Review of Hyouka
People wouldn’t normally sell you an idea for a show by saying that “It’s about high school kids who solve mysteries, sometimes with inconsequential results” but that’s what Hyouka honestly is - and it’s great. You can tell when you have well written characters in front of you when they can carry a plot that is, honestly, little more than that quote. Despite very little earth-shattering moments taking place in the world of Hyouka we get a great leading quartet of characters who, though at times can get repetitive and annoying, feel down to earth and real. Watching them go about their school lives withvery different goals while faced with brain-teasers is entertaining, funny and endearing. The show’s gradual build up and little payoff on occasions mean it isn’t the easiest of recommendations. But for any lovers of mystery, and a high school setting that isn’t dependant on despair and melodrama, then you can’t go wrong.
Our story follows new high school student Houtarou Oreki, someone who won’t go out of his way to do anything unless it must be done. Begrudgingly, out an obligation to his older sister, he joins the Classics Club where he meets Eru Chitanda, Satoshi Fukube, and Mayaka Ibara. Suddenly his dream of breezing through high school life without having to use up energy is thrown out the window. The inquisitive nature of Chitanda in particular - a girl who can’t rest easy without understanding the secret behind something - starts to lead him down a mysterious path.
Oreki within the space of a single episode became more interesting than the standard high school lead character. First up, he isn’t an idiot. Far from it. I’m fed up with seeing ignorant protagonists whose lack of awareness is often used as a means to keep a story droning on for too long. Oreki’s ability to read a situation with ease yet not wanting to put that to use is always entertaining. There were moments where I kept thinking to myself ‘I get it, you don’t want to use energy’ as the opening episodes continued to drum his rhetoric into my head. Thankfully that goes away after some time and the show lets his actions convey that message instead. Oreki’s progression can be summed up in one simple idea: motivation. What makes us want to be proactive? How much effort are we willing to put in? It’s not very complex but he expresses these ideas perfectly, helped greatly from superb voice acting from Yuuichi Nakamura who nails the deadpan and disinterested tone.
There was a big danger in this show that the trio outside of Oreki could simply become foils to just develop him alone. Thankfully this isn’t the case as Chitanda, Fukube and Ibara all have their own flaws, desires and issues. These are all varied as well. We have jealousy, greed, insecurity and love all at hand. Heck, there’s even some ‘meta’ commentary on the value of criticising media and the nature of subjectivity thrown in for good measure. While the trio’s main purpose is definitely to help breathe some energy into Oreki’s dull outlook on school life, it takes their toll on them as well. Fukube questions his own intelligence. Ibara questions what makes her happy. Chitanda questions her ability to help others. It’s all great to watch unfold. They are a group all built upon really interesting contradictions: Fukube is knowledgeable but lacks the ability to piece things together. Ibara is outgoing yet unsure of herself. Chitanda has a good memory but gives off an air-headed persona.
Chitanda is the clear front-runner of the supporting crew, in terms of importance to the story and screen time. Her purpose is to push Oreki into helping out with mysterious situations, against his will of course. Similar to Oreki, she initially came off as annoying with the incessant repetition of her catchphrase (“I’m curious!”) but it grew on me. Chitanda arguably gets the least development of the lead four though in a way it’s perhaps for the best. Part of her appeal was her calm nature and ignorance to a lot of what is going on around her. It’s adorable. To see that disappear would be a big pity. Instead there’s a definite level of maturity and confidence growth you can see going on with her character, coming to the fore in a beautifully crafted final episode.
The middle third of the show stands out for having not only the most interesting stories but also the peak moments of conflict for characters. That is perhaps the biggest thing to take away from the mysteries - their dual purpose. They are there to both entertain and involve us as a viewer but to also provide development for the characters caught up in them. These mysteries range from a lost piece of school-changing history to a simple hypothetical solution to a PA announcement. Some riddles didn’t grab me. One is slightly lost in translation. Most manage to hit the mark. Above all however, the show is a great reminder though that no matter how pointless some exercises may be to you they can mean a lot for others.
When you talk Kyoto Animation you know that you are guaranteed to get a great level of production. Background art is beautiful. Animation is smooth. Character designs are on point. Lighting in particular plays a big role. A lot of the mysteries see KyoAni getting experimental with their presentation. During explanations they will often jump to a new art style, one to suit the mystery at hand. Kept things fresh. It’s one big charming package.
Aside from a slow start and some arcs that miss the mark, it’s one of the more interesting anime in a high school setting you can take a shot at. If you’re sick of romance being at the forefront of such settings then this may pique your interest. If you want to watch characters discover not only themselves but also the environment around them then let me point you in the direction of Hyouka.