Hyouka has been my favorite anime, ever since I first watched it quite a number of years ago now (it should be around 7). Obviously I was quite ecstatic upon hearing that another one of the author's novels would receive an adaptation. I had never engaged with the source material before, so I went in largely blind, aside from knowing that it too tackled some variant of mysteries. What we got was a much more eccentric and especially expanded version of the concept of "everyday mysteries". This review will contain spoilers so please be warned.
Before talking about plot, characterization or the like I first want to touch upon the direction and animation. Shoshimin Series was animated by Lapin Track, which is not the most well known of studios. While the show isn't animated with the same flair as Hyouka was (by Kyoto Animation), which would not have fit it anyway, the animation is completely fine and as fluid/expressive as it needs to be. Where it truly shines though is in its direction. Sometimes camera positions are held for longer than feels comfortable. This effect is often paired with a distinct silence that adds to this slightly disconcerting effect. Pair these scenes with intercut shots of a more mental realm in which the characters are mostly standing in an empty japanese riverbank and an unusual aspect ratio and you have the recipe for a very unique experience to say the least.
At first we are introduced to our two main characters Kobato Jougorou and Osanai Yuki who, after having met in middle school, are now reunited in high school. Both tell us that they have the goal of trying to "become ordinary". Quite the unique premise to be honest. As mentioned previously we can already tell through the direction alone, that something about these two is quite far from ordinary (not to mention that a goal like this is far from ordinary itself). While we can see glimpses of their peculiarities early on the show is structured in such a way that more and more layers are peeled off every episode until we can see the full extent of their "eccentricities" in the finale. Jougorou, our designated detective in this story, at first appears hesitant and restrained without much of an interest in anything. Yuki on the other hand appears largely innocent with her main character trait being an obsession with parfaits. Of course after outlying the structure of the anime noone will be surprised when the opposite turns out to be the case. Jougorou, in reality, hides an urge to meddle in other peoples' affairs, no matter the consequences, using his intellect and abductive abilities. Yuki, in turn, is really an obsessively vindictive expert manipulator. For lack of a better comparison, it's like Holmes and Moriarty being in a vaguely defined high school relationship, solving cases ranging from the specific usage of a milk carton to an abduction by a drug gang. As you can see, while Hyouka stuck to "everyday mysteries", never really diving into more serious territory in that regard, the same can't be said for this series, even though it started out with this concept on the surface. In fact, the evolution of the seriousness of the cases aids the characters in revealing themselves (and maybe vice versa). I especially want to laud the finale for not only serving as the climax of the internal character development but for also tackling the link between both of them. While I'm not going to go into detail the last conversation between Jougorou and Yuki is masterfully done. Especially in terms of atmosphere.
All in all Shoushimin Series was my favorite anime of the season. It's eccentric in all the right ways but definitely not for everyone. If I were to criticize one aspect it would be the memorability of the OST as well as the Opening and Ending. However, the rest of the series shines way too bright for me to give this much weight.
P.S.: Beware sudden parfait cravings after watching!
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