The 2022 Winter Season wasn’t exactly what I call a great season(to be gentle) but there were some exception, and Akebi’s Sailor Uniform is one of them for sure.
Plot
Komichi Akebi has a dream:to dress Robai Private Academy’s sailor uniform like her mother did in the past making a lots of friends while enjoying her new school life. Despite the first episode little drama where Akebi finds out that the school doesn’t use the sailor uniforms as their dress code anymore, the plot is simple like many SoLs and the main thing is to enjoy the relationship between the characters as they live a pretty normal life. Akebi still decides to wear the sailor uniform made by her mother and so her school life begins. The show is set on episodic stories focusing on Akebi and her classmates relationship and and Akebi's positive influence on their respective problems or insecurities. It’s an enjoyable watch and perfectly fits the intent of the show.
Characters
Komichi is obviously the one with more screentime and she’s the center of the show. Having a charismatic and extroverted personality she has no problems making friends with her classmates, giving the show a even more lighter tone and a fun watch. Of all Akebi’s classmates the one who stands out the most is Erika Kizaki, the first one that Komichi met and the one with the strongest relationship. She also has a cheerful personality, and a fetish of sniffing freshly cut toes(Yeah, don’t ask me what the author was thinking bewteen this and the feet shots but we’ll pretend like we didn’t see anything ._ . ).
All the girls or most of them are characterized with their own insecurities and problems(Tanigawa and Shijou accepting their bodies, Hebimori having fear to play the guitar thinking it’s too late for her, ecc.) with Akebi helping them with her energetic personality. But the best character is 100% Akebi’s sister, Kao is just too cute and funny.
Technical aspect
Simply outstanding, the settings are beatiful as the contrasts of colors and light, and also the gorgeous close-ups on the characters’ faces.The animation is also on point and it’s top tier for a SoL show:Cloverworks really did a great job with this and My Dress-up Darling this season. The character design resemble the manga counterpart and it’s unique and ambiguos, even so I appreciate it.
Akebi’s Sailor Uniform is without a doubt one of the best show of the season with its incredible art and the relaxing atmosphere it generates. 100% recommended if you like quiet Slices of Life!