After reading the synopsis, I was quite hesitant to start Barakamon. I thought for sure i wouldn't find something like a calligraphy focused anime interesting. Boy i was wrong, i definitely could not have been more wrong.
|Objective Review|
|Story/Plot|
Calligraphy, something that seems a bit boring at first. However, Barakamon makes you realize the meaning and depth behind it. It shows off the passion and emotions behind such works. The anime progresses at a great pace, maintaining the interest of the viewers.
The focus is evenly distributed to all aspects of the anime. We get a deep look at calligraphy, the characters, the village. Barakamon really keeps things fresh and varied until the very end.
The story as a whole is very solid. The main story line nothing outstanding (finding the lost inspiration), but since it's so well worked out, it gives a solid foundation for the anime. It has a beginning, a great development, and a spectacular finish. A beautifully arched story-line that doesn't lose focus of what it wants.
Story Score - 9
|Slice of life|
What can i say, even I who has the emotions of a small rock at the bottom of the ocean got inspired by this heart warming story of a lost man trying to find his path and personal touch in his life and career. A great message supported by pillar morals like friends, family and listening to your heart. What keeps it outstanding from other animes, is how it connects all these messages to calligraphy. The two really work well together.
|Comedy|
I was honestly not expecting too much comedy, but it was a very pleasant surprise. All the jokes and fun times were natural, nothing forced. It all came so naturally, nothing of the usual cliches. Barakamon utilized the forms of comedy to perfection, varying situational, environmental and verbal jokes. It really complemented the laid-back and relaxed ambiance of the anime.
|Characters|
Wonderful character choices. It's all natural. None of them are forced characters, they are rather someone who you can encounter easily in real life. There are no extreme characters, yet they are still so unique and different. As far as character development goes, we shouldn't look at the individual characters, but rather how they evolve as a big family. Obviously, the main characters get their fair share of character development, but it's really the community that grabs the attention of the viewer.
Character Score - 9
|Art|
Being a somewhat art related anime, the visuals do deliver as expected. I was pleasantly surprised by how consistent it was.
Art Score - 8
|Sound|
The voice acting was super fun and cute. They really out-did themselves this time. The soundtracks go well with the scenes and the opening was especially nice for me.
Sound Score - 7
|The whole package|
As i have already mentioned, this anime is much more than what meets the eye. If you want to run away from the stressful city life like Seishuu Handa did, and just relax, get inspiration, warm up you heart or perhaps just to get a good laugh, then this anime is surely for you.
Overall score - 9
|Subjective Review| (SPOILER alert)
Boy oh boy. First of all, i loved all of their characters so much. Fun, laid back and cute. Just the right people for me. But what really got me is when Handa went back to Tokyo and had a talk with his mom about going back to the village. The fact that he found someplace that he can call home, was just sooo emotional for me. that was For me, who never really got to know a place which i could call home, this really made become a crybaby for at least 20 mins. When he opened the box sent to him, well that totally killed me. I don't thihnk i have ever cried this hard and felt this happy for a fictional character. Due to this, the anime gets a unquestionable 11.
Subjective Score - 11/10
