クジマ歌えば家ほろろ

Before we had a double ED, now we get a double OP! and I love the OP song so horray for that. It has this amazing healing feeling to it, which fits this series perfectly. I guess its safe to say this episode has cemented this series as my AOTS. I don't even know how they pulled it off, but they managed to get me feeling nostalgic for my entrance exam days. That feeling of dread throughout the entire family despite their efforts to support you, that empty feeling as you head towards the exam location, and that cathartic release as the smallest surprise pulls you out of the anxiety (I fumbled my identification papers and needed to call my parents to help out, only to realise I had them placed inside one of my books specifically so I wouldn't lose them. Had a good laugh about it and that somehow that killed all my anxiety). They captured all those feelings perfectly. As crazy as Kujima may have been, he still cares a lot for Suguru. And as annoying as Kujima may have been, he helped Suguru and the rest of the house feel alive in the days leading up to his exams. And maybe that little bit of hope will be enough to get him through these exams. Ganbare Suguru!

I can't actually say any one show is my AOTS this season. There are so many genuinely wonderful shows this season that picking one -- or (damn it) even just 5 is too much work (and maybe even impossible). But Kujima is absolutely in my (considerably bigger than normal) top tier. And it is one I would never have imagined capturing so much of my heart. I suspect Suguru has never gone into an exam with such a positive attitude before. Having the support of not just Kujima but his adoring younger brother (which he would not have noticed but for Kujima) will hopefully make all the difference. Suguru is clearly quite intelligent (and knowledgeable) -- perhaps he did well below his true ability due to too much stress? If he gets into the national university, it should be much less expensive than any of those private ones, right? In terms of sheer visual loveliness, this little series punches WAY beyond its weight.

(which he would not have noticed but for Kujima) Yea, before Kujima the whole family's attitude was "Do not talk to Suguru, do not disturb Suguru" which effectively locked him in this zone where neither he nor his family acknowledged each other anymore. Potentially even depriving him of any well needed relief/breaks from studying. I don't know what he's thinking, but I want to say that his attitude has shifted from "I need to pass so I can succeed" to "I need to pass so I can return to my family" and it was thanks to Kujima's loud attitude and constant pestering that he was reminded that there was more out there than just his room and exams.

Who ever would have guessed a show which seemed so "silly" at the start would have turned out to be so touching and warm-hearted? Or that one could grow so inordinately fond of every sound that comes from Kujima's throat? It seems like Kujima's VA Yuria Kouzuki (alt Yuria Nara) has a very small list of easily findable credits (including Ponyo -- and one of the leads in Chimimo). I wonder what she spends most of her time doing? (note some sources say she is a singer and retired idol -- but the idol group references only a "Yuria Kajiki" -- who seems to be a totally different person).

She's pretty new, yea. There was an article that came out pretty recently interviewing her about the series (Linked is an auto-google translated version of the site with the interview) Some interesting points: * This was her first time speaking Russian. They had a supervisor on board and she was directed into speaking Japanese with an authentic Russian accent (ie, this is how Russians speak Japanese) which gives us Kujima's unique intonation and pronounciation. * She practiced being Kujima by speaking with a toilet paper roll to emulate a beak * Kujima's signature rolled Rs actually come from her constantly rolling her Rs as a kid. Like she was made for this role lol

This was definitely a very good one in the comfort show lineup. And managed to do so with a giant freaky bipedal bird instead of like a super cute maid or ridiculously photogenic laundry gal, which is saying something and a first for me. (Just realized as I was writing this that every comfort show I’ve gotten hooked on previously has included such a protagonist, which is perhaps no surprise. Including very pretty author with strange dog/cat that’s actually a tanuki, and overly sloppy office worker with a giant gloomy but extremely capable housekeeping cat.) I quite enjoyed the reveal that the brother has also come to be very fond of Kujima even if he’s still reluctant to say so. Really cracked me up to have him looking back on those bizarre morning screeching sessions with fondness. They did a great job of conveying he’ll likely do well on that last test just by virtue of becoming more relaxed by finding the origami gift.

As crazy as Kujima may have been, he still cares a lot for Suguru. And as annoying as Kujima may have been, he helped Suguru and the rest of the house feel alive in the days leading up to his exams. i think a big part of why Suguru is a sad sack is how everyone in the house is walking on eggshells because of his exam failures like, they mean well and want to foster a good environment for him to try again, but at the same time that sort of distance invokes a sense of burden and shame, and that distance also imparts a certain loneliness and otherness that can't be great for his mental health i think Kujima's greatest asset here is that he doesn't know/care about that sense of propriety, and as such Suguru can feel like more than a failure and a studying robot

I was surprised it ended on a cliffhanger but it's hard to imagine Suguru failing again, that would be too depressing and he might turn into the guy from Welcome to the NHK. I also liked the whole music montage of him getting ready, getting on the train and walking there, it made the atmosphere more tense. I'd also be curious who put the little origami Kujima in his bag, when it showed him looking at them before he left, I thought he was going to grab one. That was hilarious when the mom saw the Kujima snow head and screamed in horror! It did look like he froze to death though if you didn't know they made snowmen, like they even sharpened a stick to look like his skinny beak. Also I liked how upset Kujima got when Arata tossed a snowball at the back of his head but I don't think most people would like that because that can hurt the back of your head. If you only watched this episode, you would think Arata hated Kujima since he seemed to really hurt his feelings when he said he wished he never brought Kujima home. I make okonomiyaki sometimes and it made me really hungry. I wish they said what they put in it though, like it had what looked like bacon or fish strips and didn't seem to even have any chopped cabbage. I'm guessing the yellow sauce was mayo and idk exactly what okonomiyaki sauce is. It would have been way funnier though if the girl with glasses came over and cooked it and it tasted horrible and had eggshells in it 🤣

Kujima headlamps Snow!! they both look cute together in their attire Baby Kujima again!!! SO CUTE LOL, that snowman is def a masterpiece Oh no he failed? , the entire fam had a series of misfortune at once Wise words right here, Smug Kujima hmph, Suguru realising how much of an impact Kujima had on him and being grateful and smiling was so wholesome. That Okonomiyaki looks delicious! and we even got a celebratory Kujima dance Kujima's been territorial for so long, Playing the OP again right here??? PEAK and Kujima giving Suguru his Origami is such a lil bro behaviour and so wholesome, really tugging my feels This was an especially wholesome ep and I loved how they replayed the Opening again thru Suguru's exam montage, his character was so good here, this anime is genuinely really great. U got this Suguru, you'll pass!!