Note: This episode review was originally part of a blog post I wrote on MyAnimeList.
So kind of like with Urara Meirochou last season, Hinako Note is up for consideration because it is a slice of life show banking on moe like the moe bombs that came before it. Sakura Quest is more interesting to me since it is more devoted to its slice of life angle but Hinako Note’s excessive cuteness could make for a nice diversion from my studies.
That said, what makes Hinako Note “cute” are actually pretty random for a show about girls forming a theater troupe. I’m amused by Hinako (M.A.O.) doing scarecrow poses, Kuina (Miyu Tomita) eating books, and Mayuki (Yui Ogura) trying to be the “older sister”….but how does that play into the plot exactly? I have a few ideas. Maybe Hinako gets stage fright and goes all scarecrow during her performance. Maybe Kuina keeps eating her scripts like she does with the books she loves (that would actually be hilarious). That probably is what the show will lead into but I was certainly bewildered for a bit.
But quirks don’t necessarily break a show for me and I’ll admit, it was pretty entertaining. Even with the quirkiness, Hinako Note maintains a pleasant and relaxed tone and the first episode paces pretty well while getting a good amount of plot done. For now, I’ll stick Hinako Note for two more weeks.
Watch Hinako Note on Crunchyroll
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