Anime: Binbou Shimai Monogatari

Binbou Shimai Monogatari is originally a manga by Izumi Kazuto. In general, if a manga is good enough there will be a manga to anime conversion - I call it a promotion. But that does not say anything about whether it's a good conversion.[br][br]In my opinion, the conversion is done very well. By adding voices to the characters in the tv show, they become "alive". Comparing to the manga, there have been some changes added and the anime is only based on 2 of the 4 volumes of the manga. Overall, the anime is close to the original story in the manga.[br][br]Animation=7; for a 'slice of life' anime the animation is sufficient enough. We won't see any fight scenes or any action packed scenes. Nothing horrible really.[br][br]Sound=8; nice OP and ED songs; about the tone-deaf issue; if I am right the little sister, Asu, is tone-deaf and not the big sister, Kyou (in the manga nothing is mentioned about tone-deafness of Kyou, she simply cannot sing, that's all). Also the tone-deaf thing is in the manga, the anime only follows the story in the manga. Furthermore, it's extremely difficult to do the voice of a child, especially when you are an adult. In my opinion the Seiyus have done a terrific job here![br][br]Story=8; I really hope that people, who's reading the manga and watching the anime, get the message of the anime/manga: family is more important than money; being with each other is enough. It's a really positive message! The anime/manga make me smile (after a stressful day) by seeing the sisters being so happy and positive, even when they are so poor and have to work so hard to earn money for the rent and food etc.. Actually their situation is not as poor as it seems to be, but you will have to read the manga where the sisters will meet more interesting characters and can find more happiness later on. In the anime (as in the manga) being poor will create some comical situations. The anime/manga consists of comedy and (light) drama[br][br]Character=9; character design is really good. Character developement is not huge, but we can see that the bond between the two sisters is constantly growing. The two sisters also make other people realise that there's more besides wealth and money.[br][br]Value=9, the value is good. Some episodes are so good, funny and adorable that I can rewatch them several times. The shame is that it's too short, there are only ten episodes. The smallest fact/thing/situation in the anime/manga can make you smile; that's one very strong point of Binbou Shimai Monogatari.[br][br]Enjoyment=10; I really have enjoyed reading the manga/ watching the anime. There's nothing wrong with being adorable, too positive. Binbou Shimai Monogatari is an anime/manga in which you need to forget everything instead of analysing it whether it's an "Oscar" rated animation/work. Nothing has to be realistic. That's why fiction is fiction. Just enjoy the anime/manga. As mentioned earlier, the manga/anime is so good, because the smallest fact/thing/situation in the manga/anime can make you smile depending on the context (in the manga/anime: mostly, being poor).[br][br]Well, the manga to anime conversion is well done. I just hope Toei will also convert the last two manga to anime; ten episodes are just too few.[br][br]If you like the anime, you will definitely like the manga which got more details, more people, more happiness for the sisters and the real ending. Binbou Shimai Monogatari is really a good, adorable and enjoyable manga/anime, especially after a stressful day![br]

Ever had the feeling of your teeth hurting because it was too sweet?

Binbou Shimai Monogatari isn't a bad show. Unfortunately, it is not a good show either. But it focuses on the ‘cuteness’ so much that it is simply impossible to not take a stand. You either love it, or you hate it. Therefore, it is hard to write a neutral review for it, as one practically needs to write two of them. Which means I've decided to write one from my own point of view. So despite my descriptions, don't be surprised by marks which don't fit the description, because I rate them the way I experienced it.

Animation: Intentionally cheap.

The animation looks cheap. There are characters which do the same gesture a bit too often when surprised, there are backgrounds consisting of a single color and oftentimes the backgrounds aren't even screenfilling, with white corners. I wondered why they did this, but eventually I came to the conclusion that they did this intentionally, to create an atmosphere suitable for the show itself. When the show is about poverty, make sure the watcher gets the same feeling.

It isn't the only show which makes use of these non-screenfilling techniques and they always seem to work wonders. Another example is Bokura ga Ita which is also giving shots of characters where only half of it is colored/drawn. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but in this show it does the trick.

Sound: Intentionally bad?

I'm having doubts what to say here. As reviewer maceart said, the voice actors aren't shabby, yet they sound way below par. Let me give an example:
Sakamoto Maaya as character Kyo has a voice which is often missing the mark and tends to skip a tone. Yet, Kyo is supposed to be tone-deaf, as proven by her lousy singing. Nevertheless, the voice actress is famed because of her singing talent rather than her voice acting – so it doesn't make sense that she is literally tone-deaf.
Which brings me, once again, to the conclusion that they intentionally tried to give the characters bad voices in order to make them more realistic.

So yeah, they probably are top notch voice actors, but that doesn't mean it gets much more enjoyable because of their efforts.

Story: Episode-based with some minor continuity.

There is not much of a story, as the episodes all follow their own pace and their own plotline. There are a few characters who appear in later episodes, but that's about all for continuity. Most of the show centers on the issue of the day, whether it is doing grocery shopping, or finding a new part-time job, it's never breathtakingly exciting – which is exactly what the show needs.
The show instead centers around the sisters and what they do. It might be classified as slice of life, but although I love the genre, even this show felt lacking.

Characters: We have two sisters ...

The characters are both sisters. Most of the time it is also just those two sisters and the way they are coping with their situation and each other. The only development they get is the development of their relationship and how they can understand each other better. This is often done in such a way that it is painful to watch. Not because it is so harsh, but because it is so incredibly … well, cheesy might just be about the right word.

The worst part of it all is the never abolishing optimistic behavior of the girls. I've been dirt poor myself and I know how it is to keep up the positive ideas, but this was just plain depressing watching them struggle. Not because it was sad, or out of pity, no – it's depressing because it is so flat-out cheesy.

There are a few more side-characters and they do get their development, but honestly it doesn't really matter all that much. They get their episode in which they develop and then they usually disappear for the rest of the show, until they are allowed to make their cameo again.

Value & Enjoyment: If you're not a sucker for cuteness, go visit your dentist afterwards.

If you're a sucker for cuteness, this show is for you. Buying would be good too. If you're not watching anime solely for the cuteness – go find something else. There are plenty of other shows in this genre which are much easier to stomach than this one – and much more fun, too.

I'm something inbetween, as I believe I can definitely appreciate some form of cuteness and sweetness. Yet, I found myself staggering because of the extremity of it all. Characters who give each other the only newt they get to eat today because they love each other so much – it's not sweet, it's disgustingly sweet. This show has pretty much everything I love in a show, yet it is so cheesy that I found myself feeling disgusted with it.

If you're still trying: Be aware of how much you can appreciate sweetness before your teeth start to hurt. Mine started to hurt after episode 2 or so.

Binbou Shimai Monogatari is a story of two sisters who live in cheap apartment. Their mother died while father left big debts from gambling and is missing. One may wonder why Asu and Kyou weren't taken to an orphanage (Kyou - the elder sister - is only 15 years old). If you want to enjoy watching this anime you must learn not to care about 'details' like that.

Each episode is a standalone story. If you hope for some depressing slice-of-life then I must dissapoint you. The fact that Asu and Kyou have to live alone is one and only sad thing in BSM (okay - the last episode is sad too, but not as sad as one may expect). Things you can see in this series just don't happen in real life - it's just to... for the lack of better word - optimistic.

As for tech stuff - animation is ok, I guess. Nothing fancy, but still it looks fine. Music and sound is ok too. You probably won't look for OST, but you also won't skip the OP nor closing theme.

What more can I say... Binbou Shimai Monogatari may be a bit naive and unrealistic, but still it's a nice series to watch. I'd call it quite optimistic and heart-warming (is there an expression like that in English?). Two sisters live alone in cheap apartment and still are happy because they've each other. This anime can succesfully cheer you up if you start thinking the way Kyou and Asu do - look at the bright sides of life.

Binbou Shimai Monogatari... A short 10 episode diversion full of moe, familial love, and a very pessimisstic, yet hopeful storyline. Sure a log of bloggers seem to bash this anime as "moe-overkill", "cheesy", "unrealistic" etc. I have to disagree. This anime is classified as a slice of life anime, but I don't think people shouldn't take that literally by pointing out every superficial aspect of Binbou Shimai Monogatari.

Animation: Toei Animation did this anime, and while it might not have the caliber of Kyoto Animation or Production I.G., the animation gets the point across. There's decent running animation, character designs are surprisingly very consistent (with occasional chibi thrown in here and there). The light pastel backgrounds doesn't distract at all, and the last episode had the best animation in this series.

Sound: A very catchy opening along with a good ending song by the seiyuu of Aka from REC gives this anime a good rating in the sound department. The OST has some good selections too, notably the song they play whenever anything serious happens and the "happy end" music. The sound is one of Binbou's stronger points. Seiyuu talent such as Maaya Sakamoto along with Chiyo from Azumanga Daioh as the main characters lend this anime considerable acting ability.

Story: Story? This anime is only ten episodes, and each one is standalone and episodic. It's basically about two sisters who's mother had died and the father is nowhere to be seen and how they survive in Tokyo in a run down apartment. Sure it seems impossible, but the focus of this anime is on the relationships of the characters, whether it to be sister to sister, landowner to tenant, neighbors to neighbors. Introducing many characters to flesh out the focus on relationships, there was too less of a number of episodes to fully develop the full picture.

Character: The strongest point of Binbou Shimai Monogatari. Asu, Kyo, Owner, the rich neighbor, Ginko and Kinko, and the singer all play a point role in this anime. Whether it to be Kinko's antics at thrifting money, or how the sisters get by their days with very little money, to the Owner's past and the guitar player who aspires to be a singer, the characters were all very memorable and likeable.

Value/Enjoyment: I enjoyed translating this anime. While it wasn't exactly mind boggling or amazing, it delivers its point across and kept me interested. Enjoy this anime for its characters, along with the music. Although the pink petals do get excessive at times, the final episode still managed to bring a tear to my eyes. I recommend this anime for anyone looking for a good change of pace from action/philosophical anime, and it's a good rest for the brain.