, and supportive with Shino. This is just the tip of the iceberg; each girl interacts with the other main (and side) cast members in a way that not only coincides with their own traits but also feels unique within the anime. Such relative and different relationships is what gives the show the chance to branch out in as many cute areas as it can, with the result being a bombardment of elation that never ceases.

It’s for this reason – the character interactions and relationships having such high importance – that makes Kuzehashi-sensei arguably the best character out of the entire cast despite being introduced just this season. She’s someone who is seeking these very relationships; she isn’t the best at establishing a connection with the people around her due to her outwardly misjudged hostility and shyness, but she tries to understand her students (Karen especially) as much as she can. But it’s a bit more than this. Kuzehashi-sensei holds a special position in regards to everyone else: she’s the “median” between the teachers and the students. With her, the audience gets to see a new outlook in regards to the interactions held, because she’s not entirely seen as a teacher by her fellow peers. Instead, due to her wanting to be more personable with the people around her, she comes off as being less of a work-buddy and mentor and more of a really good friend to the people she meets.

The same reasoning can also be applied to the other new character, Honoka. She’s painted as a sort of Shino clone but for Karen, not Alice. This is mostly likely done to complete the “yuri trifecta” – Ayaya and Yoko, Shino and Alice, and now Karen and Honoka. But again, it’s not her love of golden hair and the broken Japanese-speaking girl that makes her a welcome addition, it’s her determination to create relationships with Karen and the other girls that gives her character more strength than it should have. She, too, has a special position: she’s an “outsider” looking to become friends with the rest. So with her and Kuzehashi-sensei, watching as they try to make and maintain connections with everyone else, gives them their own brand of cuteness that the anime hadn’t seen before.

SOUND

The opening theme is surprisingly catchy, with the beginning trumpet, various instruments, and quick-paced beat being fun to listen to. The lyrics are cute, the vocalists are cute, and the changing tempos are cute; it’s a piece that perfectly fits the mood of the show. The ending theme definitely feels “English,” not just in the visuals but in the jazzy composition crafted by the trumpet and tapping drum. It’s not as catchy as its starting counterpart or as cute, but the track itself still has a charm about it that remains consistent with the anime.

Kinmoza 2’s remaining soundtrack is filled to the brim with whimsical pieces that are quite dainty. There are a ton of tracks in total – nearly 40 to speak of – that all sound more or less the same. “Haikei Alice Desu” feels like riding on air due to the extravagant violins and wooden flute, “Sensei To Seito” is a signature track that captures the tone of the anime wonderfully, “Kawaii No” is very simple and therefore very cute because of it, “Eigo De Kaiwa” goes more homely in its presentation, “Mata.Ae Ta Ne” is mostly piano that has a certain nostalgic presence, and “Hamabe Nite” goes more Hawaiian with the acoustic guitar and maracas. They’re nice tracks when coupled with the show but aren’t necessarily strong as standalone offerings.

Voice acting for the anime is above average. Special shout-outs are deserved for Manami Tanaka as Alice and Nao Touyama as Karen for some of the best English-speaking lines in anime, Asuka Nishi as Shinobu for her cute way of talking, and Risa Taneda as Ayaya for her constant stuttering and flustering.

ENJOYMENT

I’m a big fan of “moe” in anime, and this one gives it in droves. It’s cute beyond measure and always, without fail, made me smile for nearly the entire season. I remember Shino putting herself in Alice’s luggage so she could go with her best friend making me laugh pretty hard; Ayaya daydreaming about “yuri” moments with Yoko and proceeding to get mad at her since it was “her fault” was always funny and adorable; and Kuzehashi-sensei’s peering around corners, wanting to do her best as a teacher, was very endearing to see. Speaking of Kuzehashi-sensei, she’s now one of my favorite characters in the series. Ayaya is still the best due to her unending shyness and blushing, but Kuzehashi-sensei mirrors these mannerisms all the time, too, and is a very close second.

Thinking back on the season one last time, I don’t hate Yoko, Karasuma-sensei, and Honoka, but I never got as much entertainment from them as I did from the rest of the characters. Again, the connections they have with the other cast members are fun, but that’s because they’re interacting with characters that I do like as opposed to being cute by themselves. Even Yoko’s younger siblings and Shino’s older sister Isami were more comical than those three. That’s not to say they weren’t funny in their own right, they’re just less so when compared to everyone else.

Hello!! Kiniro Mosaic is a nice sequel and an affable little anime that knows itself well. The adorableness is off the charts, the characters are likable, and the show never stops trying to make one smile. While there isn’t much of a story and the music is better in conjunction with the anime, these “Five Musketeers” and their other friends demonstrate that the relationships we have with the people around us bring more happiness than we will ever know.

SUMMARY

Story: Fine, “moe” to the max, with lots of repetition and no real purpose

Animation: Good, nice art style, nice character designs, average actual animation

Characters: Good, Shino, Alice, Karen, Ayaya, and Yoko return as themselves, with them and newcomers Kuzehashi-sensei and Honoka exemplifying cuteness through their relationships

Sound: Fine, good OP, okay ED, okay soundtrack, above average VA work

Enjoyment: Good, Ayaya, Shino, and Alice are hilarious, Kuzehashi-sensei is a fantastic new addition to the cast, with Yoko and a few others not being as strong as the rest

Final Score: 6/10

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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