Moe makes the world go around.
Kiniro Mosaic‘s first episode is every bit as cutesy as you would expect it to be: Nothing complicated or exciting really happens, the atmosphere is extremely laid back, and the characters are sweet as can be. If you’ve come seeking adventure or exciting, deep characterization, or an intricate plot, you should be able to tell from the cover art you have come to the wrong place. This show knows what it wants to be and does a darn good job at being the adorable, uncomplicated show it presents itself as.
The first episode, as I mentioned earlier, is pretty uneventful. The majority of it takes place in the past where younger versions of Shinobu and Alice meet each other for the first time and become quick friends. Shinobu is a young Japanese girl who has the opportunity to do a homestay in Great Britain, and ends up staying with a small English family with a girl Shinobu’s age, Alice. Despite a slight language barrier issue and initial awkwardness, the two become good friends. Eventually, Shinobu’s homestay comes to an end and she returns to Japan. The episode ends with Shinobu and Alice reunited, this time in Japan with Alice having transferred into Shinobu’s school.
I’m not going to lie; I was absolutely smitten with this episode, mainly because of how adorable it managed to be. It’s hard to describe what exactly made the episode so likable. Sure the character designs are really cute and the animation in general, is pretty good (minus the occasional CGI) , but a good chunk of shows these days have that going for them. What I think separates Kiniro Mosaic from them is how it establishes its characters and atmosphere.
The episode does an excellent job of giving off this really laid back and sweet vibe that makes you want to smile. Alice and Shinobu have the exact same effect. Admittedly, they’re pretty flat, but who cares? They aren’t meant to be be deep or complicated. Their sweetness and silly antics are more than enough in that they have the desired effect of coaxing out smiles and even a bit laughter from their audience. Though we don’t get to see much of them, I’m sure that the other members of the cast will be equally likable.
With this first episode Kiniro Mosaic has succeeded in winning my heart. I can’t pinpoint a single thing that I disliked about the episode. It brought a smile to my face and even impressed me with how okay the English sounded. With undeniable cuteness and charm, I’ll definitely be sticking with Kiniro Mosaic for the long run and encourage you all to give this little show a shot. Let yourselves be taken in by the diabetes inducing sweetness that is Kiniro Mosaic; you know you want to.
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
