Summary
This anime season, Crunchyroll is streamingShoshimin: How to Become Ordinary, an adaptation of light novels of the same name by Honobu Yonezawa. This author is also responsible for the novels that inspired 2012’scritically acclaimedHyoukaanime. The mystery genre certainly isn’t one of the most saturated in the anime world, but it always delivers intriguing settings that leave the viewer wanting for more.
Shoshiminhas got its fair share of similarities toHyouka, as both series feature high schoolers solving seemingly superficial mysteries. However, whereHyoukahad a more upbeat and lighthearted tone to its story,Shoshiminpresents a more mellow and philosophical approach.It’sthe perfect series to watch on a rainy day, or when needing a break from all the overwhelming events of mainstream anime.
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Shoshimin: How To Become Ordinary Is a Cinematic Slow-Paced Experience
Lapin Track Studio Made the Adaptation Visually Pleasing and Captivating
The story inShoshimin: How to Become Ordinaryfollows two high schoolers: Jogoro Kobato, with a secretive difficult past, and Yuki Osanai, a couple of friends who, upon entering high school, vow to try and lead normal -ordinary- lives. They’re later joined by Kengo Dojima, Kobato’s primary school friend, and together theystart solving the banal mysteries that keep happening around them. Consequently, they do not live the ordinary lives they long for so badly.
Though Lapin Track is not a particularlyfamous anime studio,Shoshiminhas got an impressive staff involved in its production. The adaptation is directed by Mamoru Kanbe, who is responsible forsome very dark titles likeElfen LiedandThe Promised Neverland. Character design is also remarkable, as even though the general color palette is slightly muted, the characters’ eyes are full of color, which makes them stand out completely. This is Atsushi Saito’s touch, a famous animator and character designer who worked inLove Live! Superstar!and severalPretty Curetitles.Shoshiminis displayed in a sophisticated 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinarypremiered on July 7, and new episodes are released weekly on Crunchyroll.The anime adaptation will focus more on the stories of two of the five existing novels: “The Case of the Springtime Limited-Edition Strawberry Tart” and “The Case of the Summertime Limited-Edition Tropical Parfait”. Sadly, as was the case withHyoukatoo, the original novels haven’t been officially translated into English yet.
Hyoukais a beloved series, it was featured on Crunchyroll’s top 100 anime of the decade (2010-2019), and even though at this point a season 2 is unlikely (but not impossible), Yonezawa has also been pouring creativity and dedication into theShoshimin: How to Become Ordinarynovels since 2004. It is yet to be seen if the anime adaptation will transform it into an even more successful series thanHyouka.
