TLDR

Anime doesn't always have to be flashy or brimming with material to stimulate the audience. Sometimes it's about the little things, the everyday conversations or quirks characters have. The slightest movement or audio queue that characters are associated with. This is something Nichijou has mastered. Whether it's a stupid ass conversation that has no meaning Or a skit I don't understand at all, Nichijou never failed to make me feel cozy and entertained for 20 straight minutes every time I put it on. Because at the end of the day, we are humans going through our everyday ordinary lives.

Story - Above Average

A slice of life already has a disadvantage when it comes to the story department because, well, there usually is no story, lol. Nichijou is no exception and mainly focuses on character interactions/comedic skits to carry their story. In a typical episode, we get a few skits from the trio of Yuko, Mio, and Mai, as well as some moments from the professor and Nano. In the middle of all this chaos, they add some side stories like "Helvetica Standard" that usually don't make sense to me, but I love it anyway, haha.

The over-dramatic comedy works well and introduces so many wholesome, funny moments that gradually make you love these characters. Even though there was no "clear end goal," I always looked forward to watching two episodes a night just to see the character's antics and how ridiculous it would be.

During the end of the 24 episode masterpiece, we actually got some development with Nano that portrayed light themes. For the entire anime, Nano was bothered by the key on her back. She wanted to fit in as an ordinary teenage girl but found the key to cause unwanted attention. During the climax of this situation, Nano realized that this key makes her special and unique. She shouldn't try to fit in but be herself. The people who genuinely care for her, like Yuko and the professor, won't be bothered by something so insignificant. Nano then told the professor she prefers to keep the key even though the professor found the solution to remove it. I thought this wholesome moment was great; it blended nicely with the message of Nichijou and was an excellent addition to the story.

Art - Great

The animation is some of the best I've seen PERIOD. What amazes me is Nichijou is a slice of life but maintains high-quality animation and visuals in each episode. Most of the skits they do require little "high production" level animation, but in certain scenes like the arm wrestling one or when the principal suplexes the deer, Nichijou just pulls S tier quality out of nowhere.

The only other show to do this would be Dragon Maid, and I'm pretty sure those people also worked on Nichijou. In addition to the stunning animation, I think the basic/simple art style works well with the comedy. The overdramatic gags they use wouldn't work well with a super realistic design and color palette, but because they use this almost "cartoonish" style, it adds to the humor.

Sound - Great

Once again, another part of Nichijou that is EXCELLENT. The OSTs are cozy, upbeat, and played so often that they become a part of the show. It creates its own identity, and I won't forget these tracks like half of these other cliche anime. Along with the OSTs, we have the stellar voice acting. I think a lot of the comedic delivery can be credited to this aspect, and if you watched the show, you'd know what I mean.

Characters - Almost Perfect

In most cases, characters are the best part of a SOL, and Nichijou is no exception. There are probably 4-5 characters in this show who I would consider A tier which is abnormal for any anime. I really wanted to put this category under "perfect," but it's hard because of the genre it's in. Just know that each and every character are written in a way that contributes to my enjoyment of this masterpiece.

Yuuko and Mio - The main duo of the series. I love their dynamic and how they actually feel like best friends. It's authentic, entertaining, and wholesome. There were tons of moments where these two were bickering at each other, with my favorite being the manga skit. Yukko messed up Mios panel and spent half the episode trying to figure out how to fix it, haha. Once Mio found out, she RIPPED into him, which was hilarious.

Mai - One of the most unique characters in the show. Mai is a part of the main trio but is shy and reserved. In most scenes, she doesn't speak but is a part of most of the gags. Because of her lack of speech, scenes where she does talk, pays off a lot. In the rare instance, Mai takes out her buddha statue or is surprisingly interested in something it is excellent and amusing. My favorite scene of her was when she came over to the professor's house and INSTANTLY took out the buddha statue lmao. I love how she uses this object as a token of friendship.

Nano and Sakamoto - The support of the best character in the show. Sakamoto is a grumpy old cat on the surface, but once you come to understand Nichijou, you can tell he genuinely cares for these two individuals. He is involved in a bunch of mischief with the professor, and I love him. Nano, on the other hand, is probably the deepest character in the show. As I mentioned above, she just wants to live a normal girl life but constantly gets sucked into the professor's silliness.

The Professor - THE FUCKING GOAT OF THIS SHOW. The professor was my favorite aspect of Nichijou and is what made this show special for me. Her personality is filled with character. Sometimes she acts like a brat, while she can be caring or even passionate in other moments. Her dynamic with Sakamoto and Nano was fantastic, and they really made you feel a part of the family.

Sakurai - My second favorite character of the show!! I love her nervous personality. The little sound effects she does were super cute, as well as her voice actor to complement this appeal. I adored seeing her muster up courage to tell students not to do things, and I wish she would have gotten together with that teacher! (Maybe it happens in the manga idk)

Sasahara - The fucking chad of the show. Sasahara was brought up from a family of farmers but, for some reason, thinks he is royalty, lmao. This gag was amusing, and every time he came on screen, I couldn't help but think how silly it was. I mean, he rides a goat to school, for crying out loud!!

Positives

The comedy is fantastic. Some shows I've seen, like Grand Blue, rely on the same gag over and over, but Nichijou utilizes its surroundings and characters to make the most out of the situation. Whether it's an over-dramatic action, voice actor, or visual, Nichijou always brings something to the table to keep each skit fresh and funny. They put A TON of effort into this show, and it didn't go unappreciated.

The show is a fucking vibe. I PROMISE you if you stick to 1-2 episodes a day, maybe late at night, it will serve as a chill show you can unwind on before bed. The character's visuals and aesthetic will keep you cozy, and before you know it, you will fall in love with these characters just doing dumb shit.

Negatives

There is only one negative in Nichijou, and it's the fact that it's a slice of life. For me personally, I can never binge "episodic" anime. If there is no end goal or overarching plot, I get burnt out on the main appeal (usually character interactions or comedy) quickly. This means I could only watch 1-2 episodes of Nichijou a night which is great because I got to enjoy it that much more, haha.
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Conclusion__

What A fucking show! It's not often you find anime with this much passion, creativity, and fun poured into it. I truly enjoyed watching Nichijou every night with my friends, and it will be a fan favorite for a long time. From the excellent cast to the genius dialogue, Nichijou never failed to make me laugh at least once per episode. Sometimes you don't need an over-the-top plot or flashy fight. It's about the little things in our ordinary life.