Usagi Drop

[Kraco]

"Going home for his grandfather’s funeral, thirty-year-old bachelor Daikichi is floored to discover that the old man had an illegitimate child with a younger lover! The rest of his family is equally shocked and embarrassed by this surprise development, and not one of them wants anything to do with the silent little girl, Rin. In a fit of angry spontaneity, Daikichi decides to take her in himself! But will living with this overgrown teenager of man help Rin come out of her shell? And hang on, won’t this turn of events spell doom for Daikichi’s love life?!" -Yen Press

Genres: Daily Life, Josei, Manga, Comedy, Drama

Links: AniDB, ANN, Official

Episode 1 - HorribleSubs
Episode 1 - Doki




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This was, no doubt, my most anticipated show this season. Ever since I started to read the jolly good manga a couple of years ago following Arcness's recommendation. Not that I'd have ever hoped this to get an anime, but anyway.

Following the manga source, this has just a bit out of ordinary character and background design and style, kind of like House of Five Leaves. It's quite refreshing after the usual contemporary designs in most shows, and it fits this one very nicely. Similarly the VA cast is different presenting novel names in the industry to voice the kids (the VAs being kids themselves). So, it's really no use to link to their names. The male lead is voiced by Hiroshi Tsuchida (demon blade Masamune of Soul Eater, John Titor of Steins;Gate).

The episode was pleasant and as a manga reader I had no problems with it. Rin didn't have too many lines in this first episode but for now I'm confident she'll be portrayed succesfully. I'm guaranteed to watch this one till the end. The manga has also finished, so an anime only ending would seem unlikely.

[fireheart]

I'm disappointed that they cut out some of Daikichis lines to his relatives other than that I'm satisfied with the adaption so far though I do wonder how the pacing will be and if they're planning on covering the whole manga.

[Yukimura]

I've seen many people comment favorably on the manga for this so I downloaded it but the art style made it unbearble to watch. Seeing colors so frequently and blatantly going outside of the lines of the drawings makes me think an amateur did it on a whim rather than thinking it's some form of high art and superior to more common modern animation where colors stay in the lines.

[vejita613]

Really? I think the animation gives it its charm. But whatever floats your boat.

I'm a huge fan of the manga, and I'm pleasantly surprised that this got animated. I was just telling my friend today that I think this is going to be one of those series that I would recommend to someone who thought that anime was just all "kids stuff" like pokemon.

[animus]

Found the first episode very endearing and charming. Will watch more.

[RyougaZell]

I really liked the art style they used on this series. Didn't read the manga, so I watched this just based on word-of-mouth and the trailer. I wasn't dissapointed. I kinda wanted to see more the relatives reactions when Daikichi offered Rin to take her home though.

[KrayZ33]

this show is so wonderful... only the first episode aired and I had tears in my eyes.
and the ending made me smile and grin again

I kinda wanted to see more the relatives reactions when Daikichi offered Rin to take her home though.

ya, a nice argument with them would've been nice... where Daikichi screams at them that they are being heartless (or something more dramatic)
but it was still very heart-touching to see Rin rushing to his side

[MFauli]

That was nice first episode. The artstyle was strange at first, but I got used to it very quickly. Not much actually happened, but I was never bored, so that´s a plus. I like the main character and the basic premise sounds interesting, too. Will keep watching.

Extra plus: Despite focusing on this small, "cute" girl, there was nothing moe about it. good.

[Kraco]

Extra plus: Despite focusing on this small, "cute" girl, there was nothing moe about it. good.

Yeah, it's a josei series. If the primary intended audience is women old enough to have kids of their own, the shounen or seinen type of moe isn't necessarily appropriate.

[Kraco]

Episode 2 - HorribleSubs
Episode 2 - Doki




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This continues really strongly. Watching this second ep also made me realise Rin of this anime is a bit different from the one in the manga, or at least my perception of her. Like the first and second eps have shown, she's somewhat mature, made evident by the level of control, how she tries to advice Daikichi, how she read the book to the other kids. In the manga I also thought she's very calm, but what's going on in this show make her more active, further strengtened by the voice actor's quite high speaking speed. It could be partially due to the difficulty of directing probably relatively inexperience kids, but who knows, it might be a conscious decision by the director as well.

In any case, so far I really like this show. Anime affects me more than manga generally speaking, making this a more lively experience.

[MFauli]

Also liked the 2nd episode. I don´t know if I like the "mature" parts of Rin, but there were enough childish moments as well. I guess the approaching problem for Daikichi will be his work. Coming too late to take Rin from the kindergarten, making mistakes at work, etc.. A girl friend would probably solve a lot of these problems. Hey, the kindergarten woman seemed nice!

[Buffalobiian]

I'm expecting that the Grandpa actually took Rin and her mother in without actually banging her (the mother). So when she comes back, she'll be a candidate for Daikichi's love interest and Rin could also serve as being his kid for real without the relationships becoming all tangled up.

[Kraco]

What, you don't believe in the grandpa's manhood? Even though Daikichi himself gave the geezer props for it.

[Ryllharu]

I wonder how much of Rin's relative maturity comes from being raised by an old man. Reina seems like she is thrown in as a contrast to Rin's personality. Reina is more of what you would expect with a 6 year old, and the other kids at the nursery being more like her and less like Rin support that. Her fashion sense seems more out of the 70s too...but that retro styling is one of the things I really like about the series.

It's not like Rin can't engage with other children though, she has no problem talking with Reina on the phone now, and she plays with the other children. It just seems like she's more of a big sister type than her actual age. Luckily Daikichi is playful enough with her that she still gets to act like a kid.


As a side note, I loved that short scene with Daikichi panting on the train and the skanky OL getting all freaked out. edit: Her expression as she realizes some guy is breathing heavily next to her is priceless.

I also greatly enjoyed Rin's assertion after the credits that it was "just sweat."

[Kraco]

As a side note, I loved that short scene with Daikichi panting on the train and the skanky OL getting all freaked out. edit: Her expression as she realizes some guy is breathing heavily next to her is priceless.

That scene along with the clothes shopping were my favorites. Daikichi being so out of everything children related is one of the better aspects of this story.

[Buffalobiian]

What, you don't believe in the grandpa's manhood? Even though Daikichi himself gave the geezer props for it.

I do, but I just tried to think of a scenario that would let Daikichi take care of Rin, have a love interest AND let Rin have the happiness of seeing her mother again (assuming she's happy with her mother).

[Lucifus]

So...facking...adorable! I want one! X_X

[MFauli]

So...facking...adorable! I want one! X_X

well, go make one :P

[RyougaZell]

Just watched episode 2. It was simply perfect. I laughed when Daikichi's co-worked thought he had a girlfriend... I await the inevitable wtf scene when they all find he's taking care of his little aunt.

[Buffalobiian]

HorribleSubs - episode 03