Completed Series: Hyouka

Title: Hyouka (氷菓)
Episodes: 22
Year: 2012
Studio: Kyoto Animation

Hyouka is interesting. I am not usually the sort to get embroiled in slice-of-life anime, but this one caught my attention. It focuses on mystery more than the daily life, I suppose, so maybe it's fallacious to file it under a simply slice-of-life series.

The protagonist, Hotarou Oreki, is lazy. He has an energy conservation policy that falls in line with "shuts up and does not get involved." He is apathetic and lethargic and really does not care in any way. That all changes when he is bullied into joining the Classics Club and he meets Chitanda Eru. She has an insatiable curiosity, and knows that Oreki can find the solution behind any mystery, no matter what it is.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series, it is a nice change from the loud, action-oriented anime I am usually entertained by. There are only four main characters, and while there are a few background faces you might see more than once, the series primarily focuses on them. It's fairly easy to sympathize with Oreki - sometimes you'd rather be staring off into space than being dragged into whatever mess Eru has dug up - but the mysteries are fascinating and just when you think everything has come together, it turns out there was something hidden in plain sight the entire time. (Although, sometimes you just honestly have to ask - why do they not just go ASK "x" person about this - and then Eru makes a face at Oreki and he is done for.)

This is definitely going on my purchase list - it's a refreshing change from a lot of series I have watched lately. I would definitely recommend it.