I was watching a bunch of Top 10 Anime videos with a couple of friends just for kicks when one of them recommended this show to me. The guy reviewing the shows was downright embarrassing to listen to, I think it was probably the weird accent, but I guess he must've been pretty good if he got me to watch the show. So with pretty low expectations, I decided to give the show a try.
Story: 8/10
So to begin, the story was pretty original from what I've usually seen and you may even learn something about the history of some of the darker parts of Japanese culture. You have the protagonist, Shinkurou Kurenai, a high schooler, who takes on odd-jobs for his employer, Benika Juuzawa. One day Benika brings a young girl named Murasaki Kuhouin to Shinkurou, asking him to take care of her while she is in hiding from her family. Although Shinkurou seems pretty serious about his work and agrees to the job, he doesn't fully understand how hard it is taking care of another person until he comes home from class to find Murasaki missing after her first day away from home. Without spoiling too much, the rest of the story is about the heartwarming relationship Shinkurou and his neighbors have with Murasaki. At the final stretch of the series (which to me was the most satisfying part) the show changes from a lighthearted slice of life, to a melodrama revolving around the dark past of the Kuhouin family.
Art: 8/10
I really appreciate how the anime uses a different style from the source manga to differentiate itself. Although I haven't read the manga myself, from what I've seen, the changes were well called for. I personally enjoyed the dark color pallet used throughout the show and I thought the character designs were great and very fitting for each of the character's personalities. I also really appreciate how Murasaki actually looked like a kid instead of a typical loli-type character (looking at you manga Murasaki).
Sound: 10/10
The performances were incredibly believable, especially Aoi Yuuki's performance as Murasaki. Yuuki seems to capture that immature brattiness of kids really well without making them seem too unlikable. Miyuki Sawashiro is also very talented in most of her roles and Shinkurou is no exception. The supporting cast also does very well with what little screen time they are given.
The soundtrack is one of my all-time favorites in anime ever. I guarantee you that even if you don't notice it while watching, the dramatic scenes are greatly enhanced with the use of those amazing piano pieces by Ken Muramatsu. From the upbeat slice-of-life tracks to the tempo downed drama tracks, the OST has it all. To this day (at least at the time of the review) I still listen to the OST because it's that good.
Character: 9/10
There was not a single character I disliked, which I think is pretty amazing considering there was only 12 episodes to flesh out each one. Even if the antagonists aren't really the type you're supposed to sympathize with in this show, their motives play a crucial part to the story. Shinkurou's neighbors, Tamaki and Yamie, were the most surprising characters of the story. I don't want to spoil too much, but I think because I didn't really expect much from them, I ended up enjoying their presence and relationship with the kids a lot. A special shout-out to Benkia's assistant, Yayoi, who does a lot more than what she's asked to do.
Enjoyment: 10/10
I love this show with all my heart and even though it's not really smart or special in any way, I was seriously happy watching it. Although it was not long ago when I watch it, I feel a sense of nostalgia just remembering that I had. If I could erase my memories and watch it again with the same low expectations, I would. Sorry to anyone who reads this review though, your expectations might be a little higher because of me.
Overall: 9/10
On my official list I gave the show a 10/10, simply from the enjoyment and comparison to other shows I've watched, but if I had to rate the show in a vacuum, I'd give it a 9. It would be hard for me to recommend this show to other people simply because I can't guarantee that people will experience the same nostalgic feeling I had when watching it. Even so, I hope that whoever reads this review will give it a shot. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my opinion.
