The first aspect of this anime that immediately caught my eye was the exquisite background art. The first few moments of the first episode was lots of establishing shots of beautiful countryside, and it evoked a wonderful, peaceful feeling. There are seasonal changes too! Much like Vivaldi's Four Seasons, the series perfectly captures the unique feel of each season.
Another aspect of this show I love is the music! Hidamari Michi to Ren-chon, the first song that plays, soothes me so much. I love how the song perfectly fits the transition from establishing shots to Renge playing her recorder. I listen to the whole soundtrack regularly, while writing, because it relaxes me so much.
The characters are so cute! Renge is my favourite; I love every scene that she is in. I love the stoic expression she has most of the time, I love her curious nature, I love her unique naming sense, I love her talents; Renge is best girl.
Side note: this anime may have been what triggered my love of Shoujo Ai and Yuri, due to Hotaru's adorable crush on Koma-chan.
This series reminds me very much of my early childhood. I grew up on an Island, in a house that was about a kilometer from the main village. The elementary school was pretty small, not as small as the one in Non Non Biyori, but still pretty small. I spent a lot of time enjoying nature and catching small creatures as a small child. I bought snacks with pocket change at the store. Basically, Non Non Biyori reminds me of my childhood, with rose-tinted glasses. This show fills me with a nice sense of familiarity.
Overall, I give Non Non Biyori a 10/10! I love the art, the music, the characters, and the sense of familiarity from living in a small village myself. The only flaw I can see with this show is the super slow pace; some audiences may not be able to enjoy it because of that. Another show I recommend is K-On, which is also a CGDCT show.
