Review of Hyouka
"I don't care if no one likes me. I wasn't created in this world to entertain everyone."- Oreki Houtarou Oh boy, am I late to this anime. At first glance, it doesn't seem to be very interesting, especially since I am not well acquainted with Slice of Life. However, this anime has certainly opened my eyes to slice of life anime and also has introduced me to one of the best animations I have seen. Story- As I have said in the intro, the story seems a bit bland at first glance. It doesn't have huge amounts of action, nor does it have huge amounts ofmystery. However, once you watch the show, you realize how engrossing a show about high school can be. Hyouka is about Oreki Houtarou and the Classic Literature Club as they try to promote their club and solve mysteries along the way. It doesn't seem like the most interesting of plots, but I think the interaction between the friends is the best thing about the show. It checks the box for a slice of life but also checks the box for entertaining. A lot of the plot reminds of my days in middle school messing around with my friends and even gives me a sense of nostalgia. My only criticism of this show is that the ending seemed a bit rushed and out of the blue. If I was watching this when it aired, I would be caught off guard by the suddenness of the ending.
Art- One of the best art I have ever seen in an anime. You could take a random frame from 80% of this show and it would make a great wallpaper on your computer or phone. This was my first interaction with Kyoto Animation's art, and needless to say, I am super impressed. If this is the way Kyoto Animation makes its art, I will gladly keep watching more of the show.
Sound- Voice acting here is top-notch and the OST is great. It is a great blend of a modern anime OST but also has a tang of classical music. The openings and endings of this show are also amazing, to say the least. I regularly listen to them while doing schoolwork and I am listening to the second ED as I type right now.
Characters- This is the part where I think Hyouka shines. The characters are so relatable and are people who you not only want to be friends with but are similar to your friends in real life. I know people in my life that resembles Chitanda and Oreki. The characters experience massive growth as their worldviews receive many challenges. The way the characters interact feels so natural and delightful to watch. I won't say anymore because I want you to experience it for yourself.
Enjoyment- I honestly didn't expect myself to be binging a slice of life show, but here I am. The episodes are so entertaining that you just have to watch on to figure out next. I seriously hope for a season 2 of this amazing anime.
Overall- I hope I have at least convinced you to give this great show a try. I certainly have been impacted by this show and I wish it will do the same to you.