Yuyushiki

Mystotakun Jul 3, 2013

6

Now, anyone that knows me personally knows that, depsite how much I try to resent it, I absoultely adore animes that follow a bunch of girls going about their days in highschool. It's not exactly the most manly thing in the world, but we're not hear to discuss my (negligible) masculinity, we're hear to review Yuyushiki. Now, straight off the bat I'll say this...this show follows the tried and tested forumula of every highschool "moe" anime. You've got the girls, you've got the highschool, you've got the random conversations, you've got the club activities, you've got the teacher that everyone loves, you've got the beach episode...it's all here and while Yuyushiki doesn't provide anything groundbreaking, is that necessary a bad thing? I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that, when about to watch a new highschool anime, to not expect the new Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, not every anime must be new and innovative...they just need to be enjoyable and that's exactly what Yuyushiki is....enjoyable! The (non-exsitant) story follows three highschool girls; Yui ICHII, Yukari HINATA and Yuzuko NONOHARA as they go about their everday lives. In episode one they become the only members of the Data Processing Club and spend some time most episodes looking up random facts, which is actually quite educational at times. Most of the other "stories" (or acts) of each episode are either them sitting in class, or over Yui's house. Sure, because of this nothing amazing is brought to the table, but over time it becomes familair and safe...like a normal home or classroom. The characters are also nothing special, but they are still a joy to watch. Yukari is your typical airhead ditz who usually has no clue what's going on. Yuzuko is the typical prankster who focuses all their attention on getting the "straight man" Yui, to react...of course, these pranks usually end up with Yui hitting Yuzuko...as you would expect. What makes this trio really weird/creepy, is that it is hinted all throughout the show that Yukari and Yuzko have feelings for Yui...which makes sort of sense, when all the main charactes have "Yu" at the beginning of their names, it's not suprising that there are hints at yuri. Still it is not too distracting or off putting, as it is usually played for comedic effect. The side characters are not too noteworthy; you have Chiho AIKAWA who starts off very shy, but quickly warms up to the group, Kei OKANO who tries to keep Chiho away from the "Yu" group, due to their weirdness. Then there's Fumi HASEGAWA the stotic girl who comes out with some of the best lines...she doesn't get nearly enough screen time. Finally, there's Yoriko MATSUMOTO, also known as "Mom", the friendly teacher who acts as everyone's role model. In conclusion, Yuyushiki isn't going to win any awards and most likely will never receive a second season, but it's an enjoyable anime all the same. If you're looking for some quick laughs and a happy-go-lucky time, look no further!

DGFischer Jan 22, 2022

7.2

Pointless discussions ... that was a comment made by one of the main characters somewhere around episodes eight or nine.  In fact, the sane character, one of the very few in that all-girl academy where yuri is ripening joke by joke, or better non sequitur after non sequitur. Yuyushiki (2013) is the confused adventures of Yui, Yuzuko, and Yukari.  Note that these names begin with the same kanji symbol.  Hence the name Yuyushiki (hey, three girls, why not Yuyuyushiki?).  Their personalities are uniquely different.  Think of a comedy team.  Yui is the straight man girl.  The comic genius comes from the other two, usually stuff bordering on the bizarre.  Yuzuko is almost simplistic in her jibes.  But Yuzuko is brilliant, and she refuses to wear the glasses that mark her as a zealous reader.  Yukari is from a wealthy family and is often away on family business.  But Yukari is not concerned about her status, and she might even be a tad embarrassed by it.  Yukari has a pleasant laugh which reveals a shyness with her.  All the other weird noises, that's probably Yuzuko.  Between Yuzuko and Yukari's inane comments while searching for the deep truths in their quests in the behalf of the Data Processing Club (and the slow burn effect this has on Yui) and all the other aspects of school life (and summer activities at the beach, ice cream parlors, and Yui’s air conditioned room), cute comments of those important years in a girl's growth get lampooned big time.  Figuring out the humor is the challenge. The girls’ banter borders on insipid.  The only redeeming factor was use of the triad, an old rhetoric principle that is done for emphasis and effect (Caesar said 'Veni, vidi, vici ... wow!).  But you could never believe how the triad is used by the Data Processing Club.  Yui says something.  Yuzuko repeats it.  Yukari repeats it again.  Yui gets annoyed.  HUMOR (maybe)!   And the summations the three girls leave behind in their club explorations of 'sun,' 'water,' 'time' which they scrawl  on the whiteboard must have confused their advisor Yoriko 'Mom-san' Matsumoto. Yes, interacting with the other classmates only extends the dicey humor, especially if maturation has blessed the adolescent girl.  Groping Yui is a given, cuteness wins out, even if it gets annoying.  But prime target for yuri is Aikawa, whose attention is sought by Yuzuko and tomboyish Okano.  But Aikawa tends to be interested in Yui, being a fan of practicality, no doubt.  When cuteness clashes ... look out. The animation technique seemed to follow a minimalist approach to the girls.  The appearance seems to make no improvements on the 4-panel manga.  This explains the disjointed plot lines.  The music, mind you, does have a busy pulse of three lively, if not zany, high school girls making a case that life need not be taken with a great deal of seriousness.

krofire Jan 16, 2024

7

Kinema Citrus’s entry into the crowded field of utterly-mental High School girls after-school clubs is now over ten years old. How does it hold up? Of course, it is a crowded field with many highly memorable competitors. Everything from “Asobi Asabase” (Lerche 2018) to “O Maidens in Your Savage Season” (Lay-duce 2019) have entertained us with some insanely funny high-jinx since 2013. The 4-panel manga by Komata Mikami started life in 2009 and is, as far as we know, still going. Like its many similar cousins, the show needs no specific plot as it nothing more than an endless parade of gags built around the personalities of three best friends at school.  Yuzuko, Yukari and Yui are finding themselves at a loose end after school so end up forming their own club based in a room formerly used by the Computer Club. This gives them access to the internet on which they search the web for interesting facts and figures about the world. Each school day they convene to pull together their pointless research onto a white board in the room under the supervision of teacher Yoriko Matsumoto. Yoriko is ridiculously easy-going and allows the girls to call her “Mum”. The humour is spread across three scenarios: home-room, club-room and outside school. It is all very zany and crazy relying heavily upon the girls’ incredible eccentricities to drive it along. It is mostly very silly and from an adult perspective not overly funny. It does have its moments though with its portrayals of the girls whackadoodle personalities painting quite a humorous and diverse picture of school life. Yui is the straight-guy in this comedy trio whilst Yuzuko is the crazy one who, despite appearing to be completely mad is also doing very well academically. This may account for their teachers’ long-patience for the stupidity of their day-to-day weirdness. The end result is all very adorable if largely unmemorable. This cannot really go down as one of the classics but it is a credible attempt and an early one in a sub-genre that has also given us the likes of “K-on!” and “Chronicles of the Going Home Club”. It is all quite silly-funny and watchable with a high entertainment value. You won’t be disappointed so give it a spin. Undemanding but fun.