Rory’s Reviews: Hakumei and Mikochi

Hakumei and Mikochi is a twelve-episode anime adaptation of the slice of life manga written by Takuto Kashiki.
The anime is directed by Masaomi Andō and written by Reiko Yoshida. The studio that produced it was Lerche.
Hakumei and Mikochi aired as part of the winter 2018 season, and is available to watch on HIDIVE.Hakumei and Mikochi is a slice of life anime. What makes it stand apart from others, though, is that is protagonists are only a diminutive 9cm tall.

Hakumei and Mikochi

The stars of the show are the eponymous Hakumei and Mikochi. Both girls live together, and their relationship strongly comes across as that of a married couple.
Hakumei, with the red hair, is the more energetic of the two. She is something of a tomboy, and is fairly skilled at fixing things. She does various odd jobs around town, before being hired by a construction crew.
Mikochi absolutely loves textiles – if she spots a particularly good piece of fabric, she will most likely obsess over it. She is also very skilled in the kitchen. She even makes her own products and sells them wholesale to local stores.

Mikochi and Hakumei

Whilst Hakumei and Mikochi are naturally the stars of the show, there are a few other recurring characters as well. Most notable is songstress Konju, who has a one-sided rivalry with Mikochi. There is also Sen, who is effectively a necromancer.
Hakumei and Mikochi has quite the varied cast, and it doesn’t just consist of the tiny little human-esque characters. The wildlife can talk and work just like humans do. Whilst some of the animals tower over the main characters, they are incredibly friendly.

Hakumei and Mikochi is visually appealing as well. It seems that is the case in the original manga, and having the backgrounds in full colour makes them even more stunning. It probably helps that Hakumei and Mikochi are so small, and we see things from their perspective.
The anime also makes uses of panels in some shots. It seems that this has caused a divide among fans. It does make the anime feel closer to the manga, and adds to the small world element. The use of panels isn’t exactly a major flaw, but it is obvious they won’t appeal to anyone.

A single word that would be apt for describing Hakumei and Mikochi would almost certainly be “whimsical”. It’s a fun, light-hearted story of the every day lives of two 9cm tall girls.
Except when it isn’t… occasionally, it will take on a slightly different tone, such as in episode 8 where it brings in a little more action. Most of the episodes of the anime are split into two or three segments, with each on telling a different story. Episodes 9 and 12 are exceptions to the rule. Episode 9 for the aforementioned action, and episode 12 since it is the finale.
Going back to whimsy, though, and the soundtrack certainly matches the tone of the anime perfectly. This includes notable performances from Konju, who is voiced by Aoi Yuuki.

Score: 8/10
A whimsical show about the everyday lives of two Lilliputian girls who have all the makings of a married couple. It may not be the most spectacular show out there, but it is still a fun watch.