What an absolute hidden treasure this is. It is soft. Soothing. Mellow. Thoughtful, even.
The art is stellar. The Cubs are amazingly detailed and the CGI blends well with its given setting. The utilization of colors to match the emotions of Koguma, the main character, breathes life in scenes that appear to be simple and mundane. The contrast between the muted color palettes and vibrancy when Koguma mounts her Cub for the first time, with her showing her cute, yet slightly broken smile as it marks the beginning of her life being filled with color... that cannot be explained with words alone.
Interactions between Koguma and the other characters feel genuine, with Reiko in particular. The show nails the chemistry and the exchanges between extroverted and introverted characters. Nothing is being forced on to Koguma by Reiko, and the latter doesn't immediately jump at every opportunity to get in Koguma's face. Events flow smoothly from one to the next, and each of Koguma's milestones feels natural, like they aren't exaggerated in ways other anime would've portrayed them to be. The minimal dialogue in scenes ironically adds more to their respective moments, and the show executes "show, don't tell" in a satisfactory manner. The thematic link between the growth of Koguma and her Super Cub is also a pleasure to watch. For each part that Koguma adds to her Cub, it also symbolizes the parts that she's steadily adding to her life. Her first time breaking away from the rigid tempo of home/school/sleep. Making her first friend. Finding her first job. It all ties in with Koguma's journey with her Cub.
The sound, god the sound. The purring of the Super Cub fills my ears with contentment. The classical music that is injected with a tinge of melancholy and loneliness allows me to wind down as I watch Koguma ride her Cub. Even sound effects that would be typically ignored like the rice cooker in the background further adds into the atmosphere, which only gets me further invested into its world. The small things, when added up, builds themselves into something truly magnificent.
Super Cub is nothing revolutionary, but for what it is trying to convey, it has achieved with flying colors thus far. It is crafted with love and the attention to detail it deserves, all while managing to stay unpretentious. Never would I have thought that this would be the series I'd be looking forward to watch the most every week. A solid recommend that exceeded expectations.
