Let's Make a Mug Too is one of the more underappreciated and underestimated animes because... well, it's pottery. It's not Berserk. Much like any other craft like drawing or painting, the underlying process behind such crafts are often tedious, underwhelming through intense self-scrutiny, and often-times boring to the outside observer. In other words, the uninitiated would only be able to appreciate the end result of fine art. Let's Make a Mug Too is about the beginning of an artist's journey, and it's a pretty damn good representation of it! It comes in two parts - half anime and half special. Let's start off with the specials, which arethe reason why this show gets a high rating. In it, the VAs go on a field trip to Tajimi and have the opportunity to make a mug and more! They also participate in its culture, eating local specialities as well as checking out some neat spots that really makes you FEEL like you're in Tajimi! The specials are able to convey the brevity of the craft, something the anime couldn't because y'know.. beautifully drawn anime mugs - while colourful - can't convey the real thing.

The light-hearted story follows Himeno Toyokawa as she begins her pottery journey. Throughout the season, she goes through the highs and lows commonly found in an artist's journey. As a rookie, she explores the craft. But as she becomes more serious, the frustrations of a rookie begin to catch up with her. What's important to recognize is that this show isn't aiming for excitement. While the show could be pretty exciting if it had SHOKUGEKI-style battles between high-schools over which mug is more colourful, it wouldn't fit in with the spirit of pottery.

The process of pottery is tedious, more nerve-racking than drawing because the kiln can waste your time and materials if done improperly, and requires laser-focus to produce results. As a result, pottery competitions are as exciting as it can get, and it can be pretty interesting to see what people can produce with ceramics! The show does an excellent job at showing creativity and (sometimes) technicalities, whether it'd be the history of Tajimi or pottery contests itself.

That's to say that if you find this sort of stuff thought-provoking in a creative sense, you have the right mindset to appreciate this show in its entirety - you'd be able to appreciate the process AND whatever result the artist produces.

And I do. Or, at least I think I do. I'm trying to get into drawing myself and I'm seeing the exact highs and lows of the artist's journey here, B-tier life drama and everything. Whether or not I succeed is entirely up to me, much like how Himeno's journey is entirely up to her. As long as the artist is having fun with the creative process... who the fuck cares!

In conclusion,

Let's Make a Mug Too is a very light-hearted, easily digestible anime for the mature and the mature alone. If you treat it like a write-off, then a write-off it shall be. If you treat it like an artist's journey and the exploration of the craft as a whole (both anime and specials), you sorely won't be disappointed. 9/10

Until next time.