Super Cub

Having read the novel and the manga, I definitely have to say that the anime certainly did a good job at adapting the novel. But as far as adaptation of the novel goes, I think that the anime is inferior than the manga. Explaining it shortly, the anime took a more calm/relax and serious tone in adapting, while the manga took a more goofy and comedic tone. While the novel certainly had both those qualities, the anime felt like it was adapting the novel as it is. It's a rather "too safe" as an adaptation. Not bad, but it had the potential to be great but couldn't quite get there because of how safe the adaptation is. Well, moving on to the actual review. The story is simple. Girl who has nothing, no friends, no family. But she has her cub. That's the general idea of the anime. It wasn't super unique, but it's a great concept which was executed quite well. Though I have major problems with the pacing. I like myself some slow pacing, but if it's like dragging out unimportant scenes, then I'd have problems with it. The pacing suffers because the anime took a more slow pacing, showing the mc's daily road to take with her cub. That itself isn't an issue. But if half of the episode is dedicated just for the viewers to look at CG cubs driving awkwardly, then it's just a waste of time. Take Yuru Camp for example. It balances out the travel time of the girls, as well as their camping side. Most of the time that was spent while travelling, there was also something happening. So there wasn't any wasted space in the run time of the episodes. Even in the super cub novel, there wasn't really a whole chapter dedicated to just driving in the roads. The novel was surprisingly fast paced as opposed to the anime. The characters are good. They aren't outstanding cast or anything like that. Just consistently charming and great to watch. Although I have some gripes about the characters. But those issues are simply because of the bad pacing of the anime. For example, in episode 1, the mc had drive her cub to the convenience store. But then her cub stops moving. What she do? Just standing around to stretch out the run time of the episode. Heck, even in the novel and the manga, that problem was quickly tend to. She's a scholar student for a reason. She's a quick thinker and a smart girl. But the anime did her dirty. She doesn't deserve that treatment. The animation is decent. Sure, it had janky CG cubs, but that wasn't really a problem. The art is super cute and is probably one of the cutest artstyle that doesn't try to be cute that I've seen. The music however is just amazing. The ost pops out even though they reused a lot of tracks for some scenes. But I forgive them because the ones they reuses are super great. The opening and ending are absolute bangers. I'm listening to it everyday and still didn't get bored. Just great stuff. Overall, a decent adaptation. Sure, there's a lot of issues and problems in this anime. But I'd still recommend it. Especially if you like SOL and slow anime stuff in general. P.S.: this anime made me wanna buy a Cub even though I can't even ride a bicycle normally lmao (6.2/10)

I watched Super Cub as it was airing and after watching the first episode I said to myself, "Wow, that was a really strong first episode."  I was instantly hooked.  At the beginning anyways. I'll keep things vague to avoid spoiling. Story+Characters: Koguma is a high-school girl who has no friends, no hobbies and no parents. She's not very physically fit, but still has to pedal her bike uphill to get to school everyday, so she gets the idea to get a motorcycle to make the trip easier. That's where the story really gets started. Koguma finds a Honda Super Cub at a dealership that also happens to be within the price range of a high-schooler with no income.  Supposedly three people have died on it already so it's cheap because no one wants to ride it.  But hey, cheap bike so why wouldn't you take it? The series really begins to shine after this, as while Koguma is still alone, she has her Cub.  And that gives her something to do now,  as what begins as just a better mode of transportation, turns into her really loving her Cub. She doesn't have anyone to rely on so learning the bike and doing maintenance falls on herself.  It's great seeing her figure everything about her Super Cub, you feel the same joy she does for simple things like changing the oil by herself for the first time.  It's a small thing, but it's an accomplishment, and it feels like it too.  Her learning the mechanical and riding methods is lovely to watch. Eventually she even becomes friends with a couple other students as a result of her new Cub, and it feels like she might start opening up more now. Which is where my biggest problem with the show starts.  Episode 5 is where things start to go downhill.  See, the characters start making some really dumb decisions.  For instance, one of her friends wants to climb a dangerous mountain path on her own Cub, but she does this without mountain tires, sitting down, going too fast, and without even bothering to find a good line.  This is a dangerous rocky road and she just tries to brute force a straight line the whole way up, so obviously just keeps wrecking.  She doesn't even think to stand and lean forward until her last attempt. It becomes a common things from here on where everyone keeps trying to perform tasks using a Honda Super Cub for tasks that would often times be much easier to do numerous different ways. By episode 11 the characters are making just straight up stupid and dangerous decisions for seemingly no reason other than to talk about how great Super Cubs are. Another thing is Koguma herself.  She doesn't actually open up like it seems, instead she kind of turns into kind of an irritating person to be around at times. Like, she'll get upset that people aren't as knowledgeable about Cubs as she is when literally three months ago she was just as clueless herself! It seems strange. She gets to the point of obsession with her Super Cub.  Her entire world revolves around it.  Which I can understand to a degree, but her obsession seems like it goes too far.  I mean, by the end of the series when people talk to or thank Koguma for something she now answers by giving all the credit to her Cub and acting as if she's of much less importance then it.  All while standing there dead emotionless. It's an odd turn I wish the series didn't take. Visuals: The show looks good.  The animation is fine, nothing super impressive but never bad either.  It matches the show well.  Most of the colors have a low saturation look that I like a lot.  There are times when that low saturation will fade away and the colors will shine thru brightly however.  The idea is when Koguma experiences something that brightens her mood, the world literally brightens for us viewers.  It's a good idea, though sometimes it's overused a bit. Sound:  Often times the music will sound very visual novel-esque, which isn't a bad thing.  It fits the show.  There's nothing I plan on listen to by itself again, but I don't have any complaints about it either. The sound effects are all appropriate, and match what's happening. Overall thoughts: If you're curious about Super Cub, then go ahead and watch it.  Just don't hold your expectations too high.  I standby my statement that the beginning episodes are great, it's just drops a bit at one point and never picks itself up again.  If the show had continued in a similar fashion to how the early episodes were going, I would likely have rated this show highly.  But the character's many dumb decisions, obsessiveness, and odd development take away a lot for me. It all comes together as a show that overall is just, decent.

"For every motorcycle, there is a story." Man, Slice of Life runs through my veins. What's more wonderful than following the daily adventures of cute little girls and their Cubs? Each episode is fun to watch, the characters are too captivating. My favorite character is Reiko. In addition to being wonderful and cute (like all the main characters), she looks a lot like Mariya Takeuchi, so much so that there is a scene that seems a lot to be referenced to Plastic Love. But the most enjoyable thing to watch is to see Koguma's grayish perspective of everything around you, becoming colorful. The girl who had nothing now has a Cub that probably can do anything. I laughed a lot a few weeks ago as there were Japanese people complaining to the studio that one of the characters infringed a traffic law. I highly recommend you to watch, Slice of Life is always a good medicine for anyone.

Wasn't that bad of a watch, maybe as good as an advertisement can get (sigh). Somehow, I even found myself searching for a super cub online, turns out they sell for a few thousand euro, not that bad. Anyway, I think no point made in the show is that specific to the cub, as it's just simply a feature of most if not all light motorcycles (low gas usage, customizability, ...). Heck, these girls might as well get a bicycle for what it's worth, though I acknowledge Koguma tried cycling uphill once and was traumatized for life, so she bought the cub. Otherwise, if you can get past Honda's "subliminal" messaging, this empty husk of an anime can sometimes get quite cozy. It's as cozy as watching a fireplace slowly burn, mind you, but that's still not without value I think. I didn't drop it is what I want to say, but I don't feel it was that great of a time spent. Give it a shot, won't you, it won't change anything either way (4 hours of your life, that is).

"You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda" - The Hondells in 1965 The little Cub, is not just a mere transport tool for getting people from A to B, but it brings new discoveries, new locations, new people, and of all, new experiences. And this is exactly what this anime demonstrates beautifully. The anime depicts our introverted, grey orphan heroine Koguma, who cycles everyday to school in the small, uneventful, rural town of Hokuto in the Yamanashi, who one day, after seeing her fellow classmate riding to school in a scooter, decides to take the first leap of change by impulsively looking at cheap mopeds. While most were out of her budget, the shop owner sells her the cheapest Honda Super Cub, a 50cc modped for 10,000 yen (63 euros, 52 pounds, or 66 USD at the time of writing). And thus, her motorcycling adventure life begins. Super Cub, is not exactly the most original anime, nor is it the most though-provoking, nor is it action-packed. But what it does bring to the table, is the calmness of everyday life, the little adventures of learning something new, going down a different path compared to your peers, making new friends, and most of all, turning from a grey, to a colourful day. Like the Cub, it takes things very slow, and this is the show's greatest strength. Life is a journey, taken one step at a time. Appreciate the little moments, reflect, living in the moment. This is what this anime represents, the essence of what it could be like to own, and daily ride a little Cub in your high school years. You're not going on crazy adventures, but the ownership of a Cub, gives you a much greater and wider reach compared to your peers. And that, in itself, is the adventure. The adventure of being different, doing something a little bit differently, can bring you great joy, a new found hobby and appreciation in life. The distillation of the idea, "freedom of mobility". There is also the flip side to it. Not everything is seen through the rose-tinted glass of bike ownership here. The greatest enemy to any biker (and convertible owner) is the weather. It can be brutally hot in the summer, the torrential rain of the autumn, the frigid, snowy winter months. But as spring rolls around, and as the days starts to get longer, you start to remember and embrace this lifestyle/hobby. And this anime is no exception. The pain and wallet draining lifestyle. Perhaps it's just me, but being a train and car enthusiast, the idea of travelling literally, the act of moving from A to B in itself, was the adventure. And as I got older, the concept of "freedom of mobility" resonates with me much more. Being able to go anywhere, whenever, and however I wish. Taking one road over the other (which was beautifully demonstrated in ep6), finding a new bakery, a new scenic spot, or a nice woodland walk. While they were accessible when your parents took you there, but here, you can do it yourself. The music choice also compliments this show wonderfully too. It's very soft, melodious usually, often complimenting the monotony of everyday life. The cheery, primarily piano backing OST, uplifts the scenes, accompanied by the gentle purring of the single cylindered engine Cub. The occasional classical music scores were a welcome addition too. If I had to condense it to just one word, I would say this is one of he most "atmospheric" anime I have watched in a very long time, and I embrace i with open arms, as I welcome it potentially as my top ten anime.

One of the most simplest, non-action packed, yet wholesome animes i've ever watched. Honestly, in these crazy times we are living in and only seems to be getting worse by the day. This anime acts as the perfect escape where you follow a girl who slowly falls in love with her super cub and has her whole life feel a little more brighter each day. Beautiful animation, loved the simplicity of it, different character personalities and of course those awesome detailed close ups of the motor bikes. Suprised how much i enjoyed this one, but its soothes the soul. Makes you want to go out and buy a bike to enjoy the open road of possibilities. I liked the fact that no matter what the MC had to take on she always was focused and determined to learn how to do things herself.

About a year out from watching this I finally have a way to describe it. Super Cub is like if someone came up to you with a slice of bread and was really insistent you eat it. And you generally like bread so that's cool, but you're wondering why it's so important. They're like "Trust me, just eat it." So you take a bite and it tastes like bread. Bread so good it makes you cry. Just bread. But bread isn't supposed to be this good. It's not honeyed, no special ingredients. Just basic, regular bread, getting salty because you're crying over how good it is.

Just like the motorcycle from which it takes the name, Super Cub is many things. It's a slice of life animation, a series of short stories, an advertisement for Honda's iconic Scooter, it's cute girls riding cute motorcycles. But above all else, Super Cub is a love letter to motorcycling, and a truly heart warming work of art. Devoid of companionship and inner meaning, one's outlook on life is as grey as a winter day. This is where the story picks up with our protagonist Koguma. If you sit back and do nothing, a Cub won't help you. You probably have to have a desire of your own. Something like the curiosity to turn down an unfamiliar road, just to see where it takes you. When you have that inner drive, and the tool to make it happen, suddenly it feels like life's possibilities are endless. Motorcycles expose you, to the elements, danger, injury, death, and your own psyche. Some of the best and worst moments of my life have been onboard the bike. Though they are only machines made of metal and plastic, all the time we spend alone, riding and maintaining them, all those good and bad times with our motorcycles make it impossible not to become emotionally attached. A big grin finally paints her face as she experiences a whole broader horizon opening up before her, that for the first time she's not just limited to how far her legs can carry her. We can all remember this feeling, even after many years in the saddle. A motorcycle is a form of transport first and foremost, however to many people it's a symbol of freedom and expression. Anyone who has gone through the process of learning to ride can relate to Koguma. I found great comfort in reminiscing of times past with our character on her journey. Anyone who has watched an interest piece, whether it's on a sport or art that they hold dear has experienced that jarring sensation when they can tell that the producer of the work is not an expert in the field. It's often obvious when only a few sources of information have been used, and the production is not lead by enthusiasts. It's always in the little details, the lingo or the context that information is represented with that doesn't line up with your own understanding. Fortunately, the team at Studio Kai, or someone influencing the production is an enthusiast motorcyclist or is in love with the Super Cub, because i could not detect any falsehoods or make believe in the art or technical details. Even going so far as to apply style and period correct modifications to the bikes as the girls go on their journeys together, the level of detail is breathtaking. Contrary to what other's have said, i think the art and animation are very good. Yes it's CG, but this is not an action show. There are many detailed scenes, such as the close ups of bike parts and maintenance that are on another level compared to other anime in the same genre. Many of the backgrounds when the bikes are moving are very beautiful. Episode 10 in particular with all the snow and the stunning imagery of a snowy forest at the foot of mount Fuji... gave me chills just looking at it. Sound design is nice, using appropriate fill in music when needed, but not afraid to leave silence to punctuate the point of a scene. Voice actors did a good job, nothing special to note here but it fits well with the production values. The sound effect staff did a great job inserting realistic and detailed engine noises, the gearbox clunk and all the other tactile sounds that motorbikes make. Too often in hollywood, the engine sound and behavior doesn't match what is shown on screen, however in Super Cub it seems that effort has gone into considering what the characters are doing with the controls at each point in time, and the appropriate recordings were made to reflect it. This show just does something for me, I spent most of my watching time with a smile on my face. I wish there was more,

"No parents. No money, either. Nor any friends, hobbies, or future goals." the description a life of a lonesome young girl. Everything changed when she found a Honda Super Cub. Personally, I am a huge fan of slice of life anime, especially those which are very slow paced and music genre anime. This anime combined both of my favorites. The scenery - magnificent, the music - nostalgic, the story - masterpiece. The anime is wholesome af, extremely relaxing and throws away all of my stress. Sometimes, it even makes me feel like I am on a journey at the rural areas of Japan. The anime describe a high school girl with absolute no dreams for the future meet with a second-hand super cub. Since then, her life is filled with "adventures". Every time I watched a new episode, the anime will never fail to surprise me with new events that happen, both happy and sad. Besides, the narration is just... Beautiful. It feels like I reading a poem rather than subtitles. "Supercub is not a magical device that can do anything. But when you're faced with troubles, or trying to accomplish something, I'm sure it will be your ally. That's our Supercub. Let's ride anywhere. With this Supoercub." - Koguma. 10/10

Tl;Dr: "Super Cub" demonstrates how personal fixations can fix us. Besides the frequent bike trivia persistent throughout the series, “Cub” takes its time to revel in the joy of pursuing hobbies. Set to a calming soundtrack and stunning backdrops of the Yamanashi countryside, “Cub” puts us in the driver's seat through relaxing immersion. Viewers without motorcycles need not be worried about doing their homework before approaching this show, as the chill vibes and enjoyment is for everyone. So strap in, sit back and enjoy what this open road has to offer. 7/10~ *** Quarantine has been a pretty surreal time. It's bizarre to think that so many of us collectively had our bustling lives come to a screeching halt within the walls of our homes. Waiting out the COVID-storm, it's all too easy to feel bored and boxed-in with your thoughts. There are certainly worse problems to have, but this is a problem nonetheless. I, like many others, have picked up hobbies to stay preoccupied and sane. What you're reading right now is a product of one of those hobbies, and I'm happy you're giving this article the time of day! There's something comforting involved in pursuing your passions, and an oft-ignored joy to be had in the small day-to-day victories. "Super Cub" (“Cub” for short) is a timely reminder of that very same happiness, and how our interests can bring color into our lives. This review will be spoiler-free, with a Tl;Dr included towards the end. Enter Koguma - The Girl With Nothing. No family, no cash, no ambitions. She doesn't even appear to feel blue about the way things are; a few tears would at least add color to her monochrome life. The still mundanity of Hokuto City is made evident in “Cub's” quaint opening minutes, drawing us into a world the way Koguma sees it - devoid of color. By happenstance she meets a used Honda Super “Cub”, which (literally) brings vibrance to her vision and a longing like no other. Much of the show is then centered around Koguma's day-to-day experiences with her Super Cub. She's not on the open road alone though, and is soon accompanied by the strong-willed motorcycle enthusiast Reiko. Also droppin' in towards the end of the season is Shii, newly-avid cyclist and aficionado of all things Italy. If what I've mentioned sounds like a glorified motorcycle commercial… Well, you'd be mostly right. Someone could feasibly make a drinking game out of everytime a character says "This Cub can do anything." It's certainly not the first time a company tie-in was this obvious; “Cub” even goes as far as to reference "Initial D" with the urban myth surrounding Koguma's ride. But even if this is a case of selling out, there are certainly far worse ways going about it. Honda Motor Company reportedly supervised the writing behind "Cub," ensuring consistent and realistic details that go beyond close-ups on the featured motorcycles. Speaking of mechanical eye-candy, this series is a visual treat. Pulling back the camera lens from the show's motorbike chassis, "Cub" looks as stunning from afar as it does up close, with scenic visuals of Mount Fuji and the surrounding countryside. Also neat is the show's visuals as they relate to Koguma's perspective. "Cub" transitions between washed-out, near-grayscale scenes to radiant, saturated colors. The whole show acting as a mood light for Koguma is a trick that thankfully never gets old. The series' OST is a mix of classical compositions and a handful of original tracks, all of which contribute to "Cub's" soothing atmosphere. The cast of characters don't work against this calming background with over-the-top performances, but complement "Cub" nicely. Performances are lowkey and avoid "moe-blob" generalizations, all while standing out with their own enjoyable personalities. All-in-all, the world of "Cub" is as wholesome and relaxing as this season is gonna get. You could say that “Cub” is yet another case of a Cute Girls Doing Cute Things (CGDCT) anime about a niche topic, and I'd be inclined to agree. However, that take doesn't fully account for what this series aims to achieve. This chill watch isn't afraid to introduce momentary tonal shifts, as seen in an unexpected adventure throughout Episode 6 and a solemn incident in Episode 11. These engaging deviations to the formula are enjoyable in their own right and paint a clearer picture of what “Cub” is trying to convey: the healing power of hobbies. “Cub” is a SoL distilled into its purest form. This isn't the kind of show concerned with love triangles or girls running to school with toast in their mouths. Instead, this "iyashikei" has its sole focus on leaving viewers with a "healing feeling" every episode. To achieve this, “Cub” draws us in with its effective episodic story structure. Each instalment establishes clear needs, and patiently shows us the process undertaken to achieve those goals. Obstacles introduced are resolved by the end of each episode, and the audience winds up sharing the same satisfaction that our characters do. I know that this observation is hardly revelatory; set-up and payoff is the most basic writing concept there is. But “Cub” is noteworthy for how stripped-down its methodology is. With little else to distract us, we offer our undivided attention to the low-key lives of “Cub's” cast, and are rewarded with a cozy reprieve. The characters' love for the open road (and Italian espressos) is all there is, and those personal passions exude strongly due to the depth at which those interests are explored. A 50cc in the picturesque Yamanashi Prefecture isn't merely a mode of transportation, but a lifestyle. As high school girls, there is recreational value to be had in cruising down the highway, as the scenic views of Mount Fuji loom in the distance. Of course, there are considerations as well, which Koguma and her friends need to address in order to continually enjoy their leisurely drives. Plotlines see the girls getting comfortable with their Super Cubs, obsessing over Cub trivia, learning bike upkeep, purchasing affordable accessories, taking on odd jobs involving their motorcycles, and finding ways to stay warm while riding in winter months. I think “Cub” captures common bike-centric plights and scenarios with a great deal of accuracy. And biking fans seem to agree, judging from third-party accounts from communities far more familiar with biking than I am (we likely have Honda Co. Ltd. to thank for this.) Just like how last year's "Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!" was a passionate love letter to the process behind animation, "Cub" wears its heart on its sleeve and makes its love for biking known. “Cub's” attention to detail, and the unflinching trust in said detail to carry the show, leads us audience members to enjoy an otherwise interest alongside our girls. Even though most viewers can't tell the difference between a Super Cub and a Vespa, the dedication put into demonstrating these girls' hobbies still strikes a chord. Koguma, Reiko and Shii may share vastly different experiences from ours, but the roots of their passions are universal. The desire to achieve a goal, and overtaking the objectives that make such a reward even more worthwhile on a personal level. It's cathartic to see those desires realized, and “Cub” emulates that joy with each week. And sure, tasks like changing motor oil or delivering documents are tiny and unremarkable from a distance, but it is Something. And that means all the world to The Girl With Nothing. “Cub” is rather narrow in scope, and may not appeal to a ton of people. It's the kind of quiet, meditative watch that I almost exclusively put on before bed. The calming nature of the show might put you to sleep in the worst way. Half of “Cub's” character development amounts to our stoic MC eventually picking up sarcasm. There's nothing all that interesting about window shopping with Koguma at hardware stores, and it's not the sort of storytelling all audiences would appreciate. My snobby ass might …

Back in the Before Times, there was a really fun Biker Girl anime called Bakuon! The Cute Girls Doing Things genre was pumping out so many titles that some people saw this and decided to pass. It’s unfortunate, because this is quite a good show. Another Girls on Motorcycles anime- but a very different thing to Bakuon. Rather than a bubbly goofball; this one is about a girl who apparently has nothing at all- parents are gone and she lives in the town’s only public housing allotment- which is a couple of blocks up on a hill from a country road. She is a gloomy and quiet character, and the general mood of the show reflects this feeling in the early episodes. Koguma has a long and grueling bicycle ride to school, and an idea to purchase a motorcycle to make that easier is this anime’s hook… The motorcycle she sees for a discount price at a nearby shop provides this anime’s title and now that it’s out of the way- I need to address a few misconceptions (and ridiculous claims) regarding that particular motorcycle and this anime. Some people see the name of an IRL vehicle and proclaim this is “corporate advertising” or similar nonsense. They wouldn’t make absurd claims like this if they knew anything about it- so let me explain: History Time… The Super Cub was introduced by Honda back in 1958, and it’s still being made- that means it’s been continuously in production for 68 years- which is longer than any single-name model of car, and so far as figures are available- by 2026 there’s been somewhere in the region of 100+ MILLION Super Cubs built. In other words the Super Cub is the most produced motor vehicle in history, EVER. 
Honda has absolutely nothing to do with this anime- and please ask yourself- WHY would they even waste their time? To sell ‘a few more’? of a vehicle they’ve made 100 million of? This seems more like a love letter to the author’s favorite motorcycle, it’s not advertising as much as admiring them. The first few episodes have a strong fanboy vibe to them, and for people who have lived with these bikes for so many decades, it's easy to see why they love them. I’m actually a little surprised it took so long for it to happen. Less is More… While on the subject of facts- here are some more to give you pause: the typical engine these bikes have is 49cc. That’s literally 0.05 Liter! That is smaller than the smallest mopeds on the US market, which can be driven without a license. Single cylinder obviously- there’s a 125cc version for the daredevils out there- but the standard motor is less than five horsepower! That’s right- FIVE. So this anime is NOT going to be about young school girls tearing up the dirt track or starting biker gangs- they’re puttering around on a glorified bicycle with a mackintosh and little more. The question is- does that make for good anime? YES. Yes it does, it’s charming and cute and very enjoyable. Koguma is adorable in a way that’s hard to describe- it’s moe kind of, but put a visor helmet on her and she’s even more cute. The motorcycle is lovingly detailed, I suspect a generic CGI model; from a mechanical angle my favorite part was when she took it to have the oil changed. It was very kind of that old man to do that for her- even though it takes enough oil to fill a dixie cup. Koguma does eventually meet a couple of other girls- one who is a fellow biker and the other a Student Council girl- but that’s all, a small cast with an anime like this works so much better. Sometimes less really is more. The production values are similar to what you get with things like Yuru Camp- lots of shots of scenery but it’s often kind of grey with lots of power lines, guard rails and wide streets. The most scenic parts were the winter episode- which was probably my favorite- and the final episode. Most of the time they just hang out, discuss what accessories to buy for their mopeds, and go riding around, twist-grips cranked all the way, KNEE DOWN at the blistering speed of 35mph. Hahaha.. You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda- There are a lot of things the anime could have done better- Koguma was cold and emotionless most of the time, it would have been nice if the old man introduced at the beginning had more of a role in the story; like as a mentor to Koguma and Reiko; Shii was wonderful and the one who does her voice in the English dub made her even more endearing. A few more road trips would have been nice- like a New Years ride, things like that. It had a lot of potential but felt a bit too calm and safe. If you’re into motorcycles even a little bit- you should watch this. If you like motoring ANYTHING, same. If you just like CGDCT anime, this still works, or if Yuru Camp, Zatsu Tabi, Encouragement of Climb had any appeal to you- this will too. But if you like Battle Shonen, I’m afraid you’ll be bored out of your mind- but you hardly need to read this entire review to get that message.

(Originally written on 2025/04/20, the day I finished watching this title) (Actual score - 8.5/10) Overall, it was a great experience that, vibes-wise, I had no issues with - however, from an objective point of view, there were a few small-ish issues that I feel like I have to mention. ARTSTYLE - Good; it reminded me of an oil painting, with less emphasis on "realistic" look of many elements in the background (especially when seen from a distance) and instead focusing on the general presentation being cohesive. Also, I feel like it was done on purpose to create a specific "look" for this anime, rather than to cut corners wherever possible - and I think that way because (as I will mention shortly) designs shared the same characteristics. - For close-ups of various elements on screen (for example, motorcycle parts), the artstyle would shift to a sharper one, with more emphasis on smaller details - but the general "oil painting" feel remained. DESIGNS - Also good; just like the artstyle, they reminded me a bit of an oil painting - and I mean it in a good way. Especially for character designs, the focus was definitely on "simple, but different". - That meant, despite the overall design possibly looking pretty simple, it always had some sort of distinguishing feature(s) that would clearly set it apart from the rest. So, of course, thanks to that I never mistook a character, a place, or a general environment for a different one - despite that "simple" look. ANIMATION - Decent, but with one problem - the range of characters' facial expressions was limited to a degree. When they would smile, or laugh, or be worried, or blush, or show some other emotion, you were guaranteed to see the same type of animation / expression after a while. - It wasn't obnoxious or anything, but it was definitely noticeable. Fortunately, this was the only issue I had with the animation - everything else, from how characters talked or moved, to how vehicles & environment looked in motion (and more), was on a completely acceptable level; not amazing, but decent. SOUND DESIGN - Great; it was clear from the very beginning that a lot of effort was put into making sure everything, even the most mundane activities and things, sounded natural and "high quality". I liked it a lot. MUSIC - Really, really good; a lot of very different chill tracks, alongside some classical music, definitely helped a lot with creating a relaxing vibe throughout the entire series. CHARACTERS - Decent, but nothing special; plus, there were some potential problems. - Starting with side characters - even the ones that had more screentime than others, weren't really explored that much, nor had any significant impact on the story. They were just usually there for maybe an episode or two, couple of lines plus possibly a few short interactions with the main character(s), and that was it; they didn't have depth, nor any growth. - Main characters (Koguma, Reiko, Shii) all had some growth, with Koguma receiving the most attention and changing the most throughout the series, but they didn't really have much depth either - after the first few episodes with each of them, you were guaranteed to know pretty much exactly who they are as a person / how they would react in a given situation. - The only exception to that last part were Ep 11 and 12, but even then it was only for Koguma and Shii - and that was it. - Surprisingly though, this overall lack of depth didn't decrease my enjoyment in any way - with the general vibe and story of this anime, I was able to overlook it w/o any issues. However, it would be wrong of me not to mention it from an objective point of view; so that's why I'm doing it. STORY - Simple, but good; the main plot can be summarized as "Koguma and others dealing with various Cub-related challenges, meeting and forming connections with other people along the way, as well as the impact Cub(s) have on their behavior". - I actually enjoyed how mundane and "simple" many of those problems were, because this "low-stakes" approach felt very refreshing to me - quite "personal" in a way, relaxing to watch, and endearing. - And of course, there was plenty of downtime between those "challenges", with different conversations and parts of daily lives of those characters, so that further added to this cozy feeling. VIBES - Awesome; like I mentioned many times before, this anime was consistently cozy, relaxing, and endearing. It made smile many, many times. - There were one or two moments where vibes shifted slightly, either to more "hectic" / energetic, or to more "thoughtful", but I think they nailed those moments too. FINAL WORDS - I definitely enjoyed my time with this series, even with those few small-ish issues (for me) along the way - so, I can certainly recommend it as a "vibes anime".

As a motorcyclist who's spent years stepping out of my shell, Super Cub really hits home. It perfectly captures that feeling—the first ride, the initial taste of freedom on two wheels, the adrenaline of a close call, and the gradual journey of an introvert finding their space in the world. The show nails the little moments that resonate with anyone who's experienced that growth, and for me, it just hits different. It's more than just a ride; it's about finding yourself along the way. The story itself isn’t the most unique or groundbreaking. If you're looking for a totally fresh plot, this might not be it. But for fans of the genre or anyone who enjoys a solid coming-of-age story, it hits all the right beats. The art style, on the other hand, is super unique. It’s something I haven’t seen in a lot of animes, and it really adds to the atmosphere and charm of the show. The characters are in the midst of growing, so it's not about them being fully fleshed out right away. You’re here to see them evolve over time. It’s not about them being unusually strong, smart, or even flawed in typical ways. You’re watching them figure things out, which is the essence of a coming-of-age story. While the reactions of the characters aren’t always the most realistic, especially in the finale arc, it doesn’t take away from the emotional impact. Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a feel-good, coming-of-age narrative, especially if you’re an introvert or a rider. It’s one of those quiet, heartfelt series that speaks to you on a deeper level if you see yourself in it.

If you want an anime that's just completely inoffensive, relaxing and you can have on as background noise, then Super Cub is a decent anime to watch. I finished this anime which some points I did question why I was still watching it but ultimately it was a decent watch. If you want an anime that has lots going on... or even something going on then you'll probably hate this anime because probably the most eventful episode is when Koguma gets a summer job in 1 episode to afford some stuff for her cub. Wouldn't watch it again personally but I was ok.

This anime is NOT FOR EVERYONE. Negatives: Just to get the negative out of the way. To those who do prefer anime that has stuff happening in it do not watch this. This anime is a lot of talking about bikes with very little story, tension or events. A lot of anime is also just a massive ad that is trying to sell you a bike or trying to get more of Japanese people out riding. It's a little hilarious sometimes when the characters go "I love my Super Cub" specifically or something like "My Cub is my everything", that to some people that WILL be off putting. Story: 4.5 It shows the melancholy and dare I say a hint of depression of a mundane everyday life. The main protagonist Koguma lives everyday with not much to look forward to. Whether it be a Super Cub or not she's looking for something to enjoy, she buys a Cub out of impulse for its convenience and turns out rather enjoys it. Theres as you see not much of a main story, it explores how the characters view the world from a different mindset under the same hobbies. There's a few really powerful moments and that's really about it. Art: 7 There's nothing significantly amazing about the art. As people going to watch anime we aren't really looking for mundane boring grey colours. They live in a boring country town, suburban enough to have a decent amount of people yet country enough to have a lot of trees. However it's ever more powerful when Koguma paints the world around her as she discovers something new. The bland design of the town makes the world not interesting so that it pushes the characters to find new things and for the audience to look for new things to be excited for. The artsyle is however nothing special either, thinly drawn lines, character designs are simple to match a bit of realism, they're nothing special nor do they add much to the personalities. Though I think this was the intention of the art directors to keep the world boring looking. It's still fascinating to me though. Characters: 8 Koguma: As we see the world through mainly Koguma's perspective we can kind of glimpse at the mind of perhaps mild depression. She feels as if she has no goals, hobbies or interests. It can get kind of cringy at times, but in most cases you can relate to Koguma, she gets worried over small things, she panics at dire situations, she obsesses over new things and it even shows how she gets over the upgrades so quickly (Like with new games or toys). Koguma can get boring but look at her properly and relate to her, she's probably the most realistic anime character I've ever seen. My only my gripe with her is she could have maybe more than 1 face and emotion. Reiko: The super energetic type, Reiko is supposed to be the opposite of Koguma. And honestly it doesn't feel like she's placed in as filler for Koguma's basic personality. She is served as a different view in the same shoes as Koguma. Reiko displays the fanatic side of interests and hobbies, she researches constantly, doing what only she likes and constantly looking for new things. She pushes Koguma forward and feels integral to her growth, which makes sense as someone who is already very experienced with Cubs. Reiko however suffers from that's super unrealistic section of characters in a slice of life, you look at pretty much anything she does and think no one would do or act like that in real life. Though it does add some comedic relief and banter. Shii: Shii doesn't have much to do with the other two. Her personality is bubbly, friendly and optimistic. She doesn't own a cub and her purpose is to show the outsider point of view. A major portion of my time with Shii, I also felt I wish I had a Cub. She feels left behind a lot and seems to be genuinely interested in their hobbies. The anime constantly pans over to her looking at them ride away and has almost the best scenes with her in it. Her inclusion doesn't seem to be fully forced in as well like a lot of anime characters (Kind of like Reiko). She makes friends with Koguma and Reiko by slowly talking to them, interacting and helping them, before they start to see her regularly. Shii is cute an honestly just adorable, she warms my heart and breaks it at the same time watching her be sad and envious. She has her own problems too like the other 2, Shii was introduced late and her progression seemed to be slightly rushed, though I think she had more than enough time to display her point of view. My takes: Despite it's few understandably fatal flaws this anime captures the essence of hobbies and discovery. Despite its slow paced meloncholic nature, I love this type of anime. It explores areas and normal life of Japan as well as it explores how different people and personalities mix even if it's only over one thing. This anime captures reality very well, showing the slow pace of everyday life and the excitement of new discoveries and it's not for everyone. Anime is about 'what if' this and that but this anime is just. What if you bought a Super cub and that's really it. So if you are looking for story heavy or a dramatic anime look away. This anime is first and foremost about a bike.

Has interesting parts in it, but spends far too long mulling over plot points. The worst thing in this series, and what did the show in for me personally, is the hand-wavey safety BS. The girls spent multiple episodes preparing to beat the cold, [[[spoilers ahead]]] then when their friend is hypothermic and in danger they just stick her soaking wet body on the front of their bike and expect us to believe a hot bath and a change of clothes will just magically solve the problem. The show writers have clearly never been hypothermic or known someone who had an experience being hypothermic in their lives. The show forced the viewer to make the assumption that this girl was in the river long enough to be so cold as to be barely able to move, and is likely injured, yet at the same time wanted the viewer to just wave it all off and act like, naw, riding in the night in the middle of winter in the front of a bike in soaking wet clothes while already hypothermic isn't extremely dangerous, naw you're fine, just take a hot bath. Then, they put an interesting part (cross country tour) at the the very end and only used one episode on it. Waste of my time.

Honestly I get what people are saying about the whole show being a Honda ad, but... guys, gals, and other pals, it's an anime. If you try to take an anime seriously, it's not gonna go well. Super Cub is a sweet story about Koguma, a high schooler who decides to pick up a Super Cub-model motorcycle, and how it affects her life. She meets Reiko, who may or may not be a friend who could be more than a friend, but the two of them hit it off and enjoy riding their Cubs together, even deciding to go on long, unplanned trips with them and also not being incredibly smart about it (but let's face it, if they were smart, we wouldn't really have an anime protag, would we? I see the story as a young woman who finds a hobby to be passionate about, and she in turn finds friendships and fun doing a thing that she loves and ends up telling other people that she loves riding and taking trips on her bike and suggests into buying their own used Cub to go with her. Though I will knock it for being really tropey and predictable, but in the end... sometimes that's not really a bad thing. Sometimes a predictable story is the kind of comfort food you need in an anime.

Super Cub was a surprisingly fun anime. It was a super slow moving and relaxing Iyashikei anime, added to the pile of other Iyashikei like Aria the Animation or Flying Witch, among many others. These anime typically add like one or two gimmicks to make them seem different, but the appeal is always the same; helping you relax and unwind. If it put you to sleep then it kind of did its intended job. It’s probably the only genre in which you can say that. In this series the “twist” is that the main girl, Koguma, buys a motorcycle at the start, and then discovers a deep love for riding. She also makes friends with another girl that rides named Reiko, and beyond that there’s not much more to say other than it’s not intense, or action packed, or super dramatic, or even that funny. It’s just relaxing and healing, which is the nature of the genre.

I'm rewatching it for the 3rd time. I really liked the use of classical music, which is great for Koguma's (Protagonist) daily life. The motorcycle sound effects are good. Although it's not totally perfect, as in Initial D for example, but it's in the green bar of Acceptable. The switch from gray to light colors with saturation expressed the world Koguma sees very well. This paragraph contains a slight SPOILER, but nothing to get in the way: Her relationship with Reiko progresses naturally, and although the two are an unusual case, or probably rare in real life, it's very interesting to see their lifestyles, desires and wants. I liked how the characters are stable and have a real, calm outlook on their lives. They're looking for something better, but they accept and live for the present day. I'm attached to this because I also work in the same way. Conclusion: Overall, it's a calm anime, and I particularly found it more quirky than Yuru Camp. The voice actors aren't even seen normally, or at least not with the voice used in this anime. Whether it's at the request of the staff, the professional ability of the voice actors or both, I feel it's a special touch that they chose not to use voices that appear too often. The sound effects are well done, making it really sound like a motorcycle engine is running. I mean, when you shift gears, depending on the rpm, the engine will respond differently, and in this anime, the recording was well done and that's what brings realism. Rating: I like motorcycles, and maybe that's why it's easier for me to give this anime an 8★, but thinking like someone who doesn't have much or any attachment to motorcycles, that person would probably give it a 6.8-7.4★. With all that in mind, for me it's 7/10.

This is one of those super-slow pleasant to watch anime. As such it won't be to everyone's taste. There's no over-arching drama or suspense, no bad guys to be overcome or romances to ship, it's just someone taking those few steps to get out of a rut and find a little extra something to enjoy in their life, and the decision they made to enable that. It's probably a pretty decent advertisement for mopeds type bikes too. The animation is fine, nothing exceptional but it doesn't let the show down either. The music is slow, gentle, relaxing and on point. The voice acting is again pleasant, nothing really stand out but no-thing that grates either and honestly if something did "stand-out" it wouldn't be in keeping for the show type. Not standing out is sort of the point. I saw someone else liken this type of show to a bath and that's a pretty good analogy really. Watching an episode or two of this show is like coming home from a long day, you're wrecked, you don't want excitement or stress, or to blow off steam, you just want to run a hot bath, sit back, and "chill" for awhile as the tension of the day leaves your body. This is that type of show. I rated it a 7/10, your personal mileage may vary.