IchiMashi is a surprise. IchiMashi Encore is a bigger surprise. Now, I'd like to make it clear that IchiMashi Encore, indeed, does contain all the features of IchiMashi, so going over characters and whatnot in this review would be a little pointless. Not that I really need to. Anyway, in this review, I will go over what makes this better than the prequels in my opinion. You have IchiMashi, which set the foundation, and flourished in its own treasures for reasons visible when you actually watch the series. Then you have Encore: takes the premise, takes the writing, takes the characters, takes the visuals, and explodes withwhat could be similar to the likes of a revamp. The best part about it is that it isn't an entirely new concept, it is just an improvement (centred mostly around enhancing comedic elements) of what came before.

Encore's episodes feature dream-like scenarios for about 2 halves (one in each episode) which is where most of my enjoyment came from. It works so well in a world where children are doing silly things, but I suppose the same logic can be applied to other anime. However, this OVA didn't come across as too comedic (something the original was also great at balancing). It was in a zone where it could be slapstick enough to laugh at but also appreciate everything IchiMashi is about, which is why I find this OVA better than the TV anime. But that's just commenting on two plots that happened to feature dream-like gags. As for the other regular halves? Same business. An improvement in animation and camera motion made for a great quality increase in the funny, just applied to a real-world basis, so there was nothing there to really abuse; the same concept still applies though.

But that's really what makes Encore slightly better than the main series. An increase in production paired with a more enthusiastic but lax mindset consequently just made everything more enjoyable. It's a lot more fun than I would have ever thought it would be, but this series is just the gift that keeps on giving. Strange how hidden this is though, oh well, the title of "hidden gem" is just even more valid and true.