Usagi Drop is one of them.
While the bare-bones of the story is nothing new, the execution of it was flawless. The growth between Daikichi and Rin is not rushed and you feel as if you are getting the full picture as you watch them struggle to adapt. No scene is pointless as every little moment that they spend together, and apart, strengthens their bond. Never have I seen a story so well paced as this. I was not bored for a second.
Daikichi and Rin's world is brought to life through wonderful use of color and atmosphere. In particular I love that the art style seems almost water colored before the opening credits roll, a little touch that added a lot of enjoyment in my eyes. No corners are cut when it comes to animation, and each scene is full of little details for you to find one your second or third watch of this series.
While music is important for almost all anime, Usagi Drop uses it to full effect. The over all emotion of a scene is perfectly matched with an elegant piece of music, putting full force behind whatever is happening on screen. The music, matched with the incredible talent of the voice actors, left a impression on my soul. So much so that I went and bought the sound track as soon as I was done with the series.
Slice of life anime are character driven, so without strong characters everything falls apart. Every single character was believable, everything from Daikichi's family's reaction to him taking Rin, down to how the characters grew as the show went on. When the show introduces a new character, even if they are only in once episode, the have a purpose. Their interactions are meaningful, and a joy to watch.
Heartwarming. If I were to be asked to sum this anime up into one word, heartwarming would have to be it. As I said before, masterpiece is a subjective word. Everyone will have their own idea one what a masterpiece should and should not be. But to me, Usagi Drop embodies everything that I want from a show.
Usagi Drop has left an impression on me that I will not soon forget. And I am ok with that.
