~fu-pshuu~

A brief review for a brief show.


As someone with a limited attention span and full-time job, I'm often enticed by light anime with episodes under five minutes. They offer the perfect level of commitment and I never run the risk of wasting my time, even if the show is ultimately a disappointment. Short anime also appeal to my inner completionist, as they can be finished in the same hour that they are started.

The one drawback lies in staying power. Even at their best, these shorts often fail to leave a lasting impression on me. And that's usually the point. They aren't meant to be meaningful works of art, but rather brief offerings of mild entertainment. Some good examples of this style belong to Rareko, the director responsible for Aggressive Retsuko, Gakkatsu!, and Please Take My Brother Away - each of which are five minute comedies.

Humor tends to work best in this format and the overwhelming majority of short anime are comedies. However, there is one other genre that is just as frequently featured, and that is slice of life.

Slice of life (SoL for the sake of further ease) has to be one of the most poorly defined genres within the anime community (and that's coming from a fan). What actually qualifies as SoL will vary depending on who you ask. More often than not, SoL is used as a poor excuse for otherwise drab and uninspired works. It's almost treated as preemptive defense; the show's not boring...it's just slice of life.

Short form SoL shows especially face an uphill climb. They don't have the benefit of the mere exposure effect to gradually win over the audience. Armed with only it's characters and atmosphere, the short SoL must ensnare it's audience as quickly as possible, lest it fall the way of trite and forgettable (read: Ameiro Cocoa).

At it's best, however, SoL shows can offer a window into the life and passions of another person. In spite of the abundant mediocrity found in this genre, I always give these shows the benefit of the doubt because I love learning about people and their interests. Which brings me to the anime I'll be reviewing today...

Wakako-zake was a delightful surprise. I didn't have high expectations going in for reasons previously stated. All I really wanted was something cute and fun. And while the show definitely lives into those qualities, it also managed to speak to me on a personal level, to the point where I feel compelled to explain my experience via review.

Wakako-zake is a two minute, 12 episode anime following the titular protagonist as she eats good food and drinks good alcohol. And that's it.

Each episode features a new food and drink combination. Meanwhile, the audience listens to Wakako's internal monologue as she enjoys her meal by herself. That last part is what makes this show so charming. Wakako is the only named character in the entire anime, and it's her personal experiences with food that matter most. Each episode begins with her getting off of work, giddy as she decides which food to treat herself to. She's never accompanied by co-workers or friends. Any additional company would only serve to distract her from what is otherwise a very intimate and particular experience.

As a brief side-bar, I've never really understood foodies. Perhaps it was the way I was raised, but I don't take much joy or interest in food. I eat whatever is presented to me with little complaints. At the same time, I'm not one to really notice or appreciate the quality of food. At best, I'm detached from eating. At worst, it's a source of stress.

In contrast, Wakako is a true foodie. She gets excited over food and savors the meal. Each bite is planned out, matched perfectly to her consumption of alcohol in order to maximize the complimenting tastes. It was genuinely enjoyable to listen to her commentary, as she notices things about food that I've never once considered. For example, in the last episode, Wakako eats Roasted Ginko Nuts, which you must break open with a nut-cracker and eat one by one. She remarks that half the enjoyment of eating these nuts comes from breaking them open. Each cracked shell is a little victory you've earned. Moreover, the methodical nature of cracking the shell distracts the mind from external stresses.

This observation might seem insignificant to some, but for me, it was genuinely nice listening to Wakako explain her love for food. For her, a hard day at work could be instantly erased by fried chicken and beer. And wouldn't it be nice to live in a world that simple?

As you may have noticed by now, the character of Wakako is just as pleasant as the show itself. She has an adorable, albeit odd aesthetic that perfectly matches the tone of the anime. Her lack of eyebrows and fish-like eyes I especially love, as they make her reactions to food all the more endearing and goofy.

Wakako-zake's visuals are of a similar quality to it's character design: cute and understated. The backgrounds are particularly nice, as each restaurant Wakako goes to has a distinct look and feel, depending on the cuisine they serve. The color palette is also very easy on the eyes. And, of course, as this is a show about eating, the actual food itself looks positively delicious.

The last thing I wanted to highlight is Miyuki Sawashiro's performance as Wakako. I've always been a big fan of Sawashiro. I would even venture to say that she's my favorite female seiyuu currently working in the industry. In the very least, she's one of the most dynamic. Her voice can so easily capture a range of emotion without ever feeling forced. You probably know her as Celty Sturluson from Durarara!!, Suruga Kanbaru from the Monogatari series, and Fujiko Mine from some of the newer Lupin material (including The Woman Named Fujiko Mine).

Personally, I've loved her more eccentric roles as Hanako Koyanagi in Wotakoi and Seo Yuzuki in Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, as I think she has a real talent for comedic timing. While Wakako is definitely a more low-energy character, she still manages to bring that signature charm in the form of adorable narration and cute noises. Half of the reason why Wakako-zake works so well is because of Sawashiro's charisma as a voice actor. You really buy in to Wakako's passion for food through her vocal enthusiasm.

I want to keep this review brief because, as I stated previously, short anime are very low risk investments. If you really want gage the quality of Wakako-zake and see if it strikes a similar chord, then throw on the first episode and judge it for yourself. It's only two minutes and if by the end you still aren't sold, then oh well. No harm, no foul. My real reason for writing this review was merely to get the word out about this anime. I don't see a lot of people talking about it, and that's a shame. Because, short as it might be, Wakako-zake managed to leave a lasting impact on me and shifted ever-so-slightly the way I regard food.

In summary, it won't change your life, but it might give you something to chew on ;)