LocoDol

Etue Oct 1, 2014

7

When I went into this anime I wasn't expecting much of anything other than an IDOL anime on a local scale. In the end that is exactly what I got. The anime doesn't get on it's feet very late and the second episode was the last time I pondered why I was watching this. The cast of main characters is okay and except for a late addition get sufficient character establishment. The situations the main cast in thrown into are for a long time in the anime quite different from the usual idol anime even when compared to the only anime on top of my head that does this named ''wake up girls''. Visually I find this anime to be better than the former even if it does sometimes resort to cheap tricks I usually only take note after the episode. The main character is Nanako ''Nyanako''', A average-looking tomboyish clumsy girl with a lot of energy who is equally un-self-aware as over-self ware. Yukari a reliable partner who is seems more perfect than she really is. Yui who semi- joins the party halfway for some added cuteness that I won't expand on because it's a plotpoint and Mirai who is there to cover a certain fanbase with uttermost certainty, she doesn't get as much establishment as the other girls but certainly isn't... well she's flat but not in character if you know what I mean, I was talking about her character, duh. Basically, what we have here is a light-hearted small-scale IDOL anime that does nothing exemplary but neither does it fail significantly anywhere. Sometimes it's a little too obnoxiously obvious and on the nose about things especially during theAWA girls/summerfest chapter. The voice acting of course is well enough not to be a drawback as well as the art-style being eye-friends and not especially innovative. The few returning gag(s) aren't worth mentioning, they get repeated only so many times and can be glanced over very easily while most of the series isn't comedy focussed a few smiles are certainly to be had. All in all this series is not revolutionary in any way and while enjoyable for what it is it certainly will not appeal those who do not enjoy slice of life. The lack of progress other than the main girls growing closer throughout the series might mean not feeling like progress is being made which can cause someone to grow dull. There is also some fanservice in this series not to a major existent but mostly limited to swimsuits being displayed about three times in the entire series including OVA. These sections by average are not very long and perverted things mostly are kept to a minimum with most of it being simply on the cute side rather than oversexualizing.

DerekL Sep 27, 2014

7

The City Of Townsville..  oh, wait, wrong show.The little town of Nagarekawa is out in the boonies and could use a bit of an economic boost, a few tourists, some folks interested in their local specialties.  Their solution?  A local idol group (locodols) to serve as the towns spokesidols.  Locodol follows their adventures.Locodol a cute-girls-doing-cute-things show as much as it is an idol show.  Though the plotline is pretty basic (verging on the generic) it does move briskly along.  There's sweat and tears and smiles along the way, but the girls always manage to come out on top through hard work and dedication and their support and care for each other.The animation is nothing to write home about, but it's nothing to throw things at the screen about either.  The voice acting is well done, especially for the main characters.All in all, it's a fun little show with lots of charm and plenty of heartwarming moments.