Review Non Non Biyori

 

Hotaru Ichijou is a fifth grader who moves from the big city of Tokyo to the countryside. The school that she now goes to is so small that there are only four other students there that share one classroom. They are the three Koshigaya siblings, Komari and Natsumi as well as their brother (who gets no lines) and a little kid named Renge who is also the younger sister of their lazy teacher. This is the story of their everyday lives.

 

That's one spicy rice ball

Non Non Biyori is a slice of life show pure and simple. Even though it looks like the standard show about four girls who do nothing, I found this show to be interesting and refreshing. For me the main reason is that even though the show sticks to the slice of life premise it knows to switch things up from the Manzai routine that seems to take center stage in most shows like this (even if it is still present with Komari being the Tsukomi and Natsume being the boke).

 

The funky fairy

This is a show that knows how to be cute without being cloying and does this mostly through Renge who is excellent in delivering wackiness with a straight face. She is also good for bringing a more human touch to some segments. Hotaru is also an above average main character for a slice of life show and her city mouse knowledge and obsession over Komari enrich the show. The use of nature in this show is also a nice touch and allows the show to fulfill the iyashikei premise that many slice of life shows have.

 

Yup all of the nature is in this show

Overall I found Non Non Biyori to be one of the best examples of what I slice of life type of show can actually accomplish and if you want to see a good example of that genre there are few shows better than Non non Biyori.

 

Rating The silver gondola (Aria) For being a well above average slice of life show.