Non Non Biyori Movie: Vacation

I live in Japan and got to see this movie in theaters the day it released. I am currently studying Japanese, and I'm not even at the JLPT N5 level yet. But I still went to see it with obviously no subs, and I enjoyed every second of it! Non Non Biyori was the perfect movie to go see without a grasp on the language because the story-telling is so easy to follow due to visuals and characters.

While there is really no "plot" in the movie, you shouldn't expect that if you've already seen the two season of the original series. The girls and ... friends go on vacation to Okinawa... they eat, they kayak, they snorkle, and they swim. And that's it. The movie is meant to be JUST as feel-good as the series was. The production was very engaging (it had to in order to keep my attention as an English speaker) and very fun for anyone who loved the original show. I also teared up a bit at the end, because Non Non Biyori has always brought a certain innocence and charm that touches my heart.

TL;DR: If you are a Non Non Biyori fan, you have to watch this. If you hate slice of life anime, I don't recommend you to watch this.

I own and have read all the mangas up until volume 12 (which is the most recently released one) at the time of writing this review.

The manga itself is super good, but this movie made the contents even better than the manga. This is not saying the manga is terrible or anything, in fact it's one of my favorites, but the movie went in to much more depth for the vacation chapters.

It's been probably a year and ... a half since I read the chapters of the contents in this movie so my memories may not be 100% correct. I think most of the activities in the movies were done as like those "time-skip"/ "fast forward" panels where they just flash a scene and move on to the next in the manga, but this movie actually shows them doing these activities.

Story: 8

Just a typical slice of life story. Travel to Okinawa and do things there. Nothing much to say here.

Art: 10

I may be bias, but I'm a huge fan of Atto sensei's (original creator of NNB) and Silver Link's art style. The style is just like all the previous NNB anime. Oh, background art is beautiful as always. Really captures the nature. The animation is great too, I didn't see any bad animations watching it in the theatre.

Sound: 10

No complaints on sounds either. Just like the previous NNB, they share similar style of music and BGM. I didn't hear anything that wasn't fitting. The OP is sang by nano.RIPE and still has the same chill and relaxing theme as the music they sang for NNB before. ED is sang by our 4 main girls and it's super cute!

Character: 10

This is why I love this show so much! Everyone is just so lovable! For this movie specifically, I felt that they focused on Natsumi the most out of everyone else. She got more screen time than any other character but not so much that it makes all other characters irrelevant. (Her screen time is cause of her relations and interactions with the new character that is introduced in this movie) You still get your super cute Renge and Koma-chan moments and oh, I found so many parts of the movie just making me and the audience around me in the theatre giggle. Pretty much all the comedic moments hit their marks. The character interaction is great as always! I found myself smiling so much during the movie and I can feel the joy in the theatre.

Overall: 10

Having already read the manga, I knew what I should be expecting content wise, but after watching the movie I really felt like it blew the expectations off the roof. It was so much more than I could ask for and I would definitely go rewatch it again if I have the time for it! Gonna grab the BD for sure when they announce it!

This brings me back to my point in the beginning. If you are a NNB fan or a slice of life lover, you have to watch it. If you hate slice of life or has no interest in them, I really don't recommend watching this movie.

"Journeys are a series of meetings and farewells"

"Even if you and your friend are growing apart now, I'm sure you've shared moments together that are irreplaceable. No matter how much time passes, that won't disappear."

If you're a fan of the Non Non Biyori series then this is a treat for you. It captures everything we love about the show and puts it into a movie. It has all the wholesomeness we feel watching the original show, along with our favorite group of girls and one boy and also some of the best supporting cast too. As we see them go on this adventure and making ... new memories and a new friend along the way.
For most of the movie it was just sweet, wholesome and fun. It's what you expected, but boy I didn't expect to be like sad by the end. This was something I didn't feel watching the show but the movie did a exceptional job at adding this in too. Though we saw it coming, it's just nicely done in the way they can do it.
If you're a fan of the original series, then for sure watch this!

Here we are at the close of another year's film festival. I've decided to close things with a look at a film based off of an anime I've reviewed, Non Non Biyori. It's a very solid slice of life and I honestly just wanted to see more of it.

Story:

We open with our girls, Renge, Hotaru, Natsumi & Komari, just hanging out and trying to make the most of their summer vacation before it ends. That's when they spot Miss Candy Store, Kaede, and Renge's oldest sister, Kazuho, driving to the department store. The four of them convince the older women to take them ... along due to Kaede's soft spot for Renge, picking up Natsumi & Komari's older brother on the way. While at the store, the older brother wins a raffle and gets four tickets to Okinawa. Naturally, they all go along with Konomi and Hikage.

The narrative is pretty simple and it's also really well executed. The whole thing is very cute, full of funny moments and just a fantastically executed slice of life. It has strong pacing, a lot of memorable parts and a little side story about Natsumi experiencing her first love with Aoi, the girl who works at the inn.

Characters:

My biggest issue with the characters is with the side character, Konomi. She just doesn't have much personality nor does she really contribute much to the humour. I have the same issue with her in the series proper. She has that one memorable scene where she and Hotaru talk about things that go over Komari's head and make her feel childish. Most of the scenes she's in would be just as good without her. Aside from that, this is a great cast with strong interactions and great comedic chemistry.

Art:

The character designs are good and the animation moves smoothly. Even the ending card is super cute. But where Silver Link really kills it is with the backgrounds and nature scenes. There's always so much detail and effort behind them. I could pretty much make any nature still from this film my background and it would look really nice. I also appreciate that when you see Renge's drawings they look like a child's drawings.

Sound:

All the actors from the series proper do a fantastic job. There are a lot of talented ladies in this cast. The main person who joins them is Shimoji Shino as Aoi. You may also remember her as Beaver from Kemono Friends. The music is really nice too. Very pleasant and soothing.

Ho-yay:

Hotaru's blatant crush on Komari is still going strong. In addition to that, we have Natsumi and Aoi. They have that dynamic where it very strongly comes across as attraction. Right down to them getting all flustered and blushing a lot. I will say, their dynamic could have worked a bit better if we'd gotten a few more scenes with them.

Areas of Improvement:

1. They could do something with Konomi's character.

2. The ending credits could have shown cute vacation snapshots instead of scenes from the film. Provided a little more impact.

3. We could have stood to see a little more of Aoi.

Final Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this film a lot. It's pretty much everything you want out of a slice of life. It's endearing, entertaining, and very adorable. It also does feature some of the best nature scenes I've seen in an anime. So, I'm going to go so far as to give it a 9/10.

4 years after being stranded on the plane to Okinawa, the girls have finally landed!

To understand the position I was in prior to watching this, I had booked an early ticket that came with early goodies just for this, having came back from a Non Non Biyori themed pilgrimage to Ogawamachi in Saitama. Waited in line in the cinema in Ikebukuro all giddy and hyped myself to no end just before watching this. Then I heard the seiyuu had a fan meeting in the cinema in Shinjuku. Then I actually watched the film.

Vacation is the continuation of the Non Non Biyori first season ... OVA where Onii-chan won tickets to Okinawa before being forgotten and left to the background. A new edition to the cast, Aoi, presents herself to the film. A polite and formal girl, she serves as a foil of sorts to Natsumi, whom she’s of the same age to. Unexpectedly, the relationship and contrast between the two serves as the core pillar to the film, providing a very human drama to unfold as the film goes on. I actually found myself to be engrossed in their relationship and found it to be the highlight of the film. It calls to mind Ren-chon and Honoka’s episode from Season 1, though not as perfectly executed. Still, while the resolution to their relationship is somewhat unsatisfying, the final shot of the film (well almost final shot) ended their arc in a heart-warming fashion.

The visuals of the film made it a truly spectacular experience to behold in cinema. The Okinawan scenery is breathtaking when viewed on a large screen, making for a change in scenery from the grassy farmlands from the main series. One scene in particular I won’t spoil had the whole theatre agape in awe as it played out, being absolutely striking in terms of its execution and buildup. The soundtrack and audio design too do a spectacular job of accentuating key moments like these, making these scenes stay memorable in your head.

The comedy is fine. Not relying too much on established jokes or running gags from the franchise is a plus, and Hikage’s antics are too funny to pass over. For the most part, the comedy is not the main focus of the film, and serves to bridge scenes over to each other, so the low-key nature of the comedy is fine for what it is. It won’t have you laughing all that often, but you’ll have a smile on your face throughout. Personally not a fan of Hotaru’s obsession with Komarin as with the main series, but it didn’t bother me too much here.

The main problem I have with the film is its lack of focus, especially in the beginning. While ostensibly about the relationship between Aoi and Natsun as a product of the vacation taken by the gang, their relationship isn’t given nearly the prominence I would have liked in the film. To be fair, it’s a relaxing slice of life film at heart, and its goal is mainly to put your mind at ease and heal your woes, so alternating between the other main characters isn’t much of a detriment as you may think.

My verdict? It was alright I suppose. Perhaps one shouldn’t hold too much expectations coming into this. It’s ultimately a very relaxing film with some comedy moments sprinkled throughout, but nothing that’s worth going truly out of your way to watch. While the film did develop in aspects I was not expecting it to, it doesn’t change the paradigm of the Non Non Biyori framework nor does it truly challenge the medium, but what it is is an enjoyable hour or so of Okinawan scenery. It’s a very peaceful film that will put you at ease.

7/10. Tadaima~

I have looked forward to Non Non Biyori: Vacation for quite some time, and I am pleased to report that it stacks up very well against the original series. Continuing from the season 1 OVA, it follows the Asahigaoka group as they travel to tropical Okinawa for a summer vacation.

Story and Character (7/10):
NNB has never held a large focus on narrative, and neither does Vacation, but this is by no means to its detriment. Instead, an essentially anecdotal story is told as the girls explore Okinawa and enjoy themselves. The new setting does not bring any changes to the series’ established structure, and its pacing ... provides the same mood, ensuring that a few brief laughs are had and that everything remains calming and enjoyable.

Renge, Natsumi, and all other main characters from the original series return, and it’s great to see more of them. Additionally, Aoi, the daughter of an Okinawa hotel owner, joins the group as a newcomer. Her interactions with the group were fun to watch, and I especially liked her friendship with Natsumi. Hopefully she will reappear in any future material.

Coming in, the film does expect viewers to know who the characters are, and they are not introduced individually. Given its short runtime, this is not unexpected, but watching NNB’s first season before jumping into Vacation so that you are familiar with the group definitely enhances the experience.

Art (10/10):
This is where Vacation truly shines. The original series’ art was impressive enough, but the film’s increased production values have provided truly spectacular landscapes that accentuate its relaxing aesthetic. From the streets of Okinawa, to the forest rivers, and to the beach, everything is finely detailed, colorful, and a pleasure to look at. Background objects such as waterfalls feature more vibrant animation, which helps to increase realism.

Side note: if you’re in the market for some new scenery-based desktop backgrounds, look no further than this film.

Sound (7/10):
There isn’t much to discuss in the sound department, as it’s perfectly serviceable. The OP and ED are upbeat, and the soundtrack itself is well-composed and fits NNB’s laid-back nature, but ultimately none of it was too memorable. The seiyuu gave excellent performances as always.

Conclusion:
Non Non Biyori: Vacation is an relaxing visual treat that all fans of the original series will enjoy. It likely won’t win over viewers who aren’t already fans of aesthetic-based slice-of-life anime or CGDCT shows, but for those of you who do enjoy the genre, it’s a short and sweet adventure that’s definitely worth 70 minutes of your time.

Final Score: 8.5/10

[Insert clip of Osaka from Azumanga Daioh shouting OKINAWA~!]

Yes we see the Non Non Biyori gang all get a free 3 day trip to Okinawa and the typical great comedy ensues, but while on the trip, Natsumi makes a friend with the innkeeper's daughter.

Non Non Biyori: Vacation has the same strong vibe of being laxxed and chill with it's plot, yes it's somewhat bare bones in the regard LA told above but it in their free vacation and seeing the character interactions that made Non Non Biyori: Vacation worth it all, not to mention Non Non Biyori is WELL KNOWN for it's relaxing atmosphere ... and chilled nature making it stand out from the typical slice of life animes.

With it's character interactions, well LA say this, Hikage gets the rough end of the vacation getting sick to having to sleep on the floor and whatnot, but it's also surprising that Kazuho becomes rather energetic in this movie as she's usually the laxxed, sleepy type. There are two small plotlines within Non Non Biyori: Vacation and that is one of Renge wanting to see three sights and draw them on her sketchbook, the sea, a lighthouse and dolphins. The other is the aforementioned friendship of Natsumi and the innkeeper's daughter Aoi and the inevitable when Natsumi has to return home, it's it's one of the more heartfelt moments of the movie that did move LA and not at all feel manipulative in it's execution, it felt genuine from Natsumi's reactions and actions coming from an middle school student and again was handled extremely well.

The rest of the cast gets some screentime during their stay in Okinawa as well like Komari getting shafted at times, Hotaru's obvious crush on Komari still strong here but the only two characters that kinda turned into satellite characters by the time they arrive in Okinawa became Kaede (sticking to Renge), Konomi (sticking to the younger cast in general) and Suguru gets a passing mention at times (but LA can forgive that as well..."no talking" and everything)

In terms of animation, once again Silver Link is back in the helm and the man the animation especially the background work is exceptionally beautiful to look at, almost looking like it's the true Okinawa with all it's landscaping and culture. Truly Non Non Biyori: Vacation had some beautiful background work and Silver Link went all out. Character designs are the same as it was in the anime series and of course the great reaction faces from the characters helped along with it's more comedic moments, sometimes not even needing them to speak, which is great direction all round.

Voice acting, well LA will easily pick Ayane Sakura and Kotori Koiwai and the MVP's of
Non Non Biyori: Vacation, as Kotori's Renge is always god damn adorable and Ayane Sakura does to typical tomboyish cadence but with the small plotline about Aoi, she really went all out with Natsumi and did exceptional to say the least. not to mention the both of them did great in delivering many one liners that cracked LA up. LA will say that the entire cast was great in this movie, no doubt, from Kana Asumi as Komari to Shino Shimoji as Aoi to Kaori Nazuka as Kazuho and Misato Fukuen as Hikage.


Non Non Biyori: Vacation is what you expect from a Non Non Biyori movie AND more to be honest, it's nice to see the Non Non Biyori cast be in a different setting and how they interact with new characters, not only that but us also seeing the culture of a place like Okinawa as seeing the narrative focus are on the main cast helps us be immersed in the atmosphere even more as they have fun with their vacation, almost like we're having the vacation alongside them and seeing the beautiful Okinawan sights along the way.

Nyanpasu Okinawa~!

I know this is like 2 years late but considering I wrote reviews for the whole series (and surprisingly enough, all of them were years later) so let's continue this tradition I guess.

After 4 years since the very disappointing OVA, we finally get to see the trip to Okinawa and Thankfully, it was extremely entertaining.

The movie is pretty much what the whole series is about, cute and realistic interactions showing both the good and bad of everything. We see our characters go to a new place and experience the new scenary and activities. We also get introduced to a new character, Aoi, and ... how she interacts with everyone specially Natsumi considering both are the same age and how their friendship went showing us the wholesome and sad moments in it.

The art was amazing as it displayed the scenery very well. I loved the starry sky and the art of the sky and beach but the water animation was a little bit weird at times. Still, very well-done and truly made it pleasing to the eyes.

The sound had problems tho. Sometimes too loud, sometimes too low and we even hear some characters' voices as if they were trapped in a box. idk but I didn't enjoy it at times. Still decent tho.

Overall, I would give the movie a 9/10. The sound was the biggest issue I saw but the quality of the movie and specially its ending was too good to give it less than that. Seeing that final drawing made by Renge made me tear up :"D
Would recommend the whole series to people that are looking for something to relax while watching.

Ever since I watched Non Non Biyori last year, I was captivated by it's simple yet relaxing story. Being from a city, life is pretty chaotic, busy and fast paced. You rarely get to enjoy life. Non Non Biyori took me back to my childhood when life was still simple and enjoyable.

When I first heard that Non Non Biyori movie was airing last year, I was over the moon! I couldn't wait and now that I've watched it, it has reminded me of my childhood once again. The childhood I love so much.

Story: Though Non Non Biyori has a very simple story, it's ... able to captivate and draw the viewers to enjoy it. It showcases the very best of Okinawa and life over there. Throughout the story, we are shown the rich nature that Okinawa has to offer and the slow-paced, relaxing life of Okinawans. And it gets all the more better when you have the MCs interacting with the locals there, especially Natsumi making friends with Aoi. Overall, a very relaxing and enjoyable story for all!
Rating: 10/10

Art: I love Non Non Biyori's animation it's so detailed and refined!
Rating: 9/10

Sound: Ah yes the relaxing soundtrack of Non Non Biyori is such a delight to hear!
Rating: 9/10

Character: The only character I'll be analyzing is Aoi, since she's the new one. I find her to be very mature for her age and she's also very easy to get along with. She's also pretty and charming.
Rating: 9/10

Overall a very entertaining movie to watch! Non Non Biyori is one of those animes for people to just sit back in the chairs and enjoy the relaxing and slow paced story. It's very good for those who just want to have a break and to slow down in life. And now that S3 has been announced, i can only wait in anticipation for another season of Non Non Biyori!

What a lovely movie! I sat on this for over a year before finding the perfect time to watch it, and I’m happy to say it exceeded my expectations. Based on the promotional art I thought it would feel like the beach episode, but it’s a more well-paced, more well thought out adventure that uses the runtime wisely to create a satisfying arc throughout the movie, something longer and more immersive than what is possible in one episode. And I liked the character focus as well (won’t spoil who), but all of the main cast gets a chance to shine multiple times throughout the movie. ... I appreciate that they don’t oversell this, the main priority is just a fun vacation with the characters, this is just to tie it together.

Writing, dialogue, jokes, etc are all great and feel really good in the moment-to-moment, which is the main reason I give this 1 point over the rest of the series (for now). Animation is nothing special compared to the main series, but there were no moments that I felt were lacking and there is a decent amount of character animation in there. I also appreciate the minimal amount of CG, I can imagine if the movie was more ambitious some intrusive CG could have easily snuck itself in.

Look up watch order for best experience, but you can put this after season 2 if you don’t want to bother with OVAs. But definitely don’t skip this. If you saw the series a while ago like me, still a perfect time to watch right now. Easily gets you back into the world of NNB.

I got to say, this movie has been better than the main series itself.

NNBM:V is an extended episode of Non Non Biyori, a series about a bunch of girls living the best of their lives in a rural village which was an absolute paradise. My impression of the series is that apparently everyone in the world is good and free from any hints of evil, thus it is probably one of the most lighthearted shows ever, albeit probably too idealistic. The movie further reinforces the same ideals as the series proper but this time, they are on another paradise and with their capers much more ... fun this time.

The story as usual is bare bones but what fuels the show has been how each character bounces their quirks with each other on their excursions. As slice of life shows go, the movie definitely gave each character a moment to shine. In the movie, Hikage, who was merely sidelined before was definitely my favorite here due to her hilarious antics and unfortunate situations she gets in. Likewise there is a bit of feels too with Natsumi and her new friend. Renge remains the darling as she is and the rest keeps up with their own shenanigans as well and as with tradition, the guy remains mute. So sum it up, this is a standalone movie which encapsulates the show's strengths only with a higher production value.

Production-wise, this definitely takes the cake. Everything looks gorgeous, particularly with the whole village of Okinawa which was highly detailed and immersive. Seeing the character just mess around the village was fun and being used to the series, it was probably the best one yet. They better pay those background artist well.

Sound was good i think. Voice actors remain good at delivering their lines, particularly Renge and Hikage who were particularly featured this time around along with Natsumi. OST was ok.

Characters do a lot this time and with the whole crew united, it did feel like a family trip where the audience was a spiritual member. Everyone remains idealistically good-mannered and Okinawa is still a paradise of good folks. The sideplot of Natsumi was particularly packs in some feels but never quite reached the strong note like other drama shows.

By the end of the movie, seeing some get emotional on returning back to their village did paint the same feelings I have whenever I come back from a vacation. It felt satisfying just like how the second season ended and truly worth its 'vacation' title.

If you ever want to feel refreshed and want a light, easy watch, this is probably one of the better anime movies for such. Light drama, just people having fun, and exquisite sceneries to chew. Sometimes this ingredients are enough to call something great.

Non Non Biyori's setting is always at the rural village that they live in. The movie is a nice break from that and inserts all these characters in a new setting. The pacing and simplicity from the show carries over to the movie. Overall, if you're a big fan of the series, you'll love the movie. There is an OVA from the first season that connects to the movie. It's not necessary to watch but it gives some background to the story. I did watch it beforehand. It's not hard at all to follow for someone who hasn't seen the show but they won't ... have that connection with the characters.

Renge is a highlight of the series to me and she continues to be in this movie. She has her own little goals and fun moments in the movie but there is some focus on Natsumi. Natsumi tries to become friends with a girl they meet in Okinawa and a good bit of time is spent on that. Other times, you'll see the girls enjoying their time at the beach, hikes, etc. It stays in the slice of life lane which it does very well.

There's slice of life, and then there's *slice of life*. Most slice of life, anime or otherwise, merely show life as it happens. Non Non Biyori's biggest strength as a show was making you *feel* life, and even when it didn't succeed in its comedy or its pacing, it would still be good at celebrating each day as it happens and making you empathize with the easygoing lives of the characters involved. So it's no surprise that this same feeling translates to the movie, which is essentially an above-average episode of the show translated into a longer format.

This also allows for more interesting approaches to ... composition. For example, long shots are more common, but instead of scenic shots, they tend to be more of characters emotionally developing and reacting with their environment. This lets for slower, more natural pacing compared to the show, so even though we go through these four days of their vacation in Okinawa relatively briskly, we end up feeling the story beats much more naturally compared to even a longer arc from the show.

There's nothing particularly revelatory about the characters, the setting, or the series by watching this movie, no. But it continues to show why this series excels at slice of life, just simply by feeling each and every moment as precious and something worth remembering. That in of itself makes it a valuable watch.

*Spoiler warning!*


Story/Plot 7/10 - The plot focused around all of the kids (Candy store, Kazune included) going on a trip to Okinawa! I don't have much to describe the plot, but the pace of the story was good for the most part. I will say, I feel like this should've been released before season 2 because this is the continuation of the OVA that came out right after season 1 and before season 2. But, besides that everything was good!

Art/Animation 7/10 - The art and animation were the same as the normal series. But, on the website I was watching the movie the resolution was ... like 480p, and it was pretty annoying because I like watching movies with the best resolution possible. But, besides that everything was fine. OH! And the scenes where they go and see the stars at night and see the glowing stuff (I forget what it was called) was super beautiful and well put together. (Animation included.)

Sound 6/10 - Same as the usual series. I will say Aoi's voice actor was super fitting.

Characters/Personalities 7/10 - Almost all the character's personalities were the same as the regular series. But, we kind of got to see Natsumi's caring and sentimental side, which was nice! Aoi's personality was so different from Natsumi's but deep down they were super similar, I think that's why their relationship hit off on a good start and they became friends. (Hopefully, they see each other in the future again. Only time will tell I suppose.)

Enjoyment/Overall 7/10 - I enjoyed the change of pace from the usual random stuff in there small town. Overall, I enjoyed this just as much as the usual series and would recommend anyone watch it right after season 2 or right after the OVA! (Watch order is weird.) :D