Non Non Biyori Movie: Vacation

"Journeys are a series of meetings and farewells" "Even if you and your friend are growing apart now, I'm sure you've shared moments together that are irreplaceable. No matter how much time passes, that won't disappear." If you're a fan of the Non Non Biyori series then this is a treat for you. It captures everything we love about the show and puts it into a movie. It has all the wholesomeness we feel watching the original show, along with our favorite group of girls and one boy and also some of the best supporting cast too. As we see them go on this adventure and makingnew memories and a new friend along the way. For most of the movie it was just sweet, wholesome and fun. It's what you expected, but boy I didn't expect to be like sad by the end. This was something I didn't feel watching the show but the movie did a exceptional job at adding this in too. Though we saw it coming, it's just nicely done in the way they can do it. If you're a fan of the original series, then for sure watch this!

Here we are at the close of another year's film festival. I've decided to close things with a look at a film based off of an anime I've reviewed, Non Non Biyori. It's a very solid slice of life and I honestly just wanted to see more of it. Story: We open with our girls, Renge, Hotaru, Natsumi & Komari, just hanging out and trying to make the most of their summer vacation before it ends. That's when they spot Miss Candy Store, Kaede, and Renge's oldest sister, Kazuho, driving to the department store. The four of them convince the older women to take themalong due to Kaede's soft spot for Renge, picking up Natsumi & Komari's older brother on the way. While at the store, the older brother wins a raffle and gets four tickets to Okinawa. Naturally, they all go along with Konomi and Hikage. The narrative is pretty simple and it's also really well executed. The whole thing is very cute, full of funny moments and just a fantastically executed slice of life. It has strong pacing, a lot of memorable parts and a little side story about Natsumi experiencing her first love with Aoi, the girl who works at the inn. Characters: My biggest issue with the characters is with the side character, Konomi. She just doesn't have much personality nor does she really contribute much to the humour. I have the same issue with her in the series proper. She has that one memorable scene where she and Hotaru talk about things that go over Komari's head and make her feel childish. Most of the scenes she's in would be just as good without her. Aside from that, this is a great cast with strong interactions and great comedic chemistry. Art: The character designs are good and the animation moves smoothly. Even the ending card is super cute. But where Silver Link really kills it is with the backgrounds and nature scenes. There's always so much detail and effort behind them. I could pretty much make any nature still from this film my background and it would look really nice. I also appreciate that when you see Renge's drawings they look like a child's drawings. Sound: All the actors from the series proper do a fantastic job. There are a lot of talented ladies in this cast. The main person who joins them is Shimoji Shino as Aoi. You may also remember her as Beaver from Kemono Friends. The music is really nice too. Very pleasant and soothing. Ho-yay: Hotaru's blatant crush on Komari is still going strong. In addition to that, we have Natsumi and Aoi. They have that dynamic where it very strongly comes across as attraction. Right down to them getting all flustered and blushing a lot. I will say, their dynamic could have worked a bit better if we'd gotten a few more scenes with them. Areas of Improvement: 1. They could do something with Konomi's character. 2. The ending credits could have shown cute vacation snapshots instead of scenes from the film. Provided a little more impact. 3. We could have stood to see a little more of Aoi. Final Thoughts: I actually enjoyed this film a lot. It's pretty much everything you want out of a slice of life. It's endearing, entertaining, and very adorable. It also does feature some of the best nature scenes I've seen in an anime. So, I'm going to go so far as to give it a 9/10.

[Insert clip of Osaka from Azumanga Daioh shouting OKINAWA~!] Yes we see the Non Non Biyori gang all get a free 3 day trip to Okinawa and the typical great comedy ensues, but while on the trip, Natsumi makes a friend with the innkeeper's daughter. Non Non Biyori: Vacation has the same strong vibe of being laxxed and chill with it's plot, yes it's somewhat bare bones in the regard LA told above but it in their free vacation and seeing the character interactions that made Non Non Biyori: Vacation worth it all, not to mention Non Non Biyori is WELL KNOWN for it's relaxing atmosphereand chilled nature making it stand out from the typical slice of life animes. With it's character interactions, well LA say this, Hikage gets the rough end of the vacation getting sick to having to sleep on the floor and whatnot, but it's also surprising that Kazuho becomes rather energetic in this movie as she's usually the laxxed, sleepy type. There are two small plotlines within Non Non Biyori: Vacation and that is one of Renge wanting to see three sights and draw them on her sketchbook, the sea, a lighthouse and dolphins. The other is the aforementioned friendship of Natsumi and the innkeeper's daughter Aoi and the inevitable when Natsumi has to return home, it's it's one of the more heartfelt moments of the movie that did move LA and not at all feel manipulative in it's execution, it felt genuine from Natsumi's reactions and actions coming from an middle school student and again was handled extremely well. The rest of the cast gets some screentime during their stay in Okinawa as well like Komari getting shafted at times, Hotaru's obvious crush on Komari still strong here but the only two characters that kinda turned into satellite characters by the time they arrive in Okinawa became Kaede (sticking to Renge), Konomi (sticking to the younger cast in general) and Suguru gets a passing mention at times (but LA can forgive that as well..."no talking" and everything) In terms of animation, once again Silver Link is back in the helm and the man the animation especially the background work is exceptionally beautiful to look at, almost looking like it's the true Okinawa with all it's landscaping and culture. Truly Non Non Biyori: Vacation had some beautiful background work and Silver Link went all out. Character designs are the same as it was in the anime series and of course the great reaction faces from the characters helped along with it's more comedic moments, sometimes not even needing them to speak, which is great direction all round. Voice acting, well LA will easily pick Ayane Sakura and Kotori Koiwai and the MVP's of Non Non Biyori: Vacation, as Kotori's Renge is always god damn adorable and Ayane Sakura does to typical tomboyish cadence but with the small plotline about Aoi, she really went all out with Natsumi and did exceptional to say the least. not to mention the both of them did great in delivering many one liners that cracked LA up. LA will say that the entire cast was great in this movie, no doubt, from Kana Asumi as Komari to Shino Shimoji as Aoi to Kaori Nazuka as Kazuho and Misato Fukuen as Hikage. Non Non Biyori: Vacation is what you expect from a Non Non Biyori movie AND more to be honest, it's nice to see the Non Non Biyori cast be in a different setting and how they interact with new characters, not only that but us also seeing the culture of a place like Okinawa as seeing the narrative focus are on the main cast helps us be immersed in the atmosphere even more as they have fun with their vacation, almost like we're having the vacation alongside them and seeing the beautiful Okinawan sights along the way. Nyanpasu Okinawa~!

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