Irozuku is a show that I added to my watch list the moment it got announced. Artistic, beautiful shows really work for me, so Irozuku seemed like a natural addition to my planning list. And as I came to see, my assumption was correct. Irozuku really stands out to me in the world of magical slice of life shows, just with the way certain themes and situations are written and examined. I don't think Irozuku is going to make any of my all time lists, but I certainly loved watching it and relating to certain character struggles. It's just an example of using the world and symbolism to create a compelling narrative, which reeled me in and had me hooked after the first episode.
I don't think telling you about how beautiful Irozuku is will do it any justice. It'll be far easier to just show you how incredible it looks.
There's a lot more I could say about the visuals of Irozuku, but I think it's time to move on to the audio. All of the music selections are lovely and fit the calm melancholy of the show quite nicely. The low key piano melodies are perfect support for the atmosphere that the show exudes. I liked the opening, maybe not as much as the ending, but it was still really solid. I quite like the ending, it's really intense and kind of sad, in a way. I've linked it here if you're interested.
Favorite Character: Hitomi Tsukishiro
I understand that Kohaku, or Granny as she is better known, was all the rage of this show, but I can't deny Hitomi my best girl award. Maybe it's the white hair, maybe its the cute girl aspect, I don't know. Hitomi just swooped in and stole my heart from the get-go. I think a lot of it has to do with the sympathy that I garnered for her so early on. I understand people finding her boring, but to me, I really empathized with her insecurity, which really aided my interest in her story. It was a pleasure watching her grow for twelve episodes, from a shy girl who barely talked or emoted in any way, to a quiet, yet kind and sociable girl. In my opinion, she really completed the best character arc of all the characters. Also, here's another frame from the show because why not?
Irozuku's atmosphere is most definitely the highlight of the show for me. It's so laid back and relaxing that you can't help but feel an odd attachment to the quaint little world that has come to life on the screen before you. There's far more to like about Irozuku though. The cast of characters and their interactions and conflicts are wonderfully mature, keeping you from the frustration of having to watch idiotic characters fail to communicate their feelings properly. It's really refreshing, actually watching a character man up and pursue the girl he likes, then accept his rejection like a proper adult. Honestly, I didn't even like that character, but respect.
There's a lot to like about Irozuku, but there's also some shortcomings that will be sure to keep the more casual viewer away. First off, it's not particularly engaging. There isn't some heavy overarching plot to Irozuku, unless you count the time travel aspect to be that. In my opinion, it's more of a plot device than a real story. You may as well consider Irozuku to be a pointless slice of life with magical themes because that leads me into my next point against it. That point would be the lack of resolution in the 'story'. There really isn't an ending. Hitomi just kinda returns to the present and nothing changes because of it, there's no conclusion for her romance or any of her relationships with her friends. Hell, there's no resolution for anyone. It makes the whole experience feel rather cheap, since we watched the club bond and go through bits of strife and moments of sweet victory. But there's nothing. It just....ends. Don't get me wrong, I still liked the show for what it was, but the lack of conclusion to any of the plot points besides who Hitomi's grandfather is rather disappointing.
Even for those negatives, I'd say that Irozuku is still very much worth the watch, even if just for the beautiful visuals and pleasant music. Even if you don't love the characters, or don't connect to a single one, you can still find some enjoyment in the group dynamic and themes that certain characters represent. I wouldn't stretch so far as to say that there's something for everyone, but there certainly is a lot to love in Irozuku, even if it isn't quite the heart-poundingly addictive show that it had the potential to be.