Viewers unacquainted with Non Non Biyori would quickly find themselves surrounded by rich earth, wholesome greenery, savoury blue skies, as have I when starting the series. Experiencing the first episode was akin to enjoying hot brewed tea, in that one could go through it at an amiable and relaxed pace, where upon completion, one would feel a sense of tranquility that comes with drinking some damn good tea. Non Non Biyori strikes me as a competent show that sets and sticks with its pace throughout, evident from the very first episode, with each sequence happening in vignettes. Also, the relaxing nuance and tone set by its writers was enjoyable and well worthy of praise, hardly have I seen an all girls Slice-of-Life without the crazy and whacky characters getting into dumb antics cause LOL random.
Further inspection into this show yields greater insights into what makes Non Non Biyori such a fantastic ride through and through.
We start off with Hotaru, having just moved into the village, she makes new friends with her classmates in her new school. They now go on about their daily lives, experience adventures and have fun in the idyllic mountains. This series captures such instances of their daily lives. As per the slice of life genre, this show lacks an overarching plot and acts merely as an eyepiece to what any character may be up to at any moment of time.
For most of Non Non Biyori, we find ourselves watching events through the perspective of Hotaru, occasionally with wide-eyed wonder as the new environments hide many surprises. Among the new sights and sounds, we encounter the other main characters of Non Non Biyori as well, with personalities as varied as as the landscapes we see throughout the show.
Komachi flutters from mature upperclassman to a clumsy and precocious character, while Natsumi, her sister, portrays a carefree, lackadaisical personality that is tempered with occasional ingenuity and common sense.
Renge is opaque, a brick wall, albeit, an entertaining brick wall, as most six-year olds are, and also my favourite character. Yes I share the same opinion as all other viewers.
The brother is there as well.
Hotaru remains neutral, and behind this neutrality hides repressed childlike curiosity and excitement, given that she is twelve years old after all. (Yes, do not let appearances fool you, she is twelve. Because Anime.)
Add in the colourful side characters and this show‘s writers have crafted a powerful, nuanced driving force behind its narrative. It is clear that love was put into creating such a delightful cast, the most important feature in a slice of life anime.
(Yes, this is a long segment. What do you expect? Characters are the quintessential part of Slice of Life anime, with no other grand narrative or ultimate objective to move towards, and the only draw for watchers. No doubt I would allocate a large portion of my word count to elaborating on this aspect of the show. Back to the review.)
Visually, Non Non Biyori is a treat. Finely painted backdrops of natural environments are prevalent throughout the series, acting as focal points for the current narrative, usually shown through a long pan or still frame, giving the premise a scenic feel. Also let me try out my amateur film analysis here. This director is also fond of zooming in on still objects as a form of cutting between scenes, a technique that helps to maintain immersion for the viewer, and also helping reinforce the message of the show, to “Take life easy.” just as our cast have. Thus, such a technique diverts our attention from the action, just as one strays their eyes when relaxing, fixating attention on something normally of little interest.
The aesthetic is also bright, cheerful and easy on the eyes as plenty of colours are mixed to give calming hues and add ambience. In terms of character animation, sadly, they are not as intricate or meticulous as the backdrops, but are just as serviceable.
Character designs are endearing, where Renge’s hair is like an insect and is adorable and her mouth which is always a triangle no matter what is happening and other character quirks that are too cute to handle and………...Well, you get the idea. The characters are all distinct and serve their roles competently. It has a strong “anime” flavour to it, to put bluntly. Still, Kudos to Silver Link Studio here, the way they made their immersive forests, scenic hills and soothing natural environments shows their visual design to be outstanding and well worthy of praise.
t made me feel like I had stepped out of my room into beautiful nature, which is nice because I do not leave my room.
Enjoyment can also be found when listening to its soundtrack. Many of these arrangements sound unique and all carry the same distinct nostalgic flavour. Sound design is also top notch, when immersing viewers in the sounds of the great outdoors: cicadas, the sound of summer heat, cows mooing and so on. Sounds like a quiet village indeed. The opening and ending songs are on point as well, full of personality and life. I do not have much more to say, except that I have the soundtrack on my IPod. It is good.
All in all, Non Non Biyori understands its role: to provide one with relaxing entertainment, and pushes to do so through engaging storytelling, affable comedy and crafting an immersive, beautiful world. It is far from a technical masterpiece, yet it does not need to be one, to spark a sense of nostalgia in its audience, welcoming them home with open arms. Non Non Biyori is a work that boasts great accessibility and equally great enjoyment, a must-try for anyone interested in the Slice-of-Life genre.
I gave it all 10s ?
