Mahoraba: Heartful Days

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Name: Mahoraba: Heartful Days まほらば〜Heartful days

Status: Completed

Episode: 26

Release date (for eng subs): -

Summary:

Shiratori Ryushi wants to become a children's picture book writer, and he moves to an apartment, Narutaki-Sou (Narutaki Villa), in order to go to an art school in Tokyo. Narutaki-Sou is an old Japanese style one-story house which doesn't fit in urban scenery. The complex is owned by his mother's cousin and the manager of the apartment is his second cousin, Aoba Kozue. They met each other when they were children, although Shiratori doesn't remember much of it. Kozue is in the second grade of a high school attached to Aoba Junior College. There are seven residents of Narutaki-Sou. The first, Chanohata Tamami, lives in room #1 and she is Kozue's childhood friend and best friend. Shiratori Ryushi, the main character of the series, resides in room #2. In room #3 resides Momono Megumi, a person who goes her own way in life. Kurosaki Sayoko and her daughter Asami, who is in the first grade of middle school, live in room #5. Finally, in room #6, Haibara Yukio lives with his puppet Johnny. Narutaki-Sou is filled with characteristic and eccentric people. However, the most eccentric person is Kozue herself. She has a secret of which even she does not know; when she is shocked at something, her personality changes.

Summary from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahoraba

Personal ratings: 3.5

An anime that really takes me back to my childhood days (other than Digimon and Gundam Seed).

I think this show is very suitable for children. It not only talks about the main characters, but also focuses on the other residents of the apartment. They each faces a problem and tries to solve it themselves, but ended up getting help from the other characters in the anime. The little stories in the anime really touched me. A very meaningful anime that i think all should watch.

I liked the concept in which they tell the story of the 5 princesses, and how they actually linked to the episode itself. And of course, this story actually played a huge role in this anime. 

The slow and detailed introduction and development of all the characters really makes this anime worth while, while it doesn't have a systematic way or an organized way of putting itself together, I thought it was better this way because it seems more realistic, and it kind of surprises you because you won't know what to expect in the next episode.

Each and everyone of the characters were really distinct and unique, which makes all of them memorable.

There were some other things in which I thought could use a little more attention. The thing which bothered me the most throughout the whole anime was about Ryuusei. Throughout the whole show, I just kept wondering about him and his puppet. There wasn't really an episode for him, so he's kind of like the character filled with mystery, and I wanted to know more about him.

Thought they could have used a faster pace for some part of the anime (especially those small little parts that doesn't really contribute much to the anime, but is probably just for laughs), I think it would bring out more fun feel this way, because I think if half the time the scene is going too slowly, viewers would get a little impatient, which kind of ruins the whole mood.

Overall, I think that this kind of Slice of Life anime is pretty hard to find these days, because they try to make stories as complex as it can get. It may have a very simple story line, but this anime is really quite fun to watch. If anything, I just think that this anime is way too short!!

Art ratings: 3 

A very typical more older days kind of drawing and animation. The proportions are all kind of off, but I guess other than that, there isn't much to say, because I really like the character design. Just from the character design, you can kind of tell what type of personality each character has. 

Recommended for:

Gender: Female & Male

Age: 10 and above

My Ratings: PG