Reviews

Mizuiro is a touching little OVA that is convoluted, cute, and unapologetically 2000s. It's one of those things so easily forgotten in the rush of time, that I think regardless deserves more attention than it gets as a fun romance anime. Beginning with the story, it must be recognized as this anime's greatest strength. It sets up the viewer with this complicated, bizarre love story, involving broken promises, toy rings, yo-yos, and the supernatural. It unfolds with expert pacing for an anime so short, filled with charming, natural character interactions, and conflicts which build tension and resolve themselves exactly when they're supposed to. When paired with light comedy that doesn't feel desperate for laughs, the whole thing takes on this poignant yet lighthearted character that fits the show perfectly. This emotional intelligence permeates the show, even exhibiting itself in the art. The art has this colorful, playful aesthetic, establishing its own style while also embodying all the best and most nostalgic aspects of anime from 2003. Of course, it does have some flaws which betray a limited budget, but these are so subtle that one can think of them simply as artifacts of the style itself, if you notice them at all that is. The sound is quite good, with sensitively tuned sounds of life, and a soundtrack that fits the theme flawlessly. However, the voice acting, while generally good, does drop in quality during certain moments, and these are indeed noticeable. The characters are strong, fitting perfectly into this story, and of them I liked Kenji and Yuki the best, as I believe the step-sibling duo are the most three-dimensional by way of the screentime they're given in relation to even characters like Hiyori, their spectral best friend from childhood. Overall, Mizuiro is a cute, unique OVA that I can easily recommend, especially if you have a special place in your heart for distinctive romance plots, or anime from 2003.