Anime dealing with various themes about actual reality are rare. Most of the time, we get a semi-realistic settings that does not manage to capture the feeling of living in a real world.
Usagi Drop is one of those rare shows that really touch upon the real world scenario, bringing up one of the most complicated times in ones life; raising a child.
To put it simply, Usagi Drop follows the story of Daikichi, a 30 year old salesman who adopts Rin, the illegitimate child of his grandfather.
It may sound like a simple slice of life about an adult raising a child (and it is) but it's how that said adult deals with the act and actions that really makes the show shine. From Daikichi's point of view, we see how he raises up his adopted daughter, shifting his job, attending gatherings and mingling with other parents. As someone who has never raised a child and lacking in knowledge, one can truly see Daikichi's inexperience during conversations and interacting with the people he never really expected to talk and relate to. Of course, as the show progresses, so does his development, being one of the main highlight of the series. You get to see how Daikichi gets a hand of things from simplistic ones like enrolling and fetching Rin from a daycare to more pressing issues like changing the sheets after a case of "child night bedsheet wetting". He develops from this inexperienced, young adult to a loving, caring father.
Furthering the show's charm is none other than Rin herself. Most people would find kids to be annoying crybabies who run around only to hurt themselves and cry some more. Rin is not that kind of kid. Sure, there's quite a characterization to make her stand out but it's that very same characterization that makes her just fun to watch. Her carefree and up-ish attitude is more enjoyable than annoying. Watching her interact and move about innocently feels very warming and smile-worthy. Like seeing two young toddlers, a boy and a girl, promise to get married sometime in the future.
Backing up the show is a unique and simple art style involving pastels and light colors, very fitting for a series such as this. The character designs are quite neat and the backgrounds are light and beautifully drawn. Both aspects just balance well and are pleasing to the eyes, making the show much more relaxed, of course, as a compliment.
This is all accompanied by a wonderful soundtrack consisting of xylophones, pianos and violins to bring about musical emotion and serenity to the scenes. It's all so simple yet so... elegant and heartwarming.
A heartfelt and relaxing watch.
A show that tells and shows the happiness and difficulty about raising a child isn't really aimed at "regular" audience, but it makes for a good change of pace from all the cliche action shows you see everywhere these days.
