Hyouge Mono is not intended for entertainment. The animation is very basic, the characters hard to relate to, and exaggerated facial expressions and Dumbo ears certainly do not do the series any favors. But behind these flaws lies one of the more rewarding series in the history of anime. One appreciates Hyoughe Mono in the same way he appreciates a book on philosophy or a painting. It is the intellectual depth of this anime, rather that its flashiness, that leaves the viewer fulfilled. Each episode is littered with metaphors and fascinating insights that get us thinking about the way we conduct out lives. But aboveall, watching this series develops in the viewer a sensibility for simplicity and an appreciation for the depth of meaning in the most mundane of things. So much so that, by episode 16, one is likely to consider the speed at which tea is stirred a major plot point.
Hyoughe Mono is a difficult series to get into, but to the attentive and critical viewer who looks at anime as art rather than entertainment, it has much to offer.

I would recommend this series to an older public, or at least a very mature one. It may be necessary at times to revisit some episodes, and one should pay very close attention to the message of episode 14. Highly recommended.