SPOILERFREE https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/b403a66f839fdb4435cef9ac8d4ba30f.mp4 As much as I may love watching anime that deliberately challenges me as a viewer whether thematically or intellectually there occasionally comes a point where you want to leave that behind and focus your attention on something that just doesnt do that. Challenging media is for me at least genuinely fun most of the time but there is also something genuinely fun about allowing oneself to relax in the soothing placidness of something that strives to be warm in its tone and affect rather than brutish. Warmth of course is not synonymous with quality goodness knows that one can still find a series trying to be fun incredibly dull instead. Akebis Sailor Uniform was one series that aimed for that warm tone. The show caught my attention for several reasons such as the simplicity of its plot and that studio CloverWorks was involved. It also reeled me in because it was just like Winter 2021 one of three shows that were being produced by the studio. I couldnt help but shudder at the thought of that. After all hadnt we already been through the rigmarole of this before of not enough time being given to CloverWorks projects? We already knew of one series airing this season Tokyo 24th Ward that had this problem. So even trying to maintain the sense that I should give the series the benefit of the doubt I couldnt help but beg that history not repeat itself. New middle school student Komichi Akebi is excited to begin life at her new school particularly because she gets to wear the schools classic sailor uniform like her mother used to many years ago. After arriving and realizing that the schools dress code has changed from sailor uniforms to blazers the board decides to allow Akebi to keep her uniform which makes the alreadyodd girl stand out even more. As the weeks roll by Akebi will get to know all the various members of her class and try to make friends with them as her personality will bring energy and life to virtually everything that she does. The series itself is beautiful to look at both from the perspective of animation and overall aesthetic. With a glistening sun and lush greenery to paint Akebis cozy little corner of the world Akebis Sailor Uniform manages to already establish the warmth of its overall tone and setting before the first episode really gets going. It likewise serves as a solid introduction to Akebi herself giving a visual indication of the personality and thirst for life and newness that she possesses. And Akebis personality is an infectious one like many shows about starting life in a new place whether that involves moving homes or simply moving from one stage of life to the next her situation is one that is immediately identifiable. While the framework of her wanting to go to this specific school just to wear the sailor uniform is rather silly its also a good window into Akebis way of being. She tends to be fueled more by almostchildlike enthusiasm towards the most ordinary things taking each day as an opportunity to do or learn something new. For a character taking her baby steps into a new world it makes her stand out as an endearing presence that thankfully does not cross into aggravating. The soundtrack was another feature that stuck out though not for the reasons one would normally expect there is no bombast here no largerthanlife tracks that produce grand sweeping musical gestures. Most of the music if anything is rather inane or simplistic opting for piano with a ragtimeesque feel. Given Akebis Sailor Uniforms tone this kind of laidback free and easy musical styling helps keep that comforting warmth alive and well. It wisely chooses only select moments when the soundtracks wings can stretch and take off usually coming just before or during an episode or vignettes mosttender moments. Since the series is largely made of smaller vignettes that may or may not tie into a larger episodic theme the ability to enjoy the series is heavily dependent on its consistency. Akebis Sailor Uniform has a roster of characters where even if one of their defining traits is not necessarily unique or inventive the general tone of friendliness and camaraderie was apparent. From the perspective of drama there is virtually nothing among the students that would or could lead to longstanding arguments or broken friendships. Rather the problems the students have are for the most part surprisingly realistic because of their mundaneness. Even if television storytelling convention dictates that the problems will largely be solvable within twentyfour minutes at most the series is less about solving the problems directly and more about setting the students either on a new path or back on a path that they left behind. Akebi as the ball of energy serves both as the one who both puts the students perspective in focus and gives them the push to start. Though its also true that the path the show pushes the characters to take can be a bit to use a word interesting. The series gained notoriety early in its run because of the prevalence of bare feet featured throughout the show. Having watched the series myself I think the prevalence of feet has been comedically exaggerated to a fault both in terms of appearances and the amount of time the show focuses on it. That does not mean that there arent a few moments where I wondered if a shot needed to linger on them for as long as they did or put as much detail into them as possible. But having said that the number of times I got that impression was not even enough to call a handful and the overarching warmth in the show was always enough to bring it back to its less offputting territory. In this regard however I do acknowledge that your mileage will vary on whether this is the case. Ive used the word warm or some declension of it throughout the course of this review and thats because its a series that always managed to be that way. It is not a series that promises any earthshaking claims about the human condition nor one that has darker undercurrents within. Even Akebis family life is free of this as we come home nearly every episode to an adorable little sister and mother that lovely as they are are also not afraid to playfully rib or make fun of Akebi if the situation calls for it. Akebis Sailor Uniform sits comfortably in that starry twinkling time where friends are made seemingly in an instant and there is no greater joy than being able to bask in the sunshine with them. Akebi and her friends cavorting around a mall was so pleasant to see as well just enjoying the taste of ones freshlybaked cookies. Akebis Sailor Uniform is a series where the wholesome warmth always shines through even in some of its more headtilting moments. Gorgeously animated and acoustically easy the series adopts its more relaxed style and low stakes with charm. Not every student featured in the cast was particularly interesting so the vignettes themselves can be a little inconsistent qualitywise. But even when it missed it was still delightful. Every series that exists doesnt need to be a lofty turnyourbraininsideout venture that challenges our perceptions of the human experience because experiencing something calm and sweet is just as important. As a detox for the pessimistic side of things it happily did its job. https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/3de48d6680e65eaa36fb944f5b8195fc.mp4