Hyouka

It's doesn't matter how the sound is, or the quality is in an anime. What matters is how the anime impacted on the viewers. How it leaves an impression for its viewers. And how it leaves the mind lingering in a positive way. For anyone who is thinking about watching Hyouka. I won't say any spoilers. I hope my review will pique your interest on watching this anime. Seems pretty common right? 2 guys and 2 girls. Nothing wrong with that. You already know what's going to happen. But that is just only a part of the show. They solve mysteries. YESS Mysteries. Not the boring kind where someone dies and you have to find the culprit. This mystery kind of anime happens to be simple in its own way. It mainly revolves around the school, and other places as well. The 4 friends join together in a club for their own reason, and it turns out, 3 characters has their own knack for playing a role in solving mysteries. Oreki Houtarou happens to have the brains to solve mysteries, and joined the classics club because of a request from his siste. Houtarou, himself just goes through life because he's lazy at everything he does. Turns out there is more to high school then he thought. As time goes by, he will soon find out that there are things he doesn't realize himself. Fukube Satoshi, the "Date Base". Satoshi is a friend that somehow understands Houtarou more than Houtarou does himself, that goes for Houtarou's sister. He was friends with Houtarou and Mayaka since middle school. And is also the guy that is the brightest out of everyone. Though he is always a happy go person. There are things in life he just can't do. Chitanda Eru, the one that will not let Houtarou get away from a mystery when something interests her. She became friends with the 3 of them because of the classics club. There is more to her than what you would think. Ibara Mayaka, friends with Houtarou since Elementary, and Satoshi since middle school, She joined primarily due to Satoshi being a member. She also has a crush on Satoshi since middle school. Satoshi usually just brush her feelings aside with a joke. But what she is oblivious too is that Satoshi reciprocates her feelings and that makes him hesitant to act upon. Due to that she restrains her emotion. The simplicity of the mystery is what you would sometimes find in your daily lives. What do you do if there was a mystery? You would try to find out why that happen or how that happened right? and sometimes we just give up and wait for the answers. Hyouka won't let you down. It will even get you to solve the mystery with them. Though it's not all about mystery. Each friends have something in there past that makes them who they are. Houtarou himself is just someone who doesn't understand himself. Just going through life until something in his life will change. I would say relationship plays a big role in Hyouka. Since you need others to better understand ones self. You may think you would understand yourself the most. But there are things that you yourself won't realize it until someone points it out to you. All in all. I love this anime. I even bought the set. It has a great opening and ending. I already knew once I saw the opening that it was going to be good. It's not common to watch an anime like this. I hope you guys will watch it, cause I know I'll definitely re-watch it with one of my friends.

So... imagine you're watching The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Except you get rid of all the supernatural elements and make the characters incredibly generic. That's what this show felt like. A "mystery" show about a class club that goes to the ends of the earth to solve the world's most mundane and nearly nonexistent mysteries, all because... well... the girl "just had to know"... A lot of the mysteries involve Japanese wordplay and writing structures, so its very difficult to follow along if you don't know the language. But even then, the answers just sometimes get pulled out of nowhere, so it's never really a show like Conan where you can follow along and come to the conclusion before the characters do. You just sorta have to sit and watch the characters monologue for 30 minutes on how they figured it out without showing you. And like I said, the mysteries are very inconsequential, so it all sorta amounts to nothing at the end of each episode. The romance side of this show isn't that compelling either since Okeri is so aggressively determined to spend as little energy each day as possible for no explained reason to the point where he just snaps at anyone for engaging with him who wants him to... take part in the plot. It was just such a nothing sandwich with no memorable characters or interactions to speak of. The slightly longer run time for each episode only lessened my enjoyment, overall. I had no idea what to expect of this one, going into it. Kinda sad with what the end result wound up being. 4/10

Hyouka isn't your typical mystery show with elaborate murders/thefts, or intricate schemes and traps, or intellectual battles of incredible depth. Instead, Hyouka gives us a more relaxed take on the genre, mixing elements of high school life with light mystery cases. These mysteries are better described as unusual circumstances or situations that leave an explanation to be desired. Hyouka follows the activities of the Classics Club, their involvement in various problems and situations, and the daily lives of its members and their relationships. From deciphering the meaning of the word "hyouka" to figuring out why all students who shopped at a certain store were called to the school office, there are a plethora of puzzles the Classics Club takes upon themselves to solve. While it may not be the most event-filled or action packed show and can be considered dull at times, Hyouka's charm lies in its ability to be clever along with an interesting and likable cast of characters, and how their individual personalities and talents interact with one another as they tackle various mysteries. The first member of the Classics Club is Oreki Houtarou, who at first glance, appears to be a simple unmotivated high school student with little to no aspirations other than getting through life in the most cost efficient manner possible. However, he is quite intelligent and has a knack for logical deduction and reasoning, although he isn't fully aware of it himself. He joins the Classics Club due to the request of his older sister, and treats it as simply another task he has to complete, but as a result gets more than he bargained for. However, as the type who won't do something unless he absolutely has to, what possible motivation would he have in putting in the effort to solve these mysteries when it conflicts with his very nature? The answer to that question is our second member of the Classics Club, Chitanda Eru. A veritable ball of energy, she is described as "a person that cannot be ignored" according to Houtarou. The daughter of a distinguished family, her insatiable curiosity often forces Houtarou to quench that curiosity with a logical explanation. She serves as the foil to Houtarou's personality, and pulls him out of his comfort zone and shows him how life doesn't have to be a series of bothersome tasks. A polite and talented girl who excels in academics, she joins the Classics Club to discover a certain truth. Joining the Classics Club as our third member is Fukube Satoshi, Houtarou's middle school friend and the one known as a walking database. Jack of many trades but master of none, he encourages Houtarou to use his talents and realize his potential while hiding his own feelings of insecurity about his own abilities. He joins the Classics Club to humor Houtarou and keep him company. While on the outside he appears to be a cheery troublemaker and handyman, his issues with confidence and struggle with who he wants to be constantly worries a certain girl who's had an unrequited crush on him since middle school. With that, we introduce our fourth and final member of the Classics Club, Ibara Mayaka. A girl who enjoys reading and drawing manga and giving her friends endearing nicknames, she serves as the foil to Satoshi's personality. Whereas Satoshi is indirect and not honest with himself, Mayaka is more straightforward and blunt, and pushes Satoshi to be more sure and confident in himself and his abilities. She joins the Classics Club due to her interest in Satoshi. Hyouka is broken up into various arcs with a couple of standalone episodes. Other than the first arc, Hyouka does not have a set end or goal in mind, and oftentimes the plot involves some mystery the group stumble upon, and the process in which they solve that mystery. Thus, Hyouka's biggest selling point lies within the dialogue between the characters. It reveals how each character approaches a problem, and their mindset on how to solve that problem. I personally found Houtarou's thought process and logic quite clever and was a large factor in my enjoyment of the show. The mysteries do seem to lack substance and motivation, and it does become tiring to hold interest at times, but at the same time, others were clever and creative and were enough to keep me watching. The art, in typical KyoAni fashion, is hit or miss for a lot of people. However, the fact that it is well animated and fluid means it is pleasant to watch. The animations for the deduction process in particular were impressive and creative. The music is a typical high school slice of life soundtrack. As Hyouka is fairly uneventful, the music is quaint and appropriate. I found myself watching the OP and ED every episode; they are quite creative and catchy, with some nice animations. If you're looking for an adrenaline filled, high drama mystery show, look elsewhere. Hyouka's relaxed atmosphere and logical nature may seem to make for a boring show, but if you put in the effort to understand and appreciate the dialogue and logic, it's certainly worth the watch.

Too lazy to read this review? Yeah I know, just conserving energy. Drink an energy drink? Yeah I know, too tired to even opening the lid, just conserving energy. Houtarou Oreki is an energy-conserving boy who avoids non-compulsory activities at all costs. However, he joins his high school’s classical literature club at the request of his sister to keep it from being disbanded. In the club, he befriends a girl with boundless curiosity named Chitanda Eru, whose personality is outwardly the opposite of his. Alongside his friends Satoshi and Mayaka, Oreki finds himself unwittingly dragged into activity by Chitanda’s curiosity as they attempt to solve mysteries in everyday life. Hyouka started off way too slow, but that ended up ironically being its biggest strength. That, and a ton of other things, but your mileage does indeed vary. Hyouka never conforms to one specific style of storytelling (compare the Kanya Festival arc versus Chitanda and Houtarou trapped in a shed), it never just sticks to the mysteries (indeed, my biggest complaint with this show was the assumption it was going to be a mystery show) but yet the constant references to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the creator of Sherlock Holmes) and other famous mystery writers are persistent. The characters started off a bit one sided, but eventually were given ample time for development. You never can pin down what Hyouka will do next, or how it will do it. Indeed, the biggest mystery in this show is the show itself. My answer to the question posed above: It is what it is. The series is laid out with basically three major arcs, and all kinds of random episodic stories in between them. The episodic stories are nice and creative, but this series really sets itself apart in its multi episode arcs. The stories around them are simple, yet have very complicated stories behind them. They are full of people speculating different theories, and often getting things wrong. The storytelling takes a while to get going due to all of the slice of life put into it, but that allows it to put a ton of detail in these stories, examine everything on multiple layers, and the pay-off really manages to make use of its build-up. The series features excellent music, voice acting and general sound work. From the extremely memorable two OP/ED songs to the general OST, Hyouka is just simply special and magical. To add to the already high bar set by the series, Hyouka features some of the Anime industry’s most talented seiyuu. These amazing voices appear sometimes in no more than one episode minor roles, adding to a near magically performance and great believability to every character that appears on screen, for however long. And if it’s an attention to detail you want, then Hyouka really delivers on that. Whether it’s in the relationships between the characters, or the different environments. Kyoani’s animation really brings those to life. The characters themselves are all teenagers who at first sight seem like the usual stereotypes, yet develop into completely different directions. There is one character who will probably get on people’s nerves a lot though: Chitanda. She’s well fleshed out in some areas, but also rather forceful. Or make that very forceful. The mysteries that Oreki solves, tie directly into his own personal life, development and that of his friends. With every event, the characters, very organically grow and mature. At the same time, the story develops and builds on top of little events to create some really big pay off moments. When at its best, Hyouka truly shows what the Anime medium is capable, fusing intricate story-telling with amazing character development. For all that Hyouka achieves, which, lets be honest at this point, is more than most anime series have achieved in the last few years, it does have one flaw that may prevent some people from being engaged with it. Hyouka is simply put a sophisticated piece of storytelling. Perhaps a bit too sophisticated at times? Basically, the series is at times unapologetic and feels slow. Like any great story, Hyouka slowly and carefully builds up to some truly amazing story and character moments. The issue is, that while there are a lot of good moments, there are truly only two stand out “epic” parts. The stand out parts of the series being both the Kanyaa Festival arc as well as the last two episodes of the series, add up to a total of two. Life definitely feels like its being “led” by the characters in the series. By the end of the series, each character has gone through a major character arc, and in the process, truly changed and grown as a person. While the ending could be described as “open-ended”, it is, in fact the best kind of open-ended ending one can hope to find in anime. It brings the theme of the series full circle, and really shows how far all the characters have come.While there are definitely more novels to potentially adapt a second season from and continue the franchise, Hyouka is also one of those rare series that actually delivers a satisfying open-ended conclusion. Though I agree sometimes the lack of actual consequence made the mysteries…inconsequential, Hyouka gave me an appreciation for the long, twisting stories surrounding the ordinary things filling our day-to-day lives. Animation was brilliant, as to be expected, but Eru’s eyes took character design to new level, something about those Hyouka is a series of tremendous style, intelligence and wit – a series that indulges its own creativity and treats the audience with respect. It’s a series exploding with heart. A heart full of intriguing characters, a heart with an eye for artistic beauty, a heart with a sense of restraint in music and a heart that always opened itself to our viewing pleasure.

Hyouka is a visual masterpiece. From Kyoto Animation, you wouldn't expect anything less from this studio in their works on K-On, Nichijou, and Clannad. Art- 10/10 From detailed character expressions to beautifully crafted scenery, Hyouka has it all. I've been captivated on how much detail is drawn on every character. The anatomy of hands, wrinkles on their clothes, to the strands loose of hair on their backs. The animated mystery visuals are handled so smoothly.And the way this anime skillfully uses colors ,shading, and contrast to their environments to fit the tone on each and every scene. So much effort is put into the animation, that you can't help but stare in awe in each and every single episode. Sound- 10/10 Voice acting was exceedingly one of the best parts of Hyouka. With a cast that includes Nakamura Yuuichi (Clannad, Durarara!, FMA:B, etc.) and Sakaguchi Daisuke (Clannad, Baccano!, Gintama, etc.) You can hear each actor put so much skill and emotion through our animated characters. In terms of music, the soundtrack is great, with various elegant classical pieces played throughout the series.The openings have also been one my favorite songs this anime season. Character- 10/10 This is what drives Hyouka. From the beginning, each character is set in their own way. They have likes, dislikes, fears, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. It doesn't stick to character stereotypes. The dialog is smart, funny, and rather refreshing. But now what Hyouka handles so skillfully, that most animes aren't able to accomplish, is character development. This anime is driven by the characters . Each Mystery Arc will develop these characters. The differences in development will be small, but incredibly significant enough for you to realize the romance and interactions of the characters have been handled so smoothly and realistically that you can't help but call it amazing. Story- 9/10 This might be called Hyouka's weak point, because Hyouka is considered to be a Slice-of-Life/Mystery show, a combination you rarely see. It's not a based with a large plot, but divided and driven into Arcs, each a differently unique mystery added inside them. A twist to the anime mystery genre, mostly about conspiracies and murders, Hyouka takes a different approach. These mysteries are not driven as to "Who did it?", but as to "What happened?" and "How did it happen?". All intricately designed. I found myself caring for things I didn't care about before. Enjoyment/Overall- 10/10 What Hyouka made me realize is that you don't need plot and big, world-ending problems to be a great anime. It can be driven by the characters and their life, their stories, interactions, and experiences. The way it weaves a world filled with people who you actually grow to care about, that in the end, hate to part ways.The fact that I was never let down in each episode, is truly miraculous. Hyouka is a great ride, and if you would give it a try, i'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed.

Just finished this anime and wanted to write a review till the feelings it gave me are still fresh. So! Story: 9 If you're looking for a "normal" high school slice of life then Hyouka might be or may be not what you're looking for. Either way, it is quite enjoyable and you will be drawn to it right from the first few episodes. (mostly if you're a fan of mysteries). The best part about Hyouka is that the author didn't try bringing in ridiculous and impossible mysteries which can be somehow explained thanks to some demonic or magical force. No. This is all about development, a story where "normal life" turns out to be interesting with all the rumors, object disappearances or hidden reasoning and feelings high school students might have. Also it gives off an important lesson: everybody has a hidden talent, being it skills at observing and memorizing or putting different ideas together to resolve a certain situation or even knowing bits of everything and be a human database, but even so many would fail to see what they're really good at. I gave it a 9 though because at the end of it all something just felt incomplete. But not necessarily. Maybe I was just sad it ended. xD Art:9 Typical KyoAni. Which is really good since I tend to love all animes KyoAni put their hands on. The angles, the sceneries (like the sky, water, trees) but also expressions and the focus they put on the characters' eyes was just amazing from my point of view. The art is pretty soft too and tries to avoid contorted faces and unusual movements as much as possible. The openings are also pretty original, like the water droplets on the images which made Hyouka's first opening my favorite of the season. Sound: I gave a 10 to the sound. Why? Well because i just couldn't help but replay some scenes because the damn music was so intense. And Hotarou's explanations would just become more epic because of that music. A kind of horror-like soft song that sends both anticipation and suspense. There was another track that would start playing right after or when a character would make a personal confession which also felt pretty intense and almost like you can get the idea of how the character really feels. OP-ED included too, outstanding sound. Character: 9 The development all the characters got in only 22 episodes That's why the characters get a 9. The first episodes seemed like they stabilized stereotypes as the 4 main characters and this is how they'll be for the entire series. well no. They all change. They all go through a constant changing, because of what happens around them or the people they meet so at the end of the series you just can't help but smile thinking of how many characters we might have initially misjudged. Hotarou, the main and his friend, Satoshi, I think went through the biggest changes of heart. Enjoyment: 9 All those things above said, are you even wondering why I gave a 9 to enjoyment? xD I would have given it a 9,5 but MAL doesn't allow half votes unfortunately.

Ok, I've just finish watching this 22 episode anime, so what can I say? Ok, let's get down to business: Story: Very Good 8. What I like about the story is the simplicity itself, it doesn't have anything fancy like we always see the school and mystery genre really did played well. Though, this anime may have a romance genre, it isn't much of a true romance since neither Oreki nor Chitanda ever declared their love for each other nor did anybody made an effort to express it. Though there were some gestures that Chitanda has feelings for Oreki. The romance part belongs to Fukube and Ibara, since it was Ibara who did express her feelings for Fukube in a form of chocolate shape heart. Art: Mediocre 5. I'm no art critic. Sound: Good 7. Since I like both the 2nd opening and closing theme and I do find Chitanda's voice cute. Character, enjoyment and overall: Very Good 8. Ok, the title "Hyouka" maybe a bit off since it literally means "Frozen Delights" which can be a pun for "I Scream." The character's of this anime are more of wishy washy bunch because one would hate them at one point then in another point one will love them, like Oreki being a slacker at one point to being a smart guy at another, Chitanda, you'll be piss at her for her curiosity and her constant pestering of Oreki but in another point you'll love her cuteness and her tenacity. As for Fukube and Ibara, I really do like that they have a romantic arc from the very first episode of this anime. Enjoyment? I guess what's really enjoyable is the arc that we the audience were hoping for a romantic arc between Oreki and Chitanda, but alas, all we have is more of gesture than an actual arc, also, I would never understand as to why Oreki's elder sister was not given a face, now c'mon that character does deserve a face.... a very cute face. Overall, this is one anime that doesn't need to have some fanservice to sell, co'z the simplicity of this anime's production already suffices everything.

Hyouka is a mistery anime made by KyoAni and consequently being the best show they ever made. Now dont get me wrong when I say its the best show of KyoAni it doesnt mean its a good show, however KyoAni is so full of crap that even a show like Hyouka manages to mark their place as the best one.. And yes I consider it to be better than CLANNAD the first season and its probably on the same level has the 2nd one Story: Based of a very famous light novel by Yonezawa,Honobu called Koten-bu stories, Hyouka is basically a spin off with the same characters and story, the original material is known for their said engrossing writting and complex themes wich can be higly regarded by other people has a "masterpiece" wich in this person opinion is far from it. The pace of the story is incredebly slow, it doesnt do much in the 22 eps that its composed off, most of the events are overshadowed by the constant use of filler scenes or just minor-fanservice however the themes in the show are still decently handled. The thought of turning a mistery theme into classroom shenenigans was not a bad idea however since you´re posi- -tive and you already predict that nothing major will happen the tension is very lacking and there isnt much excitement since most of the proposed misteries are like "who put a rat on that kid´s schoolbag".. It comes of has a show about a bunch of teens playing detective, I did like the misteries, despite having no tension whatsover it still managed to make me care, the atmosphere in the show is astonishing and very subtle wich is basically 2 major tropes I enjoy in anime. The 2nd cour of the anime was basically filler since the over arking mistery had already been solved, so the 2nd cour is just filler with some minor misteries just to feed the fans something. Art\Animation: The animation was mind blowing, both backgrounds, details and other related stuff, those moments wich took place in oreki´s mind where his emotion were being expressed trough art were actually quite ingenious.. Being probably the most high budget show of KyoAni it definetly helped enchacing the experience wich blended with the tone and the subtletly of the show. Soundtrack: Most of the sountrack are from other artists such has bach wich while not being original in the very least it fits the show like a glove and generally the soundtrack has a great coreography has it gives off a great aura wich contributes to the atmosphere Characters: I consider the characters to be the most important factor of an anime, and in Hyouka´s case they are either plot devices or are there for the sake of it.. Focusing on Oreki who is a minimalistic relate-to-me character who is strangely fresh comparing to the other characters of the its kind due to his internal monologues and unexplained sharp and wise mind, he doesnt have a backbone has he is easily influenced by people, then theres CHitanda who is a plot device whose only purpose is to give motivations to the motivationless main character, Satoshi was a good character has he actually had a good characterization and development wich made me happy I have nothing to say about Mayaka other than being a sexually confused teenage girl who hates Oreki for some reason. The side characters are there just to take part in the mistery and then again they´re just plot devices. Conclusion: Now your question is.. Is Hyouka worth watching ?? Well I guess so? If you like slow atmospheric slice of lifes with romance sprinkles and mistery, then you´ll love it otherwise it will be really boring. Thanks for watching and tell me your opinion in the comments below Good Things: - Great Art\Animation - Amazing Atmosphere - Voice Acting is fitting and good - Despite being School themed misteries they are still thrilling to say the least - Satoshi Bad Things: - 2nd half is pratically filler - Pace might turn some people off - There is no tension in the dilemmas whatsoever despite being interesting - Characters are forgetablle for most part. - Slow pace is slow

Hyouka is a different from a lot of the anime series being released these days, it doesn't try to go over the top, it's slow paced and can be very refreshing to watch. The series definitely isn't flawless but as a whole, Hyouka is a piece of art. The plot is pretty simple, the characters live a regular life, go to school and solve mysteries that pop up every now and again. Some of the mysteries span for several episodes but most of them are only an episode in length. Although the plot may not seem all too exciting, Hyouka does a real good job at executing each mystery and pacing them. Some people may feel that the series moves too slowly but I disagree. The pacing is slow at times but most of the time the pacing of the series is just right. The series also does a really good job at balancing story and character development as it is not extremely focused on one or the other. The mysteries themselves aren't very special, and some of them just come out of nowhere. However, because of the way the characters solve it and the ordeals the characters go through when solving it, they become very enjoyable to watch. Hyouka does suffer from a slow start, as some of the first mysteries in this series can get very boring and aren't too impressive. However, overall Hyouka executes most of it's mysteries very well, and although most of mysteries themselves aren't very exciting, everything else Hyouka does makes them interesting to watch. The characters are a strong point of this series. The main male protagonist, Houtarou Oreki is a very unique character, his principle is "I don't do anything I don't have to. What I have to do, I do quickly" because he wants to conserve his energy. Also from a knowledge standpoint, he doesn't have all the answers but his deductive reasoning and analytical skills are just amazing. His trait alone makes him very appealing as it separates him from male protagonists in most other series. Houtarou also gets a fair amount of development throughout the series. As he is "forced" to solve these mysteries, he begins to get curious himself and no longer has to be pushed to solve mysteries. Because of this, Houtarou also starts to compromise his own energy conservation principle. While this is all happening, he begins to develop a crush on the main female protagonist, Eru Chitanda. The main female protagonist, Eru Chitanda has a less unique character than Houtarou, she is very polite, energetic and a bit of an airhead even though she is a top student.She is also shown to be a very caring person. Also when she gets curious she gets all up in Houtarou's face and won't stop until he agrees to solve the mystery. Some people may find her annoying but at the same time,she is very important to Houtarou's development because of the way she pushes him. Eru herself, also develops through out the series (but not as much as the other characters), as she learns to hold some of her curiosity back. At first she holds a great admiration towards Houtarou but later this develops intro a crush. The relationship between Houtarou and Eru is done very well. As the series progresses they get closer and develop crushes for each other. The development of their relationship is not rushed which makes it seem more natural. Although many would have liked to have seen their relationship go all the way (I was one of these people), it is far more realistic that it didn't because it would have been a bit forced and not natural at all. The other characters, Satoshi Fukube and Mayaka Ibara are also very noticeable. They each undergo some development such as Satoshi, developing a jealousy towards Houtarou, and Mayaka who's relationship with her other club (the manga society) also changes. They are both likable in their own way, and are probably some of the best side characters I've seen. The art is just outstanding, everything is very well drawn, the movements are smooth and it creates a wonderful atmosphere for Hyouka. The abstract artwork used as analogies to represent the situation that the characters are in is what really blows you away though. Words cannot describe how amazing the animation. Kyoto animations, you have impressed me once again. Hyouka also presents also has a very good soundtrack, the background music always matches the scene and help give the events more of an impact. The voice actors do a really good job presenting the characters. The openings match the mood of series and are both great to listen to. The second ending also really matches the mystery theme of the anime. The first ending however, isn't something that really goes with the series and I really don't see a point of it being there. Other than that there is nothing bad to say about the sound. Hyouka is a great series because it is different from most anime out there. Some people may be turned off by it's pace and the simplicity of the mysteries. However it has a wonderful balance between characters and story and the characters themselves are great too and because of all this, Hyouka is a very memorable series.

[Feel free to read. This review does not contain spoilers] Hyouka. A very delightfull anime which reminds me of the years when i was a carefree and crazy teenager. Also, the friendship between the main characters was something that all people would like to have. At first i found Hyouka just ok. But i the end, i loved it. An awesome work from Kyoto Animation. And that ending blew my mind! Story: 8 The story focuses on Oreki and his friends, who try to solve different mysteries. The series have a good pacing with no filler episodes and it has a unique story, but it is still missing this wow factor that other anime have. If you stuck with the series and watch at least the first 15 episodes, it will be difficult to drop it after that. I'd love to see a sequel after that ending. Art: 9 This is an awesome art by Kyoto animation. The characters, the landscapes and the mood that the series try to give you is great. It perfectly fits Hyouka, and the details are amazing. The quality remains great all the time. Sound: 8 The sound of Hyouka gives you a 'slice of life' mood. Kyoto animaton does a great job here and many of the soundtracks are awesome. Not the best you'll hear, but definetely will make you feel emotional. The backround music is very good and you may feel sad, happpy, get angry or you'll be unexpressed all the time (like Oreki). Kyoto animation used every single soundtrack in a very good way. The perfect song for every special and regular moment. Also, the voice actors fit every Hyouka character perfectly. Characters: 9 Just great characters. They are very interesting, both the main and secondary. Escpecially, the character development of the main characters throughout the series will give you the chills, mostly in the final 2 episodes. Each character has his/her own unique characteristics, making the anime even more interesting. The secondary characters are very good to support the series. Also, there is no narrator. Enjoyment: 8 Memorable series for me. Although i loved the series, sometimes, this 'solving many different mysteries' thing was boring. Some of them were worth solving and special, but not all of them. Overall: 8 Hyouka is recomended for everyone who wants to watch a more 'down to earth' anime, with no battles, no magic,no supernatural, no gore, no psychilogical and dark content. I believe, this anime needs to become more popular, and also, i believe it is underrated. Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that it's the best of it's genre, but definetely unique. (English is not my native language, so sorry for my mistakes, if there are any) Thank you for reading!

Now here is where i begin my fruitless attempt to put into words what i actually thought of Hyouka. Which is actually harder than you may expect, because this is just one of those shows where i can’t really think clearly on what it was exactly that i like. Well to begin I should mention what may be the most obvious; this is by far the best animated show I’ve seen all year. Characrers are detailed and had fluid motion, all the desighns were likable and it all added to that slight sense of realism that persists thoughout the experience. Background were all equally beautiful with bright colors or muted colors to to great effect when need. Even something that I had never seen before: a handheld shaky-cam effect, which impressed me to no end on just a technical level. This proved to be one of the main examples that i use when i argue thst anime has spoiled me in turms of 2D animation quality, it just looks that good, yet still manages not to be overbearing, and instead allows you to get immersed in the experience. The more difficult thing to really pinpont and talk about (though i’ll probably end up talking alot anyway) is the story and characters. In my opinion characters are the most important part in any anime because they can make or break it independent of the plot. The plot can be a great or interesting idea, but if the characters aren’t at all interesting or likable I’m not going to enjoy the show as much. However this is definitely an are in which Hyouka excels. One of the things that one may consider essential in a plot-filled story is the idea of character development, that a characters have to grow along that story. Since this is more of a slice-of-life ( actually more than any other show ever, but I’ll get to that later) that same idea doesn’t apply and the growth has to be applied a bit more subtly, much more how it may seem in real life. If you look at yourself yesterday or a few days ago you may not see any substantial difference, but if you do the same a few years ago it should be more noticeable. And that is the case here; as you look on an episode-by-episode basis your not likely to notice all the changes, but look at the characters on the first and last episodes they are different. I won’t go into detail with everyone but take a look and you’ll see it. Above all else the characters are also very likable, or at the very least I liked them enough to come back each week. The girls were very adorable and the interactions between everyone felt very natural. All of this also added to an over-arcing sense of realism. Besides the look an the characters the passage of time and structure of the “plot” made it feel like real life. From the introduction and as wells as various elements in the show itself you may have been lead to believe that this is a mystery show, perhaps in the vein of Scooby-Doo or Sherlock (awesome British show by the way) but I don’t really believe that this is the case since a major percentage of time is spent not solving mysteries but rather doing other things such as enjoying the school festival or going to an Onsen. Sure there are mysteries bu I never felt that it was the main focus outside of a few episodes or in other cases certain segments of certain episodes. It almost gave me that sense that Hyouka was confused and perhaps didn’t really know if it wanted to be mystery or straight slice-of-life. In the end I came to the conclusion that this may be one of the best adaptations of real life I seen in an anime, with an underlying theme of mysteries in order to tie the episodes together. Thing more or less seem to just happen in Hyouka usually without in sort of foreseeable meaning or reason to them, and events play out very naturally much like in real life. You don’t remember things that happen day to day, you remember big events or ones that mattered the most to you, festvals, vacations, or smaller events such as Oreki investigating his teacher or trying to prove to Chitanda that he can’t be trusted to solve mysteries. Real life also doesn’t have a clear plot or constant themes other than those you make for yourself. All of which is the case here; not much is consistent in terms of plot as you watch, and its not until you look back that you realize that had this been your life this may have been how you would remember it with all the subtle shifts and changes intact. All of these changes and shifts made Hyouka a hard show to really give a rating for since I never had a clear idea throughout of what I was meant to look for or enjoy. In the end all that really matters is that I greatly enjoyed watching every episode and continued to maintain Kyoto Animation’s consistent quality standard.

Hyouka has been sitting in my "Plan to Watch" list for some time, and I can report that I'm very glad to have gotten around to watching it. I was originally allured by the beautiful animation and reputable ratings, and I was definitely not disappointed. Story: 8/10 Art: 9/10 Sound: 8/10 Character: 7/10 Enjoyment: 8/10 Overall: 8/10 Story (8): Hyouka is centered around four charming students in the Classics Club and their desire to dive into the subtle mysteries of the world around them. The main character Oreki has committed to his "energy conserving" lifestyle, as he does not want to stand out, waste energy, or do things that aren't required of him. Upon joining the Classics Club, the club president Chitanda discovers that Oreki has excellent deduction skills and can solve simple mysteries that spontaneously spark her curiosity. Oreki develops into the group's lead detective as they discover the world around them. The story itself is a charming and simple one focused around development of the Classics Club, as we watch the personal growth of the members during their first year of high school. A rather uncomplicated story work in its favor, as the the episodes develop "moment-by-moment", which engages the viewer into the story excellently. I regularly found myself getting lost in the episode that before I knew it, they were over. That's an impressive feat for a slice of life anime. However from a critical standpoint, the story was sometimes inconsistent and hard to follow, seeing that a lot can happen in a short amount of time. Art (9): This is definitely Hyouka's most impressive element. The art was almost flawless. Chitanda's sparkly purple eyes, the flow of the hair, the beautiful resolution, the stunning scenery. You'll definitely want to watch this in at least 720p, or you're not fully appreciating what this show has to offer. Throughout the series I was consistently impressed with the animation. The only thing holding this back from a 10 is some of the little things. Sometimes the hands lacked detail along with things like faces in the background etc. If it was just a little more detailed it would be a total 10. Still can't complain. Sound (8): Never sure of what to say in this section, sound seemed good, nice and HQ but nothing that stood out as impeccable. Character (7): I really found myself relating a lot to the main character Oreki, as I too have been accused of not caring, being lazy, can't put effort into things, is never excited or smiling, etc. Some of the jokes the supporting cast say about his personality are things that have been actually said to me, even. The characters have great, unique personalities and each had some growth in themselves throughout the series. However, this is also my lowest score for all the elements of the show (though a 7 is still good). I was hoping for a bit more development in the supporting cast and the relationships between them, as most of the development seemed to focus around Oreki. He is the mc, but regardless this could have been a very strong category otherwise. Enjoyment (8): I never thought I would watch a slice of life anime this fast. Episode after episode is completely packed with story and meaning and the series seemed to fly by. The innocent curiosity of the Classics Club kept me engaged and entertained, as I practiced by deductive skills and honed in on the world in front of my eyes. Especially through the great animation, falling into the story was easy. Overall (8): Hyouka is a great example of a slice of life / mystery done right. Beautiful art and story from beginning to end, engaging and curious. Can't believe I waited so long to watch this! if you're looking to get lost in a cute and charismatic story, Hyouka is definitely the way to go.

Hyouka is an anime based on a series of novels by Yonezawa Honobu. The anime adaptation was handled by Kyoto animation. You may know them as the studio behind, Lucky Star, Nichijou, the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and K-on. So, they gravitate towards slice of life series, or series with strong slice of life elements, with widely varying degrees of quality. Let's look at Hyouka and see where it lands on the spectrum. Hyouka doesn't have one underlying plot. Rather, the series starts with a high-school student named Houtarou joining the Classics club, because his sister told him to join it in order to prevent its dissolution and he's afraid of what she'll do to him if he doesn't comply. As a member of the Classics club, he encounters a lot of minor mysteries, which he doesn't want to bother with because it takes energy and he's very lazy. Most of them get solved in a single episode. The big problem with Hyouka as a mystery series is just that most of the minor mysteries are exceedingly obvious and the viewer can easily solve them before Houtarou does. So you spend a lot of time waiting for him to catch up. The only reason he looks like a competent detective is that he's surrounded by morons who have no idea what to do with the clues. The multi-episode mysteries are kind of interesting since the information is paced much better, which does create some suspense. The only character who's kind of interesting is Houtarou, even if his abilities are greatly exaggerated by everyone around him. The rest range from kind of bland to outright obnoxious. The art in this is pretty good. The character designs are well done and the backgrounds are pretty vibrant. It's most apparent in the final episode. The cast in this does a decent job. The biggest issue is just that most of them don't have a lot to work with since a lot of the characters are pretty one note. The music is pretty strong. The yuri factor is a 1.5/10. Chitanda and Mayaka get kind of touchy at times, but there's nothing beyond that. Hyouka isn't a bad anime but it's nothing special either. The mystery elements fall flat and the characters are just kind of dull. My final rating is a 5/10. It's an average series. If you want to see a lazy guy solve minor mysteries for a bunch of twits, check it out. If the premise sounds interesting give an episode or two a try. Me, I'll stick to my Holmes and Dresden.

"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” -Sherlock Holmes In a world dominated by streamlined genres, few times does a series truly differentiate itself enough not to conform to rules subconsciously set out by the masses. Slice of life is perhaps the genre with the most to say, because it really conveys parts of our everyday "lives". However, many are quick to disassociate from this "genre" because the thought of watching an animated version of themselves completing repetitive, mundane tasks sounds like the farthest thing from entertainment. Hyouka seeks to mold an immersive experience by adding a lens to look at the lives of the characters through. This lens, or mystery sub-genre exists as a conduit to explore the depths of the main four character's development. An anime appreciable in multiple perspectives, Kyoto Animation creates a visually stunning masterpiece that holds more weight than I could've possibly anticipated. Hyouka wastes no time illustrating how different life can appear based on perspective. Oreki Hotaro lives life in the most pragmatic way possible. Going out of his way to do something or help someone would only waste energy, a concept he's not willing to validate. He reluctantly joins the Classics Club at his sister's request at the rumor that it could be shutdown due to low membership. Everything changes when he meets Eru Chitanda. The sequence when Hotaro first meets Chitanda is one of the most beautifully choreographed anime scenes I have ever watched. The entire scene is shown though Oreki's eyes, really emphasizing the perspective aspect i mentioned previously. The way it is animated embodies the feelings of seeing your true love for the first time. What transpires afterward is a truly remarkable journey of self realization, love and curiosity. Many have been quick to judge (myself included) Hyouka's main plot for being "pointless" or "mundane". Sure, the execution is brilliant, but the surface subject matter isn't all that exciting. I mean, who really cares how the writer of a school club video's script wanted the story to end or why a student got called to the teacher's office after class? When I said the mystery genre exists as a lens to view the story from, I truly meant it. The mysteries themselves are not the main point of the series, but a catalyst to unearth the character's strengths and emotions. It's not all that exciting. That being said, Hyouka is a series best watched with an open mind, free of distraction, since the most you'll be getting out of it wont necessarily smack you in the face with sensationalized content. To expound on the matter of perspective, Hyouka's messages can mean something entirely different depending on who's listening. That's not to say it's ambiguous, since there is no correct answer regarding its themes. It's entirely subjective, and a valid argument could be formalized in many respects. Hyouka can be about the power of observation, social hierarchies, growing up or even self identification, whichever suits the viewer. The narrative is honestly up to you. The mystery aspects actually detracted from my overall enjoyment after awhile. I ended up caring more about the characters than the overall point of the story. Without giving too much away, the ending was both dissatisfying and perfect at the same time. It was a juxtaposition of expectations versus reality, and it couldn't have been better written. Some anime develop characters to suit a progression of plot, and are reverted back after the arc has concluded. Great character development separates itself from the flippant by creating a gradual change in a character's overall emotions and personality. This is what we witness regarding the characters of Hyouka. Chitanda evolves her innate curiosity by exploring the reasons for why people do what they do, while using Oreki as an aide. Oreki's apparent feelings for Chitanda make helping her an obligation, she's someone "he just can't ignore." With Chitanda's help, Oreki goes from avoiding wanting to assist others to actively pursuing it on his own. Perhaps the most important example of his change throughout the series is with the tree from the beginning and end of the series. His perception and feeling towards this image changes from disdain to hopeful, without even realizing it. Satoshi reminds me quite a bit of myself at a similar point in life. He often puts on a facade by acting cheerful, but his inner feelings bubble over from time to time, with the viewer getting a first hand view of the struggle of silencing your emotions. He's a self-proclaimed database who plays second fiddle to most, interjecting helpful tidbits as necessary and not to disturb the ebb and flow. He and Mayaka never get closure, but more of acceptance with their roles in the grand scheme of things. They realize how it can be better to settle than to aim for the stars. This kind of bothered me due to their age in the anime. From personal experience, sometimes the most seemingly insignificant individuals get the biggest breaks. It's the hope that keeps things alive. At 14, it may be a tad early to rule yourself down for the count. I could go on and on about Kyoto's animation in Hyouka. It's nothing short of breathtaking. When studios have this high of a quality, it's possible to emphasize the mood or theme of a series based on its art... Almost like creating its own aura. From the initial exchange between Chitanda and Oreki to the almost experimental animation shown while exploring the character's various hypotheses, Hyouka continuously produces stimulating imagery, entrancing the viewer. It may be one of the best looking anime in existence. The soundtrack is also a must download. The alternative takes on classical music tracks close the gaps in the series' environments. There are few shows I can say that I've skipped back to enjoy the melodic ambience Hyouka's music creates. Simply remarkable. Voice acting is above average, and the second OP does something relative to shows like Barakamon: it tells a story. Most of the time, anime OP and EDs exist as nothing more than to showcase the various characters in a sensory overload. Hyouka was a nice change of pace. Should you watch Hyouka? Well, although I initially didn't care for it, the outstanding characterization and art caused it to grow on me. If you're looking for a suspenseful mystery show because of its listed genre, you might want to look elsewhere. Sure it has the added flair of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, with "whodunit" mini arcs, but that isn't the meat of the show. Hyouka is a masterpiece for the right frame of mind, but can be overlooked as a dull, pointless dud if you watch it at the wrong time. Again, it's all about perspective. Don't make the same mistake I almost did and write it off. I enjoyed Hyouka for what it was, but I can't say it was the most "enjoyable" show. It's not necessarily something you binge through. A few episodes a night make its viewing experience one you'll surely remember for many years.

People wouldn’t normally sell you an idea for a show by saying that “It’s about high school kids who solve mysteries, sometimes with inconsequential results” but that’s what Hyouka honestly is - and it’s great. You can tell when you have well written characters in front of you when they can carry a plot that is, honestly, little more than that quote. Despite very little earth-shattering moments taking place in the world of Hyouka we get a great leading quartet of characters who, though at times can get repetitive and annoying, feel down to earth and real. Watching them go about their school lives with very different goals while faced with brain-teasers is entertaining, funny and endearing. The show’s gradual build up and little payoff on occasions mean it isn’t the easiest of recommendations. But for any lovers of mystery, and a high school setting that isn’t dependant on despair and melodrama, then you can’t go wrong. Our story follows new high school student Houtarou Oreki, someone who won’t go out of his way to do anything unless it must be done. Begrudgingly, out an obligation to his older sister, he joins the Classics Club where he meets Eru Chitanda, Satoshi Fukube, and Mayaka Ibara. Suddenly his dream of breezing through high school life without having to use up energy is thrown out the window. The inquisitive nature of Chitanda in particular - a girl who can’t rest easy without understanding the secret behind something - starts to lead him down a mysterious path. Oreki within the space of a single episode became more interesting than the standard high school lead character. First up, he isn’t an idiot. Far from it. I’m fed up with seeing ignorant protagonists whose lack of awareness is often used as a means to keep a story droning on for too long. Oreki’s ability to read a situation with ease yet not wanting to put that to use is always entertaining. There were moments where I kept thinking to myself ‘I get it, you don’t want to use energy’ as the opening episodes continued to drum his rhetoric into my head. Thankfully that goes away after some time and the show lets his actions convey that message instead. Oreki’s progression can be summed up in one simple idea: motivation. What makes us want to be proactive? How much effort are we willing to put in? It’s not very complex but he expresses these ideas perfectly, helped greatly from superb voice acting from Yuuichi Nakamura who nails the deadpan and disinterested tone. There was a big danger in this show that the trio outside of Oreki could simply become foils to just develop him alone. Thankfully this isn’t the case as Chitanda, Fukube and Ibara all have their own flaws, desires and issues. These are all varied as well. We have jealousy, greed, insecurity and love all at hand. Heck, there’s even some ‘meta’ commentary on the value of criticising media and the nature of subjectivity thrown in for good measure. While the trio’s main purpose is definitely to help breathe some energy into Oreki’s dull outlook on school life, it takes their toll on them as well. Fukube questions his own intelligence. Ibara questions what makes her happy. Chitanda questions her ability to help others. It’s all great to watch unfold. They are a group all built upon really interesting contradictions: Fukube is knowledgeable but lacks the ability to piece things together. Ibara is outgoing yet unsure of herself. Chitanda has a good memory but gives off an air-headed persona. Chitanda is the clear front-runner of the supporting crew, in terms of importance to the story and screen time. Her purpose is to push Oreki into helping out with mysterious situations, against his will of course. Similar to Oreki, she initially came off as annoying with the incessant repetition of her catchphrase (“I’m curious!”) but it grew on me. Chitanda arguably gets the least development of the lead four though in a way it’s perhaps for the best. Part of her appeal was her calm nature and ignorance to a lot of what is going on around her. It’s adorable. To see that disappear would be a big pity. Instead there’s a definite level of maturity and confidence growth you can see going on with her character, coming to the fore in a beautifully crafted final episode. The middle third of the show stands out for having not only the most interesting stories but also the peak moments of conflict for characters. That is perhaps the biggest thing to take away from the mysteries - their dual purpose. They are there to both entertain and involve us as a viewer but to also provide development for the characters caught up in them. These mysteries range from a lost piece of school-changing history to a simple hypothetical solution to a PA announcement. Some riddles didn’t grab me. One is slightly lost in translation. Most manage to hit the mark. Above all however, the show is a great reminder though that no matter how pointless some exercises may be to you they can mean a lot for others. When you talk Kyoto Animation you know that you are guaranteed to get a great level of production. Background art is beautiful. Animation is smooth. Character designs are on point. Lighting in particular plays a big role. A lot of the mysteries see KyoAni getting experimental with their presentation. During explanations they will often jump to a new art style, one to suit the mystery at hand. Kept things fresh. It’s one big charming package. Aside from a slow start and some arcs that miss the mark, it’s one of the more interesting anime in a high school setting you can take a shot at. If you’re sick of romance being at the forefront of such settings then this may pique your interest. If you want to watch characters discover not only themselves but also the environment around them then let me point you in the direction of Hyouka.

Before you read this review, I should tell you that this review is more than special for me as it's not only my first but it will be my only. After two years on MyAnimeList I was determined that I would never take the time to write a review and would simply read reviews done by others, but after watching Hyouka I find it hard to not come on here and give my opinion. I gave Hyouka a 10 for one reason, there's something special about it that almost anyone who has watched it can feel. The special feeling you get when watching Hyouka isn't one that you can sum into words, but it truly takes you out of this world and plants you into the anime world. Through this review I'll try to express how Hyouka creates this feeling for anyone who hasn't seen it, so here goes nothing: Story: 10/10 Hyouka doesn't seem to really focus on a main plot, it's more like a make up of a ton of sub-plots put together into one big show. If you were to take the time and really think about it, Hyouka is really just kids in an after school club solving miscellaneous mysteries that pop-up in daily life. Of course this doesn't sound special and it hardly sounds like something that would catch an anime watchers eye, but it's strange. Even though the mysteries that are solved are quite small and short you are still dragged into each and every one of them. At first you'll probably think "Oh, it's just some lame mystery that has no purpose, boring.", and well... You're right, but the thing that makes Hyouka stand out so much is that it can take these boring mysteries and make them fascinating, because it expresses each piece of evidence and then gives the viewer time to ponder on the conclusion as the characters do so as well. As you think about the answer the characters move along and obtain more clues, leading you closer and closer to the answer you want and then if you get it right you get a small feeling of joy as you took part in the anime yourself, even if all you did was solve a "mystery with no purpose." Art: 10/10 Hyouka has some interesting art, it's nothing absolutely amazing but it is different from the common anime and it does catch your eye. Of course when animes like Guilty Crown came out people were going crazy over the art from start to finish, but that's not really how Hyouka is. The art in Hyouka doesn't exactly make anyone go crazy over how good it is, but still it's elegant and there is a vivid use of colors and textures that help you to feel more like you're actually there. The art used seems to immerse the brain in the plot and mystery, especially during segments where Oreki (the lead character) is thinking, and that's really all a mystery anime needs. If the art can bring you into the mystery then the plot of it can work to keep you there, so in that sense the art in Hyouka is great. Sound: 10/10 I really like the sound in Hyouka, like, I REALLY like the sound in Hyouka. There are a few music tracks within the anime that repeat themselves, and each music track seems to express a different mood. The music will have you go from pondering on the mystery, to laughing at the characters jokes, to hoping a romance will develop between the characters. The music in Hyouka really brings out each segment of the show, and when you get to certain parts and expect a track to come on, it normally does, and you can't help but smile about the foreshadowing of the music. The tracks that are played when the characters are stumped leaves you feeling stumped as well, and it agitates you, but the quicker the characters get to finding the conclusion to the mystery the faster paced and more vibrant the music becomes and naturally when they find it out you grin and say "I thought so", and the music serves as more of a victory tune for you and your mystery-solving ways. Along with that the character voices fit all too well and help to bring out each characters individual personalities, and the expression in each voice helps to express each character as a real person solving real mysteries, just another aspect that pulls you into the swing of the anime. Character: 10/10 If there's anything I've wanted to write about in this review, it'd have to be the characters. The characters in Hyouka are all so unique and you can't help but grow attached to them through the course of the anime. To break it down I'll separate each main character and give my two cents about all of them. Oreki: I love Oreki. Well.. I don't actually love him, but I love his character type. Oreki is so different from the normal anime leads that he really stands out. Oreki has the motto "If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, I'll make it quick." and he really follows it. This is so different from our normal protagonist who is always so outgoing and wants to 'beat up the bad guys'. Another thing that's different about Oreki is how shy he is. Most anime leads spend episode upon episode curling up and being shy because the girls in the show are attached to them, but Oreki usually just blushes and then gets on with it. He doesn't waste any time, which is what makes him so great. Fukube: Fukube is quite interesting as well. Despite being Oreki's best friend he is almost the polar opposite of Oreki. He's out-going and he's good at almost everything, however throughout the anime he seems to change and more is revealed about his character that helps to build him up in a unique way. Ibara: Ibara is strange... but in a way she has to be there or the group isn't complete. Ibara is a member of the manga club and also a very shy girl, generally she serves to insult Oreki and fawn over Fukube, but at the same time she is also her own character. She's very shy even though she doesn't express it, and the love interest between Fukube and her really adds a large sub-plot to the anime that interests the viewers who are attached to these two characters. Chitanda: Chitanda is so strange, but you can't help but love her. She's very out-going and awkward in the sense that she's so interested in mysteries. She seems to get very involved in even the tinniest little cases and she's probably the biggest enemy of Oreki's style of life. However without her you wouldn't get Oreki to do anything, so we can be glad to have her around provoking the mysteries that do come about. Chitanda is so unique as a heroine of an anime that you'll eventually grow attached to her, and with that you'll be able to feel the same way that Oreki does when she goes on her "I'm curious" streaks. Enjoyment: 10/10 After typing all this up I would find it hard to believe that you don't already know I enjoyed this anime. Out of the 600 or so anime series I've watched this might be one of my top 3, and nothing very significant has even happened, so that says a lot about how the show brings you in. It gives you a chance to be a part of the anime yourself solving mysteries, and it presents so many of them that you have multiple chances to try your brain out. Along with that so many things happen that aren't related to mysteries you'll end up loving the anime just because out of all the things happening you'll likely find yourself pulled into one. For my final statement (TL/DR): If you love anime, watch Hyouka, or you'll likely regret missing out on this fantastic anime.

“Oh no. Here we go again. There's no escaping the unbearable curiosity of Eru Chitanda.” In such musings, one has to wonder if Oreki hates being in his own anime. There is good reason for him to be, as his principal companion is an insufferable dimwit who only manages to seduce him with the power of moe. Oreki’s best friend is no better, with his facade of carefree happiness ready to crumble into melodramatic outbursts of jealousy at any moment. Fortunately, this good friend of Oreki is being crushed on by someone that has spent so much time in Manga Club that she only knows how to be a tsundere girl. What on earth is going on here? What happened to the mysteries? Fear not, for they were never really there. Hyouka is a celebration of the mundanity of life, and with inconsequential questions come inconsequential answers. Yet instead of making a Buddhist statement on finding beauty in the ordinary, Hyouka plays up the drama of its mysteries and portrays Oreki as some kind of Ultimate Detective. At least Danganronpa has the spectacle going for it. As charming as the animation is for the machinations of Oreki’s mind, the problems needing to be solved are usually quite boring. The only fun to be had is in trying to figure things out before the characters do. Beyond that, there is little pay-off. About all that can be said for the eponymous story arc (the first five episodes) is that Chitanda has her curiosity satiated, and in gratitude, she heaps saccharine praise onto Oreki. Aside from the effusive Chitanda, no one is greatly moved by anything being resolved. With so much focus afforded to the deciphering of mysteries in its first cour, Hyouka neglects the development of its characters such that they become tools for the servicing of a mediocre story. This is exacerbated by the narrative arcs being almost wholly self-contained, and the number of references to prior events can be counted on one’s hand. But it would be unfair to blame the characters; they have no reason to bring up unremarkable memories. On the heels of the hot springs episode—not to be confused with the later pool episode—Hyouka presents its only decent story arc. This quest to find a Watsonian explanation for a movie murder mystery is not enrapturing by any means, but the breadth of interpretations from the ensemble cast makes the experience feel more like a puzzle than anything else in the anime. Hyouka is partially liberated from the confines of trivial curiosities in this segment, and the level of depth given to the set-up is fairly remarkable. Moreover, there is appearance of something actually interesting happening with the character dynamics in the process of solving this mystery, which may leave hopes high at the conclusion of the eleventh episode. But then the second cour arrives. It is here that Hyouka abandons any pretense of being within the mystery genre. There are still some things to investigate here and there, but they begin to exist on the periphery of the anime. This is of course to make way for a much needed Culture Festival, which sends all four members of the Classic Lit Club on their own adventures, each dreadfully uneventful. Perhaps this might be fun if this were a one-off episode, but the audience is instead taken along on a six episode ride—the longest story arc of the anime—to bear witness to insipid melodrama. No better is this exemplified by Ibara’s very serious debate as to whether any manga can be a masterpiece... with members of the Manga Club. Apparently, this question shakes the club to its core, and it makes Ibara the subject of bullying from people in Vocaloid apparel. The matter is resolved when Ibara listens to her club leader admit that the whole thing was a joke, and that her hostility emanated from her inability to admit jealousy for some manga artist friend that transferred. The plot thread is bizarre, and yet astoundingly petty. These absurd happenings plague Hyouka’s second half. Fukube in particular begins to seem like a psychopath. The “Database” that formerly served as Oreki’s source of moral support suddenly flies off the handle at the smallest provocation, which he vaguely explains to other members of the cast as some jumble of jealousy and admiration. Fukube also tosses a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift in the trash because, although he truly has feelings for Ibara, he does not want to be “fixated” on her. How this justifies an attempt to sabotage a gesture of goodwill, or what this outlandish distinction is supposed to mean, are questions beyond the interest of the anime. Fukube’s inability to be remotely phased by what he has done makes the whole thing seem as if this were the product of aliens trying to model human behavior. Assessment of Chitanda need not enter the realm of the bizarre, for she is simply annoying. The cynical might surmise that her presence in the series is to inject a substantial dose of moe into everything, and her vacuous characterization speaks volumes to that effect. Ostensibly, the intent is for Chitanda’s ineptitude to be seen as some kind of cute quirk, but she only appears useless when paired with Oreki who does just about everything for her. Oreki understandably shines when surrounded by fools. There are times when it genuinely seems as though he is in the wrong anime, and perhaps there is merit to this since he has some similarities with Hikigaya Hachiman from Oregairu. Oreki’s monologues are not nearly as weighty, but his morose observations are nevertheless entertaining. On occasion, the candid nature of Oreki’s introspection provides for some reflective moments, and it gives the impression that even in his apathy, Oreki does care a great deal about his friends and other people. This also shows him to be thinking, which is a lot more than can be said for much of the cast. Unfortunately, he falls in love with Chitanda for the sake of anime cliche. This romance becomes the subject of the final episodes, and yet it still fails to develop into anything substantive. The ending, much like the rest of the anime, is a grand exercise in anticlimax, and it exceeds in the capacity of making the whole journey seem to be an enormous waste of time. The art and animation are the only aspects deserving of praise. Characters move with realistic finesse and occupy exceptionally detailed spaces. Any scene with a natural landscape is itself a treasure to behold. In the sound department, the music can be rated positively but not always in the superlative. The first OP is a beautiful song, but all other pieces are fairly pedestrian. Additionally, Bach’s Cello Suite No.1 Prelude is pleasant accompaniment for the first 5 times it plays, but at that point, one beings to appreciate the possibility that it is only number on the anime soundtrack. With consideration to the stellar animation being in opposition to an uninspired story, it seems everything might be more enjoyable if there were no sound. That would make no difference to Oreki. His eyes would still scream for help. He wants to get out of here, and so would anyone else. But this is Hyouka: You Can’t Escape.

At a first glance, Hyouka seems like an ordinary "slice of life" school anime with romance. In reality, Hyouka transcends the typical cookie cutter archetypes of school-slice of life stories with a great mix of mystery. While this anime can't necessarily be called "mystery" because it does not deal with thefts and murders like the Detective Conan series, it deals much more with "everyday mysteries" - small questions that sometimes need good answers. I'll save you the summary, but let me say this: Hyouka's story is not only strong and enjoyable but also touching. This anime is a mixture of many emotions: happiness, curiosity, fun, jealousy, love, ambition, and even despair. The anime's mysteries aren't what drives the show forward, it is the relationships forged from them which truly make this show propel towards greatness. The beginning of the anime Oreki Houtarou and Chitanda Eru are two strangers meeting in the same club room, and by the end their relationship becomes much more meaningful. Through all the "mystery cases" the classics club solves, they group of four teenagers (Houtarou, Satoshi, Mayaka, and Chitanda) reveals their backgrounds, struggles, and personal stories. This slow unveiling of the characters creates an immersive experience albeit quite slow for some viewers. One of the best aspects of Hyouka is its art. Kyo Ani has once again impressed me again with their amazing artwork and beautiful graphics. The first episode is full of amazing eye candy visuals, and the series continues strong with great display. Hyouka and Pet Girl of Sakurasou are quite arguably the best visuals I have ever seen, and I was never disappointed with their art. If you're familiar with classical music (fitting, since the story revolves around a "classics" club), then you will definitely enjoy the music in this anime. Being a classical music lover, I recognized many of the music played in the anime such as Bach's Cello Suite No 1. Overall, this anime might not be for everyone. It doesn't have a straightforward plot, and it focuses more on telling the stories of four characters coming together as part of Classics Club. It's a beautiful tale of friendship and love, and it is arguably one of my favorite series so far. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys an immersive story telling experience.

First of all I must warn you, the cover for the anime is quite misleading. The synopsis too provides little to the fact that this is not your regular mystery with typical character. The story depicts Oreki Houtarou, who is, in all considerations, lazy. After joining the classics club of his school upon his sisters request, he gets dragged into mysteries by the overly-enthusiastic memberof the club, Chitanda Eru, mostly against his will. The series consists of small stories, and some 3-5 episode long ones. Story - It's difficult to find a proper mystery story, especially one with non-supernatural/school theme. The reason should be obvious, such anime wouldn't have a lot of scopes to be built on. Most of the times mystery stories go overly serious, having organizations or large scale crimes involved. However, in case of Hyouka, this was not the case at all. The stories were mostly small cases, actually it'd be better to call them puzzles than cases. As said before, the stories are mostly small, even insignificant stories. The puzzles are nothing of importance, no one cares. But it was THAT what made it so impressive. They did not try to build some deep, complex mystery involving something big. If they did, well it'd be simply unnatural. Art - Nothing much to say in this case. Good, fitting, the occasional visualization of thought was a good addition to the art. That's all. Sound - Not much to in this case either. The opening and endings were good, I liked them. In case of BGMs, the did their work of depicting state of the story well. Once again, good, fitting, nothing to mention. Character - The story mainly portrays 4 characters. Oreki Houtarou, with his motto of "I don't do anything I don't have to. What I have to do, I do quickly.", who has a Sherlock Holmes in him despite the fact he doesn't really want to use his brain. Chitanda Eru, as par the synopsis "The Embodiment of Curiosity", who keeps nagging Oreki if something catches her attention. Fukube Satoshi, Oreki's friend, who has a rather vast knowledge of, well, trivia. and Ibara Mayaka, a strict girl, whose role, well I'm not quite sure if she plays some unique role, didn't seem so. Apart from them some other characters pop up occasionally, mostly for the sake of the story. The characters are rather unique, and it's their diverse personality that makes up most of the story's fun. So i gave it a 9. Enjoyment/Overall - Simply stating - I Enjoyed It. The small puzzles were fun. Not challenging, but I wasn't looking for one. The characters kept things interesting. Overall, if your looking for some serious dramatic action/mystery or horror/gore/mystery, Hyouka is not what you are looking for. It is, as far as I believe, a mystery inspired from Sherlock Holmes, and toned down to School setup. Despite being a mystery, it has a refreshing tone, instead of the serious heavy atmosphere of general mystery. Which is what impressed me the most.

Before reading, please take a moment to read about my review structure on my page. TL;DR OVERALL: 80/100 Setting: 6/10 Plot: 8.5/10 Art: 9.5/10 Animation: 7/10 OST: 8/10 Voicing: 8/10 Character Set: 8/10 Character Development: 6/10 Directing: 9/10 Enjoyment: 10/10 Setting 6/10 Hyouka is set in a modern day Japanese high school, your typical slice of life setting. Nothing too special to comment on. Plot 8.5/10 The overall story is very slow-moving and not much really changes from beginning to end. The story begins when the main character, Oreki Houtarou, is requested by his elder sister to join the "Classics Club". Throughout the story, Oreki is constantly dragged into solving mysteries by the club president, Chitanda Eru. Although there is not a thick overall plot, these short trials are engaging enough to make each episode entertaining. Art 9.5/10 This was a pleasant surprise for me. Diving nose first into an Anime which was classes as "Slice of Life" gave the implications that there was little room for artist exhibitionism. How wrong I was. For such a simple and down to earth Anime, the beautiful palette and breath-taking scenes were almost unbelievable. There's not much else I could ask for. Animation 7/10 Tying in very closely with Art, the animation was relatively above average. As there was little room for introducing high intensity action scenes, it it hard to judge how well exactly they presented movement. Luckily, there were a handful of scenes which were enough to remind the production quality of Kyoto Animation. OST 8/10 A beautiful audio track to match the equally beautiful visuals. From it's engaging classical pieces to it's innocent Opening by Choucho. The atmosphere built from the OST is a pleasing fit. Voicing 8/10 I couldn't think of any mismatched voices off the top of my head. In fact, casting Nakamura Yuuichi (Greed, Gray Fullbuster, Nozaki) as Oreki was a great choice. The only other voice I noticed was Sakaguchi Daisuke (Sunohara Youhei from Clannad) which felt right because of the similarities between Sunohara Youhei and his role in Hyouka. Character set 8/10 Overall: Although these characters are not the most interesting, they are easily relatable and likable, and most importantly fit the setting incredibly well. I'll only mention two main characters although there should really be four. Our main character, Oreki Houtarou, is a lazy high school boy whose motto is "If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, I'll make it quick." Although he is seen by his peers as antisocial and stupid, it is soon clear that he has a sharp mind, as he has a talent for solving mysteries. Another of our main characters, Chintanda Eru, is the single daughter of a wealthy family. She is portrayed as the cheerful and "curious" club president. Character Development 6/10 Hyouka has a good character set which is a shame that they could not develop the characters personas as well as I would have liked. This doesn't mean there was absolutely no character development, as we can see the characters backgrounds. Furthermore, the way they react to situations differs ever so slightly beginning to end. Ultimately, this lack of character building was the biggest let down. Directing 9/10 Takamoto Yasuhiro's (Clannad, K-On!!, Suzumiya Haruhi Series) work is definitely of quality, directing the aforementioned successful series. He once again proves himself in Hyouka, creating a stunning air of mystery while keeping the down to earth nature. Enjoyment 10/10 I loved this series and it is definitely one of my favourites. A lovable cast, a sense of mystery, a hint of romance and stunning audiovisuals. Regardless of what was theoretically missing, I enjoyed this Anime thoroughly because of it's potent mix of the above. RECOMMENDATION: Watch it if you enjoy slice of life and mystery. (Not for the action lover.)