Kamichu! is about a middle school kid who becomes a god, in the shinto sense, and how her life changes as a result of that. She explores the supernatural world while maintaining her friendships, having wild, supernatural (and otherworldly) adventures, and trying to get the attention of her crush. It's a charming show that I would describe as being a bit Ghibly-esque. This is, to my mind, anime at its best, a well executed, character driven coming-of-age that incorporates elements that would be difficult to pull off in a live-action film. All the while, it doesn't pander to otaku or the so-called "male gaze". It's a pity then that it's not really the kind of thing that anime audiences really go for.
The main character, Yurie, the titular chuugakusei no kami-sama, is an innocent girl, even for a middle schooler, which contrasts well against her more worldly friends. Nevertheless, no one is too precocious - we get believable renders of a cast of kids that age. The adventures are driven by the newly attained godhood of Yurie, who struggles to make sense of the world she now occupies.
The show is a bit like Non Non Biyori in that it's about a group of friends doing kid stuff and being charming, but with the supernatural twist that accompanies our main character being a literal god. It is a 1980s period piece set in Onomichi on the coast of Japan's Inland Sea. It thrives on the off-kilter stories it tells and the relaxing atmosphere it creates. It's genuinely wholesome, not "wholesome with caveats" as so many shows given the label are, and while I like it a lot, I think it might bore many viewers. It's a bit like Tonari no Totoro, a film that I think is special but cannot fault anyone for dismissing. Overall, it's a cozy fairytale and not much more, but that's really all I want out of it.
