Short review: Other reviewers have talked plenty about the charm of the series, the humor, the plot, but I'd also like to note that I think this is one of the few anime that really captures the essence of childhood. I can imagine myself as a child behaving and saying many of the things Naru and the other children on the island say/do, including butt-poking, catching bugs and teasing adults about it, and thoughtlessly slapping handprints all over a new boat. What I think makes this series truly great is that it captures the humor and youth of children in a way that other anime series have not - and that is what makes it memorable and worth watching.
