Lol if Hyouka had a nice boat end it would be the best thing ever.
Stop pretending you don't like it, Houtarou.
I liked this shot just for how many layers of depth are present. I count at least nine.
Guuuaaaaaaah?
Hey, I didn't say it this time!
Compliment of the week: Hey look, it's a ladybug taking a bite out of a flower!
Yeah, I guess you are.
There's nothing quite as wonderful as seeing someone's dreams shattered... I think Gilgamesh is rubbing off on me.
Hand-drawn bus spotted!
This is so meta.
Being Houtarou is [pretending to be]suffering.
I'm sure some people in this thread will view this as a self-aware joke.
Talk about cultural differences. Coming to school with those would get you expelled from any high school in America. I guess it's different when you know they're fake.
They must read GAF, because they animated one of our arguments. I'm pretty sure Mayaka would fit right in here. The reveal was hilarious.
What a terrible argument. But what do you expect from a mustache?
Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.
Kagami Atsuko.So who was Mayaka supposed to be this time?
I shouldn't watch this show while I'm hungry.
Being Mayaka is suffering.
Hyouka - Episode 21
Wow. There are no words. That was so good. I can admit when I've been owned, so I'll go ahead and say that Hyouka ended up being completely the opposite of what I expected. While the early parts of the series were unevenly paced and boring, it was also a reflection of how we're less likely to accept or appreciate just wasting time with people when we don't really know them or don't care for them. But given the time to slowly watch a small group of characters develop and grow over a series really pays off in the end when the direction of the story winds down into more personal reflections and events.
I can't wait to see how the main relationship in the series concludes next week. I never thought I would say that! >_<
Mayaka is still Best Girl, Erutards can suck it!!!
Blandest characterization, what? Hyouka is one of those few animu series' with actual characters.Hyouka's pretty boring with some of the blandest characterization I've seen last year (in non-comedic shows that tried to play it straight). Out of the past three shows KyoAni have produced, Hyouka would be dead last simply because it's remarkably forgettable.
Blandest characterization, what? Hyouka is one of those few animu series' with actual characters.
I like Nichijou and K-On!!!! a lot and I would still put Hyouka above them - certainly in terms of writing and sound production, while it just barely gets the edge in terms of animation and direction, though the real special thing about the series is how all of those things come together to forward the characters and their interpersonal relationships, I think.
That said, that's all just my opinion, and I'm gonna ignore the existence of Regardless of My Adolescent Delusions of blablabla so as to make your formulation there just a touch less ridiculous and easier to take seriously.
Hmmm reviving a dead thread since I just finished watching the whole series in one go.
Well, what to say... I don't think the series was that great. Currently, I'm mostly in the mood for slice of life genre, and I thought this would be similar for reasons that highschool + club usually goes into the genre. The episodes really hung onto one plot too long to be slice of life, and the series didn't feel like it was developing into anything meaningful for the conflict of the series being that Hotaro getting over his lazy ass mindset.
I kept going because I like Chitanda's hyper genki character, and their relationship was interesting to see where it would go, but since they didn't conclude anything, it's really hard to like it because it was painful to see the anime end that way.
I see from this thread that it definitely isn't as popular as I thought it was.
Hyouka is not a slice-of-life show really. If that was your expectation, it's not surprising that you were disappointed. It's not really a narrative drama series either. It's pretty unique in the sense that despite what it is on the surface - an anime set in a high school with a few friends who seem to have stock character traits; it aims to be more of a character study drama. It's pretty rare to see this level of care put into a production like that, but it's very much an acquired taste.
A show about 4 characters interacting with each other throughout high school.
-The best production values I have seen in a TV anime
-Great art
-Wonderful character development
-Very unwinding show that is relaxing to watch
-Great music
While the beginning of this show could be described as boring or mundane by some, I'd argue that the meticulous execution of every aspect makes it feel more exciting than a lot of other shows. Of course, all of that doesn't matter after a couple of episodes and is quickly forgotten once the festival arc starts which is quite possibly my favorite run of anime episodes I had seen in years. The ending was superb too. Great stuff all in all, if I had to recommend one show from 2012 to someone who doesn't watch that much anime it would be this one.
Easily my most enjoyed show this year. It starts a little slow, but it's really good when the story is actually doing something. The character development of the main cast is the main draw for me. It was nice seeing the characters change as the story went along. By the end of the show I definitely loved watching all of their interactions. The earlier episodes were even more enjoyable on rewatches, which emphasizes the fact that the characters are really selling the show.
Easily the most well produced, well animated series of the entire year. It excels in nearly every area - writing, character, direction, animation, editing, the list goes on and on. However despite the many excellent episodes and arcs in the show had it also had some inanely boring rubbish which dragged the whole series down.
This was easily the best and most visually impressive show of the year, as it excelled with nearly every aspect, particularly it's incredible conclusion, meticulously constructed narrative, and the small touches of romance that were filtered into the latter half of the show. Though the mysteries were occasionally of the mundane variety, they certainly weren’t close to being the focus of the show, as the complex characters and the nuanced characterization that defined them immensely elevated the few episodes that contained a mystery that was less than intriguing. It was, above all, nearly absent of any particularly noticeable flaw.
Proof that the mundane can be made interesting, even fascinating. Slow-burning but significant character development, tightly-written plots, and lavishly beautiful visuals meant that I anticipated episode premiers of this show more than any other.
What starts as a seemingly boring high school show and a really boring club activity solving the most irrelevant 'mysteries' becomes slowly personal and builds a really strong relationship between the main characters and their time together. The mysteries and the cast solving them wasn't the point in the end, it was everything else that makes it really enjoyable. Oreki is one of the better protagonists in recent years and it really helps to get through some of the boring mysteries. Last but not least, Hyouka is easily the most stunning anime of year and a joy to your eyes.
The very definition of "slow burn". This series started out in a really mundane way, and for much of the first half remained slow and sometimes straight out boring. But the character development is good, the interactions are interesting, and by the second half the series it really takes advantage of that to deliver what is ultimately the best character drama series of the year. Amazing production values too.
A real curveball of a series. I went into this show expecting slice of life or high school romance, but I got much better. The main cast(four highschoolers) is great. We have a borderline savant detective in Oreki who prides himself on low energy living, an intensely curious girl in Chitanda Eru that has to straddle the line between upperclass life and her scary curiosity, Mayaka whose strong personality results in many clashes with the boys and Satoshi, a poor man's renaissance man. Behind the veil of ordinary life you'll find tons of mystery, great character interations/growth and an overall tone that strikes a great balance between the fantastic elements of the show(Chitanda's curiosity and Oreki's disturbing analytical skills) and the more mundane everyday life in their small, but old town.
I was really hooked, Hyouka is a visual masterpiece and something you can really expect from KyoAni. Everything is visually pleasing, every background character looks amazing (Hello Irisu and Sawakiguchi) the whole show is filled with amazing scenes full with colour and beautiful animation. Every character is really unique and fun, they all have really different personalities and doesn't really apply to "typical stereotypes". Even if the show was kinda "slice of life" which I kinda dislike, they still managed to make it entertaining even though the mysteries were quite obvious there was still plenty of things to think about. I just loved the festival arc, hilarious and cute.
I never expected that I'd be putting this show in my top ten as I initially dropped it a few episodes in, but after hearing "it gets better!" from enough trustworthy people, I decided I'd give it a second shot. I'm incredibly glad that I decided to, as, while the series is definitely a very slow burn, in retrospect it's fairly astonishing. While the series bills itself foremost as a mystery show, the mysteries themselves are mildly intriguing at best. There's nothing inherently wrong with the mundane subject matter, but it took me a while to accept that the mysteries were merely vehicles for good character interaction and really fantastic character development, and this is the lens through which the show shines brightest as the characters slowly evolve from being definable by a handful of quirks to something much more human. From a technical standpoint, Hyouka is also KyoAni beast mode with both the best OST and best production qualities of any television anime this year. One arc in the middle of the series looks better than some films.
KyoAni's best show... well, maybe second to K-On!!. It's really damn close though. Special mention to 11.5, not only because it'll annoy duckroll, but because I think it was the turning point of the show that elevates it beyond... well, meer anime.
Hyouka made me endure a couple of painfully boring episodes, but the incredible production values, intriguing story premise and mostly enjoyable story arcs made that totally worth it. Ultimately, it may have been the OST that stuck out to me the most, though. It's rather subtle for the most part, but it somehow managed to create a very convincing mystery atmosphere for things that really aren't mysterious at all. Good stuff.
For a while I was completely intent on having Fate/Zero be my favorite show of the year. That was until the last couple episodes of Hyouka aired. It took a few episodes for this show to sink its claws into me, but by the third episode I was completely engaged by it. A lot of my enjoyment came from how invested I was by the characters and the slower pace (especially in the first half) gave me a better appreciation of the attention to detail. I just absolutely love the atmosphere that this anime has. Very relaxing yet manages to make a lot of scenes very engaging to me.
Many of the subplots and characterization hit a lot of the right notes with me, to an almost frightening degree. The production values are just superb and even puts some theatrical productions to shame. With this show, I became a fan of KyoAni and I don't know how they did it week after week. I loved the characters, the animation, the soundtrack, the direction, the art design, and all the little subtle details. It's definitely not a perfect anime and definitely not the most exciting show at times. Despite its faults, this was the show that resonated with me the most.
Simply fantastic. It's been quite a while since I've fallen in love with a show as much as this. It's beautiful, not just from a visual or aural standpoint, but from how it treats and develops its' characters, their relationships, and their interactions. It's expertly crafted and brilliantly plotted. There's no question in my mind that Kyoto Animation are the masters of their craft, and this is far and away the best anime of the year.
Kyoani really outdid themselves with this one, and I would say its their best work so far. One of the most beautiful shows of all time, the visuals are always on point in all aspects of animation and art. Combine that with incredible direction and storyboarding and I don't think anyone can deny how impressive the production is. You'll often find yourself surprised with how much the show is able to convey in even the shortest scenes. On top that, the show has a high quality soundtrack with a number of memorable tracks throughout. It's mixture of classical tracks and original compositions is pretty tremendous to listen to. A true audiovisual experience.
I'm a sucker for high school drama and mystery. Hyouka is an interesting case because it brings together four characters that I couldn't give a damn about but made me give one by the end of the show. Nearly every episode crafts an interesting situation and develops the characters towards an interesting way. By the series' end the payoff for seeing their growth is immense especially the main character Hotarou Oreki. If you're looking for a bit of slice of life, a bit of mystery, a bit of drama, and time well spent then this is the show for you. I'm glad this was a show well spent for me.
These days, Kyoto Animation is known for bringing incredible production values to various high-school stories about close-knit groups of girls and guys. Hyouka shows KyoAni working at its absolute best on a story about mundane mysteries and the gradual maturation of its bunch of student protagonists. The show's sedate pacing may turn off some, but for its adherents (such as myself), it's a master class in direction and animation. Everyone is brought to life thanks to an attention to detail that few other studios could match even if they had the time or budget. I was drawn into the lives of the members of the Classics Club, and by the end, they were well-rounded in ways that few shows can rival.
Personally I didn't find this show boring at all and didn't mind the pace it set for itself. Despite praising Fate/Zero's amazing visuals at times I would say Hyouka tops it. Just the amazing, meticulous attention to detail. Both with the visuals and the characters. Initially they may come across as rather one dimensional and simply fulfilling per-established tropes but they really come into their own. Even the side or support characters get an impressive amount of characterization in the short amount of screen time presence they get. This show has some great music as well, both original and borrowed classical pieces. How they are used is well done just like the majority of the show.
There's really not much left to be said about Hyouka. The show's relative merits have been argued over to death over and over. I will, however, talk about the alleged "slow start" of the show. I don't believe this to be the case. The much maligned first 6 episodes of the show served as a good introduction for the characters and set the "feel" of what was to come. These 4 characters are some of the most well developed and well refined characters I have encountered in an anime and I am glad at getting to see them develop over the course of the series. This is all without getting at the absolutely stunning visuals of Hyouka. A show about everyday mysteries shouldn't have such gorgeous visuals nor did it need it but KyoAni gave it to us nevertheless.
The first "kininarimasu" scene is my favorite scene in the whole show. It set up what the show would be about (Oreki is Chihaya's little pet) and showed it both literally with the hair wrapping around Oreki and figuratively with Oreki not being able to turn her down.
As an initial detractor of this show it is kind of funny how much I've come around. As I familiarize myself with Hyouka more and more my respect for the series continues to grow. KyoAni offers something both wholly unique and unrivaled to viewers in spite of dealing with a topic not entirely unfamiliar. Astoundingly well composed on a presentation level, Hyouka's subtle handling of personal growth and maturation is its greatest triumph. The problems presented are a digestible means of presenting more complex topics that often revolve around realistic conflict. The mysteries of Hyouka are not black or white. Like Oreki, they happen to be grey. Character motivations here seem genuine, and there is no cackling villain beneath the mask of the culprit. Hyouka's smartly refined sense and style put it wildly ahead of everything else on this list.
If I had to pick one word to sum up this series, it would be "eyegasms". Yes, I'm aware that's not a real word. But it does describe what the viewer is going to constantly experience thanks to the most borderline-pornographic levels of animation quality ever seen in a TV anime. And it also describes what happens to Chitanda whenever she gets a little too curious about something. Which is often. Though the pacing is slow and the content is deliberately mundane, the subtle yet engaging character interactions and development, as well as the sheer production quality, make this a must-see.
The reason this show didn't make it on the list is primarily for two reasons. The first is the pacing. Parts of the show can really drag and are for the most part, unnecessarily long. A perfect example is the film arc where the point of the arc is dragged on for far too long. The second is that of the mysteries themselves in that they are so amazingly mundane that it actually becomes annoying. The show also wastes too much time analyzing the mysteries so the mysteries themselves ultimately should be judged with the rest of the show. In short, both of these can really make the show be a bore at times.
That said, it's also a fantastic character study piece and does an excellent job bisecting Oreki, Satoshi, and Mayaka. There is some real character progression over the course of the show and some of the themes, and particularly messages, in the show are really fascinating to study.
The visuals are also beyond topnotch. Truly. This is one of the most gorgeous television shows I've ever seen. The detail is comparable to a movie or OVA not only some of the time but most of it.
Where to begin? Without a doubt, Hyouka is 2012's most beautiful anime, with luscious background art, skillfully executed photographic effects, and abundant, expressive animation. But to be the best anime of the year, you need more than just a pretty face, and this is where Hyouka's startlingly great script comes in, along with the skillful direction of Yasuhiro Takemoto(The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya), and a score that rivals Kouhei Tanaka's(Gunbuster/Diebuster/One Piece) best. What seems to be a rather ordinary high school series grows over time into a remarkably mature and bittersweet character piece, best captured in this track from the OST; what really sets it apart from other similar series is the believability of the characters and the world they inhabit. Some may find it slow, or the mysteries trite, but those with the patience and interest will find themselves well-rewarded. The only downside to watching Hyouka is that it will raise your expectations for how good an anime can look.