Non Non Biyori Movie: Vacation - Reviews

sort
Cthulhu001's avatar
Jan 2, 2021

Story- The story is in the same time line as the OVA for season one where Suguru wins a trip to Okinawa. Instead of having scenes of them preparing for the trip like they did in the OVA the story has few scenes before the trip and mainly focuses on the trip itself. Most of the scenes involve the girls doing various activities around Okinawa and it feels like your average episode of Non Non Biyori with the exception of the setting being different. If you enjoy the Non Non Biyori series then you will probably enjoy the movie.

Animation- The animation is great throughout the entire movie with a color palette that is pleasing to the eye throughout multiple different setting and outfit changes. The backrounds are very beautifully drawn and so are the transition scenes. The lighting is also very well done with accurate lighting changes depending on the setting and time of the scene. Towards the end of the movie their is a very well done scene that gives off the same "Iyashikei" feelings as the scene at the end of Episode 6 in Non Non Biyori and the end of Episode 6 in Repeat. 

Sound- The sound is good throught the movie and the attention to audio details is very well done. Depending on how far away the charcters are from the camera the audio will be higher or lower and sound will also be muffled or have echos dependent on the setting. The music fits in very well with what is happening in the scenes and is very noticeable in a good non-annoying way.

Characters- The movie has a good a amount of screen time for all of the characters and they even introduces a new character Aoi who plays a major role in the story for the movie. The dialogue between characters feels natural and all of the characters keep their same loving personalities that they had in Non Non Biyori and Non Non Biyori Repeat. My only complaint about characters is it feels like Konomi barely got any screen time and had very few lines.

Overall- If you like Non Non Biyori you will enjoy the movie. The setting change makes the Movie interesting but overall the activities and scenes feel very similar to the rest of the Non Non Biyori series. I am not the best judge of comedy but I thought a lot of the jokes were funny with a few of the jokes causing me to laugh out loud. Like the rest of the Non Non Biyori series the movie is very laid back, relaxing, and feel-good.

This is my first review on AP. I saw that there was no reviews for the Non Non Biyori Movie and with season 3 around the corner I figure I could give it a try. I apologize for any grammer and spelling mistakes and I hope you find my review to be helpful.

8/10 story
10/10 animation
10/10 sound
9/10 characters
9/10 overall
DGFischer's avatar
Sep 11, 2021

Non Non Biyori: Vacation was a pleasant 1 hr. plus a smidge of fun, adventure, and absolutely gorgeous scenery.  And I am not talking about the rural scenery of the landscape about Asahigaoka.  The cast takes it to the exotic island of Okinawa for a four-day romp about the tropical environs.  All this thanks to the luck of Suguru, the silent boy who never bothered a seiyuu for a bit of business.

The settings are the marvel of this production with detailed backgrounds and animation stills which seem like characters enter into and animate by their presence.  Like walking into a picture and creation begins.  This has always been the strength of Non Non Biyori, but Vacation just maxes out the effects.

But its more than beautiful backdrops.  The four girls of Asahigaoka Branch School just have a way of livening up the place wherever they meet.  But there are wrinkles.  Of course, there is the battle of physical/emotional maturity between Hotaru and Komari, especially as they visit the intimates department to buy a belt.  Yes, a belt.  What were you expecting?  Then Renge, artistically gifted as a first-grader can be, wishes to draw four scenes from Okinawa, including the elusive dolphin.  But the key to this movie is the friendship of unmotivated Natsumi (still lots of homework to do before end of summer vacation) and the daughter of an Okinawan innkeeper, Aoi Nizato.  Aoi is super dependable and helps her mother run the inn.  Aoi is Natsumi's polar opposite.  Yet, Natsumi catches Aoi at practicing badminton in the back area of the inn, and Natsumi finds a girl with the same energy as she has, a girl with a work ethic plus an athletic spirit which drives her to enjoy life in snatches.

After days of snorkeling, kayaking, mountain climbing, swimming, beach going, souvenir shopping ... it is time to return.  But Renge doesn't have her dolphin picture.  But what she draws as a substitute is very poignant, and a special gift for Natsumi who has matured just a bit.

Again, the animation soared and the music ... Well, everyone knows that music sets the mood, and this movie used the background music to nearly control the emotions.  I'm tearing up at the oddest times and not understanding why.  The girls are only taking pictures of an endangered crab at the island's lighthouse, that's all.  I know iyashikei has needs to touch hearts, but it shouldn't lean on crutches.  Good stories will win out.  I mean, the music was pleasurable, but I didn't find it striking.  Let's say it was decent music (but we're on to its tricks, okay?).

If you enjoy the Non Non Biyori series, Vacation will never disappoint.  It is one more charming tale in the books.

9/10 story
10/10 animation
9/10 sound
10/10 characters
9.6/10 overall
0 0 this review is Funny Helpful
iforinsignificant's avatar
May 23, 2021

I have become a fan of this franchise but I was not expecting the quality we got from this movie. I consider the show to be the quintessential iyashikei with no plot. It does everything a show like this needs to do but in this movie they had a great story to boot. A very likable character was introduced and the friendship that blossomed just got me. The artwork and animation were splendid even more so than usual and all the characters had great chemistry with one another as usual. Could not recommend this enough!

9/10 story
10/10 animation
9/10 sound
9/10 characters
9.2/10 overall
0 0 this review is Funny Helpful