Non Non Biyori (2013–2021) User Reviews

A delightful slice of life anime

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 31 December 2013]

This slice of life anime is set is rural Japan far from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo; life is quiet there. There are only five children at the school and they attend the same class despite being very different ages. The series begins on Hotaru Ichijo's first day at the school; having transferred from Tokyo she finds it all rather different. She soon fits in though and starts to enjoy the different pace of rural life.

Over the course of the series the Hotaru and her new friends; sisters Natsumi and Komari Koshigaya and first year Renge do various things, frequently involving their teacher Kazuho, who happens to be Renge's sister and young woman who runs the local sweet shop. These aren't madcap adventures just the sort of thing one might expect youngsters to do.

This series was an utter delight; the humour was very gentle with nothing whatsoever to offend. The characters are for the most part entirely believable. The fact that the humour is so gentle doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of genuine laugh out loud moments. The animation looks good and the backgrounds are stunning; perfectly capturing the rural setting. Overall I'd recommend this series to any fans of the slice of life genre; it was great.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

I rarely give out such a high score.

[masonfewel · 9/10 · 7 April 2021]

I absolutely love this show. There is almost zero conflict, but there is something so comforting about watching it. I loved this show, but if you are mostly into drama or action I wouldn't recommend it. Honestly I got sadness (that I finished it, not that the ending is sad) nearly on the level that I did from ATLA or k-on when I finished it, so that should speak for how much I loved it.

Wholesome Anime

[prajack · 10/10 · 14 June 2022]

One of the best anime I have ever watched. It just makes your heart happy and for moments you feel sad. But overall it the perfect Story 10/10 , Music 10/10, Characters 10/10. Renge and nattsun are my favourite.

This helped me more than antidepressants

[Pratik_vasani · 10/10 · 30 October 2023]

Recently I was deep down into the rabbit hole of depression as I could not clear the entrance exam for which I had been preparing for 2 years. Medicines weren't helping much, and therapy is quite costly. My parents were worried about me too. Then I came across a clip of this anime on YouTube, it was ren-chon's famous song about the quack Doctor. I binge watched the series 2 times, and it helped me get myself together. I got a part time job and am looking forward to further improve myself. This anime and its characters will always stay in my heart, they are more than some fictional drawings for me, they helped me like real friends.

Incredibly wholesome and fun to watch

[8-l · 10/10 · 26 August 2023]

I developed a strong affection for this anime, even though I'm past the typical age demographic. The enchanting vibe and endearing art style of "Non Non Biyori" have a captivating effect, blending cuteness, wholesomeness, and humor in a way that makes the show universally enjoyable. Among the characters, Renge undoubtedly holds the top spot as my favorite. Her ability to radiate pure joy to both viewers and those within the narrative is remarkable. Striking a balance between cleverness and naivety, she contributes immensely to the comedic essence of the series. Moreover, the other girls have such in-depth personalities that are bound to resonate with anyone who watches.

Wholesome but repetitive

[william-eugensson · 6/10 · 31 October 2021]

It is a very relaxing (mostly) anime with most episodes being okay, others horrible and occasionally brilliant. The character development is very slow to almost non existent.

Some things are just...strange. I still don't get ehy Hotarun got a pass from creating plushies of Koma... I get that this is a refernence to otaku fan culture but it is honestly creepy and not really funny.

The soundtrack is great and complements the series a lot.

Unoriginal piece of work

[Aleta_Nook · 3/10 · 21 April 2016]

I don't know if I'm the only one who thought this didn't need a sequel, but I felt indifferent to it and its characters and thought it was overrated. The story and the characters were clichés of something seen before and the only truly good one who happens to be my favorite is Natsumi, because she's less of a silly-billy than the other ones are.

The comedy has its hit-or-misses, it's a feel-good anime so there's rarely any drama in it and there's realistic characters but they still have their flaws.

Now, back to the story, the story is about these kids who move from Tokyo and after living the city life, are experiencing culture shock with their new environment, which is normal for a lot of kids. The characters are the precocious kid, the know-it-all middle-schooler who thinks she's grown, the crybaby, and the childish girl, doing random things.

This series is aimed at kids but it still doesn't excuse the fact that it is terribly mediocre and has little in the enjoyment factor. There was also a song through out the series that sounded like a baby's music, row row row your boat. Maybe my 13-year-old self will enjoy the series slightly more.

All in all, an interesting series, suffering from a lot of problems.