Super Cub

Having read the novel and the manga, I definitely have to say that the anime certainly did a good job at adapting the novel. But as far as adaptation of the novel goes, I think that the anime is inferior than the manga. Explaining it shortly, the anime took a more calm/relax and serious tone in adapting, while the manga took a more goofy and comedic tone. While the novel certainly had both those qualities, the anime felt like it was adapting the novel as it is. It's a rather "too safe" as an adaptation. Not bad, but it had the potential to be great but couldn'tquite get there because of how safe the adaptation is. Well, moving on to the actual review. The story is simple. Girl who has nothing, no friends, no family. But she has her cub. That's the general idea of the anime. It wasn't super unique, but it's a great concept which was executed quite well. Though I have major problems with the pacing. I like myself some slow pacing, but if it's like dragging out unimportant scenes, then I'd have problems with it. The pacing suffers because the anime took a more slow pacing, showing the mc's daily road to take with her cub. That itself isn't an issue. But if half of the episode is dedicated just for the viewers to look at CG cubs driving awkwardly, then it's just a waste of time. Take Yuru Camp for example. It balances out the travel time of the girls, as well as their camping side. Most of the time that was spent while travelling, there was also something happening. So there wasn't any wasted space in the run time of the episodes. Even in the super cub novel, there wasn't really a whole chapter dedicated to just driving in the roads. The novel was surprisingly fast paced as opposed to the anime. The characters are good. They aren't outstanding cast or anything like that. Just consistently charming and great to watch. Although I have some gripes about the characters. But those issues are simply because of the bad pacing of the anime. For example, in episode 1, the mc had drive her cub to the convenience store. But then her cub stops moving. What she do? Just standing around to stretch out the run time of the episode. Heck, even in the novel and the manga, that problem was quickly tend to. She's a scholar student for a reason. She's a quick thinker and a smart girl. But the anime did her dirty. She doesn't deserve that treatment. The animation is decent. Sure, it had janky CG cubs, but that wasn't really a problem. The art is super cute and is probably one of the cutest artstyle that doesn't try to be cute that I've seen. The music however is just amazing. The ost pops out even though they reused a lot of tracks for some scenes. But I forgive them because the ones they reuses are super great. The opening and ending are absolute bangers. I'm listening to it everyday and still didn't get bored. Just great stuff. Overall, a decent adaptation. Sure, there's a lot of issues and problems in this anime. But I'd still recommend it. Especially if you like SOL and slow anime stuff in general. P.S.: this anime made me wanna buy a Cub even though I can't even ride a bicycle normally lmao (6.2/10)

I have to say that... this anime isnt made for everyone. I think it sounds ridiculous 'cuz you can even watch it on youtube. But when i say this is not made for everyone to watch. I mean the good level of this depend on your vibe, favourite, feeling... I think these conditions are a big point to make people think Super Cub is bad. Lets talk about its weakness and strength 'cuz... you know, every single anime or film always has the weak sides and good sides First of all, the story of this Super Cub. Tobe honest, i wish it had more details. Super Cub is about Koguma - a reserved high school student. She has no parents, no friends, hobbies and goals. But then, a random cub appears in her boring life with a surprising low price. Thats kinda unreal but lets ignore 'bout that. Then she step into a whole new life. Friends with the same hobby. They'll travel, talk, upgrade their cub, tell names of japanese street that you'll never know. And dont expect much, there will be no plot twist in story. Second of all, the character. About Koguma, she is a kind of character who you will always see.... in the background, and you'll never give a shit about. Sound mean right! But Koguma represents for a kind of people in real life... YOU. Its a big fact that not everybody is a main character. So when i see Koguma, i feel myself in her. Then she has a friend Reiko, Reiko is opposite with Koguma. She's enthusiastic, energetic but somehow, a perfect piece that fit nicely with main character. Both of them make their school life more colourful, which is showed obviously in anime you have watched. Both of them together draw the story line which is around their super cub. And if these're still simple, then Shii appears, as a calm that make the anime to be more balance. I have to admit that this anime is low anyway. Theres still a weekness that although the actor has minimize the characters in this film, but im somehow satisfied with their building in personality. About the art, this is one of the main reason for why i enjoy Super Cub. There's just one word for the film drawing: Beautiful. Whenever a nature scene appears, it impresses me a lot. Just one little mistake is that the colour is boring, a gray filter make is less magnificent. But about this side, i'll have a expain then. I dont consider sound as an too important part to rate an anime. Of course its not the 1950s with soundless movies. Anyway, i dont have problems with the sound, opening song and ending song not too excellent but at least, not a bad song. You can hear the sound of motorcycle working, im quite impressed. But if you ask my favorite, its must be the sound at ep 1 and some cooking scene. The sound of water pouring, rice cooker, etc, i believe you will feel that. Return to one of the biggest weekness of this film, the enjoyment. If you're a fan of fantasy, shounen, sth that require a good story and make you excited with 10 outta 10 battle scenes drawing. Then, this anime is not for you. Imagine about a rainny day, when you have nothing to do and just relax in front of your pc. Looking at the window, there're some drops that slowly slide down then mingle with a bigger drop that you can't even realize. You can make for yourself a cup of tea. When everything is set, that means your mind is totallly relaxing. Super Cub will come as a treatment to your soul. Or maybe after a hard-working day. I think i was a bit lucky when i watched this film with that feeling. Beside, the gray filter i have said above is a tool to help this anime sets a perfectly perfect vibe for those who need them. Watching Super Cub is like taking shower in a big bathtub: peaceful and relaxing. I think this is long enough. Of course i cant put my mind set into your, so this post is just my feeling. I dont hope you will read that all but if you do so. "あ り が と う ご ざ い ま し た"

THE GOOD: Nice visuals? Check. Laid back atmosphere? Check. Good vibes? Check. Despite being a "Honda ad", this looked like it could become one of my favourite slice-of-life anime... THE MEH: ...until ep. 5, when things started going downhill (ironically... if you watched the show, you know what I mean). First of all, there's a noticeable drop in production quality. Not the end of the world, it's a common pattern in many shows after the first few episodes. But at the same time, the story also takes a worrying turn. The Cub, which was initially described just as a passion for Koguma and Reiko, appears for the firsttime as an obsession: Reiko's goal with his bike is not only obviously unrealistic, but she is completely unprepared for it AND puts herself in danger to achieve it. First red flag. From this point onwards, we don't watch two normal girls living a normal life anymore: we start watching two addicted who would do ANYTHING to spend time with their Cubs, especially Koguma. Unplanned hundreds' miles journey on dangerous roads? Check. Risky driving-for-fun on the snow? Check. Sociopathic behaviour to other characters vs. unhealthy attachment to her bike? Check. While my enjoyment of the series took a massive hit because of this, I was still hoping it was just a... bump on the road. "The MCs will learn to balance out their lives and their passion." Right? THE BAD: ...well, they didn't. In the last few episodes Koguma starts talking about her Super Cub as if it was a miraculous solution for all of her problems. Worst, she starts SELLING this idea to other characters. Textbook addiction. The straw that broke the "scooter's back", for me, was the rescue scene. [SPOILERS AHEAD, SKIP THIS SECTION. YE BE WARNED] Imagine this: terrible weather outside, icy roads and snow everywhere. You receive a call from your friend: she just had an accident with her bike, called you because you were the first on her phone's list. You don't know where she is, and you hear her passing out mid-call. What a normal person would do: call the emergency services, inform your friend's relatives, and only if the weather allows for it, go out to try and find her. What Koguma does: takes her Cub WITHOUT INFORMING ANYONE and goes out searching, risking an accident herself multiple times due to the roads (thus endangering also her friend's life, since no one knows about her yet). When she finds her fallen into a frozen river (because of anime logic), she clumsily moves her out without checking if she is injured or not (risking further complications in case of fractures and head/spine shocks), then she puts her, still wet to the bones, in her Cub's front basket and brings her home. She is literally freezing exposed to the cold winter air? Who cares. [/SPOILERS] At the end of this, I had no further hope for the show. I finished it just because only very little was left, but I would have dropped it if I had to watch even 2-3 more episodes. FINAL THOUGHTS: Despite the nice visuals, this is one of the worst series I've ever watched. It's a real pity, because it started off as a promising and relaxing slice-of-life anime with some interesting ideas in terms of direction and writing. Not recommended, unless you are OK to watch only the first 4 episodes and call it a day: if the show ended there, it would have been a solid 7 in my books.

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