K-On!

»K-On!« is one of the most successful anime series ever made. To a distant observer this might seem strange, because the plot looks as empty as it gets. It's just about five girls hanging out together and playing in a school band called »After School Tea Time«. There is no drama to speak of and barely any tension. Still, »K-On!« is remarkable, exactly because it renounces any kind of dramatic structure. The depiction of everyday life is calm, sweet and surprisingly witty. (There are even some jokes about j-horror and slice of life anime.) »K-On!« is the perfect show to sit back and relax after a hard day of work.

But there's more to it than that. With Naoko Yamada (»A Silent Voice«), the anime has a director of great talent. Her portrayal of the young schoolgirls is insightful and lovely. It's more about character, less about plot. Sure, some people might call »K-on!« a mere excuse to show cute girls. But the series has a bigger point to make. It's actually a bittersweet tale of lost innocence. Yamada clearly knows that the friendship depicted in the story is not as firm as it seems. There's a longing nostalgia encasing »K-on!«, the thought of the adult that goes something like this: »Oh, these naive girls, their friendship won't last forever. But I sure whish it would. Hell, I wish my highschool years were like this!«

In the first season, Yamada totaly merges into the ideal world of the highschool student. In the second season, she unravels this illusion gently. The conclusion of this theme is very touching. If you want to watch a relaxing, entertaining and sensitive anime, you can't go wrong with »K-on!«. It's heartfelt and doesn't deserve the eye-rolls it sometimes gets.

It's an out and out comedy anime with elements of musical and slice-of-life. It is the story of 5 High School girls joining the light music club of the all-girls private Sakuragaoka High School. Their practices, performances, school activities, other outside activities or even their challenges have been covered in a very subtle and comedic way. So, rest assured there is no unnecessary drama. The weird habits of each protagonist only add fun to it. The anime is just too good when you compare it with your world-weariness. The main female characters are kawaii(cute) and the (original) Japanese voice actors make sure that they sound just as sweet and as innocent. The anime is a very definition of Moe itself. Even the ending has been shown in such a way that the only reason why you would feel sad is because this cuteness comes to an end.

If you are looking for some slice-of-life recommendations, this one should be at the top of your watchlist. However, I don't believe that this anime is for those who has just started watching anime.

Difficult to put into words what I felt.

Seeing k-on was an escape, a sigh from all the problems I had in my day to day, watching a chapter was completely disconnecting from the real world and enjoying a wonderful story.

The tranquility and simplicity make the series a very difficult work for me to overcome. His story always felt organic, human. Her characters, so simple and unique in their sense, from Yui with her big heart, Mio and her shyness, Mugi with her sweetness, to Ritsu with her explosiveness. He knows how to create funny, funny moments, ilarious situations, but he also knows how to make me cry, make us feel sad and a little depressed, but always with a smile.

I am writing this and my desire to cry does not disappear, they are still here, and here they will stay. K-on is not for everyone, it does not have a strong plot, nor an extremely great character development, and it is precisely because of this that I consider it one of the best series I have seen. Also, isn't it incredible that such beautiful songs come from here? It really is a gem in every way.

Graduation is not the end. Thanks K-On!

This show is nothing short of a masterpiece. Only a genius could write a story that leaves such character attachment. After a few episodes you will find yourself strangely attached to the light music club, and all its members. The brilliance of the character development, each one with their own little quirks and traits, is the strong point of this show. Though each episode is pretty devoid of any real plot, on a per-episode basis, the pacing is great and it never becomes dull.

If you love music, you'll love this show. The opening theme, Cagayake Girls, and one of the songs used during the series, "Fuwa Fuwa Time", are catchy as hell. You'll find yourself downloading the mp3s and putting them on your iPod, or what have you.

The first episode might not hook you, but if you watch 3 or 4 then you will surely become a fan.

Best part? There is a second season, and it's even better.

Even though K-On! is supposed to be about the light music club in a Japanese high school, 80% of the show is the characters drinking tea, eating cake or simply having fun with the music part gracing us rarely. There is no plot and is mostly about cute girls doing cute things. But then, why does it work so well?

Its the characters and the completely relaxed atmosphere. Even if the characters live in their exaggerated anime land tropes, they feel real and honest. There is nothing to worry about while watching this show, watching these characters have fun, be carefree and work hard when they need to makes us have a wonderful time. This show is the equivalent of being served hot chocolate after being invited to a warm cozy home in winter or cool ice cream in summer. Its the ultimate anti- depressant.

There is great sense of escapist nostalgia while watching this show, its self aware with the fact with characters who never get fat while eating so many sweets, or having successful shows even though they barely practice and goof up something near the last moments. One would wish if real life were like K-On!

When the series ends you are left with a sense of melancholia that is bittersweet on seeing the characters graduate and move on with their fun phase of school life. But you know they will never stop having fun till the end.