Our main character, Seishuu Honda (often referred to as Sensei) is a struggling calligraphist trying to find himself and his own personal art style. He still has the maturity of a child, which is both unfortunate and fortunate for him. He acts on his impulse to punch a high-standing calligrapher judge in the face. Seishuu’s father sends him to live on Fukue Island for awhile to cool his head.
It was fun to watch Seishuu grow as he met the kids on the Island and came to slowly open up and accept himself. The show was a wonderful mix of comedy to heartwarming, and gives a brief glimpse into life in semi-rural Japan. The pacing was nice and had some great moments of comedic timing. It manages to pass on an uplifting moral without having to be overly-positive. Though it can come across as a bit campy at times, it’s a good kind of camp.
My only downside would be that the show included a 'fujioshi' character and used her as a reoccurring joke. She was used for a few laughs, but was a more appealing character when she was just acting normal. Still, she’s a side character and only in a few skits so she can be easily overlooked.
The voice acting (especially for the kids!) was amazing. The children sounded like children, realistic screeches and voice cracks and all. The children ACTED like kids! The author had a fantastic grasp on the childhood mind and what it means to be mature or immature.
Definitely a series I could see myself rewatching. I wish there was a little more but at the same time I’m very pleased with this 12-episode season. All-in-all: a very good show!
