The setting itself is a character in Non Non Biyori. It has a relationship with the characters and it helps them grow and develop. This is amplified by the minimalistic but beautiful art design that accompanies the show. The simple colors add to the personality of the setting, and beautiful backgrounds help give the audience an emotional core to latch onto. This allows for the audience to feel the same emotional connection to the setting as the characters. Thus allowing the drama of the narrative to be more immersive.
Then there is the characters themselves, who are simple yet enjoyable to watch. The shows narrative basically consists of situations that the setting puts them in. And what makes this narrative so compelling is the characters themselves. Each character has a very different personality that when clash together make for good television. Furthermore what makes this show so much better than other moe-girl shows is how the characters grow throughout the story. The characters grow by learning to face these situations that are presented to them. Each episode a character learns something about growing up or themselves. But the real crowning goal of Non Non Biyori’s story is the relationships of the characters. Without these very specific relationships that are made possible by the setting; the show would be no different from the usual moe fare. These relationships are great because each of them has a few specific quirks that work well with the other character’s quirks. It’s this perfect balance of quirks that makes them work so well.
There are other pieces of merit within Non Non Biyori as well. For example, there is great comedic delivery given to us from visual presentation of the film. Great timing and shot composition give the comedy the spark that the show needs to stay entertaining. Furthermore the music of the show is very adorable and fitting, and it gives the show the tone and character it needs.
So overall Non Non Biyori gives the medium of anime a strong addition into the slice-of-life genre, and it is a show that can encourage other moe slice-of-life anime to properly use its setting and relationships to create an emotional core for the world presented in the show but also for the people watching.
