Review of Kakushigoto

Kakushigoto as the name suggests is a very clever play on words, the story is light-hearted and well-fitted in the Slice of Life genre. This anime does not boast a wide variety of overly comical scenes nor does it try too hard to please the audience through the mundane routine means. Instead, it utilises a familiar approach and executes it differently, if I had to compare this to another similar title it would be very much like Usagi Drop. That being said, this is a review for Kakushigoto so let's get to it. Story-wise: The narrative is well written with a very clear and distinctdirection. As the audience, you will always know what to expect. A loving father who is willing to stop at nothing to provide the best possible life for his daughter whilst searching for his missing wife. The show adopts a happy-go-lucky nature for most of its setting up till the very last episode where emotions are probably running high because of the build-up. Giving props where it is due, what Kakushigoto managed to accomplish here is something most narratives lack which is the proper build-up to create something simple and comical into a work that can pull the heartstrings of its audience. You would imagine your typical slice of life to have at least some degree of drama to keep it interesting. Instead, Kakushigoto adopts a 3-way approach, Routine-Comedy-Emotions. The progressive nature of its narrative helps to paint a clear picture for the audience to enjoy the story as it slowly progresses whilst staying attached to the characters.

In terms of the animation quality and art style: It is quite obvious this isn't the focal point, but in terms of keeping the general setting of the anime light and cute the chosen style is definitively fitting, the music, on the other hand, is well-chosen to keep the general vibe of the show light-hearted and fun. Both the opening and ending felt like the song was made solely for this anime, superb job on that.

In terms of character developments and world-building, Kakushigoto has a pretty good cast of characters that all fit the narrative of the series without being overly striking or out of place. Each has a role to fulfil be it the comedic relief or the support system in place to keep a jaded adult in a proper state of mind.

Raising a child as a single parent is not easy, and this anime does a superb job portraying that. At times we as individuals need help and we should not be shy to ask those around us for that extra push. Sometimes, it isn't about the people around us when things are going good, but rather the people who choose to stick around even when the going gets tough. This sense of strong camaraderie is expressed deeply.

Pacing-wise: it is about as good as you can expect for a slice of life, with a pretty solid voice acting cast to boot it really is one of those anime titles that you watch on a whim and decide to stay because it has captured your attention unintentionally.

A good title to watch if you're looking to relax or simply seeking to unwind after a very tiring day of work.

This deserves a Solid 8/10