Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou

I\'ve been a long time fan of the manga so I decided to finally check out the anime as well. This OVA is not everyone\'s cup of tea, or should I say coffee?

After watching, I prefer the manga. This is probably due to the fact that it\'s in colour and to me, they\'re ill suited. Also the art in the OVA looks dated by now, yet the manga manages to avoid that.

It\'s not easy to rate, never mind describe the story, to give it justice. And perhaps that was the idea, to make you feel things rather than tell you a story? It is ... not unlike sitting and looking at a sunset or watching a field of grass swaying in the wind. The slow pace, simple story line and gentle music help reinforce a feeling of relaxation and watching the world go by. If you\'re a person who can\'t appreciate things like that, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou may not be for you.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is a two-episode OVA based on the manga of the same name (please read my review of the manga for more details). Specifically, it is based on a few early chapters in the manga. After reading over some other reviews, it seems that the transition from still images to animation has been somewhat of a hit-or-miss kind of thing with many people, but for me, I think it weathers the transition very well; the OVA takes advantage of the medium to showcase the world and characters, but in some ways doesn't go far enough.

Story: 9 (Great)

The story concerns Alpha Hatsusueno, an android ... (or gynoid, to be gender-specific) who lives on the outskirts of what's left of Yokohama, Japan after rising sea levels destroyed most of the city. She spends her days running a cafe and waiting for the return of her owner, who has left for reasons and parts unknown. One day, she receives a visitor - a young woman named Kokone, who is here to drop off a special package for her along with a message. When Alpha asks for the contents of the message, she discovers something special about Kokone - she, too, is a robot!

Alpha and Kokone quickly become friends, and the two begin to explore the world around them, aided by the gift sent by Alpha's owner - a camera that can directly interface with robots. Kokone returns to her delivery service, leaving Alpha feeling lonely again. She then decides to head out on her own to discover for herself what the world offers for her to photograph and preserve.

After going out to pick up a new rake, the skies above Alpha's little scooter start to darken; before long, a heavy rain sets in. Suddenly, a lightning strike out of nowhere! Alpha will now have to cope with trying to survive and the changes she'll face after her recovery.

Alpha decides to try out her new camera and becomes greatly dissatisfied with some of the shots she takes. She searches for the perfect shot, but is suddenly overtaken by a faint memory she barely remembers, one that goes back to the very day she was first activated.

The corresponding manga chapters covered by the OVA's two episodes are, in order,Chapter 7 Afternoon February 2, Chapter 8 1 by 1, Chapter 9 300 Image Capacity,Chapter 4 Rain and After, Chapter 12 Navi and Chapter 22 Yokosuka Cruise - note that Chapters 8 and 9 and Chapters 12 and 22 have been combined into a single half-episode each.

The story faithfully reproduces the ones told in the original manga chapters, but adds special touches as well. We see the dynamics of the wonderous splendor of Alpha's world, as well as the dynamics of her special relationship with Kokone (special in more ways than one :). Many of the subtleties of Alpha's character that can only be told through movement are revealed to us as well. We also see a little more backstory and a few changes here and there between the OVA and the manga - Alpha remembers or at least admits a little bit about what it was like being around before robots were common. Overall, the execution is great and it's clear that the animators and producers were careful to preserve and enhance the environment and characters of the manga, though I wish we could've seen the world through the perspective of Alpha's camera more often.

Art: 9 (Great)

The art is terrific and faithfully reproduces or even enhances the art style of the manga, but sadly the colors come off as a little washed-out, especially in regards to Alpha and Kokone.With that said, the animation takes us one step closer towards experiencing this futuristic world of Yokohama for ourselves, and brings Alpha and Kokone one step closer to our world.

Sound: 10 (Outstanding)

The music sets a benchmark for anime of this genre and is performed by Choro Club who also gave us the soundtrack for ARIA; much of it is performed with a gekkin, the same type of stringed musical instrument Alpha plays in the manga and seen in the OVA. Background an incidental music factor in heavily, much more so than other works. The music very much correlates to the imagery on-screen and tells us through audio the type of laid-back world Alpha sees, despite the many hardships she and her friends have to put up with.

Character: 10 (Outstanding)

In many ways the characterization of Alpha, Kokone, and the others exceeds that of the manga, since we're treated to many nuances the manga is simply not able to show. We see in Alpha a certain kind of endearing naivety as she begins to see things for the first time from differing perspectives, yet at the same time, we see a strong-willed young woman who is not only capable of taking care of herself but highly values the bonds she has with what has become her human family. The animation does much to bring these characters alive through these nuances and interactions with others and their environment, bringing these characters one step closer to reality.

Enjoyment: 9 (Great)

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is almost as much of a masterpiece as its source material but is not without its flaws that detracts from its enjoyment. The washed-out colors are distracting, especially when I was expecting the vibrant green and purple of Alpha's and Kokone's hair to be carried over from the manga. Despite that, the OVA still does a magnificent job of breathing life into Hitoshi Ashinano's still images and ephemeral snapshots, and for this alone it is a highly recommended and regarded piece.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is given a final score of:

10: Outstanding

It’s hard to rate Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou accurately. After watching this first OVA, I decided to read a bit of the manga too. The manga is a little better suited for the slow pace, I think. Really not much happens. You don’t get a clear view of what’s going on through the episodes. However, the storyline probably wasn’t the point of this. What it wanted was to make you feel it. It’s very relaxing, and it goes along at such a leisurely pace.

Characters come across nicely, and Alpha is very likeable. We don’t get to learn much about her owner, again, you do not ... get the experience of delving into a complicated storyline, but rather a very simple one.

Sometimes I find watching this sort of anime enjoyable. I did enjoy Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, and I like it’s setting especially. The backgrounds and animation are very beautiful. Slice of post-apocalyptic stories and just slice-of-life or everyday life stories are fun to watch for me. While most will probably think this show disagreeable, others will like it for it’s calming music and pretty animation.

~ Story ~
Yokohoama Kaidashi Kikou is a "slice of life" series. Like many of the genre, there really isn't much of a story to speak of. The series is about Alpha, a humanoid robot living in one of the coastal regions of Japan. Her owner had gone on a journey and left her there to tend a coffee shop (aptly named Cafe Alpha). It takes place in Earth's future, during a time when global warming has caused the polar ice caps to melt. Human society is on the decline and the pace of life has slowed to a crawl. ... The oceans have risen, causing the world's coastal cities to lay underwater. What is left of humanity has moved to the higher regions where they live out somewhat primitive lives. Most of the roads are in a state of disrepair, but life goes on in a calm manner. Humanity's last achievement, so it seems, was the creation of human shaped robots (like Alpha). There have been many iterations of these robots, but Alpha seems to be one of the first (and only) of her kind. All the others we see are more advanced models (like Kokone, for example).

~ Art ~
Initially released in 1998, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou was two episodes. The image quality and animation was on par with other work at the time. Somehow, the whole series had an 80's feel. I think this may have had something to do with the size of Alpha's sunglasses.

~ Sound ~
The soundtrack for Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou was written and performed by GONTITI, a Japanese folk duo. They claim to make the "most comfortable music on earth." In this sense, I wholeheartedly agree. The soundtrack was not overwhelming and worked well with the imagery. In terms of dialog, the voice actors were perfect for their roles.

~ Overall ~
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is one of the most calming series I've ever seen and read. The artwork, music, and story work extremely well together to create a beautiful work of art. At first glance, most people will probably not enjoy this work since it obviously lacks any coherent story. Even watching the series to completion leaves the viewer feel unfulfilled. It doesn't leave much of an impression and may be quickly forgotten. However, a change in mindset may boost the way a person looks at this work.

I would recommend this series for those who want something calming to watch. The soundtrack stands alone as well, and makes extremely good background music. It also makes very good (if not horribly inappropriate) fragging music for Unreal Tournament. If you seek something that goes against the grain of the norm or a mood piece, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is for you.

If you're a fan of action, romance, harem, slapstick comedy, brain hurting, or lots of shinys, then I would recommend against watching this. Chances are, you'll be bored to death and end up falling asleep before the end of the opening sequence.

Though this is a relatively short OVA in two episodes it still captivates me somehow. This is the kind of anime that I would like to watch after watching an full action anime just to get my pace down to 0 again and be able to breath normally. This anime is really hard to describe in other ways but must be experienced to understand. Due to the lack of story, cause there really isn\'t a clear thread that goes through the two episodes I can\'t give it a higher overall rating.

While I very much enjoyed this 2-episode OVA, I wish it had become a longer series. Still, I felt that the episodes it chose to portray were some of the most important in the manga, in terms of the theme it sets. I've included a record of the chapters taken from the manga below to give one an idea of how the anime used the pace effectively. Each left me with an impression that was like that of a peaceful sunny day or quiet storm and I definitely recommend it to those of us who love staring out of windows.

My favourite story from this ... OVA was actually a piece written specifically for the episode itself called "The Wind Blew." It's a beautiful little story about Alpha having a spot of laziness where it literally takes her all day to make a cup of coffee. I think it was one of the best of the series and really summarized the theme of the manga perfectly, which for me was the concept of mono no aware and enjoying life as it passes you by peacefully.

The best parts about the animated adaptation in my opinion were the editing, pacing, and the sound quality. The pace fit with the mood set in the manga and I loved the way the anime used all the space available, from the OP and ending themes to moments of transition to fit in scenes from the series that might not have otherwise made it into the series. I was particularly impressed with the editor's use of scenes taken from V.3, Ch. 007 Story 17 "Waves" as part of the end theme sequence. I noticed lots of little details such as this one, but this was my favourite example because it includes the scene where Alpha and Kokone sing together, which was one of the most touching for me in the manga. This anime did a great job of editing particular scenes in to make it feel like a living novel more than a series, which is always nice in an adaptation and I know as a fan of the manga I appreciated it dearly.

But what really made the atmosphere realistic for me, I think, was the sound editing, such as the train hissing over the tracks or a noise in the background that is brought to our attention. These little details, given such care, are what changed this from being a "nice" anime to making me feel as though I were a silent observer sitting on Alpha's porch with a nice cup of coffee, enjoy the scenes that occurred around me.

Unfortunately, while sound was one of this anime's greatest strengths, for me it's music was it's greatest weakness. Not to say it was bad or that it didn't fit the feel of it, but the studio chose to use Choro Club (who would later create the beautiful, and fitting, music for the series ARIA) for the music and to me it was mostly a copy/paste scenario with bits of untimely calypso sounding themes and I found that to be a little disappointing.

With a series like Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou there were really only two feasible routes for music that I can see, one being to have little to no music and just concentrate the sound efforts on the everyday world that Alpha and her visitors reside in, which was decidedly the route they chose. The alternative route would have been to include a beautiful score, such as those found in Seirei no Moribito, Junni Kokki or the Studio Ghibli films. Now, while this would have been nice it would also likely be expensive, and I suspect this wasn't a large budget project, but still it would have been nice if the music they chose had a grander, gentler feel to it instead of trying to make this series into a pre-ARIA outfit, musically speaking. If one can't have something so grand as a proper score, why not make the music more like what was found in Mushishi or Please Save My Earth, which were closer in feeling to this series than ARIA was. I know I am griping about something seemingly small, but for me music is really what fuels the emotional bond I have with a series and unfortunately, while I did get used to this series it will never be a favourite the way some others will because the music just didn't fit to me. Which is a shame given how much obvious time and effort the team involved in this work of love put into making it something wonderful.

Also, it took much longer for Alpha's seiyuu, Hekiru Shiina, to grow on me than I feel it should have given the length of the OVAs. It wasn't that she wasn't talented, but just that she felt a bit more aggressive than I imagined Alpha's character to be based on the manga. Honestly, I would have preferred someone like Lisa Michelson (who played Satsuki in FOX/Steamline dub of My Neighbor Totoro), Takayama, Minami (best known for her role as Ursula in Kiki's Delivery Service) or perhaps Minagawa, Junko (Akira from ARIA).

My overall impression of this series is ultimately a good one and I would highly recommend this series to those who love slice of life or enjoying a quiet cup of something. So, while both the music and Alpha's seiyuu took some getting used to, they eventually grow on me and by the end I enjoyed them. I would still argue though that they are the weaker points in an otherwise strong animated OVA series and had they fit better with what I view as the theme of the series I would have happily given it a 10 and added it to my favourites list where it rightfully belongs.

Alternatively, I also enjoyed this as a companion piece and thought I should share it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Tv_AlDjpw


Record of the chapters taken from the manga:

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (anime) Ep. 1: These records were cataloged using the MangaFox scans.

V.1, Ch. 00 - Story 01 "Yokohama Shopping Trip/Log"

Compressed version of V. 1, Ch. 007 Story 7 Afternoon 2/2; V. 2 Ch. 001 & 002 Stories 08 & 09:
V.1, Ch. 007 - Story 07 "Afternoon 2/2"
V.2, Ch. 001 - Story 08 "PM 1/1"
V.2, Ch. 002 - Story 09 "300 Image Capacity"

V.2, Ch. 005 - Story 12 "Navi"

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (anime) Ep. 2: This record was cataloged using the MangaFox scans.

V.1, Ch. 004 - Story 04 "Rain, and after"

Between these two stories is a nice little tale made just for the OAV called (as far as I've been able to tell) "The Wind Blew" about Alpha having a lazy day where it literally takes her all day to make a cup of coffee. I think it was one of the best of the series and really summerized the theme of the manga perfectly.

V.3, Ch. 005 - Story 22 "Yokosuka Cruise"

I was also particularly taken with the scenes from V.3, Ch. 007 Story 17 "Waves" for the end theme.

Ahhh, what a relaxing and comfy slice of life anime. You can honestly leave the subtitles off for this and it wouldn't make much difference, the dialogue and characters are secondary to the art. That's because this is legit some of the prettiest hand painted watercolor art/backgrounds I've seen in years, relaxing, serene, calming, and gorgeous are the first words that come to mind. All complimented by really smooth hand drawn old school animations. The most dated part are the character models, they're VERY 90's which I honestly love. To me this ranks up there with something like Mushishi season 1 in terms of ART ... quality (lol, and nothing else so don't take that comment too seriously or the wrong way).

I'll be honest, if you're the type of anime fan that thinks modern anime is the be all end all of quality, and that older anime is ugly, then this one is probably not for you. Closest modern take is Super cub, which is definitely gorgeous and relaxing, so maybe check that out instead.

On a side note, I highly recommend watching this with VLC/MPC and madvr so you can maximize the quality. Older anime, well anime in general, looks so much better when you go through the proper steps and have a good source. I feel bad for people that watch something like this or mushishi on a streaming site where they can't fine tune the quality, it's like watching avengers infinity war in 260p.

TL;DR Do you love hand drawn anime? Watercolor backgrounds? and or Comfy and boring slice of life anime? Then give it a whirl, it's less than 2 hours long.

This isnt an anime I usually go out of my way to recommend, I think its a bit of an aquired taste, but its one of my all time favorite. It's beautiful, relaxing and a perfect show to help you feel better about the world after a bad day. The characters are lovable, but especially given that the OTA is so short and gives you little time to truly connect with them, it especially excels in its serene moments and beautiful scenery. It is a show where not much of anything happens and while some scenes or gorgeous, some of the animation does suffer from ... a small budget

I loved this anime because it was relaxing. It wasn't like any other anime I've seen before. The story is simple, yet creative. It's perfect to watch late at night with a loved one. I don't like how short it is. I hear the Manga is longer and has mermaids and more characters and it just tells a better story. I wish there were more episodes to explain if the robot had a crush on the owner. I want to know what happened to the other android. No matter how much more I want to know about the story, even if I hate how there's ... no explanations, I still enjoyed it.

Let me start by saying that I enjoyed watching this show very much and that I watched the entire OVA while having my morning cup of coffee.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is a short OVA series that concentrates a lot more on telling, or rather implying a story through the images and experiences of the main character. Overall, the art style, while dated, is fairly decent. The characters in the story, while not developed much, are fairly believable (as in there are no overused tropes and the characters act in a similar way to actual people). I would say that the main reason that ... someone should watch this anime is because you have some spare time and just want to relax and enjoy an anime that doesn't have any serious story on the surface.

That being said, the main reason I gave this anime a 7/10 instead of anything higher is because there is a significant amount of backstory implied that it simply never discusses in any depth at all. I tend to be someone who picks up all the tiny details and there are countless details in this anime that have no explanation (it may be covered in the manga but I am not sure about that). While I would have liked some coverage of the reason behind these details, I can also see that some people may like the mystery behind how these things came to be or why characters are acting as they are, so this is really only a downside for me since I will probably be pondering the why for the rest of the day. Other than my few complaints however, I will reiterate that this is a great relaxing anime if you have some time but, not a lot of time, to just sit and enjoy.

10s across the board. The first Yokohama Kaidashi Kishou (YKK) OVA (and manga which I am currently reading and adoring) could not have come to me at a more perfect time. I watched this OVA during a month-long break after I quit a stressful fast food job which left me anxious and depressed every week. Watching YKK ultimately relaxed me in a time when I was extremely tense, and gave me a newfound appreciation of the beauty around me, and the relationships I form with friends and family.

There are dozens of reviews here that put it better than I ever will, YKK is a ... show about appreciating beauty, and the somberness of the passage of time which will ultimately wash away so many amazing memories. Something else that I feel is important (moreso to be found in the manga, but is plentiful in the OVA as well) is how deeply fulfilling close relationships are. At the end of the day, you aren't taking material possessions with you to the grave, but perhaps spiritual connections will carry over beyond said grave. Alpha's bond with all of her friends, Oji-san, Kokone, Takahiro, etc. is fulfilling on a much deeper level than anything else.

I cannot help but smile and feel hopeful when listening to the music from YKK. There have literally been times when I have been feeling stressed and tense, and suddenly some notes or vocals from the soundtrack randomly flow into my head and instantly calm me down. I cannot put into words how calming the music is, it's almost a form of escapism by itself.

I'm kind of struggling to put into words how wonderful this OVA is, it's quite frankly something I have a personal attachment which formed the second the opening theme started playing. This OVA was kind of life-changing for me, partially only due to the time and circumstances in which I watched it, but its effects cannot be understated.

"𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧,
𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧,
𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚...
....
𝘼𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩."


I wanna see more green apocalypses....

Nausicaa and Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou really got me wanting green apocalypses where people help each other out and rebuild a life,
...
It's an unbelievably chill anime with no complex plot involving die-hard enemies out to destroy you or something of that sort, the only enemy these characters are trying to defeat is the loneliness in life itself or their inner-self.

Stories of characters just going about their daily lives, trying to find their place in the world. I not only like the heartwarming relationships they shared but the scenery of these places too which are simply beautiful. The underwater abandoned postapocalyptic town with all the city lights still burning made me feel the heaviness in my heart even more than the protagonist herself did. The art is splendid. nothing more nothing less. Scenes with more than half a minute of visuals and no words with just the score and Alpha herself were more than enough for my eyes sometimes.

They’re so pleasant to watch. It's kind of like the anime version of curling up under the blanket on a rainy afternoon and just feeling good and lonely, makes you feel all calm and relax, when you simply want to chill and switch off your mind.


𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 7/10
𝗔𝗿𝘁: 10/10
(Never knew retro animes can be such beautiful)
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱:10/10
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿:10/10
𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 9/10
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹: 10/10

I want to preface that this anime is not for everyone
This anime is such a short and bittersweet experience, in the two episodes that it is packaged in it can almost bring you to the verge of tears and I think that's a sense of Anemoia and Kenopsia if I could describe it with a couple of words. The setting is what grabs you and pulls you in with such a strong grasp that the characters are almost secondary, It has such little dialogue that's why I say that but that's not a bad thing. Having something reach out to you on an emotional level ... without characters having conflict and/or something on the line is really hard to do but Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou does just that and with relative ease.

This is exceedingly subjective, but regarding world-building, I have seen that it has been docked some points for some people and I think they have some credibility and the right to deem that true. But I want to say that this story and the world (at least in these 2ep and not the manga) rely so heavily on visuals and these visuals alone give you enough to satiate your craving enough but not fully because the entirety of the anime thrives on the ambiguity of what you can see. It gives you enough for you to want more, and to ponder what is out of reach and your mind is used to think of what's not there. You can say that the last line is a cop-out and can be said for any story that is vague and has little dialogue in its storytelling but I think that it's perfectly viable to say in the context of this story.

I urge you to try this with open arms, but going into this it is slow and almost methodical with the way and times that it gives you these idyllic scenes. This leaves you wanting more and also thinking about it after. This can be skewed because I used to be into photography and these picturesque moments would mesmerize you and make you feel like time has stopped and Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou has encapsulated that perfectly for me and brought this nostalgia full force. This could either be the most boring anime you've ever seen or it could be an eye opener into a new neiche sub-genera of anime that you can never let go of.

This is as crazy as it sounds my favorite anime of all time it's just a nice chill anime to watch I've personally watched it a bunch of times over it's perfect no over the top action no real reason to anything it's just a nice Show kinda has a depressing and dreamy feel to it and I really enjoy that.

The Story
It has a story it's great wouldn't call it flawless.

Art
The art is just perfect one of the best looking 90s Ova's ever made I just love the way it looks in my opinion One of the best-looking animes ever made
a lot of ... people would disagree with me on that I know.

Sound
It's got an amazing soundtrack differently one of the best I've heard in any anime.

Enjoyment
This show is great weirdly makes me depressed but it's great.

Here is a short, small slice of an android girl's life, and a meditation on "mono no aware" or the wistful transience of all things. Little happens, and yet I couldn't help but smile at nearly every scene; there is no fear of silence or rush to an action sequence, instead confidently zooming into the ambient details like grass swaying in a sunset breeze or the relaxing burble of a coffee kettle.

Zoom back out, and we're offered a glimpse at the future days of humanity's lost past - life after the death of modern civilization, in all its splendid tranquility, from the naively inquisitive and ... adventurous perspective of that android girl who's more charmingly human in an hour-long OVA than most characters are over the course of a full series.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is all it needs to be, and no more. Come to it with a quiet heart seeking joy and not a critical eye expecting excitement, and you may find a modest yet memorable treasure.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is the most pleasant and relaxing post-apocalypse imaginable, and for that it stands utterly unique among anime as a whole. Instead of some depressing decay, this story and the world it takes place in feels more like the sleepy years that come at the end of a life well lived. Even if I personally disagree with the premise that such a fate for mankind is an acceptable one, I cannot deny the warmth with which this show displays and even treasures the simple joys of life. To begin with the story, it is a simple yet quietly revolutionary take; What if the ... collapse of civilization actually resulted in something quite nice? A robot manages a quiet little country café on behalf of her master, who has been gone for some time. One day she receives a camera in the mail from him, delivered by a robot courier, and the rest of this short but sweet little anime catalogues her excursions and adventures. I quite like this story not only because it's lovely, but also because of how ahead of its time it is. It predates the idea of 'pleasant apocalypses', as can sometimes be found in the solarpunk aesthetic, by quite a while, and that takes a certain measure of creativity that deserves to be commended. The art is generally exquisite, and pairs very well with the story. Every little detail is given the utmost attention, without making the anime seem too busy, lending a sense of persistent realism to the anime from start to finish. The enrapturing beauty of the backgrounds with their subtle hints to a long-past apocalyptic event, the flawless character designs, and the seamless fluidity of the animation, even down to hair being brushed away from a cheek or coffee softly rippling in a mug, all serve to create an environment of almost perfect peace for the story to take place in, making it easily my favorite aspect of this show. Even the streetlights left an impression on me, giving the story itself a sense of chronological depth, and forlorn purpose, simply by the way they're drawn and animated. The sound is also very good, featuring excellent sounds of life that make the world feel dynamic and lived in, and while the music is often distinctively 90s, it isn't out of place and fits rather well, especially when it's paired with the voice acting. The characters themselves are simple but good, more archetypes than anything else, but for a 2 episode show I don't really think they have to be anything more. The simple characters manage to have depth by way of their emotionality in the moment and how they navigate the soothing twilight world around them. It's this world itself that imparts to them a kind of implicit depth, like when Alpha admires the beauty of things, or when Ojisan offers help to someone in need of help. Even his grandson Takahiro, who goes unnamed in the anime I believe, is given depth by his mere presence as a young person in a world that is itself in the end stages of its decline. For me, I sense a kind of distant sadness that entails, even while the world he inhabits is generally so idyllic. That goes for the anime as a whole, to be honest. Overall, while this is a definitively enjoyable and relaxing watch that makes me feel rather content and at peace, when I think about the situation they're in and the language that's used in the anime description and the manga, I feel a kind of dissonance, as an untroubled apocalypse is still an apocalypse, and while mankind may go into its twilight years with a smile on its face, the fact it is doing so at all doesn't sit right with me. Still, at the end of the day, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is a fun little anime that'll help you relax your shoulders and unclench your jaw, and I highly recommend it if you have a free hour some lazy, sunny afternoon.

It's hard to describe what makes this anime so special. I used to be a person who could not watch slice of life at all, it was just too boring and it felt like there was no substance. But I've come to realize I was just watching the wrong shows, and it turns out that Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is one of those shows that is right for me. It's a show about nothing at all really and I think that's what I like about it. It's not trying to tell me anything or send some big message, it's just a peaceful show with minimal dialogue ... and pretty pictures. It takes place in a post apocalyptic world yet it is so serene and calm. And don't take this the wrong way, I'm someone who loves a complicated story with deep lore but I think sometimes it's nice to have something that doesn't really have any of that.

I think to a lot of people this show will be boring and that's okay, it's not for everyone. But to the people who want to spend an hour watching something peaceful and calming, this show is absolutely for you.

Quick take: Purely slice-of-life, the OVAs explore the concept of learning to find the beauty in everything around you, despite how tragic it may look on the surface. I genuinely felt sorry for Alpha, despite the attempt of the series to convert a pure, innocent and positive story.

I gave this series a shot on the recommendation of Kenny Lauderdale. Indeed, by the time I had gotten around to watching this, I had realized I prefer older art styles, so I thought I’d give this a shot. Not to say the newer styles are bad, just that I have a preference. That seems to have been ... the overall goal of this anime. The storyline is slow moving and I felt sad most of the time. Sad that Alpha was lonely, sad that she missed her owner and sad that the world was in it's twilight. Yet the story was attempting to take that emotion and show us that with all this sadness, there is still beauty in the world. To some aspect, it succeeded. I truly felt that there was some peaceful beauty in the ending. I think it's important to note that there is no “resolution” we sometimes look for in a story, as there isn’t anything to resolve. We're merely peering into a segment of Alpha's life.

I really enjoyed the art. It felt like an 80’s anime much of the time, despite being released in the late 90’s. World detail was given a lot of thought during the process and shadows, clouds and even lighting plays an incredibly important role in the style. While up until this point I haven’t seen much anime, it was a welcome change from everything else. It made it feel as if time was legitimately passing Alpha by. As if hours, days or even months had passed between each scene. If I had one criticism, it's that I wish the colors were a bit richer. Much of it feels a but washed out. Maybe this was the intention to further the idea of a dying world, but I think that would've elevated the art to outstanding.

Sound is great through out the OVAs. Acting is well done (Japanese) and the music is all smooth jazz, the perfect compliment for this slice-of-life show. To be perfectly honest, if smooth jazz was an anime, this is exactly what it would look like. I have to say, the music videos in the middle of the show are a little awkward both from an art and story perspective, but the music feels right to the anime, I just wish it would’ve been used a bit differently.

The characters were what I would call a “surface character.” What you get on the surface is about all you’re going to get. With the exception of Alpha, the characters just exist and don’t seem to have much purpose beyond leading us to see the beauty in each moment. It made it rather difficult to rate them. They're not bad by any means, but there is no depth to their story. I exclude Alpha, because while we know very little of her history, we do get the chance to see her develop emotionally, even if very little. Again, this is all driven by the desire to show us the beauty in the world. As she discovers it, so do we, sharing in the emotions.

So how does every category score a 7+ but my enjoyment score so low? Well, to be honest, the story is just a bit to slow for my liking. I feel like nothing is ever really accomplished in the storyline. While I fully realize that this anime is nothing more than a slice-of-life, it seems to be one of the most uneventful moments in life for our main character. I use the word "seems" here because I fully realize that in actuality, we're witnessing Alpha learn what it means to live and to appreciate the beauty in everything around her. This is actually the most exciting part of her life she's experienced in a very long time. There's a bittersweet tragedy in this aspect, that leaves me with a melancholic feeling.

So would I recommend this anime? With reservations, yes. You’re treated to relaxing music and wonderfully drawn scenes. Don’t expect anything profound from the storyline and don’t expect the character development to be beyond the surface.

I LOVE LOVE this anime! It will NOT appeal to 99% of the anime fans, because there is no story, no character development, and no demons or explosions, so to some this will be incredibly boring. But to me, it was like listening to Vivaldi from a mountain tent, all alone in the mountains, with something uncertain happening out in the darkness. The music is peaceful, gentle, even a bit feminine in a way, which is perfect because it is in stark contrast with reality ... a post growth world. The cities are fading, people are slowing disappearing, ... the water levels have risen, but it wasn't a monster or an alien ... it just slowly and surely happened. And despite that, there are those who enjoy trying to continue the traditions of living, of making a decent cup of coffee (as a robot, ha!!), of riding scooters in the rain, of just being. I love how this anime makes me feel ... and the shadows on the puddles, the shading of the clouds on the waving fields of grass, it's beautiful and artistic. Unfortunately, it can evoke strange and strong feelings of nostalgia for a time that isn't, yet, and other complicated emotions, and so I don't watch it often. Anyway, I'm super grateful to the creators of this anime.

Is it even possible to have spoilers for this anime? Highly recommended AFTER reading the manga. I don't think I would have enjoyed it prior to the manga. It has the slowest pace of any anime I've ever seen, very faithful to the manga. It's like an Italian neorealist film, like La Terra Trema, in how slowly it moves. Yes, it seems crude compared to most anime, but that was obviously a creative choice, to make it more like the original manga. I'm grateful to the makers of this anime, just to be able to relive a few moments with Alpha and her friends.