Anime is a medium that allows us to see some crazy combinations, from legendary heroes battling over an immortal object to drills that will pierce the heavens. But other times, anime allows us to sit back, relax, and mellow out to simply enjoy the fun antics happening on-screen. In Non Non Biyori, the show does just that, leaving you with a warm feeling when all is said and done.
STORY
Non Non Biyori sets itself up by introducing a new character in the beginning, her name being Hotaru. She just recently moved from the city to the country and has joined the other (only) four students at the school.
Non Non Biyori is a slice of life anime. As such, my small premise has little merit as to what actually goes on throughout the rest of the show. When it comes to the episodic nature of an anime like this, it isn't important to really have an over-arcing plot that drives the narrative. And NNB does a great job in this regard.
The majority of the actual episodes/arcs are fine for what they are. However, certain arcs stick out more so than others. Without spoiling too much, I'll talk about some of my favorite arcs and what they did so well.
The first one to really grab my attention was the one featuring Ren and her same-aged neighbor friend. This arc really captures what the show does well, and that is showing off the characters doing everyday things. The arc featured little dialogue, not only because Ren and her friend are children (meaning they wouldn't have deep conversations with each other to begin with) but also because it is the way in which they interacted with one another that easily showed off how good of friends they truly were. It was incredibly simple yet very touching.
Another great arc features Hotaru, Koma, and a same-aged neighbor once again. This arc I found demonstrated the comedy of the show quite nicely. It played up Koma's insecurity about being older yet more immature than her friends. It's combination of reaction faces, dead-pan humor, and adult-oriented jokes made me really enjoy this arc fully.
Last one, and perhaps everyone's favorite, is the small story featuring Ren and "Candy Store". This one was very sweet and made you feel extremely happy when watching it. It gave off this mother-daughter vibe between the two that I found to be so lovable. They did a nice job of making you see just how much those two care about one another, and when the arc ended, I was definitely making an audible "Aww!"
There are more than just these three, but these are the ones that stuck out to me the most. Almost all of the arcs are at least fine in quality (whether that be comedy, "feels", etc.) but you will come to find that some are just better than the others.
ANIMATION
There isn't much to say here. In terms of actual animation, there isn't much to be had. What the show does well despite this is the art style and backdrops. NNB makes you truly feel as if the characters are residing in the countryside. There are wide shots with many trees and open fields. There is the lone car that passes by on the never-busy road. The characters also walk by many rice fields and animal farms. During the show, they sometimes allude to the fact that where they live is not the city, and the art of the show really helps to encapsulate this feeling.
Besides the animation and art, I liked the look/design of the characters. Notably, while Hotaru and Koma are rather "plain-Jane" looking, Natsumi and Ren are pretty uniquely designed, at least comparatively among the other cast members.
CHARACTERS
Non Non Biyori gives us characters that are just straight up fun.
Probably the best among them is Ren. I like kids a lot, so I'm a bit biased when I say I really liked her character. She's inquisitive and kind, but just smart enough to understand the many scenarios they are put in. A lot of her charm comes from the way she says certain things or how she acts like a kid her age would. She isn't one of the best child characters but she was always fun to see.
Komari probably comes second character-wise. I think what I enjoyed most about her was again her child-like attitude and antics. Plus, her voice actress did a very good job. A lot of the time Komari is the butt-end of the jokes, whether this be about her height or her ineptitude at cooking. But overall, she shines best when interacting with her sister Natsumi and her good friend Hotaru.
Speaking of Hotaru, she is probably the most interesting of the bunch. Besides coming from Tokyo (in the sense a "foreigner"), she actually is the most mature (in terms of personality and, strangely, puberty). On top of this, she has this semi-yuri crush towards Komari that is surprisingly hilarious. She is rather plain in appearance (perhaps even generic) but she interacts well with the other characters.
Last but not least is Natsumi. Personifying tomboys from across the globe, she revels in lame puns, messing with her sister, and just staying optimistic in all situations. I liked her and her sister's relationship; it wasn't "I'm older than you", it was more "we are really good friends."
That probably best explains the character's interactions between each other. They are all really, really good friends.
SOUND
For me, the OP and ED were not too outstanding. The OP has this beginning part to the track (literally the first five seconds) that reminds me of underwater levels in video games. The ED is definitely very child-like with its singing and use of instruments, and fit nicely with the shows themes.
I particularly found the rest of the soundtrack to be pretty good. Like the art style, it evoked feelings of the country. For many of the pieces, they would remind me of The Legend of Zelda village themes or general outdoor areas. They have a certain fantastical feel to them that I enjoyed. Furthermore, like the ED, some of them seemed like they were more "playful" (that is, performed with children in mind) and always put a smile on my face.
In terms of the voice acting, I think everyone did an above average job in each of their performances. Special shout-outs to Natsumi, Ren, Hotaru, and Koma!
ENJOYMENT
This show definitely puts you in a good mood. It's very relaxing, with the right amount of comedy and happy feelings. It's not dramatic nor is it suspenseful. When you're watching you know you can just sit back a bit and enjoy the humorous nature of the cast.
I can't say I absolutely loved this one, but it is for sure very enjoyable.
SUMMARY
Story: Good, slice of life arcs with some stand-out favorites
Animation: Good, country-style art is pleasing and atmospheric
Characters: Good, likable and lovable
Sound: Good, OP and ED are average but soundtrack and VAs nailed it
Enjoyment: Good, chill out and have some fun
Final Score: 7/10
