Ending Thoughts: Hakumei to Mikochi

Synopsis

Set in a world where there exist beings who are no more than a few inches high, this story takes focus on two roommates named Hakumei and Mikochi. This a look into their lives as they go through different daily adventures from riding bugs to having leaves for umbrellas, all the while, meeting new people and learning their stories.

General Impression

This is a unique yet rustic series that brings the viewer into a completely different world. The art, from the details of each area, the characters and how they work around one another gives the series a cute charm to it. The one thing that can be said against the series is the development of the main characters. It’s not bad, but it would have been nice to have seen some character development on the two along with the story of each segment/episode.

The characters introduced and the stories they brought made up for it though and as a slice-of life work it was expected that the series would have a slow pacing and mellow tone. If the unique world and character stories aren’t enough, there is also a touch of fantasy and interesting dynamics involving talking animals involved as well. Other than all of this, there was some cute comedy and both the opening and ending had a artistic and charming quality to them, especially when the ending gives some extra manga scenes connected to the episode.

Ending Thoughts

It wasn’t clear throughout the beginning and middle but between Hakumei and Mikochi, Hakumei had the most concrete and interesting development and exploration. True, there was one episode before the final that explore some of Mikochi’s past involving her sister, but it would have been nice to have seen her own individual story. Like it has throughout the whole series, the final part of the series introduced some new characters and provided an interesting story regarding them, but this time it actually involved Hakumei’s past and development, so that was a nice final touch to have.

While the episode felt almost like any other episode, the ending sequence of the episode provided a nice visual sequence and nice charming end to the film. It was also nice that it gave a look into all the previously introduced characters. The only real disappointing point for the final portion of the series is that it didn’t really do anything different. While not bad, it would have been nice to have seen more than just the introduction of new characters and more of Hakumei’s past.

Conclusion

If you want to enter a cute and unique world with interesting characters, charming stories and a solid slice—of-life genre dashed with fantasy, this is the series. As with any other slice-of-life works, this is an anime to simply sit back and enjoy. It had its moments and the comedy was pretty solid. There isn’t much to be said against the series other than it could have focused more on the main characters rather than introducing new characters and giving them stories for Hakumei and Mikochi to take part in.

Rating: 8/10