The story: 6/10
I don't mind the mystery genre, but the way Hyouka chained the characters to their high school really limited what mysteries they could take on. I had a lot of trouble keeping my attention focused because the issues they were solving just weren't that interesting. The most interesting mystery is done fairly early in the series, and that left me with stuff like "who stole the cooking utensil from the cooking club?" sort of deals. I know this show was more about it's characters than it's "events" but boy there is a lot of mundane talking that you have to sit through for what the show gives you.
The Art: 8/10
I love Kyoto's art style, especially with their character designs and creative fantasy-like stylistic look they often delve into. Hyouka was no exception, and if there's anywhere the series shines it's here. I especially love how vibrantly color is used in the backdrops and within the character's eyes. At one point Chitanda's hair grows out and sprouts a garden of flowers and vines. Forget realistic, that kind of artistic vision is what guaranteed I'd finish the show. Those instances were few throughout the rest of the show however, and the art remained only pleasant and respectably enjoyable compared to the other works I've seen animated by the studio.
The character: 5/10
A large part of what made this anime difficult to give my full attention was that it's characters were uninteresting. Chitanda was adorable and at times hilarious as she clumsily attempted to be a successful president but her character never developed much beyond her one-sided "I'm curious!" role. Likewise the other characters were pretty simplistic, and when character development finally happens it feels rushed and somewhat forced. For a story that relies on it's characters so heavily it was hard for me to get attached to what was going on when the characters were so static and one dimensional.
The sound: 7/10
A couple of soundtrack songs really stood out and helped bring out an emotional side to this anime. I enjoyed the first opening too, it set a level of emotional impact that the rest of the anime rarely rose up to. I wish the story of Hyouka delved deeper into the character's struggles or set some type of serious problem that the viewer could get carried away by because the music was good enough that it would have relieved the proper kick for a more emotional ride.
Overall I didn't regret seeing Hyouka but it felt rather empty when I compare it to the other projects Kyoto has worked on. Still I applaud them for trying a mystery anime, it shows they think outside the box and will take risks to be truly unique. If you seriously love Kyoto's art and character style then go for it but otherwise I think a synopsis will do nicely.
