SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary

The first anime I finished this season (Summer 2024) and it was one of, if not the most interesting anime to follow weekly. From the same author as Hyouka (whose story didn't convince me when I saw it), it tells the journey of the two protagonists, Kobato and Osanai, to become “ordinary”, or at least trying to. The premise took me by surprise straight away, but it soon entered more familiar territory when Kobato revealed himself to be sort of a genius detective, capable of solving any mystery, no matter how casual and mundane. Each episode, this pair comes across a new case that usually revolves around them or someone close to them, always leaving me glued to the screen (yes, even in the hot chocolate episode), despite not having any kind of big stakes involved.

The way these little mysteries are presented is phenomenal, each scene oozing with personality and care, with phenomenal character acting and background art. The most impressive aspect is that this very high bar in the art and animation department set in the first couple of episodes is maintained throughout the entire runtime of the show, which in itself might not be impressive, but with shows constantly being delayed for weeks or sometimes months while it's airing, it's great to see a production of this level of quality and consistency. Also I have to give a very quick praise to whoever chose the aspect ratio for this anime, such a great fit.

The dialog is fast paced, but not disruptive or confusing, letting the viewer absorb every thought behind each line delivered by these few, but very interesting and unique characters. The relationship between Kobato and Osanai is especially interesting, given their own personal background and personalities, but also their goals and different world views. This aspect is shown even more clearly during the last stretch, where the quality of the writing truly shines.

Now I can't help but comment on the difference in quality between arcs. If I wasn't clear enough, I never felt bored watching this anime, quite the opposite, but the entertainment value in itself doesn't guarantee that the end product is just as good. The first few episodes can be difficult to watch, due to the way the story itself is told, how quirky the characters can behave and interact with each other and the overall low (non-existent) stakes that might bore away new viewers. But the status quo that the anime carefully creates is shattered in the most impressive way, introducing a more intriguing and provocative arc. It's in this second half where the story, dialogue and writing, visuals and music all come together to deliver an unforgetable and gut-punching experience.

I'd be lying if I said that the last few episodes didn't change my assessment of this anime, but I'd almost dare to say that it's worth watching just because of that last arc. Excellent direction, equally impressive art and OST and an intriguing story, Shoshimin Series is one of the best mystery anime I've seen in recent years and I'll certainly be returning to this story when Season 2 arrives (hopefully) soon.