From the get-go, Barakamon is different from your average anime. The premise is unique, but simple. The main character is not a high-schooler, but an adult with profession. Calligraphy is a subject that is never touched upon in any other stories, let alone be one of the main themes.
Actually, this anime is unusual in almost every regard. Rather than trying to be explicit, it tries to be subtle and calming. Instead of advancing its story with drama, it does so almost purely with character interactions. And, most of all, it does not take itself (too) seriously.
Just like the calligraphy shown, Barakamon possesses an overwhelming subtlety that is very rare in this medium. The characters don't just change suddenly and in a huge way, but have a gradual progression that feels just too real. And that is another huge thing, every character feels like someone you could meet in real life and genuinely talk to, without feeling too generic.
Seishuu or Sensei (that is how the islanders call him) is incredibly easy to relate to. He has all of the insecurities that plague every city dweller and some others that anyone who likes to write or paint can understand. The way he describes the "tingling" that is inspiration is beautiful and something that I, personally, understood instantly.
There is also the matter of the way the anime is crafted. Each one of its 12 episodes includes either one or two, mostly, self-contained stories. But each one of them has its own significance to the characters, despite not having that huge influence on them, just like in real life. Actually, a couple of weeks back I was talking about this, that the exciting things on life are actually the small stuff that adds up with time and creates wonderful memories, that is also what Barakamon defends, at least to me.
By the end of the anime, I was kind of broken inside: I wanted to continue seeing these characters grow, bit by bit. But it also made me realize (again) how magical life is. How every single thing you has an effect to someone and can end up changing them. I felt something unique, something that was, at the same time, depressing, hopeful, happy, sad and wonderful.
The visual style is also very subtle, but barebones. There is not a whole lot of detail most of the times and the body proportions of the kids is exaggerated but, damn, I thought it was wonderful and captured everything that is great about this story. The calligraphy that is shown in the anime is beautiful, specially if you try to analyze it, as it can mean a lot more than what it seems to be at first glance.
The voice acting deserves note, as well. Normally, kids in animation are dubbed by woman speaking in a higher pitch, but in Barakamon the kids are dubbed by actual kids and, boy, they just nail it. They completely understand these characters and give them life. And the voice actors of the older characters are also pretty amazing.
I enjoyed every single moment of this anime in a way that is extremely rare. It is everything that I think a story should be: entertaining, but deep, fun, but also slightly intellectual, believable, but with a touch of magic and charm. I watched it in just one sitting (with one small pause to eat), but I regret doing that, as I should have taken my time with it and savored each episode with calm and attention.
Part of the reason I loved every second of it is how easily I related with the protagonist. We are both trying to find our own styles in our respective mediums. This fact, for sure, influenced my enjoyment of the show and I don't know if I would have felt this way if I hadn't been in a similar situation to that of Seishuu.
From this day forward, not only this is now my favorite anime of all time, it will also be the anime I will recommend to anyone that doubts the validity of this medium. It is just that wonderful. And I think that anyone who is okay with an anime in which "nothing" happens should watch it, as it is exactly what a great Slice-of-Life should be. I would also recommend it to anyone who is a bit depressed with life, as it can be completely revitalizing with its various teachings and philosophy.
