"What's your secret?"
For Kakushi Goto, everything changed the day Hime was born. Holding his newborn daughter in his arms, the doctor asks Goto, "Hey, aren't you that manga artist? I read Balls of Fury all the time!" To which a nurse responds, "Oh I know, it's that really dirty one!" ... From that moment on, Goto's life of secrecy began.
From the author of Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei and Joshiraku, Kouji Kumeta and Studio Ajia-do bring us Kakushigoto - the story of a gag mangaka who has vowed to keep his job a secret from his daughter.
Kakushigoto is a lot of things. It's a meta-commentary on the manga industry, it's a workplace comedy, it's a wholesome family slice-of-life, and it's a mystery/drama. Despite a loaded portfolio, Kakushigoto tells its story in a succinct 12 episodes. It's a character-driven narrative backed by excellent writing, stellar voice acting, and a simple, yet charming art design.
Kouji Kumeta's appealing pop-art manga style translates fluently into anime form, but it's his writing that carries Kakushigoto. Goto and Hime are an adorable main duo, their daddy-daughter interplay is rife with lessons about parenting, communication, and learning social cues. The supporting cast covers a range of personalities and perspectives, adding many layers to a seemingly simple plot.
And that's the thing that'll hook you to Kakushigoto. On the surface, it's just a light-hearted comedy, but beneath that is a mystery that grows more suspenseful with each passing episode. By the end, I was deeply invested in Goto-sensei and Hime's story, and episode 12 offers a satisfying conclusion to that season-long build-up.
Kouji Kumeta once again proves his chops as a master storyteller. Kakushigoto was an emotional rollercoaster and I couldn't be happier with its entire presentation. The secret's out - Kakushigoto is a must-watch for 2020!!
Jun 18, 2020
What did you think of this review?
Nice
7
Love it
0
Funny
0
Show all