Usagi Drop

Bunny Drop is sometimes criticized for being overly cheerful and for its unrealistic depiction of a female lead character, since "children are not always that nice." The point at which something becomes "overly cheerful" is up for discussion, but in the case of Rin, the main female protagonist, I had no problem with her depiction whatsoever. She grew up as an only child raised by an elderly man without any peers her age around, so it makes sense for her to be portrayed with a certain level of maturity. The difference in her background stands out, especially when compared to her peer Kouki, who is being raised by a single mother and lacks a male role model, whom he finds in Daikichi, Rin's guardian. All of the characters mentioned above are well-developed, and it's hard not to root for them. The show's lush artwork and pleasant soundtrack are also positives. On the other hand, there is a bit too much sentimentality at times, and the twist at the end feels somewhat forced. Overall, I happily award this well-produced anime series four stars. P.S.: The anime's creators made a wise decision not to adapt the manga in its entirety, as the content not included in the anime reaches a point of being inept and totally spoils the original spirit of the work. (06.08.2021)

Honestly, for a story like this, I'm happy with the live-action version. It's not bad, it's a commercial for perfect parenting and perfect kids, so it's kind of a feel-good show, and when you get dreamy, it's great and nothing is lacking. Though of course the film can't cover everything in the depth and scope of the anime. Still, I liked the movie better. A better 3 stars. (18.11.2016)