Hakumei to Mikochi

For me Iyashikei is a mixed bag. While I usually find myself enjoying them somewhat, often times the shows focus too much on the healing ascepts without anything deeper under them. While the nice simple moments of life are nice, it can get repetitive if that is all a show has to offer. Luckily in the case of Hakumei to Mikochi there is so much more that it has to offer.

Hakumei to Mikochi features a unique setting that it uses the fullest of it's potential. Each element of its setting is explored and is fully thought out. It's not just a bunch of random ... ideas scrambled together. Nor is it just a start so they can get into the usual antics. It feels real, and each episode gives another picture of the tiny world that they inhabit. Small animals inhabit the world as well and their size makes sense given the size of our main characters. Things are much bigger than them, and the show is fine with displaying that. A peanut is small to us but is big to them. A mouse is small to us but is bigger than either of the main characters. And other small animals do appear. It is a life in the woods. It's not just resized humans. It truly is the woods. Each element of their culture is well explored and utilized. The ending even goes into detail about all of the various places and people that they meet in the episode and goes into their backstory, fleshing them out and bringing an extra element to the characters or setting that we had just watched.

Everything feels thought out. It doesn't feel like they scrambled something together. Rather it all feels connected and is utilized very well through out the course of the show. Each part of the setting says something about another part and about the general world that they inhabit. The world feels vibrant and by going into the different professions, festivals, homes, taverns, and attractions it makes the world feel that much more real, and has it shine that much more. It's not a simple picture but rather an encompassing one, where we get to see where they shop, where they work, where they play, and all of the different elements that makes up this tiny life.

The main characters also shine. It's hard portraying a reserved couple. If the two are too reserved then their bond feels too fake and feels like one of convenience rather than of love. If they are too indulgent then it's no longer reserved. While it's easy to portray a relationship by having one pair of the relationship continually glomp, hug, and kiss the other, that isn't necessarily realistic, nor does it account for all relationships.

But Hakumei to Mikochi is able to do this. The two of them never overtly discuss or confess their love for each other, and yet they feel like a strong pair with an unbreakable bond. It's about the little things. The two of them know each other so well. Each moment between the two of them comes off as two people who know each other so well that they know how the other will act and why they act that way. They know when to support each other and when to give each other space, which can be just as critical. Both Hakumei and Mikochi can get engrossed in their work and at those times both of them know that it's best to leave them to their work. It's hard to get distance right, but it feels like these two know each other well so well that they know exactly when they want to be alone, and that is pretty great. And outside of that? They're often together. Whether it be something that one party is more interested in than the other it doesn't matter. The two of them are there to support each other and be with each other. Many times the two of them are together right next to each other. They may not be gushing over each other, but the closeness between the two of them can be felt.

The characters themselves are also noteworthy. Both of them are talented in their fields and show different levels of talent. Hakumei is an adept handygirl, and Mikochi is very good at sewing, cooking and the like. They both respect each other's talents and so does the show. There is no sense of one being better than the other due to their talents. Rather the different benefits of their talents are expressed in the show. The show is also able to avoid the trap where their skills are too correlated to how one might act. Hakumei may be a good handygirl and be more active but that doesn't mean she can't get motion sickness under the sea. Nor does that mean she's always going to be the one to spring to action. The two of them really do work well as a pair both complimenting each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Not only do they work as a pair but they also work on their own. While the show is just as reserved as the characters are there are some hints towards the inner workings of the characters via some of the episodes. For example, Hakumei seems to show a level of need of approval and worth in the world that she inhabits. There are a couple of times in the show where she wants to join a group, usually based off of work, and gets upset when she can't do so. The show never brings this up in dramatic fashion but it does hint at it with many of its episodes showing this element of her.

And the art and the sound are also fantastic. The show has a beautiful art style and is well adept at showcasing the better points of the world that its showing. It has an interesting style that works very well in the context of the show. Not to mention it can show and make action feel real without actual displaying that much. It may not be the most technical form of animation but they're able to make everything feel real and storybook-like with the use of style and directing and in my eyes that's just as good. It never feels like it's lacking in animation quality. Each moment feels rich. The sound may not shine as much but it certainly does well to help feel the mood of the setting and the episode, and express what the show is going for.

Hakumei to Mikochi is the best that Iyashikei has to offer. It's comfy, rich, and does have a lot to say and show under it's comfiness. Filled with interesting characters, a fantastic reserved character bond that I have yet to see done well elsewhere, and a vibrant developed world Hakumei to Mikochi provides a unique and wonderful viewing experience, which I heartily enjoyed.

Hakumei to Mikochi is what life is all about folks. Kickback, relax, it's time to see pure joy and happiness wrap you up in a warm blanket of kindness.

The plot of HtM is no War and Peace. It's simple, but deliberately so, we all came here to leave some stress to the side and enjoy the childlike wonder of main characters. The characters are adorable little puffies and their design perfectly fits with the mood of the show. Their soft and rounded features emanate cuteness and their surroundings are so earthly and homey that you it creates an atmosphere of utmost comfort.

The music expands ... this all by 10 times, it's just a joy to listen to these casual and sentimental tunes that add the final piece to an already magnificent picture and it's that complete composition that makes it all feel alive and transports you into the world of saccharine fantasy.

Watch this anime folks, have yourself a good time!

At first, Hakumei to Mikochi (or the full name: Hakumei and Mikochi: Tiny little life in the woods) may not feel like it's anything special or noteworthy to write home about, but I was impressed with the storytelling that sells the show, and it really feels at home with the Iyashikei setting from the manga source of the same name.

In this show, you follow Hakumei and Mikochi, two 9cm tall girls in their stories of the tiny life in the woods, mingling around with the wide cast of crew from close friends to work buddies to townmates that know them well. The episodic format of ... chapters taken straight from the manga really works well here, as is evident with the setting the chapters are based upon, and all these are given with no expectations, just some ol' good storytelling like from a fairy tale book.

If you're wondering there's any similarity to it, remember Chi and Yuu from Girls' Last Tour last season albeit a different setting and the context of the world around them (post-apocalyptic world vs. insect-like world). Nevertheless, it helps to cement that like with Chi and Yuu's purpose, Hakumei is the one who is capable of working and solving issues while her life buddy Mikochi can help cook dishes and do woman stuff, and they both are a fresh breeze of air from the stereotypical girls-doing-stuff archetypes.

The art and animation is well deserving of studio Lerche's production, though the SoL and light-fantasy themes are not their major niches when it comes to the style of the anime done by them. Nevertheless, though somewhat of a good representation of the manga source, the lush backgrounds never fail to give the sense of realism of the lives led by our MCs, and the comic-like feel of the animation really embodies what's great and really supports the story in full view.

The sound really too is something else. If you're familiar with Evan Call's works (Violet Evergarden), then it shouldn't be a surprise that this man is getting the good notoriety that his musicality talent is really underappreciated that many people like myself are only starting to notice now. Both the OP and ED are classical tunes onto itself, and really gave the series its sense of warm-hearted goodness with light feelings all around. A good OST even though it's hardly noticeable.

Hakumei to Mikochi might not be something that at first glance worthy to ever be watched or commented about, but I'm taking this chance to say that you should really watch this anime. Yes, it's nothing you're gonna say about it, but it kinda brings you away into the imaginary world, even if it's for a short while.

This is a bad Iyashikei imo. A soulless adaptation of a great manga. The music and backgrounds are nice, but the way they're used is very uninspired, and every other aspect of this show, especially the direction, feels completely flat and lifeless.

This flatness is especially present in the camerawork, with pointless manga-like panels, flowery borders and movement suggested by zooming backgrounds. All of these, combined with mediocre (on-model but unexpressive) animation and fake-looking computer-generated scratchy lines, put this show a long way from the eyecandy that is the manga.

You'd think that the main appeal of this show would be its small scale. However, the ... staff of this show have completely neglected to capitalize on this. The flames look like normal-sized flames. The water flows like normal. pots shatter like normal. All of the sound effects are just seemingly stock, the same you'd find in a normal-sized anime. But worst of all, there are sources of drama in this show that are COMPLETELY unbelievable because of this neglect of physics. There are at least 2 such scenes where a character falls from a great height, except that in reality, a creature as small as these girls would barely even FEEL a fall like that. In the manga, these scenes were present, but didn't really bother me that much. In the adaptation, where they're significantly more dramatized, they stand out like a sore thumb.

Watching the first trailer, OP and ED feels like watching what this show could have been. 3/10.

By the way, I think there's plenty of things to like about this show, and that the nitpickiness of my review is partly based on the fact that the first trailer gave me really high expectations. I am not trying to disagree with the positive reviews on this page, just highlighting the elements that made it hard to watch for me.

Ahh yes. The underrated and the darkhorse series that no one talks about. There’s gotta be that one anime that flies over everyone’s radar. Hakumei To Mikochi everyone.

So...no ones talking about this show...why???

It’s weird really how this is one of my favourite anime of the season. I mean it’s about the life of tiny people and how they go through events everyday. It’s a good way to end a Friday if you ask me.

The main story centers around our two main characters Hakumei and Mikochi. The two of them has some of the best character chemistry and interaction I have ever seen. It’s clear how ... much those 2 care for each other and how they both go through obstacles together. Mikochi is like your housewife who does a lot of the housework and food prep. Hakumei on the other hand is the one who works outside and do lots of mechanical work. It’s fun watching those 2 do what they do best.

Some of the side characters’ personalities prove to be great and well and some of them have a pretty sad backstory. Even if they have minimal screen time, every second they appear I receive joy from them.

I really am tempted to ship Hakumei and Mikochi and want to make this shoujo ai as much as possible, but I shouldn’t.

The animation and art style is super stylistic (as expected from Lerche). Beautiful colours and background art including amazing cinematography. With Andou Masaomi directing, it’s no surprise we get a lot of paneling during the series. He’s also done this with his previous work “Kuzu no Honkai.”

The music is great for it also composed by Evan Call, who is doing music for the series “Violet Evergarden” at the same time. It easily sets the tone and atmosphere for any given situation. He’s looking to be the Kevin Penkin of the season.

The OP is spectacular with captivating visuals as well as a smooth and charming song that just helps you relax. But for maximum relaxation comes the ED with some extra info that forces you to watch the whole ED without skipping. Smart.

Overall Hakumei to Mikochi is one of the best series slice of life has to offer with beautiful characters, soundtracks, art/animation, and interactions. I love the scale comparison when it comes to the characters and objects we see in everyday life. You begin to get a feel for them and be able to put yourself in their shoes. Sad how this has a low score and not many people talk about it. But if you have any time to watch tiny people live in a forest and your Friday ain’t going well, I guarantee you that this series will lighten up the mood as well as your day.

Thank you Lerche.

Hakumei to Mikochi - Anime Review #2

I made a preliminary review before this one, and I've left it virtually unchanged due to the fact that pacing, characters and everything about this anime has been consistent throughout the whole series. That's something I like to see.

There is not too much to be said about Hakumei to Mikochi, besides the fact that it really does a good job at breathing new life in to the Slice of Life genre. While it doesn’t stray too far away from the idea of a Slice of Life, it’s unique setting makes this all the more enjoyable. This review will be ... extended once this anime is completed. I use a 100-point scale when rating each category.

Story: 90
When I think of Slice of Life, I usually think of a story where people with normal lives in a modern time go through some of the many life experiences anyone would have. However, Hakumei to Mikochi is different in a way that makes this very likeable. The fantasy world of this anime is quite wondrous and it’s always fun watching both Hakumei and Mikochi have different experiences, whether they’re together or separate. I think it’s very interesting how humans are only around 9 centimeters tall; it makes me think of how life would be like if we all were equals to animals and we could communicate with them. Of course, the fact that fantasy is incorporated into this is the main point that breaks the normal Slice of Life tropes, since we do not really see many anime where both Slice of Life and Fantasy go together like bread and butter.

Characters: 97.5
I don’t know why, but I really, really like the characters of this anime a lot. While they aren’t that relatable, both Hakumei and Mikochi are great characters within themselves, and they both have their specific talents, with Hakumei being a hard worker and dedicated person while Mikochi is a good cook and singer, despite being quite insecure with many things. They have their likes and dislikes, and sometimes their differences make watching this anime really fun. A lot of supporting characters are also revisited in different episodes as I’ve seen so far, and I appreciate that they are able to be reused for many different parts of the plot, as with Slice of Life it makes the experience much less boring. Seeing the bond strengthen between Hakumei and Mikochi, as well as all the supporting characters is great. I think the best thing about the characters is that there's nothing keeping them from being themselves, allowing them to have their personalities as well as progress through the story. Iyashikeis are the best at doing this, so this is to be expected.

Animation: 92.5
There isn’t much to say about this, besides the fact that the animation is pretty damn good. It’s used in a great way whenever it’s needed to be used, especially for facial expressions in this anime. I like the way the animation is used in specific scenes, such as the more scenic moments, like when they fly or when detail is needed intricately. I haven’t watched enough Lerche anime to be able to judge how good this is compared to the rest of their anime, but I just know this is impressive.

Sound: 100
With an OST produced by the badass we know as Evan Call, who also made the OST for Violet Evergarden, I think it’s safe to say this guy’s one of the best composers I’ve seen in anime so far. His compositions fit just right with any scenario in Hakumei to Mikochi and nothing ever really feels off. The OP and ED are absolutely spectacular and it makes me want so much more from Evan Call in other anime. As of right now my favourite composition in the anime was used near the end of Episode 1, when Hakumei and Mikochi are at the port in front of the marketplace, and the sea shanty starts. This is a prime example of how an OST can be used, because this was used in such a “too good to be true” way that it felt almost impacting when I heard Mikochi start to sing. I felt connected and it’s something that’s very rare to come out of an OST from any anime, so I appreciate Evan Call’s music a lot.

Art: 100
This will be the very first thing you notice, and it’s kind of obvious that Hakumei to Mikochi wants to visually please the viewer with it’s beautiful scenery and landscape. Considering this takes place primarily in a forest full of tiny people, it gives you a really close up experience of what living in this forest looks like. The attention to detail in almost every frame of the forest is very pleasing to look at. Yet another rarity that appears in this anime, Hakumei to Mikochi doesn’t spare the viewer’s eyes with the beauty that appears before them in the many different places they present to you; the forest, their house, the marketplace, everything. If you want to see something Made in Abyss esque, maybe Hakumei to Mikochi is for you in terms of art style.

Enjoyment: 100
I don’t even need to say a couple words about how enthralled I am by Hakumei to Mikochi’s beauty and overall premise, and I know it’s not just me who feels this way. This anime is a lot like a few other anime I’ve watched, except it’s also completely different at the same time. If you want something as accurate as possible, this is like Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou, combined with Made in Abyss, making a really fabulous slice of life anime about not just the joys of life, but also the hardships and how even if you’re going through rough patches, there’s still more to look forward to. Not to say this anime teaches you a valuable lesson or anything, but I feel like there’s always something underlying in any anime that’s just stunning in every manner. While this is probably the most underrated and overlooked anime of the season, I think it should have a bit more attention. It’s a really great Slice of Life and I haven’t really seen much like it besides the only two other anime of the many I’ve seen.

For those who are just looking at this anime, please give it a chance. It might bring you on a journey you’ll never regret going through, because that’s basically how I felt when watching Hakumei to Mikochi. There really isn’t much that’s very unique in anime anymore, and this is just one of the few refreshers I’ve needed. This is one of the best anime of the Winter 2018 season by far. Even with the abundance of slice of life this season, I think it's best you skip out on most of them and watch Yuru Camp or Hakumei to Mikochi, since they best carry out the formula of a healing slice of life. I hope this review helps you out.

Overall: 96.6/100

Slice of Life.  As a genre, it's become so oversaturated with content that it's branched off into comedy, supernatural, romance, what have you, causing the trend of missing a few diamonds in the rough here and there is a common occurrence.  Hakumei to Mikochi is in this reviewer's opinion, the poor victim of this phenomenon in the Winter 2018 season, and one that deserves light being shed on its deceivingly cutesy self.

Story:

In the woods lives the little people, a species of three inch tall elf-like beings who live their daily lives in the woods.  In Hakumei to Mikochi, we peer into the lives of the ... titular duo, Hakumei and Mikochi, as they quite literally live their lives in the woods in the town of Makinata.

Not surprisingly, Hakumei to Mikochi is a show that follows the day to day lives of these two girls as they encounter various obstacles in their lives like surprise adventures, daily disappointments, overcoming various hurdles, or unwelcome guests in their home.  Each episode is structured mostly in an A part and B part format, with the occasional roundabout episode with an overarching episodic narrative.  As such, the show is mainly episodic in nature, and very contained within its own story with aspects such as character relationships carrying over from episode to episode to give it natural progression.

But beyond that, the thing I feel makes Hakumei to Mikochi special is its generally somber and relaxed tone.  Even in tense situations or scenes with higher stakes, the show never elevates itself to a level that separates it from its established tone, doing all of this surprisingly well due to the show's themes of life and self reflection.  Often in the show we see moments of characters by themselves collecting their thoughts by the adventure or event that has just occurred, letting what has happened sink in both for the characters and for the audience.  As such, the show exudes this strangely natural feel about it, an almost therapeutic feeling that has put me at ease with each proceeding episode.  The show never goes out of its way to be too outlandish, and stays grounded in being about its characters, telling its stories simply for the desire to tell each episode's story.

Much of this is also spiced up by the show's more fantasy elements, creating a society filled with talking animals that live alongside these tiny people with a surprising amount of details slowly fed into the overall narrative to give the audience more to process.  My favorite aspect of the world building is the 'tiny' element to all of this, as fruits and vegetables, as well as their animal coworkers/neighbors are scaled to match the actual size of the characters, which while small, gives the show a stamp for attention to detail because of how consistent these elements of the show are, and quite hilarious how something like one whole peanut can serve as a fulfilling snack for two people.

When culminated, Hakumei to Mikochi is comes off as a whimsical and episodic story that exudes both charm and whimsy with its episodic stories and world building that ends on a nice somber note that lets the entire self-contained adventure or event come to a solution that feels both comforting and satisfying to watch.  It's for this reason why the story feels worth investing into, and makes the show something more than just a 'slice of life adventure'.

Overview:
+ Good worldbuilding
+ Rooted and consistent tone

Characters:

The titular characters Hakumei and Mikochi are in a way two sides of the same coin.  Hakumei is the more rowdy of the two, working as a repairwoman and enjoys more physical labor whereas Mikochi is more of the homemaker, usually cooking for the duo and makes homemade products to sell.  But this only scratches the surface of these two girls, as each episode slowly feeds in more details about their past, more of their talents and fears, ultimately giving them both a nice and smooth polish that turns them into well-rounded characters that work well both individually and when together.  I felt really invested with these two because they always had this nice positive vibe about them, and the show's whimsical and lax nature prevented them from having any annoying traits that would spoil their overall positive qualities.  

But more than that, the side cast manages to be just as impressive than the titular characters.  Adding in various characters both animal and little people like Konju the songstress, Iwashi the weasel repairman, and Sen the 'necromancer', the show provides an expansive cast full of recurring characters that get built upon with each proceeding episode.  As a result, the cast feels like a group of people rather than one-sided background fodder, providing a richness to the cast that makes them all feel alive and enhances the already solid worldbuilding that the show establishes.

Overview:
+ Well-rounded characters
+ Equally well-built side-cast

Art:

Produced by Lerche, Hakumei to Mikochi has bears much of the company's style in having a lighter color palette with more of a white blend to give everything a light air about it.  The show also provides extensively detailed background images from the various towns, the forests, and the main characters' home, all of which are very consistent in quality and are very nice to look at, especially with how leafy and full of life the forests look.

I do also want to bring attention to the character designs and just how much I love them.  If nothing else, the designs for the little people especially are adorable.  The chibi design of them really makes them look far more appealing than they have any right to be, and Konju's design especially with the linens on her arms and the harp on her chest is something I really, really like.  They also all wear an adorable hat that looks just slightly too big for their heads.  There really is just something to love about how they look.

Overview:
+ Adorable character designs
+ Consistent and quality art
+ Very detailed backgrounds

Sound:

Much like the story, sound plays much into the series's overall somber and relaxed tone.  "Urar", by Chima is a mix of both bizarre yet calming, where the song is primarily harmonious tones with Chima's voice primarily acting as the song's melody.  It's an interesting song that took some time for me to grow fond of, especially because the accompanying visuals were real life pictures of the forest rather than either Hakumei or Mikochi doing anything in the show, which at first glance is quite odd.

The ED by contrast is something that sounds more on par with the series.  "Harvest Moon Night", sung by Aoi Yuuki and Shino Shimoji, the voices of both Konju and Mikochi, is a more energetic piece in comparison to its OP counterpart, providing a piano flourish that leads into a more festive beat that comes with a joyful duet of two characters noted as being some of the best singers in the series' canon.

Overview:
+ Great ED
+/- OP is a tad strange to me

Personal Enjoyment:

Hakumei to Mikochi is my favorite slice of life of the season.  And that's rivaling Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san, a series that takes the title as one of my favorite romance series.  For me, I appreciate this show more for what it did to expand more from the 'slice of life' bubble, providing highs and lows throughout each episode, always making sure to end on a nice somber note as a sort of closing statement so the audience feels relaxed, something that I felt after every episode and pushed me more to want more.

More than that, I love Konju as a character.  Aoi Yuuki is already an amazing voice actress, and having her play my favorite character in this show made Konju even more fun to have, especially since she was a recurring character.  More than that, the show made me care about these characters.  At the end of it all, I felt happy about Hakumei's journey from where she came from to where she is now, I smiled at how even the grumpiest of characters managed to smile, and how not a single character in this entire show was either annoying or overly annoying that I wish they weren't there, cause there's always one I'll tell ya.  I've even gone back and forth on which of the main duo is my favorite, often times switching from Mikochi to Hakumei, to back again because each episode managed to give more information about them that made me favor one or the other.  I just think they're that good as characters.

If you're looking for a diamond in the rough, Hakumei to Mikochi is the show to provide that.  It's a show that I haven't seen under may peoples' radars, and I feel goes unappreciated for more popular picks.  Its emphasis on the somber and relaxed parts of life are something that gives the show its own identity, a rare occurrence in a genre that's oversaturated with many of the same or similar shows that battle it out for dominance.  So if you ever feel like you want something to relax to, something to end the night off on a pleasant mood, this is a show that's definitely one for that role.

This anime took my breath away~. The most underrated anime and also a beautiful one.
Definitely, want more and sad to see that the show ends. What a wonderful and relaxing anime.

Pretty sad this is my the number 1 underrated show this season..
it was surprisingly a cute anime, so relaxing and chilled, hope more people will give it a shot.
Not anything mindblowing but extremely satisfied.

This anime is a "Healing" anime just like Yuru Camp that you just need to watch when you're having a rough day in work or dealing with your life.

Art: 10
Artsiness of this anime was just perfect. Medieval/Fork style . +All the colors ... fits well to it. Not much to say here it's just great

Sound: 9
Damn not a masterpiece like Made In Abyss but these OST's soo RPG . I feel like this can be played in loop while playing games :)

Story: 8
Not a fan of Nichijou part style but they did arrange it well and neat. Overall the story did got me fully focus not a single boring scene appear.

Character: 10
Something special to all the characters in the show. Doesn't wanna explain much about characters! Definitely should try watching it yourself.

Enjoyment: 10
Calming. Relaxing. Joyness.
My treatment can go with this :) . Short but worth a shot

Hi friends, I'm here not so much to do a review, but rather to give my opinion on this extraordinary Anime. There are plenty of highly detailed positive reviews and they should already give you an idea of how this show is good. I believe that every season many new Anime of excellent level come out, but so well done like this, there are one or two. It is simply magical, it accompanies you in this world so colorful and fun, it's relaxing and enjoyable, it makes you forget you're sitting in an armchair and makes you dream of being there. Notes of merit certainly ... go to the entire artistic sector, I love this style, so cute and "morbid". I always see comments like "Is it worth to watch!?", "Is it good!?", "If I see it, I will lose time?!"... I really don't like these questions and I don't like answering, but I can understand why. In any case trust me, if you look at it you will not regret it and surely you will immediately enter the ranks of people who want the second season. Thanks for reading. See you soon ^_^

Narrative and design similar to that of a children's story, without falling into the basics, nor the negative aspect of these. The design is inspired by the great classics of European tales. Hakumei is imbued with this tradition, creates a magnificent world, but manages to differentiate himself from this genre by not having obvious morals.

It is to be praised that there are no anthropomorphic animals, or moe. Creatures are more real and therefore credible.

The plot takes place between sequences and planes, not between tired dialogues. Nature and friendship are portrayed lightly, without exaggerating the values of it. Showing the simple life. The wonder of simplicity.

A beautiful anime, that heals with the peaceful life of tiny beings and their cuteness. Hakumiko clearly stands out as one of the notable SoL and Iyashikei anime in this season.

Story 8/10

The story revolves around hakumei and mikochi. It's about their everyday life, from their daily work, shopping, events, etc. The storyline itself might not that deep, but the world building aspect is a deep one. Althought this anime presents those in an episodic way, but the timeline still can be defined clearly.

Thing that notable from the story of hakumiko is that we can feel the "connection" that has been made by those two MC. ... The "connection" persists, quite developed and well-kept in a very light-hearted manner. This amplifies the iyashikei nuance. "Connection" can make our heart smiles.

Art 8/10

The art aspect is quite definitive, in the way that it has originality in its style. The form of things in hakumiko is still definitely that of normal form - leaves as leaves, people as people, fish as fish. But the style makes those normal things seem original enough to appreciate.

There are also many things beside the style that can be appreciated, but i have to note that there's one thing that this anime fails at : the animation. It's not actually fails, but the animation is that of average anime or even less than that in the term of quantity.

Sounds 8/10

The seiyuus, all of them, played their role greatly. We can know the personality of the character just by hearing their voice.

The songs are also very fit for this anime. The OP song, urar, has this light, natural yet mythical nuance which amplifies the sensation of peacefulness. The ED song, Harvest Moon Night, is light-hearted and cheerful song that closes the anime with a smile + there' some trivia that helps with the world building.

Character 8/10

Each of character can be clearly defined by their characteristic. This suggests that this anime has a nice characterization. But it must be noted that, with the exception of a few characters, the characterization isnt that deep. Many of side characters only has 1 episode screen time - hence it can't played deep. But the characterization certainly is wide.

Enjoyment 9/10

This anime has its own uniqueness in ithe way it plays SoL and Iyashikei genre. Despite its faults, this anime still can deliver those genre successfully with a clear and defining characteristics. If someone want peacefulness and light smiles, this anime might give those to you.

*edited : i made it shorter :3

Japanese high school is such a fixture of anime, especially in the slice of life genre, that any series that takes place in literally any other setting basically gets bonus points for the novelty. I like to think I'm more discerning than that, but I'm probably not.

In Hakumei and Mikochi, you get exactly what you might expect if you take the usual slice of life formula but swap out the setting. While in most slice of life series, the setting-swap-out is just some different after-school club that only marginally changes things, here there are two substantial swap-outs. First, and most obvious from the synopsis, is ... that it takes place in a fantasy-heavy setting - tiny humans, talking animals, and a touch of the occult.

Second, and perhaps less expected, is that each little story is mature and adult. A typical story might be about Hakumei's struggles at her work, Mikochi's friends and acquaintances in the city, renovating their house, befriending a new cockroach neighbor, and helping a friend with their skeleton-commanding sorcerous research. There are a ton of interesting relationships between people that get explored, whether it's Hakumei's mentor and supervisor at work, or the shopkeeps in the city that all seem to know Mikochi.

Ultimately, it carries all of the serene relaxation of a nice slice of life, while still having a fresh setting, tone, and theme with characters that fit all of that perfectly.

A super cozy little SOL anime set in a world where people are a few cm tall and interact with all sorts of sentient animals in a vibrant community.

Episodic - little to no overarching plot, but a lot of the short 1/2 episode long stories were fun. A few duds here and there, but overall pretty great.

The art style is absolutely gorgeous, especially the backgrounds and the detail in all the characters (not just the main ones).

Music was nothing particularly special, but it fit very well with the feel of the show, helping to add a relaxing vibe ... and feeling to each scene. Part of the overall gorgeous backdrop.

Hakumei and Mikochi themselves were great characters. Seemed basically like a married couple - so comfortable with each other, but still learning new things about the other all the time. The large cast of side characters were for the most part great as well. I really got a sense of all of their lives when they'd hang around for a whole episode, and it was nice to see some of them recurring throughout the season.

Overall a cute and fun SOL set in a beautiful fantasy world. I really can't say enough about how pretty this show was to watch. Maybe I will read the manga - this is a setting I'd love to see more of.

This quiet fantasy series with low drama & low conflict asks the viewer to slow down and indulge while watching each episode.

Set in a woodland realm populated by tiny people, talking animals, curious bugs, and reanimated skeletons, this anime is charming in a way that others just don't manage to achieve.

Hakumei to Mikochi is a Iyashikei, Japanese for healing story. A Iyashikei has the same goal as a young children's cartoon -- think Franklin the Turtle or Little Bear -- aimed at distracting and soothing children while they watch, but instead Hakumei to Mikochi aims to soothing adults.

Even though this series is low on ... conflict, things tend to go wrong, giving our character plenty of opportunity to show emotional depth and range of ability.

Hakumei can be boisterous and impulsive, while Mikochi is much more seriously introverted, but opposites attract. The two enjoy each others' company very much.

Life is truly celebrated for exactly how it is in this story ... even if say you accidentally blow up your home & then need to rebuild it.

Or it rains during your fishing trip.

If you understand what you're getting, there's really nothing not to like about this anime.

The only complaint I have seen from those who did not enjoy it is it's slowness -- which there is no getting around. Slowing down to enjoy life is the major theme that Hakumei to Mikochi plays with.

The animation reinforces this by pulling panels out of the scene and pausing them on screen. Both reminding us to pause & citing the manga origins of this story.

My Anime Review Blog: nerdificationreviews.com

okay so i don't write review at all my grammar is really bad but i just had to say something about this one


okay to start things off i would say i'm little bit over the average anime watcher but i think i know a thing or two about that magic little story that catch's you by surprise and this one here it just has that magic little something that pulls you back to it at every episode

overall

every episode has it's on little story to tell and it was very enjoyable i'm ... pretty sure out of the 1000's of anime shows and story's i read and watched over my many years of being a anime fan that you just don't fine this little gems very often so all i really have to say is if your reading this then by all means go fine out for your self i promise you will not be disappointed in the slightest


and on that note i would be very sad not to see a season 2 out of this

I desperately need to scream from every rooftop about this anime because it is truly one of the absolute best of the iyashikei genre that I have ever watched. This show calls to a certain whimsy that my inner child has been starving for for years, while at the same time fulfilling my present need for character writing and conflicts to keep the show engaging.

I always find shows centered around two best friends to be the best of slice of life - Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san, Yuru Camp, Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu. You get a lot of that fluffy feeling of the leads finding "home" with ... each other, minus the angst that is comorbid to romance animes. This show truly takes that premise and elevates it to the max, with two absolutely lovable characters (Hakumei, a slightly boyish, easygoing handy(wo)man, and Mikochi, a faint-hearted but capable homemaker and businesswoman). Though their current life seems cozy and idyllic, both leads have uneasy histories that are slowly recounted throughout the show, and each episode challenges the leads in a new way.

I really enjoy how this show depicts the idealistic "cottage-core" lifestyle while still showing that even with this life, the leads face the same human conflicts and emotions we face every day; frustration about not performing well at work, that "never-enough" feeling when it comes to our material desires, etc. The show has an adult, bittersweet tinge while still delivering comfiness at every turn. It delivers the Ghibli-like delight of cheese and jam on a wooden cutting board while showing us that it's so delicious precisely because you're having it after a long day of hard work, drenched to the bone by the rain.

To speak on the art of the show - it is just gorgeous. I fell in love with the manga's background and character designs a long time ago (the egg salon! So precious!) and the fact that the main characters are these tiny little fairies is just fodder for endlessly whimsical fantasy settings, like a cottage inside a tree trunk, a mushroom for a table, an orange the size of our leads' full heights. Every episode introduces a new setting or character that makes me squee. It's so frickin' adorable and it's exactly what I have hoped for from a story like this.

I got interested in the anime since I read the manga and absolutely in love with the art style and story. The anime gives off a chilling lovely and relaxing vibe that would make you feel at ease watching. The two main characters are cute and have lovable characteristic.
Definitely can be improved but overall, I enjoyed it a lot.





Only one thing in the story that I can't get over with: What kind of animal is considered "animal" and "Food" in this world since we see that they live with all kind of bugs and mammals but eat fish and still have meat . . ... .

If life isn’t this show then what is it? Hakumei to Mikochi is definitely not an anime that will appeal to everyone, but to those it would, it’s hard to see how it will not steal their heart. If you enjoy Josei or seinen, this might be something for you. I would also say it is important to understand the delicate relationship between the two females in order to enjoy this show, so if F/F isn’t for you then you might not be able to appreciate it fully. Now on to the review:

The characters:
This series is all about simplicity and reflecting the very serenity of ... life, and the characters are no different. They aren’t rich, have superpowers, look like a star or have any other outstanding features, which is exactly why it’s so easy for viewer to focus on their emotions, thoughts and enjoy the atmosphere of melancholy. Hakumei is a dependable go-getter that works hard and kicks up her feet to relax harder once she is done. Mikochi is very sweet without being annoying, and it’s easy to see her dedication to Hakumei, even though she is a person of her own and has hobbies, friends etc. besides these two there are new characters in every episode and level of creativity in character designs is truly enchanting. The idea of tiny human like people co existing with working animals is really cute. Even if I didn’t remember all the side characters, at no point did I feel annoyed by introduction or exit of too many characters.


The story:
There isn’t any so to say, which is the beauty of it. Each “segment” of episode is like looking at photograph and trying to understand what was going on in that very exact moment that was captured in the frame. There is no beginning or end, it is simply a journey of living life with tranquility and love each passing day. And what more could one ask for? Although each standalone short story was amazing in itself, what really made me clap my hands like an excited little kid was the finale, which is one of most satisfying show ends for me in recent times.

Enjoyment:
A total ten. I took a long time to finish this series because I really wanted to savour it and prolong the watching period as long as possible, not knowing if I will come across something so relaxing again. I usually would put on a episode right before I would go to bed and it put my mind at such ease that I could feel all day’s tensions and fatigue melting away. A show like this is perfect for working adults who may not have the time to sit down and watch something with dedication, because no matter how many days you skip before watching next episode, the journey just goes on.

Art:
I mean... who doesn’t love those tiny chibi humans? They are adorable and that’s just all I have to say about it. The sceneries are also beautiful and take you right in the middle of nature. There’s not much to say except that it’s fantastic.

Sound:
It was fitting for the show, not something I will remember for a long time but definitely complimented the show very well.

Overall:
Like I said before this series might be a hit or miss. This is not a attack on Titan or romantic comedy or any of those sorts. Nothing is going to happen. There are very few highs and lows in the series. The whole point of it is to go along this journey with the two main characters and get lost in their everyday life, however simple and mundane it may be. And in those moments you will realise this series will slowly slip into your heart and make you all kinds of warm and fuzzy. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, give it a try.

Nothing much happens in Hakumei to Mikochi. The aforementioned pair are a couple (though not a couple) of tiny women from a tiny race who live their tiny lives in the woods. Hakumei works as a craftsman and Mikochi is a well respected self-made woman who makes goods that she sells in town. These lilliputians go about their daily lives, working, eating, and drinking, and occasionally getting involved in (low-stakes) intrigue. Their fellows are animals, most larger than themselves, and other members of their tiny race, with whom they generally get along well. This is a slice of life series among slice of life ... series. The stakes are low, the characters cuter than all get out but still well realized, and nothing really happens. Some call this show "tiny wives living tiny lives" and that's just about perfect, though our protagonists aren't a couple, in that sense, at least. This is a peaceful show for peaceful viewers. It's not profound like Mushishi, but it isn't shallow either. It's an inviting show that welcomes you to take a load off and enjoy the sights and sounds and lore of the microcosm in which our characters live, eat, and drink (often too much).


There's not a lot of story to be had here, but as an iyashikei (so called "healing" anime) it is very apt and successful.

Hakumei to Mikochi is a beautiful anime. At first the the story begins in a mild soft manner, however suddenly dynamic actions scenes are thrown in with a splash of drama. It gives you the feeling that we were dropped in the middle of an already developed set of characters without wasting too much time on backstory. The art that stood out were the background, landscape, and cityscape moments. There wasn't much to music other that to accompany the storyline which was okay. Overall it is a not overly cute, provides a great get way feeling and is over too quickly.

Note: Both ... english dubbed and subbed provide equal quality. Choices of voice actors blended well and did not distract from story line !

Would recommend to children/family