Super Cub

Had to revise my review because I dropped this show. It's not bad, it's just dull to me. There aren't really any characters. They exist, but they have no actual character, our protagonist is about as interesting as wood, and the fact that the show is just product placement is wearying after a while.

Even in SoL and CGDCT shows, I think it's important to have, at the very least, characters whose personalities can interact with each other in an interesting way. These types of shows usually have stock characters, but they can often get away with it by being charming in the scenarios it ... creates for the characters to interact within, or the gags, if it's comedic. This show doesn't do either of those things, it has characters say things at each other instead of having conversations, and the scenarios are bland. For example, a significant plot point of episode 4 involves our main character, Koguma, figuring out that she won't get wet riding her bike in the rain if she wears rain gear. That's it, that's the plot.

People compare this to Yuru Camp, but I don't think it's very similar. Yuru Camp is very cartoony, and doesn't take itself very seriously. The way to deal with problems or camping tips in that show are displayed fairly quickly with humorous narration and on-screen reactions from characters, in a fourth wall breaking bit of fun. In super cub, Koguma teachers herself to overcome problems, or someone tells her, and it takes about five minutes, or roughly 1/4th of the episode excluding OPs and EDs. It's presented dryly, in the stodgy manner of an employee training video. I can't help but wonder how much this show suffered in the "fun" department because it is a product ad, and Honda itself was involved.

I'd still watch this over most shonen anime about the super hero du jour, but I'm not a fan. I won't finish it and I wouldn't recommend.

Super Cub is an attempt at a coming of age story, but places too much damn emphasis on scooters.
Before you come on my profile and say "well dumb dumb, this show IS about scooters." Yes, true. but I really would like to know the main character a bit. Similar to Yuru Camp, there is a lot of emphasis on the "activity" being done, while characters get little to no development other than their base personality traits.
In this case, I really would like to talk about Koguma, our protagonist. While it is true that she does change, make friends, and becomes more cheerful throughout the ... series, it does seem forced and less of import than the scooter itself. Rather than Koguma bettering herself, it seems like the scooter is the impetus for the changes that Koguma goes through. It's quite clear that her relationship with Reiko only happens because she owns a cub. It's quite sad to see that 12 episodes in, and the only things Reiko and Koguma talk about are still about scooters and cubs.
There's so much emphasis on the cubs, but Koguma's character and personality do not really get a chance to shine. For a coming of age story, I really was not attached to Koguma in the least bit just due to the fact that there's basically nothing to get attached to. The beginning episode was quite strong. The beginning morning routine animation, the piano notes and the color tone change when she gets the bike. It's really well done actually, but that was basically the peak. The beginning of the anime clearly paints the picture that Koguma lives in slow-burning gloom with no direction in life, and the super cub gives way to a potential path towards making progress--finding something that you enjoy in life.
It's a great setup, but sadly, the series does not deliver. Whether it be her summer job, or interactions with Reiko, or her relationship with Eniwa, it's all so surface level. It's not wrong to say that the actions that Koguma takes are ones that could be considered fulfilling in its slow paced fashion, but execution lacks in all departments. Reiko is a convenient supporting character in which Koguma takes no initiative to interact with herself, and that could be passable if their relationship was more than moving through the motions. Seriously, I never once thought that there was any genuine dialogue in any of the episodes. It's always, "my cub is cool, let's talk about cubs!" That's it. There's a serious scene about Eniwa getting saved by Koguma, and all Koguma can say is "my super cub saved you, not me." Holy. Crap.
Eniwa, Koguma, and Reiko all have super bland personalties, and I really do not have much of an impression of them at all. Eniwa--she's fine for how little screen time she has. In fact, she's probably the most diverse and well written character out of the three. But what about Koguma, the protagonist? Seriously. When all I can say about her is that she like her scooter, that's a huge problem. There's really nothing in the series about bettering her personal life, going through mental roadblocks, or just trying something beyond something relating to scooters.
CGI is also well, bad. Which means that for half or more of the scooter scenes which are CGI, it looks kinda bad. Admittedly, the show does do a decent job of combining 2d and CGI together. There's definitely quite a lot of scenes where close ups of the faces and body of the characters in the scooters are animated by hand, but bad CGI is bad CGI.
I just had no attachment to to any of the characters whatsoever, given how there is little liveliness in dialogue and most of the topics of conversation can be traced back to scooters. Koguma goes through the motions towards bettering herself, but you never really feel like she's improved by her own mettle. There's no self reflection that's particularly meaningful. If I didn't know better, this is just product placement for Honda super cubs.

Where can I start? First of all, i know this is not an action anime, there won't be murders, evils, etc., I knew this when I started it.
The graphic is honestly beautiful, i like the animation and the art style.. but for me, the story is very boring. It's a chill anime, and I saw plenty of slice of life anime that were interesting, but this one didn’t pique my interest.
The dialogues are monotonous and for some reason I don’t like our protagonist either. I will finish the anime tho, because i don't really like to stop watching an anime in the middle ... of it.
That's why I give this anime a 5 out of 10.

Having read the novel and the manga, I definitely have to say that the anime certainly did a good job at adapting the novel. But as far as adaptation of the novel goes, I think that the anime is inferior than the manga.
Explaining it shortly, the anime took a more calm/relax and serious tone in adapting, while the manga took a more goofy and comedic tone.
While the novel certainly had both those qualities, the anime felt like it was adapting the novel as it is. It's a rather "too safe" as an adaptation. Not bad, but it had the potential to be great but couldn't ... quite get there because of how safe the adaptation is.

Well, moving on to the actual review.
The story is simple. Girl who has nothing, no friends, no family. But she has her cub.
That's the general idea of the anime. It wasn't super unique, but it's a great concept which was executed quite well.
Though I have major problems with the pacing. I like myself some slow pacing, but if it's like dragging out unimportant scenes, then I'd have problems with it.
The pacing suffers because the anime took a more slow pacing, showing the mc's daily road to take with her cub. That itself isn't an issue.
But if half of the episode is dedicated just for the viewers to look at CG cubs driving awkwardly, then it's just a waste of time.
Take Yuru Camp for example. It balances out the travel time of the girls, as well as their camping side. Most of the time that was spent while travelling, there was also something happening. So there wasn't any wasted space in the run time of the episodes.
Even in the super cub novel, there wasn't really a whole chapter dedicated to just driving in the roads. The novel was surprisingly fast paced as opposed to the anime.

The characters are good. They aren't outstanding cast or anything like that. Just consistently charming and great to watch. Although I have some gripes about the characters. But those issues are simply because of the bad pacing of the anime.
For example, in episode 1, the mc had drive her cub to the convenience store. But then her cub stops moving. What she do? Just standing around to stretch out the run time of the episode.
Heck, even in the novel and the manga, that problem was quickly tend to. She's a scholar student for a reason. She's a quick thinker and a smart girl.
But the anime did her dirty. She doesn't deserve that treatment.

The animation is decent. Sure, it had janky CG cubs, but that wasn't really a problem. The art is super cute and is probably one of the cutest artstyle that doesn't try to be cute that I've seen.

The music however is just amazing. The ost pops out even though they reused a lot of tracks for some scenes. But I forgive them because the ones they reuses are super great. The opening and ending are absolute bangers. I'm listening to it everyday and still didn't get bored. Just great stuff.

Overall, a decent adaptation. Sure, there's a lot of issues and problems in this anime. But I'd still recommend it. Especially if you like SOL and slow anime stuff in general.
P.S.: this anime made me wanna buy a Cub even though I can't even ride a bicycle normally lmao
(6.2/10)

Ok, so this anime just interests me at least, but It felt bland because it’s not really an attractive anime to all people. Not saying its bad, its good however it’s really underappreciated. I still have some concerns about this.

Story is too simple, and too straight off, literally seeing Koguma riding in her cub anywhere around, same with Reiko and Shii, but Shii on her bike. Its almost like you’re going places point A to point B shortly and do these things simply less than a minute or so. Also the unsolved cases like how did her parents leave her, how did she end ... up a very short life when it comes to low budget and everything, can’t you just pull them out, at least in the manga?

Artstyle is pretty interesting, probably the first anime I watched with classic artstyle, realistic character with uniform and hair color, except Shii. The fact that this will be a bit lower is because people don’t find this interesting. It’s not in the same tier as other animes but is unique. Artstyle does feel realistic as well with a different tone of color. I would give this a 9 because its interesting, but because of the lack of interest by most people, this will be a 7.

Character. Ok WTF. In the anime, fine its just small dialogue and smiles on thier faces. ok, Im satisfied. Whatever. Koguma is very limited, same with Shii. Reiko however has more personality than the main character, ok what the? Compared to the anime’s manga, Koguma has personality same with Shii. Reiko is even more than them. Shouldn’t Koguma get more recognition because she’s the main? Why don’t you add more on her besides being shy and moody. Just improve on that the next season soon. And that is why this is a 5

Sound literally is ok, the music is classical and relaxing, but its getting boring when it plays again on another scene or a different episode. The only time it gets satisfying for me is hearing the gymnopedie BGM on ep 7 which is the first time hearing a music outside of japan being used for an anime. Sound for the background is ok, but it feels less than I can imagine other than the Cub noise or the class in school. As for Opening and ending, they’re also good, but they’re just as nearly as identical as other animes that has an opening and ending with relaxing music like this. 7 for that.

Enjoyment is not really that exciting nor fun when you watch this. Very slow and very simple, makes me want to sleep and almost slept through the whole anime in just one day because this makes me feel sleepy. 5 for that.

Overall would be a 6. This is an interesting but very underappreciated and had some flaws that just really makes an anime a fine, but not so-fine watching. My opinion, not yours, so don’t fuck with me.

Super Cub is a slow paced, relaxing, slice of life anime
about a shy and calm high school girl Koguma
who buys a second hand motorcycle to help her with her daily life.
Her cub also helps her start a new friendship with Shii a short caring cutie with a bike
and her classmate Reiko, an outgoing, energetic and ambitious girl
who also rides a cub, has much knowledge of motorcycles
and has a goal, to climb Mount Fuji with her vehicle.

Looks interesting at first sight right? And the art, visuals and sound are really good!
I always catch myself wanting to listen the ... whole ending theme even after the episode is over. Eye catching, calming and detailed sceneries, contrast of colours depending on the situation, some times dull, sometimes vibrant, really heart warming and enjoyable!

But here we go, that's all there is. Concerning the plot, there isn't any.
Nothing really happens and characters are nothing more than that.
Monotonous dialogues, no development, not much interaction between the characters, no backgrounds and here's where this show starts losing me and makes me bored.

We take it for granted from the beginning that Koguma has no personal life for example but if it's not shown or explained somehow why should we care about such empty characters?

I'd really like to see how, at least our main character got there, living alone in a small apartment and why is so lonely without family, interests or friends.
Also why Reiko is also living alone? I'd like to see some interaction to make it more interesting (not yuri necessarily). Like, why not decide living together since they are friends, so they can share the expenses and help each other? Why not try to become more social with other classmates etc...?

Something is missing to be wholesome, I don't know what, writers could find a way in the end, not to make it seem like a promotional advertisement for cubs.

So since I have almost finished watching the series, as much as I'd love to give it a higher and better score, unfortunately in my opinion it's a mediocre show and I give it around 5 or 6 at best.
I would recommend it, but while doing other tasks too, because you wouldn't miss anything important happening in the plot.

I watched Super Cub as it was airing and after watching the first episode I said to myself, "Wow, that was a really strong first episode."  I was instantly hooked.  At the beginning anyways.
I'll keep things vague to avoid spoiling.

Story+Characters:
Koguma is a high-school girl who has no friends, no hobbies and no parents.
She's not very physically fit, but still has to pedal her bike uphill to get to school everyday, so she gets the idea to get a motorcycle to make the trip easier.
That's where the story really gets started.

Koguma finds a Honda Super Cub at a dealership that also happens to ... be within the price range of a high-schooler with no income.  Supposedly three people have died on it already so it's cheap because no one wants to ride it.  But hey, cheap bike so why wouldn't you take it?
The series really begins to shine after this, as while Koguma is still alone, she has her Cub.  And that gives her something to do now,  as what begins as just a better mode of transportation, turns into her really loving her Cub.
She doesn't have anyone to rely on so learning the bike and doing maintenance falls on herself.  It's great seeing her figure everything about her Super Cub, you feel the same joy she does for simple things like changing the oil by herself for the first time.  It's a small thing, but it's an accomplishment, and it feels like it too. 
Her learning the mechanical and riding methods is lovely to watch.

Eventually she even becomes friends with a couple other students as a result of her new Cub, and it feels like she might start opening up more now.
Which is where my biggest problem with the show starts.  Episode 5 is where things start to go downhill.  See, the characters start making some really dumb decisions.  For instance, one of her friends wants to climb a dangerous mountain path on her own Cub, but she does this without mountain tires, sitting down, going too fast, and without even bothering to find a good line.  This is a dangerous rocky road and she just tries to brute force a straight line the whole way up, so obviously just keeps wrecking.  She doesn't even think to stand and lean forward until her last attempt.
It becomes a common things from here on where everyone keeps trying to perform tasks using a Honda Super Cub for tasks that would often times be much easier to do numerous different ways.
By episode 11 the characters are making just straight up stupid and dangerous decisions for seemingly no reason other than to talk about how great Super Cubs are.

Another thing is Koguma herself.  She doesn't actually open up like it seems, instead she kind of turns into kind of an irritating person to be around at times. Like, she'll get upset that people aren't as knowledgeable about Cubs as she is when literally three months ago she was just as clueless herself!
It seems strange.
She gets to the point of obsession with her Super Cub.  Her entire world revolves around it.  Which I can understand to a degree, but her obsession seems like it goes too far.  I mean, by the end of the series when people talk to or thank Koguma for something she now answers by giving all the credit to her Cub and acting as if she's of much less importance then it.  All while standing there dead emotionless.
It's an odd turn I wish the series didn't take.

Visuals:
The show looks good.  The animation is fine, nothing super impressive but never bad either.  It matches the show well.  Most of the colors have a low saturation look that I like a lot.  There are times when that low saturation will fade away and the colors will shine thru brightly however.  The idea is when Koguma experiences something that brightens her mood, the world literally brightens for us viewers.  It's a good idea, though sometimes it's overused a bit.

Sound: 
Often times the music will sound very visual novel-esque, which isn't a bad thing.  It fits the show.  There's nothing I plan on listen to by itself again, but I don't have any complaints about it either.
The sound effects are all appropriate, and match what's happening.

Overall thoughts:
If you're curious about Super Cub, then go ahead and watch it.  Just don't hold your expectations too high.  I standby my statement that the beginning episodes are great, it's just drops a bit at one point and never picks itself up again.  If the show had continued in a similar fashion to how the early episodes were going, I would likely have rated this show highly.  But the character's many dumb decisions, obsessiveness, and odd development take away a lot for me.
It all comes together as a show that overall is just, decent.

Has interesting parts in it, but spends far too long mulling over plot points.

The worst thing in this series, and what did the show in for me personally, is the hand-wavey safety BS. The girls spent multiple episodes preparing to beat the cold, [[[spoilers ahead]]] then when their friend is hypothermic and in danger they just stick her soaking wet body on the front of their bike and expect us to believe a hot bath and a change of clothes will just magically solve the problem. The show writers have clearly never been hypothermic or known someone who had an experience being hypothermic in ... their lives.

The show forced the viewer to make the assumption that this girl was in the river long enough to be so cold as to be barely able to move, and is likely injured, yet at the same time wanted the viewer to just wave it all off and act like, naw, riding in the night in the middle of winter in the front of a bike in soaking wet clothes while already hypothermic isn't extremely dangerous, naw you're fine, just take a hot bath.

Then, they put an interesting part (cross country tour) at the the very end and only used one episode on it. Waste of my time.

Super Cub left me with really mixed feelings. There is a lot of conflicting themes in it, like how the focus is on not having money, but then going on a spending spree to get everything. Sure, Koguma says she doesnt have any every now and then, but all we see is hger being so happy every time she spends money. So the anime feels like a really long commercial at points. I really love the aesthetic of getting a bike and making new friends and how that opens up a lot of daily activities that were impossible before and also how much focus was ... put on realism.... sometimes. For example how much of a problem the cold was. Theres one episode in particular though, that makes my skin crawl. *SPOILERS* When someone falls into a river in winter conditions, you do NOT let them leave on their wet clothes. You do NOT expose them to ice cold wind, you DO call an ambuilance, or at least drive to a clinic to make sure theyre fine, and you do NOT immediately put them in steaming hot water without letting them gently warm up a bit first. Koguma shouldve killed or seriously endangered her friends life about 5 times in a single episode and then gets the hero treatment for it. Its not like any of that serves some greater purpose either. She couldve become a hero for savely getting her to a hospital as well, but screw that. lets encourage people who didnt ever go to a first aid class to kill their friends the next time they get an opportunity for it.
Other than that allright anime though.

Super Cub is a pretty standard slice of life anime, there isn't anything special about the story nor the characters, they are what you expect from a normal slice of life, by far, the best thing about this anime is the sound track, as a classical music listener I loved it, There you'll find pieces written by: Debussy, Satie, Liszt, Chopin, Beethoven and other composers that I couldn't identify (my apologies). Overall, It is a good anime, it seems like a low budget Yuru Camp, I recomend it for those who are already into Slice of life anime and don't know what to watch next, ... I would give it a 6.8/10