Anime Hajime Review: Hidamari Sketch Honeycomb

Series Synopsis

For a fourth time, welcome back to the Hidamari Apartments, right across the way from Yamabuki Arts High School. As it has been in the past, the residents of the small complex are as big of a family as you can imagine.

Our two second years, the lovable Yuno (voiced by Kana Asumi) and the energetic Miyako (voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi), have become quite accustomed to living on their own and those trying first few days seem like a lifetime ago. Now these best friends, especially Yuno, take on a new challenge of becoming reliable role models for their own underclassmen, the computer whiz Nori (voiced by Hitomi Harada) and the shy Nazuna (voiced by Chiaki Omigawa).

Things don’t always go as planned, much to Yuno’s adorable chagrin. What makes it okay though is that she can still turn to the loving Hiro (voiced by Yuko Goto) and the strong Sae (voiced by Ryoko Shintani) for guidance.

School and test and the general stress of day to day life might be challenging, but none of it is that bad when these six are together. Sadly, all good things must come to the end. It may be painful to imagine, but eventually this group will have to graduate from Yamabuki High and move out of the Hidamari Apartments. However, when you thing about it, the time spend here is only the first chapter in what is sure to be a lifelong friendship.

That being said, having to say goodbye still sucks.

Series Positives

No…It’s not true. It…It can’t be true. I refuse to accept it. I want nothing more than to not accept it. Perhaps by some miracle this might change, but this season made it abundantly clear that this is it.

We have, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, come to the final instalment of the Hidamari series.

Seriously, how is that we’ve already looked at all four? I might have only reviewed the first season back in November of 2015, but to me it feels like this series has become a constant. I’m really going to miss this show.

And to make matters even sadder, we have to end it here. You want to know what I think about this season? Without out a doubt, Hidamari Sketch Honeycomb is the best of the bunch.

A Perfect Send Off

Everything the previous seasons did right, returned once again. And not only did they return, Honeycomb did them better. The characters, the visuals, the humor, the adorableness, it’s all here and they're the best they've ever been.

Despite watching the first two seasons, and before Honeycomb thinking 365 was the pinnacle, if you were to say these six girls were here since the beginning, I’d have difficulties doubting you. For me to say that they work magnificently together couldn’t be any more of an understatement.

Yuno and Miyako are no longer timid, fresh faced move-ins; albeit Miyako was never that to begin with. They have experience behind them now. They can reminisce, they can look back, and they can take what they’ve learned and not only apply those lessons, but pass them on. It has been wonderful to see Yuno grown up to be the person she is now, even if she can't see the progress she's made. Although she's definitely more mature, and believe it or not I can say the same thing about Miyako, Yuno hasn’t lost the innocent charm that made me adore her in the first place.

Hiro and Sae have so much love and wisdom emanating from them. These two kind of take a back seat to the rest of the cast, but it makes sense why. This is their final year, they’re going to have to leave and that heart retching realization hangs over this entire season like a son of a bitch. When these two are with their girls, they manage to put on a brave face. However, they can do that because for really the first time we see them worry about what the future will bring. Every time the prospects of them graduating came up, my heart sank a little bit.

Nori and Nazuna felt like new additions in Hoshimittsu, but they brought so much to an already outstanding series. Here in Honeycomb they bring it all the way. Their personalities add so much to the dynamic of the group and in return you can see the influences of Yuno, Miyako, Hiro, and Sae. I’m being dead serious when I say that it's hard for me to imagine that these two were not here from the start.

When it comes to the visuals, it is irrefutable that this is the same team that brought us Monogatari. Stylistic choices, camera angles, body movements, there's no fooling anyone about where they came from. Yet for the first time, Hidamari Sketch found balance. Monogatari’s fingerprints might be all over the place, but this is at last a style that feels unique to Hidamari.

365 brought the comedy. Hoshimittsu brought the sweetness. Honeycomb combined the two and made both of them stronger. There was always a smile on my face, as well as a lot of laugh out loud moments; more than any other season combined. Not to mention Honeycomb had what was the funniest moment in the entire Hidamari series. If you’re wondering where to find it, it occurs at Yuno and Miyako’s class’ booth during the school festival.

Honeycomb brought back many small details from previous instalments; making it so fun to remember all that we have seen. Unfortunately, upon seeing that it was clear that this would indeed be the final entry of the series.

So if something is going to end, it needs to end like this.

Series Negatives

You would think after seeing me gush about how much I loved this season that there would be nothing for me to say here. It’s understandable, but it would also be wrong.

I’m not going to spend too much time on this since it doesn’t take away from me thinking Honeycomb is the best of the Hidamari series, but this has been a problem that has existed for some time now and I could see this season trying to fix it; too little too late though.

Hidamari Sketch never knew what to do with its side characters.

There were exceptions to this. Yuno and Miyako’s homeroom teacher Yoshinoya (voiced by Miyu Matsuki), Yamabuki High’s principle (voiced by Cho), and Hidamari Apartment’s landlord (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro) all played prominent roles throughout the series. However everyone else was pretty forgetful.

There were a few characters who made appearances in Honeycomb that I know for a fact appeared in other seasons, but I can’t tell you all that much about them. Then there were characters where I’m fairly certain I was seeing for the first time, but were treated like I was supposed to know who they were.

These characters being in or playing a larger role in Honeycomb didn’t take away from its enjoyment. The problem is that it would have made the whole thing better if I actually knew who they were and time was spent getting to know all of them during the previous three seasons.

Final Thoughts

Hidamari Sketch, Hidamari Sketch 365, Hidamari Sketch Hoshimittsu, and Hidamari Sketch Honeycomb. It feels like an era has ended.

I have praised this entire series since the beginning. The characters are amazing, the visuals are fascinating, the humor is hilarious, and the cuteness is off the charts. There are missteps and fumbles along the way, but nothing too bad. Then Honeycomb comes along and gives the farewell this series deserved.

If there was any way for me to keep talking about this show I would take. If there was a way to milk it a little bit…yes there is. It may be short, only two episodes, but as the final sendoff I’ll be taking a look at Hidamari Sketch: Sae and Hiro’s Graduation Arc.

How can that be anything but sad as s@#$?