werner.gislason - 2015-03-01 02:48:22

I started watching this show after seeing lots of gifs of a little girl with a serious shounen face; I was very confused but also intrigued and decided to see what it was all about. Honestly, I regret nothing! It's the perfect lazy summer anime, filled with warm feelings and humor, but also throwing in some really nice advice and life lessons. Watching as the children of the island make Handa less of a sad, cranky guy is nothing less than heartwarming.

kirstin45 - 2015-01-20 09:51:50

Amazingly underrated, quite possibly one of the best slice-of-life in 2014. Eternally a favourite.

laury61 - 2015-01-14 11:59:41

Young and aspiring calligrapher Honda Seishu acts rashly, and is sent to the middle of nowhere to cool his head: a place where you have to manually start the gas heater for hot water and where the only phone in town is at the local convenience store, and it's got a rotary dial to boot. Not only that, but he has to deal with meddlesome middle schoolers and cheeky kids.
And this story is about how he comes to love it.

This is a tale about growing up, and learning that the world is a beautiful place beyond the bustle of city life. Finding pleasures in the simplest of things bring their own satisfaction and inspiration, and to Honda, his calligraphy needs just that. Adorable animation and flawless voice acting bring to you a wonderful story perfect for the summer. It'll leave you feeling fuzzy and content, yet still begging for more. This is a must-watch for all ages, anytime and anywhere.

naomi.senger - 2014-12-23 21:30:27

An absolute must watch! Every episode was enjoyable and left me satisfied! I hope a season 2 is on the way!

willard80 - 2014-10-12 08:59:03

salvador58 - 2014-10-06 01:15:23

Barakamon was not the series I expected to be. That last time I saw something set in the country was Non Non Biyori, which felt really slow at times and was, in my opinion, the very definition of slice-of-life. But Barakamon does not disappoint, for its goofy cast and silly story make up for any boring slice of life scenes.

Story

Seishu Handa, our aspiring calligrapher, gets a little too mad at an elderly critic of his own calligraphy and ends up punching him.  As punishment, Handa leaves the city for the country until he is able to apologize to the old man. He meets Naru, a little girl who was hiding in his cupboard in his new house (for whatever reason...) and many of the other villagers who receive him well. Each episode introduces a silly event or problem that involves Handa and one or two of the villagers. Though each episode may not relate to one another, it stays refreshing and fun.

Animation/Sound

The animation is nothing special, but it definitely shines in Barakamon's silly moments, such as when Naru achieves her "manhood". The OST is very mediocre but the OP and ED are well done and both use interesting art styles. But other than that, nothing really stands out in this department.

Character

This is probably the best part about this series. Handa by himself is probably not that interesting, but all the villagers are lively and great to watch. Every character somehow has that silly side, such as Handa's mother and the village leader. Handa and Naru make an amazing duo when Naru tries to play with Handa and the addition of Naru's friends makes the core cast very entertaining. She is definitely one of my favorite characters this year because of her enthusiasm and just how lovable she was. They make every episode lively and fun and that's why this series is gold.

Enjoyment

I really enjoyed this series because of all the times it made me laugh. This is one of the reasons I watch anime. The silly characters and the setting of the Japanese country make a wonderful series. It's a very refreshing series because it's so mellow and you really don't need to think hard when watching this series. Just relax, enjoy the show, and laugh a lot. 

Overall

Stop reading and start watching. Barakamon is one of my favorite series this Summer and maybe one of the best of 2014 overall. It's colorful cast and silly skits are something you won't want to miss. Its simplicity is what makes it such a good series and is one of the reasons that made me watch anime in the first place. Slice of life isn't all that bad, especially when with characters like these.

bwunsch - 2014-10-01 23:57:53

It's so refreshing to just see a story's beginning, middle and end in a show, don't ya think?

Except when the middle part isn't thought out that well. This is the personal story of a young calligrapher who used to relish in arrogance, he makes a mistake at a critical point and is went away to the middle of nowhere to grow as a person.

And obviously he does, and that's great for him but I have some issue with the way the tale is told. See Handa comes to the island and meets all these wonderfully welcoming people and learns the values of community and patience and yadda yadda... and then the show just... goes on for another 11 episodes.

Handa grew as a person too fast, so the rest of the show has him momentarily reverting back at key moments just to... basically learn the same things again and again. He does get better as the show goes on, but the development is... both too easy and not well-executed.

It's not as smooth or gradual as it should be. It's more like he keeps making stop-gaps before continuing on. It doesn't help that sometimes the show sees fit to revert him back to his old personality for the sake of a joke.

The other characters are well colorful and have their own humorous quirks, but they really are more of an ensemble. And maybe that's part of my problem, I came in expecting a character study and instead got an ensemble cast comedy. They are just there to help Handa along, most of the time. (Or hold him back).

You could say it's my fault for having the wrong presumption, and you're partially right, but I also feel the show lets a lot of its characters go underutilized. 

It is a very relaxing experience. This is a feel-good show, which means it is equal parts meaningful and shallow. There's a solid beginning and end, but what's in the middle is mostly filler and fluff. It is slice of life, but at the same time it set itself up for more story than it delivered. There's little rhyme or reason to which specific events helped develop Handa as a person.

The animation does a good job at capturing the scenery of the island, but otherwise is quite average and nothing to write home about. The sound is equally generic aside from the excellent OP and ED. The ED which sounds like a Switchfoot song, oddly enough.

It is an enjoyable time, but ultimately not as fulfilling as I thought it would be.

Alternative Recommendations: Hanasaku Iroha | Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun

Rewatch Value: No (Based on a Yes/Maybe/No scale)

felicity35 - 2014-10-01 14:10:28

I'm really just a sucker for anime with kids. As well as slice of life anime in general. The great thing about Barakamon is, how good it makes you feel when you watch it.

The atmosphere of the anime is great. From the colorful visuals, the fun characters, and the overall laid-back feel of the countryside. It sets a fun heartwarming mood.

Barakamon is really funny! In large part due to Naru, who stole the show everytime she was on screen. From her silly antics, to making the occasional Dragonball Z reference (and her being so darn cute!) I was happy and entertained the whole way though.

Now with more popular anime like SAO II, Akame Ga Kill, and Tokyo Ghoul. Some may disagree with me when I say, Barakamon is easily my favorite anime from the summer season. As well as one of my top 5 anime of 2014!

beryl50 - 2014-09-01 03:42:54

I can't call this a official or complete review because it isn't finished airing yet.
But what I CAN tell you is that this is a diamond. A big, unscathed, shiny diamond.

It nails the humor in its own kind of way, whether it be Naru's cuteness or the rest of the cast chiming in with their hilarious but subtle shenanigans. Comedy isn't the only thing this series has going for it, either. The feels that this anime gives you are so warm and light hearted, it is different from most anime and stands out like a bent nail (in a very, very good way). The main character we're following, Handa, learns the meaning of joy and how having happy people around you can also make you, well, happy.

The music is also very mellow and soft, it also always fits the situation. This is one of my favorite anime soundtracks I've heard, it makes you feel fuzzy inside. The voices for each character fit so well, especially the children's. Great sound.

All of the characters are extremely likable here, no worries. Every one is friendly and just feel "right". Naru is the child you see most of, I can guarantee you'll get attached to her funny personality like paper on glue.

Overall, this is one of the most enjoyable anime I've set my eyes and ears upon without a doubt, and it isn't even completed yet. It is so outstanding and gentle that it's hard to miss, give it a shot if you enjoy anime like Natsume Yuujinchou or Mushishi (without a dense amount of seriousness, and more of the calm).

zparisian - 2014-08-17 13:59:51

An adorable and funny slice of life anime with an interesting look at an often untouched aspect in the more rural side of Japan and the world of calligraphy as an art form.