Series in one sentence:
Looks like comedy, hits like depression.
Series in more sentences:
A fearless, optimistic toddler with an affinity for medieval culture shows up in an apartment complex and introduces himself to his neighbours. Three residents learn many things about his past as they try to aid the child too young to be living alone.
What a surprisingly sad ride, only occasionally ruined by characters who don't even know the whole situation telling an abuse victim that his abusers definitely loved him.
I thought this show was going to be silly and star this overly mature toddler who surpasses the intellect of every adult he meets, but not so. Kotaro's "mature" speech is copied from a bad cartoon, and though he knows how to take care of himself in terms of cooking, shopping, and cleaning, he has undeveloped logic. I was happy with that, I don't like smarter-than-thou kids in fiction.
I thought this show was going to be silly and star this overly mature toddler who surpasses the intellect of every adult he meets, but not so. Kotaro's "mature" speech is copied from a bad cartoon, and though he knows how to take care of himself in terms of cooking, shopping, and cleaning, he has undeveloped logic. I was happy with that, I don't like smarter-than-thou kids in fiction.
I also entertained the possibility that the early hinted at abuse was a misunderstanding, since the tissue eating bit was really random and foreign to me.
Kotaro's situation is explained in bits and pieces, and every time you learn something about his past, it's saddening. At the same time, it's difficult to say what exactly transpired and who is to blame. I'm inclined to call the mother the perpetrator, but Kotaro/the show says out loud that the father is the monster. The visuals don't match the claims, and that by itself makes for an interesting mystery, but I wished it solved itself at the end of the series, because I'm too dumb to live and I still don't know why the abuse took place in the first place and how it fits in with the happy family moments Kotaro also brings up.
The overall setting of the series is the biggest problem I have with it, though. How is a 4-year-old able to live on his own, whilst authority figures -like the lawyer firm handing out his mother's life insurance- know of it? Why hasn't anyone called the police? Couldn't someone have brought up a semi-plausible explanation?
Kotaro's situation is explained in bits and pieces, and every time you learn something about his past, it's saddening. At the same time, it's difficult to say what exactly transpired and who is to blame. I'm inclined to call the mother the perpetrator, but Kotaro/the show says out loud that the father is the monster. The visuals don't match the claims, and that by itself makes for an interesting mystery, but I wished it solved itself at the end of the series, because I'm too dumb to live and I still don't know why the abuse took place in the first place and how it fits in with the happy family moments Kotaro also brings up.
The overall setting of the series is the biggest problem I have with it, though. How is a 4-year-old able to live on his own, whilst authority figures -like the lawyer firm handing out his mother's life insurance- know of it? Why hasn't anyone called the police? Couldn't someone have brought up a semi-plausible explanation?
Why not say the child ran away and is legitimately trying to stay off the radar. Don't have him admit to strangers he lives alone, change the title of the anime.
I also thought Kotaro was too social. Pretty much every character that shows up half an episode wins his affection. I would've liked his relationship with his neighbour to be the focus, and perhaps a female resident to be the subconscious "replacement" of a mother.
The last three episodes or so were a mess. One of the main girl characters is thrown out of the story for no good reason, whereafter a slew of random faces and sad stories just come and go. It feels like the creators had so much more they wanted to tell, but were not promised a second season, so it's all carelessly thrown together at the last minute.
Alot of the story is also progressed through nosy women loudly gossiping on the street, which is an anime cliché that needs to die.
Nevertheless, a touching anime. Would watch another season, if it ever were to come.
I also thought Kotaro was too social. Pretty much every character that shows up half an episode wins his affection. I would've liked his relationship with his neighbour to be the focus, and perhaps a female resident to be the subconscious "replacement" of a mother.
The last three episodes or so were a mess. One of the main girl characters is thrown out of the story for no good reason, whereafter a slew of random faces and sad stories just come and go. It feels like the creators had so much more they wanted to tell, but were not promised a second season, so it's all carelessly thrown together at the last minute.
Alot of the story is also progressed through nosy women loudly gossiping on the street, which is an anime cliché that needs to die.
Nevertheless, a touching anime. Would watch another season, if it ever were to come.
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