Hello everyone and welcome The Anime Pulse: First Reaction. Slice of life shows can bring comedy.. they can bring drama.. they can bring suspense… but this one just brings a heartwarming cuteness to it. This is Non Non Biyori Repeat.
General Overview
The second season of Non Non Biyori that follows girls of all ages in a small country town and how an outsider from Tokyo transfers in an adjusts to the more rustic life.
First Episode Impressions
We just jump right back into it and the first episode was kind of confusing at first if you watched the first season, but by the end of the episode it was just one of those “AH” moments that just made you feel good inside after watching it.
Renge enters first grade so everyone is trying to get her accustomed to what it will be like moving onto the next tier of elementary school. They teach her about the entrance ceremony where the principal will make a speech and then call out all of the new student’s names. Renge practices how she’s going to answer when her name is called and she’s even given a tour of the school.
The fact that they act like she’s moving to a new school for the first time is what throws the viewer off because in Season 1, she was in the same school as everyone else. Actually, scratch that… she was in the same classroom as everyone else because the town only has one school and they’re the only ones that go to it.
Then when you see the reveal of them writing a congratulatory message on the blackboard, it all pulls together that it was just an act to make Renge feel special about moving up to a new grade and that in reality, nothing actually changed. It was really nice of everyone to do that for Renge and it’s pretty funny to watch Renge act more adult-like and taking responsibility with things such as bus fare and wanting to go to the opening ceremony by herself.
It was just an all-around feel good episode, just what this show is known for and a great reintroduction to all of the characters! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
OP & ED Impressions
Opening
“Kodama Kotodama” by Nano.RIPE
I’m not a fan of Nano.RIPE. I’m just not. The music is okay, I just cannot stand their vocalist. They did the opening for the first season and they are back for the second season as well. Again, I like the music of the opening as it fits the show.. I just can’t standing the vocals as they just sound so high pitches, nasally, and, rather annoying, to be honest.
Ending
“Okaeri” by Renge Miyauchi (Kotori Koiwai), Hotaru Ichijou (Rie Murakawa), Natsumi Koshigaya (Ayane Sakura), Komari Koshigaya (Kana Asumi)
Another ending with vocals by the characters. The ending was what you would expect it to be for an anime like this, but, again, I didn’t like the vocals on it.. which is kind of shocking because Kana Asumi is a part of the group and she did an awesome opening for Working’!! back in season two. Oh well. Can’t win them all, I suppose.
Worth Watching?
MAYBE – I’m using this tag because not everyone is enthralled by feel good slice of life animes. If that is your cup of tea, then this is a definitely YES for you. If you’re more into blood, guts, action, and tentacles… then obviously this would be a NO.
