Hakumei and Mikochi

Hakumei to Mikochi is what life is all about folks. Kickback, relax, it's time to see pure joy and happiness wrap you up in a warm blanket of kindness. The plot of HtM is no War and Peace. It's simple, but deliberately so, we all came here to leave some stress to the side and enjoy the childlike wonder of main characters. The characters are adorable little puffies and their design perfectly fits with the mood of the show. Their soft and rounded features emanate cuteness and their surroundings are so earthly and homey that you it creates an atmosphere of utmost comfort. The music expandsthis all by 10 times, it's just a joy to listen to these casual and sentimental tunes that add the final piece to an already magnificent picture and it's that complete composition that makes it all feel alive and transports you into the world of saccharine fantasy. Watch this anime folks, have yourself a good time!

At first, Hakumei to Mikochi (or the full name: Hakumei and Mikochi: Tiny little life in the woods) may not feel like it's anything special or noteworthy to write home about, but I was impressed with the storytelling that sells the show, and it really feels at home with the Iyashikei setting from the manga source of the same name. In this show, you follow Hakumei and Mikochi, two 9cm tall girls in their stories of the tiny life in the woods, mingling around with the wide cast of crew from close friends to work buddies to townmates that know them well. The episodic format ofchapters taken straight from the manga really works well here, as is evident with the setting the chapters are based upon, and all these are given with no expectations, just some ol' good storytelling like from a fairy tale book. If you're wondering there's any similarity to it, remember Chi and Yuu from Girls' Last Tour last season albeit a different setting and the context of the world around them (post-apocalyptic world vs. insect-like world). Nevertheless, it helps to cement that like with Chi and Yuu's purpose, Hakumei is the one who is capable of working and solving issues while her life buddy Mikochi can help cook dishes and do woman stuff, and they both are a fresh breeze of air from the stereotypical girls-doing-stuff archetypes. The art and animation is well deserving of studio Lerche's production, though the SoL and light-fantasy themes are not their major niches when it comes to the style of the anime done by them. Nevertheless, though somewhat of a good representation of the manga source, the lush backgrounds never fail to give the sense of realism of the lives led by our MCs, and the comic-like feel of the animation really embodies what's great and really supports the story in full view. The sound really too is something else. If you're familiar with Evan Call's works (Violet Evergarden), then it shouldn't be a surprise that this man is getting the good notoriety that his musicality talent is really underappreciated that many people like myself are only starting to notice now. Both the OP and ED are classical tunes onto itself, and really gave the series its sense of warm-hearted goodness with light feelings all around. A good OST even though it's hardly noticeable. Hakumei to Mikochi might not be something that at first glance worthy to ever be watched or commented about, but I'm taking this chance to say that you should really watch this anime. Yes, it's nothing you're gonna say about it, but it kinda brings you away into the imaginary world, even if it's for a short while.

Hakumei to Mikochi - Anime Review #2 I made a preliminary review before this one, and I've left it virtually unchanged due to the fact that pacing, characters and everything about this anime has been consistent throughout the whole series. That's something I like to see. There is not too much to be said about Hakumei to Mikochi, besides the fact that it really does a good job at breathing new life in to the Slice of Life genre. While it doesn’t stray too far away from the idea of a Slice of Life, it’s unique setting makes this all the more enjoyable. This review will beextended once this anime is completed. I use a 100-point scale when rating each category. Story: 90 When I think of Slice of Life, I usually think of a story where people with normal lives in a modern time go through some of the many life experiences anyone would have. However, Hakumei to Mikochi is different in a way that makes this very likeable. The fantasy world of this anime is quite wondrous and it’s always fun watching both Hakumei and Mikochi have different experiences, whether they’re together or separate. I think it’s very interesting how humans are only around 9 centimeters tall; it makes me think of how life would be like if we all were equals to animals and we could communicate with them. Of course, the fact that fantasy is incorporated into this is the main point that breaks the normal Slice of Life tropes, since we do not really see many anime where both Slice of Life and Fantasy go together like bread and butter. Characters: 97.5 I don’t know why, but I really, really like the characters of this anime a lot. While they aren’t that relatable, both Hakumei and Mikochi are great characters within themselves, and they both have their specific talents, with Hakumei being a hard worker and dedicated person while Mikochi is a good cook and singer, despite being quite insecure with many things. They have their likes and dislikes, and sometimes their differences make watching this anime really fun. A lot of supporting characters are also revisited in different episodes as I’ve seen so far, and I appreciate that they are able to be reused for many different parts of the plot, as with Slice of Life it makes the experience much less boring. Seeing the bond strengthen between Hakumei and Mikochi, as well as all the supporting characters is great. I think the best thing about the characters is that there's nothing keeping them from being themselves, allowing them to have their personalities as well as progress through the story. Iyashikeis are the best at doing this, so this is to be expected. Animation: 92.5 There isn’t much to say about this, besides the fact that the animation is pretty damn good. It’s used in a great way whenever it’s needed to be used, especially for facial expressions in this anime. I like the way the animation is used in specific scenes, such as the more scenic moments, like when they fly or when detail is needed intricately. I haven’t watched enough Lerche anime to be able to judge how good this is compared to the rest of their anime, but I just know this is impressive. Sound: 100 With an OST produced by the badass we know as Evan Call, who also made the OST for Violet Evergarden, I think it’s safe to say this guy’s one of the best composers I’ve seen in anime so far. His compositions fit just right with any scenario in Hakumei to Mikochi and nothing ever really feels off. The OP and ED are absolutely spectacular and it makes me want so much more from Evan Call in other anime. As of right now my favourite composition in the anime was used near the end of Episode 1, when Hakumei and Mikochi are at the port in front of the marketplace, and the sea shanty starts. This is a prime example of how an OST can be used, because this was used in such a “too good to be true” way that it felt almost impacting when I heard Mikochi start to sing. I felt connected and it’s something that’s very rare to come out of an OST from any anime, so I appreciate Evan Call’s music a lot. Art: 100 This will be the very first thing you notice, and it’s kind of obvious that Hakumei to Mikochi wants to visually please the viewer with it’s beautiful scenery and landscape. Considering this takes place primarily in a forest full of tiny people, it gives you a really close up experience of what living in this forest looks like. The attention to detail in almost every frame of the forest is very pleasing to look at. Yet another rarity that appears in this anime, Hakumei to Mikochi doesn’t spare the viewer’s eyes with the beauty that appears before them in the many different places they present to you; the forest, their house, the marketplace, everything. If you want to see something Made in Abyss esque, maybe Hakumei to Mikochi is for you in terms of art style. Enjoyment: 100 I don’t even need to say a couple words about how enthralled I am by Hakumei to Mikochi’s beauty and overall premise, and I know it’s not just me who feels this way. This anime is a lot like a few other anime I’ve watched, except it’s also completely different at the same time. If you want something as accurate as possible, this is like Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou, combined with Made in Abyss, making a really fabulous slice of life anime about not just the joys of life, but also the hardships and how even if you’re going through rough patches, there’s still more to look forward to. Not to say this anime teaches you a valuable lesson or anything, but I feel like there’s always something underlying in any anime that’s just stunning in every manner. While this is probably the most underrated and overlooked anime of the season, I think it should have a bit more attention. It’s a really great Slice of Life and I haven’t really seen much like it besides the only two other anime of the many I’ve seen. For those who are just looking at this anime, please give it a chance. It might bring you on a journey you’ll never regret going through, because that’s basically how I felt when watching Hakumei to Mikochi. There really isn’t much that’s very unique in anime anymore, and this is just one of the few refreshers I’ve needed. This is one of the best anime of the Winter 2018 season by far. Even with the abundance of slice of life this season, I think it's best you skip out on most of them and watch Yuru Camp or Hakumei to Mikochi, since they best carry out the formula of a healing slice of life. I hope this review helps you out. Overall: 96.6/100

Slice of Life. As a genre, it's become so oversaturated with content that it's branched off into comedy, supernatural, romance, what have you, causing the trend of missing a few diamonds in the rough here and there is a common occurrence. Hakumei to Mikochi is in this reviewer's opinion, the poor victim of this phenomenon in the Winter 2018 season, and one that deserves light being shed on its deceivingly cutesy self. Story: In the woods lives the little people, a species of three inch tall elf-like beings who live their daily lives in the woods. In Hakumei to Mikochi, we peer into the lives of thetitular duo, Hakumei and Mikochi, as they quite literally live their lives in the woods in the town of Makinata. Not surprisingly, Hakumei to Mikochi is a show that follows the day to day lives of these two girls as they encounter various obstacles in their lives like surprise adventures, daily disappointments, overcoming various hurdles, or unwelcome guests in their home. Each episode is structured mostly in an A part and B part format, with the occasional roundabout episode with an overarching episodic narrative. As such, the show is mainly episodic in nature, and very contained within its own story with aspects such as character relationships carrying over from episode to episode to give it natural progression. But beyond that, the thing I feel makes Hakumei to Mikochi special is its generally somber and relaxed tone. Even in tense situations or scenes with higher stakes, the show never elevates itself to a level that separates it from its established tone, doing all of this surprisingly well due to the show's themes of life and self reflection. Often in the show we see moments of characters by themselves collecting their thoughts by the adventure or event that has just occurred, letting what has happened sink in both for the characters and for the audience. As such, the show exudes this strangely natural feel about it, an almost therapeutic feeling that has put me at ease with each proceeding episode. The show never goes out of its way to be too outlandish, and stays grounded in being about its characters, telling its stories simply for the desire to tell each episode's story. Much of this is also spiced up by the show's more fantasy elements, creating a society filled with talking animals that live alongside these tiny people with a surprising amount of details slowly fed into the overall narrative to give the audience more to process. My favorite aspect of the world building is the 'tiny' element to all of this, as fruits and vegetables, as well as their animal coworkers/neighbors are scaled to match the actual size of the characters, which while small, gives the show a stamp for attention to detail because of how consistent these elements of the show are, and quite hilarious how something like one whole peanut can serve as a fulfilling snack for two people. When culminated, Hakumei to Mikochi is comes off as a whimsical and episodic story that exudes both charm and whimsy with its episodic stories and world building that ends on a nice somber note that lets the entire self-contained adventure or event come to a solution that feels both comforting and satisfying to watch. It's for this reason why the story feels worth investing into, and makes the show something more than just a 'slice of life adventure'. Overview: + Good worldbuilding + Rooted and consistent tone Characters: The titular characters Hakumei and Mikochi are in a way two sides of the same coin. Hakumei is the more rowdy of the two, working as a repairwoman and enjoys more physical labor whereas Mikochi is more of the homemaker, usually cooking for the duo and makes homemade products to sell. But this only scratches the surface of these two girls, as each episode slowly feeds in more details about their past, more of their talents and fears, ultimately giving them both a nice and smooth polish that turns them into well-rounded characters that work well both individually and when together. I felt really invested with these two because they always had this nice positive vibe about them, and the show's whimsical and lax nature prevented them from having any annoying traits that would spoil their overall positive qualities. But more than that, the side cast manages to be just as impressive than the titular characters. Adding in various characters both animal and little people like Konju the songstress, Iwashi the weasel repairman, and Sen the 'necromancer', the show provides an expansive cast full of recurring characters that get built upon with each proceeding episode. As a result, the cast feels like a group of people rather than one-sided background fodder, providing a richness to the cast that makes them all feel alive and enhances the already solid worldbuilding that the show establishes. Overview: + Well-rounded characters + Equally well-built side-cast Art: Produced by Lerche, Hakumei to Mikochi has bears much of the company's style in having a lighter color palette with more of a white blend to give everything a light air about it. The show also provides extensively detailed background images from the various towns, the forests, and the main characters' home, all of which are very consistent in quality and are very nice to look at, especially with how leafy and full of life the forests look. I do also want to bring attention to the character designs and just how much I love them. If nothing else, the designs for the little people especially are adorable. The chibi design of them really makes them look far more appealing than they have any right to be, and Konju's design especially with the linens on her arms and the harp on her chest is something I really, really like. They also all wear an adorable hat that looks just slightly too big for their heads. There really is just something to love about how they look. Overview: + Adorable character designs + Consistent and quality art + Very detailed backgrounds Sound: Much like the story, sound plays much into the series's overall somber and relaxed tone. "Urar", by Chima is a mix of both bizarre yet calming, where the song is primarily harmonious tones with Chima's voice primarily acting as the song's melody. It's an interesting song that took some time for me to grow fond of, especially because the accompanying visuals were real life pictures of the forest rather than either Hakumei or Mikochi doing anything in the show, which at first glance is quite odd. The ED by contrast is something that sounds more on par with the series. "Harvest Moon Night", sung by Aoi Yuuki and Shino Shimoji, the voices of both Konju and Mikochi, is a more energetic piece in comparison to its OP counterpart, providing a piano flourish that leads into a more festive beat that comes with a joyful duet of two characters noted as being some of the best singers in the series' canon. Overview: + Great ED +/- OP is a tad strange to me Personal Enjoyment: Hakumei to Mikochi is my favorite slice of life of the season. And that's rivaling Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san, a series that takes the title as one of my favorite romance series. For me, I appreciate this show more for what it did to expand more from the 'slice of life' bubble, providing highs and lows throughout each episode, always making sure to end on a nice somber note as a sort of closing statement so the audience feels relaxed, something that I felt after every episode and pushed me more to want more. More than that, I love Konju as a character. Aoi Yuuki is already an amazing voice actress, and having her play my favorite character in this show made Konju even more fun to have, especially since she was a recurring character. More than that, the show made me care about these characters. At the end of it all, I felt happy about Hakumei's journey from where she came from to where she is now, I smiled at how even the grumpiest of characters managed to smile, and how not a single character in this entire show was either annoying or overly annoying that I wish they weren't there, cause there's always one I'll tell ya. I've even gone back and forth on which of the main duo is my favorite, often times switching from Mikochi to Hakumei, to back again because each episode managed to give more information about them that made me favor one or the other. I just think they're that good as characters. If you're looking for a diamond in the rough, Hakumei to Mikochi is the show to provide that. It's a show that I haven't seen under may peoples' radars, and I feel goes unappreciated for more popular picks. Its emphasis on the somber and relaxed parts of life are something that gives the show its own identity, a rare occurrence in a genre that's oversaturated with many of the same or similar shows that battle it out for dominance. So if you ever feel like you want something to relax to, something to end the night off on a pleasant mood, this is a show that's definitely one for that role.