It would seem I just have to watch all the shôjo. I don’t even like the genre …
All of which to say that Hanayaka Nari, Waga Ichizoku: Kinetograph, is not just a shôjo, it is also adapted from an otome game. Yes again. Our heroine, called Haru, is a maid working in the Miyanomori house, a house full of all the sons of the family. Obviously that is a very important plot point. Obviously things will happen between them.
While I’m saying this, unfortunately, as it is the case with many anime of the genre, it offers no conclusion. No one is officially in love with anyone. This was a two 40-minute OVA that they could have made more of an effort with; it’s not like they need to keep some plot in reserve for a sequel. They need to be realistic, there is not going to be any sequel.
Anyway, I could continue for hours on how the ending was not an ending at all but at the same time, I think you know as well as it is with this kind of series. We are better off not to hope for anything.
That being said, the plot of Hanayaka Nari as a whole was not exactly catching either. If anything it was a slice of life set in a rich family during the Taisho era (20th century, more or less). If anything the setting is the thing that was the most interesting to me.
Slice of life do not usually make it for the most action packed series, and it was true for this one as well. The focus was greatly put on the characters. Mainly our heroine, obviously. To be honest, she is not anything special at all, and as usual, I do not understand why all these men are falling in love with her, going as far as to chase her to her village when it seems she would get married. It’s like my boss intruding in my love life and it is pretty creepy.
Well, at the very least, not one tried to kiss her or kidnap her, so I guess we already are on the right track. Besides the whole era is pretty held back when it comes to demonstrations of affection, so that was a very welcomed change of pace. I even really, really liked some of the boys. It rarely happens for me in this kind of series. My favorites had to be Isami and Susumu for their cool and stoic demeanor.
The rest of the boys were nothing special, the heroine’s not worth remembering either, the seiyuu and the music were normal, the animation was well done and very in phase with the era. The promo picture is actually the thing that got me interested. I was curious to see how they could manage an otome game in this kind of setting, the maid/rich boys thing had the potential to be really annoying but somehow it was bearable. Everything was bearable actually. I cannot say I fell head over heels in love with this show, it is pretty standard when it comes to this genre, but I can surely say I enjoyed myself while watching. At least a little bit. In a way it was even educational, because seriously, what else set in this era could you watch?
I would nearly recommend it just for the historical setting. Nearly. Except if you really hate the genre, then you are going to be bored really fast.
