Anime: Kobato.

Note: Rate me! This review is based on [GG] english subbing of the series and it may contain disagreeable opinions and spoilers. I aim to try and be assertive, objective and spoiler-free when it comes to my reviews but otherwise enjoy. Feedback is always appreciated.

PROLOGUE
Kobato is a daily life, magical, contemporary fantasy series that is adapted and based on a seinen manga by CLAMP. It tells the story of Kobato who from the magical world visits the human world in order to fulfill her own wish of visiting a certain place. To be able to achieve this wish, she goes on a mission to fill a container with magical hearts gained by healing people's broken hearts. Once filled, her wish to visit this certain place will be granted. However, she must not fall in love with a particular boy she works with and whose heart she must heal.

Bottom Line
Kobato isn't exactly great due to it's simple, familiar, unremarkable storyline but it's very much a worth while show if you are looking for something that's pretty light, fluffy and at times pretty dramatic as it's told throughout the plot. Essentially, the plot is a mix of mostly daily life and drama outside its comedy alongside some light contemporary fantasy elements with cameos for a bit of added magical atmosphere. However, the plot does manage to weave well it's elements to form a cohesive whole in the end and is very much a relatively easy watch. The plot itself is told in episodic arcs being around 2-3 episodes where we see Kobato helping people in need in order to fill her container of hearts to fulfill her main goal. These episodic arcs themselves are presented well if a little slow paced, being mostly light hearted and at times dramatic but also in a way, mature enough in interactions to make you care for the endeavors. Of course, the light hearted nature of the show can be irritating to some as it makes the show feel like a kids disney movie and be a turn off for the show. Not to mention, tidbits of overemphasized drama can bother as well. Later on in the story, it does get a bit more personal as the plot weaves together a larger arc in between the rather stand-alone episodic arcs earlier to close in direction within the characters and plot, changing amongst Kobato's nature in the real world and otherwise makes for a satisfactory conclusion. Lastly, visuals and sound are particularly well done and help complement the story well. Overall, Kobato is well worth the watch if you are looking for a light hearted plot that has some maturity in its resolution to daily life and dramatic conventions outside of its mixed comedy and light magic and not something that's too heavy on the mind. Just as long as you can handle at times, too much light heartedness, slow pacing and at minor times overdramatic, melodrama, it's certainly a good show overall.

ANIMATION
Pros:
The Animation is certainly of good quality being colorful, cute, fluid and detailed in scenery to character models. As personified by CLAMP, expect to see some nice colorful, detailed outdoor scenery of daily life from cities to playgrounds along with indoor interiors of housing utensils, buildings and shading. Character Models themselves are of simple detail themselves from facial, physical details to cosmetic changes of clothes and fluid movements. Camera angles consist of a mix of third to first person, giving us that emphasis on simple details, believability and building atmosphere in character interactions and scenery of setting. While the atmosphere itself is mostly light hearted, warming and at times serious given the setting, the camera angles also do a good job capturing the quality of the animation amongst the magical elements of the show and not just on the daily life, rural settings. Like a magical girl series where the girls change into their forms, here we get to see how colorful and fluid the transition of hearts goes in the container of which Kobato gains when fulfilling someone's problems thanks to the camera angles and quality of the animation. Overall, the animation is by all means solid by all means of presenting the show's premise.

Cons:
Besides the positives, my only gripes with the animation is that there are some reused scenery and frames particularly familiar to CLAMPS predecessors as well as a noticeable drop-in, drop-out in quality details at times throughout the duration of the show. Of course, there really isn't many scenes where the animation stands out a lot for a particular moment but overall, the animation is very much standard and of good quality by all means despite some bits of reused footage and lack of minor details.

SOUND
Pros:
The soundtrack is certainly good and complements the show well. While watching the show, you'll be hearing some rather nice instrumental tunes in BGM that really help to transition moments of plot well whether light hearted or dramatic in development. Not to mention the sound effects are spot on, where the characters are lively whenever shown in the plot's light hearted to dramatic nature and also the sound of scenery being affected by changes in nature and rural life and so on. The opening song: "Magic Number" by Maaya Sakamoto is a rather catchy, light tune to ease you in on the show while the ending songs are comprised of 3 songs. They are "Watashi ni Dekiru Koto" by Megumi Nakajima (Ranka Lee) and "Ashita Kuru Hi" by Kana Hanazawa, both of which are more melodic, soothing songs for endings. Of course, you'll be seeing the song "Ashita Kuru Hi" sung in between some episodes too as part of the BGM, helping to add a warming immersion towards certain important plot events. Lastly, voice acting is generally solid as a package with a few minor issues but i'll mention that in the cons section. Overall, the sound compliments the show well in terms of adding immersion towards the story in certain events whether dramatic or light hearted. Not to mention, it enchances the presentation of the show well being that it knows it's light or serious when it needs to be in tune of the plot to the most part.

Cons:
My concerns with the sound are rather major. Voice acting in particular of Kobato can get a little overboard, being repetitive and at times trying too hard to be funny or sympathetic. Not to mention a few tidbits of drama that feel exagerrated being annoying but fortunately only few in between cause most of it is actually done right. Lastly, the BGM in particularly, isn't exactly memorable or captivating much despite enchancing plot immersion but your milage may vary on this one. Overall, the sound works well in all facets of the show despite these issues.

STORY
Pros:
The story is actually quite simple but towards the end, it feels like it's better than the sum of it's parts from the description. The main plot consists of the protagonist name Kobato who's main goal is to fulfil her wish by gaining people's hearts from recovering their own personal problems in their daily lives. Not to mention, to not fall in love with a particular guy at that or it may fail. In the end, the premise on paper doesn't really shout compelling or original and basically feels more like a kids anime. However, the show itself seems to be quite better in presentation rather then just as familiar ideas. The plot itself is mostly split into episodic arcs, consisting of 1-3 episodes of which focus on a certain person's personal problems in order for Kobato to help them and fill her container with their hearts as a prize to establish her main goal. The episodic arcs are mostly light hearted in nature of Kobato as a character with bits of comedy and emphasis on drama to help convey Kobato's intentions on helping a person's problems. The problems in Kobato's helping case usually consist of helping one another in terms of hobbies, friendship, motivational and relational problems with a bit of light financial and business issues hinted at times.

As a whole, these episodic arcs are particularly decent to well presented, giving us backdrop of the problematic person in focus and how Kobato approaches to solve that problem whether it'd be through motivational speeches or lending a hand and going through dealing with the source of the problem. The rest of the episodic arcs are the same but different personal problems in nature. Another positive to point out is that these episodic arcs do a simple but good job in the fact that bring direction and manage to weave the plot into a cohesive whole as Kobato collects "hearts" towards the end. As such, the final arc of which contains conflict and support just so happens to be weaved that way of which contains again, personal issues Kobato deals with involving the main cast and the love interest, which ends up coming towards a satisfactory, tie-in conclusion. Overall, the final arc towards the end conclusion is developed well amongst affecting Kobato's main goals throughout the plot as well as the fleshing of her character alongside the others. As for any possibility of romance in the show, it is usually hinted at subtlely in interactions within Kobato and the main love interest, after or through which Kobato solves each person's problems within each episodic arc. In this regard, it is sort of emphasized well enough to understand how they feel or think in relationship of it and the ending is pretty satisfying at that. Not to mention, some cameos enter the show in a specific episode but they don't really add towards the main story.

In regards to the pacing, each arc is fairly decent in not wasting too much time on Kobato dwelling on how to help a certain person's problems. Although that doesn't mean at times it can be a little slow though. Comedy wise, it's fairly hit or miss in between the arcs and emotional impact within each of the arcs is quite there thanks to the build up of solving someone's problems being developed well throughout interaction, drama and motivational lines. Contemporary fantasy elements are relatively light amongst the show, being served more for a light magical atmosphere, comedy purposes and emotional impact at certain arcs and not much in the case of convienience and magical wishes coming true as resolutions in such arcs. Overall, the story is rather simple on paper as the heroine helps others to fulfil her needs alongside offering a hybrid of daily life, drama and contemporary fantasy elements. As such, it's the presentation and execution of the story that is done well enough in each episodic arc that weaves together towards the end to care and sympathize enough for Kobato and mostly the rest of the cast, fulfilling her wish and intentions overtime and helping those in need to get there.

Cons:
Despite the decent to well presented plot, the story as a whole certainly has its flaws. The premise itself, while decent to good in execution, isn't exactly compelling or complicating enough overall in regards to the main plot or Kobato's Journey. As such, I had only wished the show would try to make things a little harder or unpredictable in Kobato's journey of helping people's problems, gaining their hearts and filling up the container to meet her essential goal. In this regard, the plot itself, in some exceptions to the final arc, can feel a bit too convienient with a lack of strong conflict events/logic against Kobato dealing with people's issues simply just giving off her motivational speeches and rather simplistic actions to deal with a particular person's problems like that. There is also a case of too much, at times, light hearted moments like the kids singing, dull comedy and inactive scenes with too much tell > show, which makes the show a little annoying at times alongside lack of meaningful direction within the duration of the plot. This flaw rings particularly true, coming from Iyorogi (Kobato's Puppet Dog) and Kobato herself of which can distract in face value of solving a particular person's problem in each episodic arc. Not to mention, a few tidbits of unconvincing, extensive melodrama or joy just for the sake of adding sympathy towards a certain person's problem or as backdrop towards the certain episodic arc. The pacing of the plot can also be a bit slow as mentioned in the "pros" in certain arcs. Not to mention, the romance aspect, while satisfying, does feel a bit farfetched at times of development, especially towards the end but otherwise, it's emphasized enough to understand the result towards the end. Overall, despite these issues of convieniency, bit of slow pacing and lack of mature direction at times, the story manages to hold well towards the end in terms of being simple, light hearted and having enough direction and backdrop in plot, all adding towards a satisfactory, strong conclusion.

CHARACTER[/b]
Pros:
The whole cast of characters are all generally standard fare developed characters, being pretty cliche and archetypical of CLAMP's previous works. As such, they are mostly there to serve for story purposes. Kobato, the protagonist for example, happens to be the typical Genki girl mostly in regards to the resolutions and motivations she displays throughout the conflicts and supporting situations of the story. Another cliche would be the love interest with a heart of gold as well as the young, blonde twins in their hyperactive, curious personalities but saying more than that would be spoilerific. Of course, this isn't necessarily a bad thing as long as the characters, particularly the main cast, are able to deliver something useful and be part of what drives the story. While not all Kobato's characters fulfil the rule to make an impact on the story, Kobato's main cast does do enough fair convincing to show that it is no exception or slouch to the rule. As such, some characters, particularly side characters are there moreso for comedy purposes and light hearted moments. In this case, they play as little of an impact on the plot in regards to serving as light motivation for the protagonist and not much else.

Aside from the magical cameos of certain characters, particularly from CLAMP's previous works, most of the cast themselves happen to be pretty normal people, living average lives alongside their own personality quirks. Of course, they also bring along their own personal struggles amongst society within their backgrounds as Kobato becomes more interactive, thoughtful and helpful of them during her "main goal". Towards the final conclusion of the story, the cast is tied up rather nicely in regards to their resolutions alongside the heroine and while the whole cast in itself doesn't exactly stand out much outside of the show's own story purposes, they never the less are relatively interesting enough in either personality or background to keep the plot actively moving and worthwhile to the most part.

Cons:
Likewise, my problem with the characters is that they don't really develop and act out enough to stand out being memorable much outside their cliches and story purposes. Not to mention some characters, particularly the magical ones like Iyorogi's friends, don't feel very impactful or pivotal towards the main plot alongside the protagonist in regards to support and conflict. Also, aside from the protagonist, the characters are essentially "normal" characters so no matter how well they're developed and integrated throughout the main plot, it's nothing we haven't seen before in other series but it's a minor issue to be fair.

Other flaws within the characters are that the sentimental, motivational, dramatic, emotional moments can be at times a little far fetched, direct, annoying and over dramatised when it comes to certain character development and their own interaction within the plot whenever it be in support and conflict. This is particularly seen mostly in regards to the protagonist as well as certain relevant members of the main cast in which Kobato has an impact on in interaction and feelings throughout her journey. Overall, the issues listed with the characters are quite substantial in terms of not really being uniquely developed on their own outside the main plot but for what they offer in background and impact on the plot, it's more than enough to see them carrying it well at least.

VALUE, ENJOYMENT AND FINAL THOUGHTS
Despite the simple and unremarkable premise or storyline, Kobato still makes up to be quite the worthwhile show in execution of it's comedy, daily life, dramatic elements and situations along with a bit of hints of romance in between. It's very much for those looking for something that's lighthearted, a little magical but mostly down to earth and rather mature in the plot moreso than for the romance and comedy aspect. Despite all these elements of the main plot being too far-fetched, slow paced, annoying and convenient in execution at times along with the hit and miss comedy, they are none the less conveyed well enough of which resolve towards a satisfactory and finalized conclusion. The characters themselves, while not wholly unique and a bit useless and silly at times throughout the plot, happen to remain interestingly developed, relevant and much lifelike in their personalities and backgrounds to carry the plot well enough whether it'd be in a role of support and conflict to the most part. In terms of the visuals and soundtrack, they are nevertheless produced well enough and at times great and relevant if a little derivative and unremarkable.

In regards to the rewatch value, I personally think the show doesn't make enough of an impact to warrant it much as the plot and characters, while executed well, offers little in the ways of depth and uniqueness amongst it's daily life, drama and magical conventions in comparison to other shows like NHK but without the magical aspect. Not to mention, its other focal points of comedy is too simple being often hit and miss as well as the romance lacks more emphasis aside from the strong conclusion to make it more worthwhile and memorable here. None the less, Kobato remains an enjoyable, if not spectacular, show to the most part in regards to its showcasing of daily life and dramatic moments and emotions more so than for its comedy, magical and romance aspects. While it has its niggles here and there, it's certainly a worthy time killer at the very least for what it offers as an addition to the genres established.