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Kodocha is hard to peg down into a single genre: occasionally it's a hilarious comedy, occasionally it's a sobering drama, and as the show progresses, a very sweet romance series starts to emerge as well. It starts out very light-hearted, with the characters still in grade school, but as they grow up and the story progresses, the show tackles some more weighty themes. Yet despite all of this, the core of the show is still warmhearted and endearing, and this is primarily due to an excellent ensemble of characters. Sana, the lead character, is absolutely a joy to watch, with a layered ... personality that ranges from hilarious energy down to a softer kindness towards others. Hayama, who takes the opposite role for much of the series, provides a foil to her character and their chemistry is exceptional.
The only problem with the show overall is that the chemistry between the two characters is so wonderful that when it is absent, the show suffers. Thus, when there is an arc where Sana and Hayama are separated for whatever reason, the show tends to take a hit in enjoyment. However, the series begins and ends on a strong note between the two, so this isn't as much of a problem as it could have been. Overall, there's a lot to like about Kodocha, and if you like comedies, romances, or likable characters in general, I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy here.

This anime has good animation and a likable lead character but ultimately is somewhat mediocre. For one thing, the plot is not believable. A girl must go into hiding, and thus she is given to a high school student who is absent half the day. She is freely taken into public places, her appearance is not changed, and frequently there are moments where disbelief cannot be suspended at the actions done with this girl who is supposedly "in hiding". This could be ignored if the characters were very good. The lead, Shinkurou, was interesting enough, but very few of the ... other characters are. Murasaki is alright, but somewhat repetitive. The female love interest is dull, while another, more interesting female character from Kurenai's school is ignored for the most part. Frankly the series simply feels a bit aimless.

The premise is handled very well initially - the time travel ability is shown in a humorous manner as the character learns to develop it and use it more and more effectively. Eventually this leads to a dramatic moment that was very heartwrenching and gripping where she finally learn what negative effects it may have. Up until here, the movie was a definite ten. The problem is the sudden appearance of a deus-ex-machina plot device which introduces a sudden sci-fi element which feels completely jarring. Granted, time travel itself is a sci-fi element, but it was handled in a slice-of-life manner. ... In the second half the film suddenly becomes something else entirely, and quite frankly I feel very disappointed.