Beautiful Bones -Sakurako's Investigation-

I'm going to start off by saying that I loved! Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru. Personally I thought it had a really great story, character (to a certain extent) and a good sense of enjoyment. Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru is maybe a 7.0 out of 10 on the dark story meter. What I mean by that is the story focuses a lot (judging by if you read the title of the show lol) bones, death dead bodies etc. There is horror in it, however it is natural horror, it's not like an all in your face look atthe bones look at the dead bodes blah blah horror that we usually see in anime's like this one. Another thing I liked about the story was the pacing. Overall the stories pacing of events going on are slow, however the writers do a great job of making this slow pace less annoying by adding additional mystery or mysterious elements. For example they will throw in a detective setting to keep things interesting, like "what was the motive for this murder?" etc. The music is "fitting" for the show. It is the type of music you what expect to hear in a show that revolves around death and mystery. Lastly, the art. The art style used in the show looks like something from late 2010's so nothing too special to point out other than Sakurako is kind of hot. Overall I think this show would be great for anyone to watch in their spare time however I do not think it's for everyone. Overall I give it 9/10 for that nostalgic sense of mystery and wonder.

Her name isn’t Sherlock Holmes but that doesn’t mean Sakurako can’t solve mysteries. Beautiful Bones: Sakurako’s Investigations, a series based off of the light novel, is a TV anime adaptation that takes place in Asahikawa City. The main female protagonist is a beauty named Sakurako Kujo with an intellect and fascination for bones. She specializes her time in studying bones and examines them like a form of art. Behind those bones usually lies a mystery whether it’d be the remains of an animal or human. In essence, the series is a mystery adventure. Almost every episode opens up to a story and reads like a bookwhere we get the introduction of a case, the problem, clues, and resolution. Key players in each mystery case has some direct or indirect connection to the series’ themes. Throughout the show, family has been a key element as we often see how cases relate to deceased relatives and their effects on loved ones. Sakurako often finds herself involved in mystery cases because of a young boy named Shoutarou. Their relationship is rather strange as well as Sakurako refers Shoutarou often as “boy” rather by his given name. There’s also cryptic flashbacks about Sakurako that suggests she has suffered a tragedy that involved the death of a loved one, perhaps bearing resemblance to Shoutarou. But for the majority of the run, the show runs on the structure of an episodic style where mystery sometimes doesn’t see just eye to eye. With the amount of mystery, it’s hard to deny that there’s some pacing issues. The first episode only sets up the general concept of the series while the majority of the remaining ones mostly adapts a non-linear story. However, it still offers enough thoughtful mystery-thriller to hook the audience. This is because every mystery involves bones and as each bone is different, there’s a diverse range of ways the series takes interest about itself. Sakurako’s interest about bones is also highlighted easily with her fascination. She’s the type of woman with a level headed coolness and possesses an intimidating intellect. On the other hand, Shoutarou is more of the typical schoolboy who tries to make a difference. The two are hardly alike but does manage their time together to solve cases. Other prominent characters includes Yuriko, a girl who attends the same school as Shoutarou and sometimes also gets involved with mystery cases. Most of the other characters that we see in the show plays a supporting role that includes a teacher, police officer, or even a family dog. A few of them also gets some characterization but mostly related to the cases. Because the show isn’t really all about the ‘who’ but rather than the ‘why’, the characterization of the series is generally dense. Mystery shows like this is also crafted by its thrilling atmosphere. There are some episodes that are prime examples of this such as the case of “The Cursed Man”. Then, there are some rather sincere cases about family like the one about Yuriko’s grandmother. This can be a hit or a miss and sometimes can feel distracting. As I’ve mentioned before, pacing of the show is really a nag. At times, it offers a twisty, stylistic mystery with promise while other times leaves disappointment in the eyes of a boring resolution. It still relies on some old school mystery formula and recycled ideas that isn’t so thrilling. This doesn’t help by Shoutarou’s personality as he is a guy with little characterization but plays as more of a supporting player at each case. Sakurako is also a character that is quite mysterious from the very start. Throughout some episodes, she sometimes gets moments that triggers her past memories. As the show progresses, I think it’s safe to say that sometimes, it’s more about coping with death rather than mysteries themselves. It offers a more realistic side for this show as well as an emotional one based on character stories. It can even feel like the time when you find an old picture album in the attic and appeal with a sense of nostalgia. At other times, the show retorts to its comedic side with some humorous scenarios and dialogues. By general means, the comedy feels pretty natural through conversations. And finally, don’t expect much romance. While the promotional poster seems to look like a teaser, there really isn’t love story angle. Produced by Troyca, this is their first independent project. Previously, they’ve worked on Aldnoah Zero so do expect some character designs to look familiar such as the case of Shoutaro. But on a visual front, the series is pretty well crafted. Sakurako’s character design is made to look her like a beauty with a haughty personality to reflect her calm nature. The setting also has a serene-like feeling to it with modern decorations and a few noticeable scenes are colored like an art. Prime examples of this includes Sakurao’s declaration when she decides to solve a case. Facial tones are generally standard that expresses their personalities. And finally, we got the bones. While I’m not an expertise at examining bone specimen, I think it’s easy to tell that the show makes them look credible with their structure. While the soundtrack isn’t anything special, it does carry a quiet atmosphere throughout the show. The series may be a mystery but most of the time retains a style that fits with its lighthearted OST. The OP and ED theme songs also gives away some symbolism with hints about Sakurako. I would say that perhaps Sakurako’s voice is the most distinctive in the show. She displays a sharp tongue with an intimidating voice when involved with cases or bones. When she’s not involved, there’s mostly an indifference about her voice tone. Shizuka Ito translates her character well into the show by bringing the personality of a detective to life. It’s not a spellbound mystery or literature crafted from Sherlock Holmes’ detective stories. This series stands out more as a mystery that deals with the coping of lost life. Bones is the reminiscence deceased, a physical aspect that serves proof of their existence. And when someone discovers that, it can feel a bit nerve wrecking. What this show does makes it look less malevolent but rather thrilling as each bone has a story behind it. Whether you take that mystery as a successful way of storytelling may be a bit of hit or miss. In retrospect though, this show rides on its premise well with a mixed bag for presentation.

The detective trope's been around within the anime community for a long time now. I'm not particularly into the "solving mysteries" stuffs. But sometimes it can be enjoyable, spending time to think about things instead of admiring how kawaii characters are. Or getting all horny from fan services. Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru was... Something I didn't really gaze into like any other anime in my interest. Sure, I've checked it multiple times. But the anime just doesn't seem to be appealing to me at first. Hence I decided to place it at the back row of my plan to watch. Butthen it happened again. The string of fate. Pulling random stuffs from the back to the front without my consent. As I was having fun playing my new Visual Novel I bought for hours, the anime suddenly appeared on my Youtube feed as one of those "moments" videos. And as a person who'd click a Youtube video every time I see an unusual anime that I've never seen before. This really took me by surprise. After seeing about the first 5 seconds of the video. I paused it and decided that I'd just watch this show and get it over within one day. And so I did. I began the show, watched it straight from 1 - 12 without rest. And now I'm done. These are my thoughts of the show after I've completed it. Story : 10/10 The story's about a boy nearly as annoying as the male protagonist from Gosick and an older girl who look like she's the twin of Kanoe Yuuko ( from Dusk Maiden ). They solve cases together, and every case would somehow be coincidentally related to bones. And that's about it for the story. Pretty much every detective themed anime ever. So what's so appealing about the story then because you gave it 10/10? Well. To answer that question, myself. The thing that stands out about this anime's story is the fact that it's progressive and linked. Every episode has different meanings though they are connected in some sort of way. Not to mention, I also nearly cried from a few episodes. And overall, the story's kinda chill and I had a fun time watching it while vibing on my bed alone inside my house with an air conditioner turned on, lights off and a few water bottles next to me along with a hand sanitizer that I use at times to clean my hand because I too am concerned of COVID-19. One issue with the story is the fact that the ending is a cliffhanger. And a bad one at that. It just feels so dry. It doesn't feel like it's telling me to "see the light novel/manga next!" nor "ah this sucks super bad so I should just quit". The mediocre feeling of "oh, ok." in which I didn't really expected after the anime got slightly more darker and edgy as it reached the peak of the story. Overall ok tho for the story. But improvements are needed in order for it to be called a perfection. Art : 10/10 I mean... It's made by the studio that made one of the best Yuri anime of all time. So of course It'd be good. Sound : 10/10 What I want to talk about the most when it comes to the sound of this anime is it's opening. It's pretty good. It sets the mood for me. Every time I hear it I'd feel a slight feeling of urge to continue watching... I guess? and it's pretty catchy. The ed's also good but I forgot what it sounds like so I'll listen to it later. Other than that, I also like the voice acting. Sakurako sounds just like what her character looks like. Beautiful, elegant, and a bit of a maniac. Shoutaro sounds just like the retarded MC from Gosick, and other characters have fluid voice which matches their character designs. One problem with the voice acting is that it doesn't feel strong enough. If it was stronger I might actually cry from the few episodes that I nearly cried from. Everything else other than the voice acting are oke. Character : 10/10 Ehhh I just like Sakurako a lot. She looks like the girl from Dusk Maiden. She has a great personality for some bone obsessed person and overall she's just likable. Reminds me of a Senpai who'd stay SINGLE forever despite her beautiful looks. To add up what I said above. Yes. I don't want anybody to get with her. Especially a certain someone called "Shoutarou". I know he probably has feelings for her. But really? I think that they're more in a brother-sister relationship. Idk how some people want them to get together. I don't think they're even matched for each other, lmao. she's great so everything else is great except a certain someone called Shoutarou. That's about it. Enjoyment : 10/10 It was fun. No. It was LIT. Wouldn't have given this anime 10/10 for another reason. Overall : 10/10 Aside from the fact that the ending was kind of dry and some certain characters are retarded. This show was great and I really enjoyed it! Really! I hope there's Season 2. Recommended to...Hmm..I don't really know. Just watch it I guess?

sakurako-san no ashimoto is an average mystery show that many people find it to be boring. it is adapted from an LN of the same name and aired in 2015 fall along with subete ga F ni naru. these two shows of this season somehow didn't pick the interest of many people, and even if they did, they were immediately dropped after the few pilot episodes. as for the reason Sakurako-san no ashimoto wasn't appreciated that much by the viewers, i personally can't answer this question. simply because i fail to find any noticeable flaw that would drive me to drop it. the story of SSAhas adapted an episodic pattern, where every episode we get to discover new cases along with their background story and solution. the show should be able to exhibit its nature only in the first pilot episode. every day the main protagonist highschooler join up with sakurako the osteologist after a long day of school. they depart for different places (forest, beach..) and dig up every possible corner in search for rare bones. however for some unknown reason, they always end up finding human corps. that's how the mystery cases set off. while these mysterious aspects may be considered as elementary level compared to other series -the situation is not very complicated if you ask a "detective Conan" fan-, the show hands us all the required information to resolve the case right at the beginning. in other words, anyone would be able to find out the truth only by combining the puzzle piece he was given at the start. but yet, i doubt many viewers were able to do so. not until sakurako enters the scene, divulge all the secrets and finally closes the curtains as if nothing had happened. as a result, the whole event starts to look dull and simple. the pacing of the series is definetly one of the decisive privileges that makes the one judge if the series is either boring or exciting. the pacing of SSA is very fast. that doesn't mean that it skips some important details. for a better explanation, let's say every episode is divided into two parts. the first part is where the main cast discovers a body or get dragged into the troublesome situation, it barely lasts for 5 to 8 minutes. and throughout this part, sometimes it is possible to deduct what's going on and find out the truth. then comes the second part that lasts for the rest of the episode and surprisingly feels rushed. the events escalate quickly, the situation becomes more intense until finally everything gets wrapped up as a conclusion. personally, i find this quick pacing to be perfect for a show of this nature. while other people may disagree justifying that it doesn't give a chance to the viewer to keep up with what's going on, i say that slowing down would result in the show being boring instead. the ultimate goal of the series is giving prominence to sakurako's intelligence and driving us to admire her while she resolves different mysteries and makes them look as a piece of cake. despite SSA's fast pacing and episodic nature, there are some stories that take up to two episodes. the mystery is far more complicated and most importantly the sphenoider (I'll be talking about him later) is usually the mastermind behind it. the conclusion of this episodes often saves us some exciting cliff-hangers making the viewer anticipate for more. leaving the mystery aspect aside, this time, let's talk about what does this show's romance holds for us. a 15 years old high schooler possessing a one-sided love for a women in her middle twenties, sakurako. if i had to count every show i know of that covers this kind of relationship it would be only one (garden of words). that's how rare romance featuring two partners of totally different ages is, especially if the guy is the younger. unfortunately, their relationship didn't develop in the least throughout the whole 12 episode, since apparently, SSA doesn't recognize the so-called "character development" between main characters. shoutarou who likes sakourako, and sakourako who likes bones, nothing will change that much. speaking of bones, sakurako is an osteologist. it is natural for her to be interested in bones. however, her love for them gradually switches from being a peculiar interest to become a frightening, creepy and unstable fetish. despite her taciturn attitude, charming appearance and intelligence, she got quite a childish character, as an example her mood reverses over meaningless things, throwing tantrums whenever she's angry, needless to mention her love for cake and pudding. and then the poor shoutaro, MC and narrator. compared to her he's the complete opposite, totally normal and kinda mature for his age. the poor guy, he hardly deals with his crush's depraved hobby only to get a chance to spend more time in her side. along with his narration and simple character we always get to observe the events through different perspectives. wich again adds up another reason to not get bored. now check this: there aren't many side characters in the show. approximately 4 prominent ones. all of them got their own stories, their past was revealed and most essentially we got to see a huge development in some of them. yet no development for the main cast and no considerable development in the plot. what does that mean? the show certainly alluded small details about sakurako's dark secret. in the end of most episodes, after the ending song we could see her talking to herself and blurting some strange lines, or talking to someone in the hospital. honestly, it feels as if she made a contract with a demon, and now she's waiting for her death. but in the end, nothing is revealed. same applies with the sphenoider. he is declared to be a dangerous criminal sakurako is trying to catch, the "abyss". but guess what? nothing happened that deserves mentioning either. indeed, the last episode was spent looking back at shoutaro and sakurako's first reunion, however, it is absolutely not the perfect time to promote such a thing. it feels as if all these 11 episodes were for naught, as if we're back to the zero point, and i personally find it to be a bummer, really unfortunate. the visuals, in the other hand, are an aspect i can definitely rely on for covering up for the plot's lack of progression. the show's first episode was set in spring, displaying the dazzling scenery of the pink sakura blossoms along with green trees. the exposition of natural scenery in SSA is without a doubt one of its strongest points. especially when the biggest part in the show occurs in such places. surprisingly the bones were also carefully animated. when sakurako starts explaining the victim's characteristic only by examining the remains of the corpse, the bones are not professionally drawn, but at least, it's done with enough details to understand and keep up with what she's saying. the opening and ending song are certainly entertaining to listen to, but they carry more than just that. sakurako's obscure past wich was not revealed in the end, are also hinted throughout the visuals display. while the OSTs are nothing noteworthy it still succeeds in fitting with the theme of the events, however not very thrilling as they should feel in some particular situation. shoutarou and sakurako's voice were nicely played. especially shootaround's voice. it was a perfect match for his mature character in my opinion. to conclude it all, let's say that SSA is the slice of life mystery show that lacks romance. getting into it holding these same expectations would make it a very enjoyable watch with no exaggeration, as it did with me. kinda. but if you're looking for something more plot-heavy, a show that knows how to progress a story and how to develop the main characters, then better switch to something else (maybe subete ga f ni naru). you can go ahead and drop it in the first few episode too, while complaining how boring it is. just keep in mind that sakurako-san no ashimoto ni wa shitai ga umatteiru is an anime made for slice of life lovers, as an out-breather from similar melodramatic and school life shows.