"I don't care if no one likes me. I wasn't created in this world to entertain everyone." -Oreki Houtaro

It’s been a while since I’ve had such a lighthearted and chill anime like this one. The overall storyline was composed of a number of mysteries that a group of friends had to solve, but the real beauty in this anime was how they went about doing it. With meaningful and natural character interaction coupled with the masterful animation of Kyoto Animations, Hyouka presents us with a drama/mystery anime with just a touch of romance to add a bit of charm to it. While it may feel repetitive to some, I felt that most of the mysteries were interesting enough to keep me entertained. This was mainly because of my curiosity (no pun intended) in Oreki’s growth as a person. It was such a joy to watch Oreki grow and develop through the anime as he was affected by his friends, and ultimately allowing him to figure out what he truly is like on the inside. While the ending may not of satisfied some of you, I believe that’s because you were more focused on the romance instead of the actual plot. This anime wasn’t about romance, it was about Oreki. It was about Oreki coming out of his comfort zone and doing things he normally never would have done alone, all with the help and encouragement of his close friends. So without further ado, here’s my review!

Art and Animation: 9.4/10

• There’s no denying the fact that this anime had such amazing results when it came down to the art and animation. I really enjoyed all of the various character designs, and they really resonated with their personalities. The abundance of vibrant colors and breathtaking moments weren’t overused, which retained its impact when it counted most. I especially enjoyed the beginning and end of this anime, where we got a taste of what true animation looks like in all its beauty. There were only a few minor moments where the animation wasn’t as consistent as the rest of the time, but nothing major at all.

Storyline and Character Progression: 8.9/10

• When it came down to storyline, this anime could easily be a hit or miss for newcomers. Without a real story or objective to aim for, some may find the overdramatic mystery cases to be stale after a little while. Still, these mysteries had an amount of depth to them that couldn’t be ignored. They couldn’t be solved with some simple theories, but rather, careful deduction was needed to even get close to the truth. I also really enjoyed the small bits of comedy here and there that made me crack up a bit. There were even a good amount of moments with romantic tension that helped keep things interesting if the mysteries weren’t enough for you. The real beauty in this anime though is in the character development. The one that experiences the most development is our main protagonist Oreki Houtaro. It was definitely a joy to watch him grow throughout the entire anime as he was slowly affected by his friends various personalities and dispositions. While I did enjoy the other characters when their moment to shine arrived, none matured nearly as much as Oreki.

Soundtrack and Audio: 9.1/10

• The OPs in this anime were some of the most unique and beautiful I’ve ever seen. They were so well animated, and you could tell that a lot of care and effort were put into producing them. As far as musicality went, the first OP was my favorite of the two. Whenever music was used, it was very light and in moderation. In terms of audio, I found all the voice actors very pleasing to listen to. They all had really fit their characters and were able to express sincere emotion when the moment called for it. There were just a few minor characters that felt out of place when conversing, which took a little bit away from the environment and immersion.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this anime for sure. From the various mysteries the group of friends found themselves solving, to the hilarious little moments they enjoyed, Hyouka was truly a beautiful anime to watch. My advice? Don’t focus or expect any serious romance from this one. It’s mainly a mystery/drama that’s geared towards character development, but the romance is light and used in a way that doesn’t take away from the main focus. This anime definitely deserves the score of 9.1/10 for its beautiful animation, surprising soundtrack, and engaging character development. Thanks so much for @Agasayan for recommending me this truly entertaining watch, see y’all in the next one!