1) Story
The basic background of the story really isn't all that new. There have been stories over "the battle for the throne" for forever, however Joukamachi no Dandelion revisits this idea with a fresh twist. The concept of having a democratic election in a monarchy is utterly unique and was really the biggest draw for me. And even though the anime mainly revolves around the campaign, the story itself is still more an inside look at a family who just happen to be royalty and a year in their lives leading up to an all-important election to decide who will be the next king.
2) Art
I love the art all-around. The style is nice and clean, the animated effects were done very well, and the background was vibrant but not distracting. Absolutely perfect.
3) Sound
Typical sounds such as special effects, voice acting, ect. were very good, but that's not what I want to focus on! I'm the type who will typically watch the OP and ED of an anime once or twice so that I know it, but then I want to just skip it and get to the actual anime. Joukamachi no Dandelion is an exception. I absolutely had to listen to them, there were no if's, and's, or but's about it! Even while writing this review, Ring Ring Rainbow!! is still playing in the back of my mind~!
4) Characters
I adored the cast of characters in Joukamachi no Dandelion. Since the siblings were the focal point for the series, of course, we saw a lot of them. However, how do you properly showcase nine characters in a 12-episode-long anime? Not only that but how do you manage to give them any depth of character? Well, I have no idea how they did it, but the makers of Joukamachi no Dandelion managed it. I personally would have liked to see more of the two youngest siblings, but thinking about it logically I know it would have been a time waster to put more airtime on two characters that were obviously not seriously in the running for the crown. Now in saying that, I believe that they both do get sufficient time to showcase their personalities and play their own role in the big picture. Speaking of personalities, there are a lot! Each sibling has their own story and character to round out, and somehow in 12 episodes we get to see it all. Not only do we get to personally know the siblings and get a sneak-peek into their private lives, but the makers of Joukamachi no Dandelion somehow also found a way to add in some insight into the parents as well!
To finish off I'm going to bundle Enjoyment and Overall together since in my mind they're kind of one in the same. There wasn't a dull moment in this entire anime. I loved every second of it. I was able to get so immersed in the story and get to know the cast of characters so well. This could have easily been drawn out into a more lengthy series, but it wasn't. And it's one of the rare times where I feel like the length of the anime was just right. I leave feeling happy and fulfilled. And I hope that anyone who chooses to watch Joukamachi no Dandelion leaves feeling the same.
