Watching Yokohamma Kaidashi Kikou feels like gently enjoying a cup of hot English breakfast while looking at a calming scenery. There seems to be something so mesmerizing about watching carefree characters enjoying the little things in life in a quiet and tranquil environment. Despite being introduced to a cast of chill characters relaxing in an ostensibly beautiful and peaceful country side, it is subtly implied that the world these characters are living in is a post-apocalyptic world and they have survived some harsh conditions likely due to climate change or natural disaster. The specifics of what this potentially apocalyptic event is never specified nor explained and it is definitely a conscious writing decision because it is not suppose to be the focus of the series but rather just the stage.

This series follows closely a female android named Alpha being left alone by her owner to take care of a quiet country side cafe. It is unclear how long her owner has been missing but the tone of the story certainly implies that he or she has not been seen for a very long time. Alpha gets visited by another female android one day that delivers a message to her by her owner informing her that she is given permission to go out and explore the world. In addition she is also given a camera to take pictures of her adventures.

There is a serious calming attitude towards a world that seems to be recovering from disaster not only from the characters in the series but in the tone of the art direction. It seems to be conveying a sense of acceptance, moving on and a focus on healing rather than dwelling on what has been damaged or whatever that cannot be fixed and instead trying to focus on the potential beauty of it. This reminds me of the Japanese art of Kintsugi where broken pottery is fixed together by connecting the broken pieces with gold.

Yokohamma Kaidashi Kikou is created using traditional hand drawn animation which is perfect for the style of this series. I really enjoy the beautifully illustrated backgrounds and the charming details that is added on top such as shadows, shading, moving leaves water droplets, etc. These little details really makes the environment feel alive and immersive. There is a strong sense of verisimilitude that makes this peaceful post-apocalyptic world feel like a place where I want to be in despite being the result of disaster and the fantasy sci-fi elements. This sense of realism is further enhanced by the really solid sound design depicting crisps sounds such as the cooking of coffee beans, a creaky window blown by the wind, a puddle splash, etc... More often than not the series lets their animation, art and direction speak for themselves without the need for a backing track to set the mood. There is often a calming silence that makes it really easy for me to soak in the tranquility that is presented. But this does not mean there is no good music, the OST for this series is as calming as the series itself and are generally really good music by their own.

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A quintessential example of the Iyashikei genre, there is no real plot and the events are just mundane and boring. Just like the snail paced life environment that the characters live in, the pacing for simple tasks or adventures that Alpha undergoes takes its own sweet time which is a good thing because my lazy bones just want to bask in this peaceful experience for as long as possible while I was watching this completely relaxed on my sofa.

This is one of those series I can see myself re-watching several times because the enjoyment is not in the story but the mere viewing experience that heals the mind and soul.