K-ON!!

OVERPOWERED99

img(https://orig00.deviantart.net/d671/f/2018/156/6/b/k_on___by_overpowered99-dcdlvxf.gif) Every day is a blast at the Light Music Club. All the memories of happiness and feelings fill up a treasure box. The lasting days in the lives of the K-On!! girls is a golden collection asking to be embraced. And I will embrace them. Always. While I absolutely adored the cake eating and lazing around aspect in the first season, this season takes a solid shift and presents the series into a great slice-of-life. It isn't limited to their club room only, and these five cute stars embark on a branching set of activities from school trips to concerts where they interact adorably with precious friendship. No matter where they are, there's never a dull moment with them around. Just look at the cuteception. They're even self-aware of their own cuteness! These characters have a special quality to them other than their entertaining personalities. From the family bond as sisters or the relationship they have with their teacher, an aura is formed where every soul who stumbles upon it will form an attachment. So, as graduation is nearing, the club members have to realize that they must move on with the next stage of their life. And to move along with a strong friendship that will last for eternity. All the fun times and the silly times they had, these are the memories that hold the evidence that their bonds are true. That closeness, which is formed in the realm of simple day-to-day interactions, is a purity that describes a genuine friendship. Every moments are meaningful. Every moments activate my attachment. Every time, they never fail to place a smile on my face. Under the windows of their treasured club room, the rays of a warm and setting afternoon light glazes over the best friends. Backed up by a soothing melody, they cherish the time they have spent together after a spectacular run of their last ever high school performance. This is a heartwarming scene and if not for the audiovisual talents from Kyoto Animation, it wouldn't have become such a special scene that permeated with joyous and sad emotions. The amount of efforts put in by them is something that I appreciate. The visual captures all kinds of tone hanging in the air. Those googly eyes that gaze all the way through my kokoro switch on my affectionate side. The energy-driven animation expresses the character's personality without the need for narrative techniques effectively. And then there is the soft lighting that speaks on so many levels, mostly to radiate positivity. All these made the small moments into something more meaningful, because there are some fine feelings hidden beneath the realistic colors. Another aspect behind the visual is in the sound and their relaxing sensation can be felt without disturbing the lighthearted interactions of the characters. Each one of the seiyuus act out their roles with a cute tone. Performed by them as well, the songs played during the club performance are fun to listen to. Some of the songs also embody a deeper meaning in the lyrics so hearing these filled me up with even more emotions as they perform together as a close group. K-On!! is an anime for U&I. Every time I watch an episode, I know that I will no doubt feel happiness. And I'm sure you too can feel that same happiness. We all can become a piece of this memory and preserve it. Wouldn't that be the perfect treasure?

TK8878

~~~img600(https://i.imgur.com/B6g0cjv.png)~~~ # ~~~This review contains __unmarked__ spoilers. They are extremely predictable outcomes that could be “self-spoiled” with a bit of common sense (K-On! isn’t plot-heavy, after all) but be warned nonetheless.~~~ # Review in brief: Can a story about nothing wrap itself around a looming end? In K-On!’s case the answer is inconclusive, because despite the approaching finale it continues to fool around as if the sunny high-school days will go on forever. While this season generally improves its utilization of simplicity to give the audience a fun time, it ultimately stretches itself thin, making its build-up to an emotional ending come up short if you couldn’t remain attached to the characters or your own nostalgia. # Review in full: After the massive commercial success of season 1, it’s no big surprise that this 2nd season would have its episode count doubled from 13 to 26 episodes. That episode count, however, is a double-edged sword. It’s what this season thrives by and suffers from, because while it allows ample time for K-On!’s usual simple fun, it clashes with its inevitable conclusion if you don’t remain completely engrossed. All things considered, 13 episodes would have remained a better fit. Giving K-On! extra run-time lets it do more of what it always did best: goof off. In this regard, K-On! seeks to hammer down its simplicity. Rather than relying primarily on character tics to deliver jokes, the girls mainly just play off of situations they find themselves in, and the majority of the girls’ antics take place outside of their actual club, often involving other school activities or just a closer look at the girls’ lives in general. This approach creates a numbing duality; while it’s about as down-to-earth as you can get and creates an impressive sense of realism, it also boils much of the show down to the point where it’s pointlessly dull – lessening the charm a fun time with friends naturally contains as it becomes just the girls doing ordinary things and nothing else.

img600(https://i.imgur.com/cwBJoe4.png) _K-On! eventually has trouble finding fun things to do._ The result is a nigh-surreal experience where the anime gets so relatable that it feels like you’re right there with the Keion-bu. In this anime’s better moments this quality makes it shine, but sometimes the approach goes one step further and also reflects the mundanity of life with all of its delays and idleness. Some will and have found this dreamlike experience amazing, but without a substantial attachment or nostalgia for the anime, the events it portrays, or the characters, the stew of ordinary events is eventually overcooked into a homogeneous slurry of ennui. While not entirely unpalatable, it takes a special enrapture with the dish in its proper state to have built a true desire to consume it like this. As a comparison, consider that there’s an episode that delves into Sawa-chan-sensei’s backstory by having parts of it she’s fought to keep hidden leech their way back into her life, and an episode that delves into Yui’s backstory by being one big metaphor to Yui being mentally slow (with multiple analogies to turtles to make it extra clear). The loose events that tie together to form each episode still need _some_ hook to pull in those not entranced by the lure. While episodes like Yui’s backstory are silly enough to chuckle at a few times, most of it is as remarkable as a rainy Tuesday evening spent alone. Episodes that provide something more than a simple timewaster or easily foreseeable “developments” are spaced out further and further as the season trudges on. The hook almost completely disappears, and eventually it’s the lure that is ultimately used to try and catch you on its own. I’ve already sprinkled little hints about how the characters are handled this season. With the narrative focus being placed on the simplest of events, all of the little quirks of the girls are brought to the forefront. It likely couldn’t have simplified itself so much without the girls being as nuanced as they had become. This is what allows for the sense of genuineness that realism requires, as there’s enough of these quirks between the characters to create situations that land a step above the expectation for believability in anime. It’s what leads to a “Yui’s Backstory” or a “Sawa’s Backstory” depending on how’s it’s used, but it’s an appreciable quality nonetheless. The trade-off is that this approach does little to continue the subtle development they received prior, and unfortunately the writers chose not to do this on their own either. Few noteworthy developments are to be found in the expectable reactions to events that comprise much of the season. What little there is to build the girls up amounts to mostly obvious backstories. Yes, K-On! already had a good cast coming into this season, but when last-moment bullet-point traits start getting tacked on (like Mugi suddenly using a bunch of random Engrish or spurts of national pride coming out of Ritsu) just so that there would be _something_ for this anime to do at those points, it becomes clear that those characters could have been utilized much more effectively than they were. Part of what kept Season 1 fresh was the humor bouncing off of subtly changing traits, after all. img600(https://i.imgur.com/5BSPwUb.png) _Everyone saw it coming, and yet it seemed like it would never truly arrive. Whether that refers to the inevitability of high-school graduation or the ending of K-On!! is up to your personal experiences._ Now, the faults I’ve outlined are not always bad things in the slice-of-life genre; hardly any of it is a real deal-breaker for someone just looking for some more CGDCT, and at its best K-On!! is better than just “some more CGDCT”. However, there is one major fault that this all funnels into, something that makes this overdrawn season all the more tedious should the tedium get the better of you: the way this anime concludes. High-school graduation is going to split up our beloved band, and the anime pours nearly all of its drama into this fact. But K-On!! wants to have its cake and eat it too, choosing to have multiple dramatic climaxes over the same issue while goofing off with the usual CGDCT antics for multiple episodes in between _and_ afterwards. I’m willing to accept that my perspective is one largely founded on personal experiences. Surely there are plenty of people who _were_ (or will be) blindsided by the end of their high-school days. Maybe I just come to terms with things easily. Still, I know I’m not the only one who was burnt out before the last assembly began. The strong emotions many have experienced throughout their graduations and that of the Keion-bu’s require strong attachments. The biggest flaw in this anime is its major reliance on establishing a strong attachment, one that remains strong when dragged out over a period of time that far exceeds necessity and across the same finish line multiple times. Either you fall in love with K-On! before it stagnates and find a hearty farewell welling within you, or you don’t and you’re just glad that you can exit the ride. I’m genuinely happy for you if you’re the former, and I sincerely hope you can at least see where us in the latter might be coming from. At least the production values are more difficult to argue over ~ KyoAni rarely disappoints in that regard. The visuals have been enhanced over the last season as a whole. There’s less moeblob moments and more fluidity & stylization goes into those that retain the aesthetic, allowing those scenes to flow better with the rest of the anime. There is also an increase in quality framing, coloring, and animation in general. While the animation in the middle of the season is lacking compared to the early and later portions, it’s still a step above anything the plot of K-On! ever demanded. img(https://i.imgur.com/9HVuSYx.gif) _K-On!’s audio & visuals improve all-around and expertly make this season’s strengths even stronger._ Personally, I can find no fault in K-On!’s audio. The masterful use of sound effects and voicework from season 1 came back just as strong and yet again added so much to the presentation. I question if this anime could manage to achieve the realism it does with even slightly less impressive voicework, and K-On!’s realism is the best compliment I can give to it outside of praising the audio directly. Compared to the last season, the music managed to be more varied and better composed despite mostly needing to represent the work of a high-school light music club. Some of the insert songs are more engaging & thoughtful than entire episodes, and the moments spent making those songs are some of the series’ strongest. I know U&I made me wonder what this anime would be like if music really was one of its key elements. Regardless, it’s all quite impressive for a show about girls drinking tea and eating cake. # Verdict: Pre-established fans of the first season are likely to enjoy K-On!’s lengthy continuation and the way it distills itself closer to its base elements. However, less enthusiastic viewers just looking for another cute slice-of-life could easily find that some of the elements that fans find worthy of praise make the experience tiresome before long. The season was clearly made with heart by people possessing considerable skill, but whether it amounts to a worthwhile amount of fun depends too strongly on personal experiences and attachments for me to recommend it to anyone on the fence about continuing past season 1 who isn’t already a CGDCT enthusiast. # Related reviews: # <- [K-On! (Season 1)](https://anilist.co/review/4336) # <- [K-On!: Live House!](https://anilist.co/review/4372) # [K-On!!: Keikaku!](https://anilist.co/review/5845)

AliceBright

So I watched K-On originally with little to no expectations, i basically knew nothing aside from the fact that it was supposedly good. Here I am today though on my 5th rewatch in like 5 months, my favourite anime by a landslide really. One reason for this is just how easy the show is to watch, most of it is just the main 5/Sawako fucking around with any drama rarely entering the story, which means it never really gets tiresome. There's more to it though, few things can make me as emotional as some of the later episodes of S2. The series does a really good job of showing the friendship and bonds between the main 5 girls growing over the series, how they change each other and grow closer. Because of that, despite the series seemingly episodic nature when you compare early season 1 to late season 2 you can tell the differences just from the subtleties in the character's interactions with one another, how they all grow closer to and more comfortable around Yui especially over the course of season 1 with episode 12 being the culmination of that. It's one of my favourite episodes because of it, despite how simple it is the re-enactment of the episode 1 scene resonates really hard with me because the idea of Yui finding a place with her friends who truly care for her even after only joining after feeling obligated to do something is incredibly real feeling. Ritsu's "We all love you, Yui" feels an especially sincere line. But yeah, despite how much I love season 1 season 2 is an improvement in basically every regard, from direction to humour, with the Azusa/Ui/Jun episodes being the only ones I don't consider excellent in some right. The frequent showings of the turtle/the presence of Ton-chan being a representation of the show's message to take life slowly and enjoy it are wonderful. A big fan of how the series has it's characters realise things like this, with episode 4 of Season 1 (reinforced by episode 9) showing that Mio is the first one to truly understand how valuable their time together as friends is. Episode 20 is probably my favourite episode, even above 24, because it feels like a non-stop celebration of everything the series has been til now. I get emotional from the second the Sawako scene happens, and U and I is likely my favourite Hokago Tea Time song not just because it sounds awesome but due to the context in which it's played on both occasions; someone as airheaded as Yui trying to get across her sincere appreciation through song is incredibly touching, and when it's played in 20 it feels like a thank you from Yui to everyone who has supported her up until now. Then of course the scene after the concert is perfection from beginning to end, makes me cry every time I watch it. It's so beautifully done, the slow realisation that their time together after school is slowly coming to an end hits the audience exactly as it does the characters. In conclusion, this is the first time I've ever really tried to write anything so it's probably a mess but I fucking love K-On, it's the best.

Reinford

#__~~~K-on!! (K-On! Season 2) Review~~~__ ~~~img280(https://s4.anilist.co/file/anilistcdn/media/anime/cover/large/bx7791-kkyTqv0HI7D7.png)~~~ This is the second season from K-On! I recommend to watch the first season first before watching the second season, but skipping the story at season 1 won't really matter here I guess... You can still get the story at second season here even though you skipped season 1. First of all, This show is about 5 high school girls playing music as a band in light music club at theirs school. K-On!! represent a daily life of high school girls in the light music club, the friendship between each other, relation between siblings, relation between kouhai-senpai and how fun school life really is. I feel like the comedy and school life aspect is more appealing rather than the music itself, I mean there is another music anime with better music in it, but other element of this anime such as comedy and school life is really great. I have read the 4-koma manga of K-On! and its really different, and for me the Anime itself is better than the manga. The anime give some stuff that doesn't appear in the manga, and also how am I supposed to hear the music in the manga (lol). But it's great to read the manga for some nostalgic feeling after finished with the anime (especially the 4 of senpai in the university, and azusa with the kouhai in the hig school) ~~~img1080(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/99/2d/32/992d3261c9d841e0712a5bcb7bfd70d5.jpg) ~~~ ~~~__ Story__~~~ Just everyday high school girls life in the light music club playing guitar, bass, drum, and keyboard. But well, _time flies by, and every beginning has an end..._ The story here continue from the prequel , as Yui and the other as third grade enjoying their last year as high school student. There are many funny thing they do in the club, including teasing their kouhai (Azusa) that made the audience really enjoying the show. It's a great and fun journey going along with them in this anime and it's really sad to say goodbye... ~~~__ Character__~~~ Cute character with talented Voice actress. There is Yui who plays guitar and vocal, Mio as basist and sometimes vocal, Ritsu as drummer, Mugi as Keyboardist, and finally Azusa as their kouhai and guitarist. Their voice actress really did a great job making these character alive, even they can sing with the character voice. ~~~img480(https://www.imgbase.info/images/safe-wallpapers/anime/k_on/44764_k_on.jpg)~~~ ~~~__ Music__~~~ They are in light music club after all, so they make song and sing, and it become the insert song in this anime. My personal favorite insert song is _Tenshi ni Furetayo by Hokago Tea Time_ (their band ofc) ~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ObVdcCkdI)~~~ ~~I'm not crying :')~~ Other than insert song all the Ending song by Akiyama Mio (VA: Yōko Hikasa) is good too, I really like her voice as Mio. ~!If You're expecting a chillin anime show, you can watch without toying with your feeling, you are wrong. Just try not to cry at the last heartbreaking episode of this show..!~

Edueuller

# __Sobre:__ K-ON é um anime que teve sua estreia em 2009 animado pelo estúdio Kyoto Animation com os gênero Comédia, Musical e _Slice of Life_, ele é considerado por muitos a fonte dos animes _Moes_, devido a sua qualidade e simplicidade que meio que fez com que o termo _Moe_ repercutisse bastante. Mesmo para aquelas pessoas que não conhecem muito sobre animes, mas vêm algumas coisas sobre, provavelmente já devem ter visto alguma foto ou vídeo de K-ON pela internet, afinal é um anime bastante popular que sempre é lembrado pelo público com suas cenas engraçadas e fofas. ~~~img570(https://i.imgur.com/cJNJi2c.gif)~~~ # __Primeiras impressões:__ A primeira impressão que se tem de K-ON é que vai ser um anime um pouco tedioso, que não vai entregar nada, afinal além de ser um _slice of life_ com garotas fofas, o anime não tem uma paleta de cores tão colorida e sim cores mais firmes como o marrom e branco da escola e o uniforme azul das garotas. Por abordar um tema simples de cotidiano parece que vai ser algo repetitivo e simplório demais, porém ele surpreende demais e surpreende mais ainda com a sua simplicidade, o anime não precisou em momento algum criar algo mais complexo pra surpreender o público, ele conseguiu provar ser bom apenas com coisas simples. Uma surpresa que se tem com K-ON também é que mesmo tendo um tema musical, a maioria dos momentos elas não ficam tocando, as músicas só são mostradas quanto tem algum ensaio, apresentação escolar, ou algum treino importante que elas precisam fazer antes de se apresentarem. Inclusive o nome da banda "Hokago tea time" (Hora do chá depois da escola) se dá pelo fato de que o que elas mais fazem no clube é a hora de chá, onde elas conversam, discutem e se divertem. # __Desenvolvimento:__ A primeira parte da história foca em mostrar o começo de tudo, como a banda foi montada, como as personagens se conhecem e suas primeiras interações na série, mostrando as pequenas dificuldades que elas vão ter em manter o clube de pé. Isso é algo bem legal de se ver, a maneira como as garotas se conhecem e interagem é tudo muito verdadeiro, não é como se fosse uma conveniência do roteiro para elas estarem juntas, mesmo elas tendo personalidades distintas elas se dão muito bem e tornam qualquer coisa divertida, dá um clima legal pro anime, realmente aquece o coração ver elas fazendo coisas fofas e te faz desejar tudo de bom pra elas. Após a primeira temporada do anime, vem a segunda que pega tudo que a primeira construiu e aborda ainda mais dos momentos delas juntas se divertindo no clube, com cenas ainda mais engraçadas e mais episódios bem trabalhados pra mostrar o que elas passam durante o ensino médio. Já pro final da história, ela é finalizada de um jeito emocionante que te faz entender tudo o que elas passaram e toda essa jornada de diversão que elas tiveram durante a escola. ~~~img570(https://i.imgur.com/WRzCodj.gif)~~~ E é por isso que K-ON é um anime tão bom, ele é bom pela sua simplicidade. O anime quebra aquilo de ter temas ou desenvolvimentos complexos, ou uma meta difícil de se alcançar como por exemplo se tornarem pop-stars ou ganharem muito dinheiro com aquilo e na verdade se dedica em mostrar tudo de normal que elas passam e como elas fazem tudo aquilo por diversão. K-ON consegue passar uma linda mensagem de que os melhores momentos da vida, são os momentos simples que você passa com as pessoas que você gosta e ele mostra isso com uma qualidade absurda sendo uma obra rica em sentimentos, com uma animação linda, fluída e com uma ótima trilha sonora que te faz se sentir imerso no anime. # __Personagens:__ No clube de música todas as cincos integrantes são personagens muito carismáticas, fofas e simpáticas, com personalidades bem diferentes umas das outras, tendo cada uma o seu momento na obra, todas têm um papel fundamental e seus momentos de interação são perfeitos.. - __Yui__ é a guitarrista da banda, ela é uma cabeça oca, desastrada e sempre tem ajuda da sua irmã mais nova para diversas coisas. - __Mio__ é a baixista e é uma garota muito bonita, inteligente e medrosa, ela é tão popular no colégio que até possui um fã-clube só para ela. - __Ritsu__ é a bateirista e presidente do clube, ela é muito brincalhona e sempre conta histórias de terror para Mio com o intuito de assustá-la. - __Mugi __é a tecladista e é uma garota bem avoada e calma, ela adora preparar chá e aperitivos para todas do clube comerem. - __Azusa__ também é guitarrista e _Kouhai_ de todas as outras quatro, sendo a mais rígida do clube em questão dos ensaios musicais. ~~~img570(https://i.imgur.com/mhNr0hQ.gif)~~~ # __Música e trilha sonora:__ As _openings_ e _endings_ são cantadas pelas próprias dubladoras das protagonistas, é um detalhe legal de se ver porque dá mais vida ao anime, afinal as músicas são consideras da própria banda _Hokago Tea Time_ mostrando que as personagens sabem tocar e fazem suas próprias músicas. Além das _openings_ e _endings_ serem muito boas, as trilhas sonoras do anime também são excelentes e incrivelmente envolventes. Inclusive nas prévias para os próximos episódios, tem uma música muito boa que se encaixa perfeitamente com as cenas decorrentes do próximo episódio: ~~~__Música da preview que citei:__ [O](https://youtu.be/xgd2echy27E) youtube(https://youtu.be/xgd2echy27E)~~~ Segue os links com as OST(Original SoundTrack) que amei: - [Morning dew](https://youtu.be/yUPTix-DUa8) - [Kawaii Inbow](https://youtu.be/iBbaLKDGZJA) - [Cotton Candy](https://youtu.be/zB2EG4m2I28) - [Virtual Love](https://youtu.be/W_NQxjM0qPs) - [Happy languidness](https://youtu.be/bu7G3Nypqbo) e muitas outras... # __Conclusão:__ K-ON é a obra-prima do _Slice of life moe_, com cenas muito fofas e divertidas, possui uma excelente trilha sonora e tem personagens incríveis. K-ON sabe mostrar o verdadeiro significado de amizade e mostra que os melhores momentos da vida são os momentos simples que você passa com as pessoas que você gosta. Mesmo sendo um anime simples que aborda um tema cotidiano, a simplicidade é que faz o anime ser tão incrível, tendo momentos que chegam até a ser emocionantes e que te tocam de um jeito único. # __Finalização:__ E com orgulho eu prestigiei K-ON com a primeira _review_ que fiz na vida, mesmo com essa _review_ ainda sinto que não consegui expressar totalmente tudo que senti quando assisti esse anime. Só lembrando que essa foi uma _review_ pessoal, então não significa que você vai sentir o mesmo que senti vendo, afinal gostos e opiniões se diferem. __Muito obrigado por ler :D__ ~~~img570(https://i.imgur.com/5Y6vMEm.gif)~~~

Maruchi22

K-ON é um sutil thriller psicológico sobre uma sádica rica usando estrategicamente gentileza para torturar um grupo de pessoas socialmente inferiores que não suspeitam de nada, enquanto vai aos poucos sendo desarmada e curada pela sinceridade rude delas. É o tipo de plot que poderia fazer parte de um ótimo romance ou ópera do século 19, mas é performado de maneira tão delicada que você mal percebe que está ocorrendo. É compreensível assistir um episódio e pensar "bem, nada aconteceu", mas é aí que está a arte. Na realidade, quando se examina com atenção, tudo aconteceu; foi apenas mascarado como efervescente. O acidente do morango é o exemplo perfeito e plausivelmente o climax do anime inteiro (eu não acho que seja uma coincidência que é um dos momentos que marcou as pessoas, mesmo aquelas que viram o anime apenas como uma coleção de momentos). Ao longo da segunda temporadas, vemos Mugi perder o interesse em ativamente arquitetar o purgatório em que ela aprisionou as outras garotas, conforme ela passa a se identificar como uma delas, como alguém não apenas observando seu drama, mas sofrendo-o também. Como resultado, seu sadismo se transforma em um tipo de masoquismo (claramente uma referência à visão Deleuziana de que sadismo e masoquismo não são opostos), onde ela constantemente tenta se destronar, submetendo-se a trabalho braçal, etc, tudo no esforço de capturar a liberdade, calor e sinceridade de seus súditos (compare e contraste com o personagem Konstantin Levin de Anna Karenina). Entretanto, isto não é o bastante, e vemos ela ficando cada vez mais frustrada ao longo da temporada. Parte da estrutura do status quo que ela criou é que as outras personagens a adoram como uma deusa benevolente incapaz de errar. Por causa disso, ela nunca recebe a justiça ou absolvição pelo sofrimento que ela intencionalmente infringiu. E, por esse motivo, deve sempre estar espiritualmente separada delas. Tudo isso se torna claro com seu plano de receber um tapa da Mio. Mio, como a principal vítima da tortura de Mugi, é a única capaz de conceder o reconhecimento físico por seus crimes que ela tanto deseja. Mas aqui, tragicamente, ela é derrotada pelo seu eu mais jovem, malicioso e calculista. O status quo que ela criou é forte demais. Ela nunca recebe o tapa. Ao tentar ser como suas vítimas e ganhar suas amizades, ela se tornou apenas mais um joguete nas mãos de seu gênio maligno. A maldade que permeia seu passado a impede de obter, no presente, o paraíso que ela tão puramente deseja. É um ápice lúcido mas estranhamente belo para o arco de um dos mais complexos anti-vilões da ficção. K-ON certamente há de ser lembrado como um clássico das animações japonesas.

ChirekachiMizu

# ~~~__My Thoughts on K-ON__~~~ --- Man... I never thought I'd make a review about K-ON. It's really hard for me to try and compose like a five sentence paragraph for something that I love the most. I can do it for Konosuba and the Monogatari Series, but with something like K-ON? Idk, I try to make it as simple as possible, but it's really hard to understand it. I guess the hard way will do. *NOTE: This covers for both seasons and the movie, and it will be the same like with what I did with my SAO review. But this also uses the same style that I used with my recent reviews. --- # ~~~__Season 1: Overview__~~~ This talks about 4 (later 5) high school girls and tea. That's it. (Lol, ok that's not really it, but I'll give a good explanation on full details.) Yui is a newly first year High School student, in the process of thinking of what school club she should join since she wants to try something new for a change instead of bumming around and staring at the sky. While in another section, Ritsu wants to start forming a band by joining the Light Music Club, also wanting to have Mio in the club as well (Although she wasn't keen of doing so and instead wanted to join the Literature Club, but luckily she was saved from disaster.) When they heard the news about the club being abolished, Ritsu insisted to save the club by gathering new members. This is where they encounter Tsumugi, who is also a first year student. Eventually they'd form the club and would later have Yui join the club as well. Seeing as how fun they were having when playing a song for Yui, she decided to stick with the Light Music Club, and thus, the Club was saved from abolishment and their days in the club begins. The 1st season had the girls at their 1st and 2nd years, and then later, Azusa would join the club when she heard them playing at the freshmen concert. How Season 1 started was indeed something nice and genuine. I personally thought it was relatively nice and comfy to see how the club members would start to come together and start off their journey in their club. # ~~~__Season 2: Overview__~~~ While Season 1 had the girls start their tracks as the Light Music Club, the Second Season had the girls near the end of their tracks, not as the club, but as friends as a whole. See, Yui, Mio, Ritsu, and Mugi are at their 3rd year, and Azusa is at her 2nd year. If the 3rd years were to be gone and go to college, that would leave Azusa left out for when she's gonna be at her 3rd year. They would try to recruit some new freshmen, and eventually play another concert for them as well, but no one came (No, this is not Undertale and I don't mean it like how Flowey the Flower would say it). Yui came to a conclusion that it's better off as the five of them, they don't need anyone new, as long as they keep playing like they always have. While season 1 starts as a gathering, season 2 starts as more of an understand as to how they bond together in the club, and there's nothing else that is nice and sweet as them bonding together. Both the overviews that I give are much more of an explanation of the 1st episodes of both seasons. How they start and how they end are both genuine and the most wholesome thing I've seen in such an anime. You often would see that in such other Slice of Life anime, but this is where I would consider as the starting block of it all. # ~~~__Movie: Overview__~~~ This takes place during the girls last days being together at school. They want to do something as seniors, so they insisted on going on a trip, and by vote, they went to London. Since they'll also have to bid farewell to Azusa until next year, they also want to do something for her. They came across writing a song for her. Now, how will this trip pan out? London is a perfect place for them since it has plenty of tea and music from there as well, so it's be a perfect match for them. Oh boy, I should wait until we reach the visual section for the movie. --- # ~~~__Story__~~~ Now, I know what your thinking, "Isn't K-ON a slice of life? Doesn't Slice of Life have nothing happening in it?" That's where I come in and say, you are most definitely wrong. Slice of Life anime do have something going on. When taking a look at a slice of life, there's always nothing bad happening. Is that a bad thing? Is it bad that nothing happens? No, it's an anime still, of course there'd be some kind of story or moral for the anime. In this case, it's an every day life of school girls wanting to hang out and also play music together, while in the process, bonding together. It's genuine, nice and sweet. I've said this a whole lot in forums, but allow me to say it again. It's as simple as I put it. A comfort anime. Aside from K-ON being just a simple CGDCT kind of anime, this anime portrays something well, and that something is friendship. Friendship is an important key word that K-ON uses. You can see, aside from them having tea, sweets, and practice, they are bonding together as the Light Music Club. That's what I love about K-ON. #~~~__Characters__~~~ Now if you simply think that this whole cute aspect is the ONLY thing that these characters have, mind if I ask... is that really it? Cause there's a whole lot more to these characters than you think. __Yui__: As much of an airhead she is, she is a caring and nice person and is willing to stick with something new and learn everything about it. She shows the definition of how anything can be fun. "Fun things are fun" as she puts it. __Ritsu__: The buchou of the club, also an energetic one at it. Although sometimes forgetful, she does show some leadership as the president and definitely has pride. __Mio__: The shy yet cool kind of person. She doesn't have much of confidence being up on stage, but when it comes to singing and pulling off a performance, she's willing to have confidence and pull it off. Especially when her friends are around her. She's one who is willing to try her best for the sake of it. __Mugi__: Kindhearted like a princess, Mugi is definitely a kindhearted person. All of the club funds, tea, and training camps are all thanks to her. She's basically the provider of the club and also the melodist. (One who gives the melody to the song) Although she's one that provides anything, she also wants to learn what she's been missing out on if she were a normal school girl. Thanks to her joining the Light Music Club, she was able to learn a lot of things. __Azusa__: The hardworking one. She's also the most developed character in the anime. You can say that Azusa is like us, once annoyed by the fact that the club hasn't done much of practice, but once you stick with them for a long time, then you'll come to an understanding as to why they're able to make the songs they make as of current and as to how they can pull it off by making it sound good. Basically, the viewer perspective. Each and every single one of these girls has some specialty to them, and one of them can be one that you like. Maybe for some, not really, but for people that have watched it, there should at least be one. Try to drive away from the cute factor and discover their traits that they have. # ~~~__Visuals__~~~ Here we go again with my Kyoto Animation fanboying here as it is a KyoAni work. But I'll be damned, does this look damn good for something that came from 2009. This is one of my favorite art styles out there from an anime. But wait, it's gets better once you see the movie. The production quality is something that should not by judged or toyed with when it comes with Kyoto Animation films. I'm a sucker when it comes to the visuals that KyoAni can pull off, as some can be absolutely beautiful, and definitely something memorable. See, you have to admit, KyoAni does the absolute best when it comes to visuals. They're definitely up there with other studios like MadHouse, CoMix, or Bones. #~~~__Music__~~~ This is actually rare for me to talk about, since I never really talk about the OST's in my reviews. This one is special since there are musical numbers in this anime. And they definitely are some of the best I've heard in an anime. If you want to hear one from yourself, you can. Allow me to share to you some of my favorite songs from the anime. Although, I also think it's best if you hear them from the anime first before in general. U&I youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KyMAeNYmYc) Tenshi ni Freta Yo youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6h1wwzEkpE) Pure Pure Heart youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyuBkX-BkN8) My Love is a Stapler youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8acFdnSnSo) Ichiban Ippai youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDPb_lyqH-k) Utauyo Miracle youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSbjTPD6Z1s) --- # ~~~__Overall Statement__~~~ This has, and forever has, made my anime experience a lot memorable. If I had not watched this, it wouldn't be at where it stands for me as my favorite anime of all time. Now, would I recommend it? Sure. If you want to watch a slice of life anime if you haven't watched one in your life, then this is a good start for you. You may not see the same perspective that I had with watching this anime, but if you find something good about it, then I hope it made it at least a tad bit better for you. 10/10 WOW... this was a long review. Not generally of me trying to type it, but me thinking about what I should say.. Like I said, it's hard for me to try and compose a 5 sentence paragraph for something that I love the most. I spent like... 3 hours of making this review. You understand now? Making reviews require a whole lot of experience from watching it, and when trying to think of what to say in said review, it's hard to put it into words... well. At least for me. Hope you like this review, as it's possibly one of my best ones that I have written. Maybe the next review I write will have a score of 89 or lower, cuz you're seeing a lot of high scores from me when making these reviews. Who knows? Maybe it'll happen eventually. And now I end off with an original quote that I said 5 months ago: > Don't think that K-On is just about music, or school life, or "Cute girls doing cute things." Think of K-On as something that we can relate to in our everyday lives when we approach high school. School is limited, but friendship is forever.

SallyOtak

~~~__K-ON! Season 2__~~~ ~~~__I am French, I use a translator! Sorry if he has any mistakes with some weird words. ~~~ ~~~__review season 1 : https://anilist.co/review/10882__~~~ ~~~img50(https://acegif.com/wp-content/gifs/france-flag-18.gif)~~~ ~~~img400(https://i.skyrock.net/2853/55132853/pics/2598383928_1_28_E99Dp0FP.gif)~~~ ~~~__Type : Comedy - Moe - School Life - Slice of Life__~~~ ____ 6/10 Story : In terms of story, we will continue to follow the music group (Houkago Tea Time) in their life at the end of high school, taking back some events of the first season, as well as some new ones to learn more about some characters :) Personal opinion: in terms of story, this season 2 is I found much less captivating than the first season, especially that from my point of view this season is very filling of events that we have already seen, as well as a lack of music on the 26 episodes that the series includes. But it's not bad either! The story is still interesting to follow, especially since it gives us the opportunity to focus a little more on the other main characters and to put Yui a little aside in some episodes. __Azusa__ will also bring a new look to the anime which makes it extremely interesting :) The humor is always there! ~~~img400(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40g2mSa4N60/UwoGubsWVoI/AAAAAAAAG0A/JrS0n959Egw/s1600/tumblr_m1m36yq4XJ1qderswo1_500.gif)~~~ ____ 8/10 Art : in therme of animation, we find exactly the same as the season 1 which did not age yet for 2021, and which remains very satisfying to watch ^^ ~~~img400(http://ekladata.com/fSZD2kZCGRsITQgMZliZL5tas8o.gif)~~~ ____ 10/10 Sound: as I say, we did not feel a lot of music but for the few music, they were captivating and just beautifully executed! We have the return of the musics of season 1, as well as new musics the most sublime the ones than the others! Opening : The 2 openings of this season are funny and ambient but I still prefer the opening of season 1 :) Ending : On the ending we find a lot of master class with excellent music and visuals on different styles of atmosphere. ~~~img400(https://cdn155.picsart.com/223802690013202.gif?to=min&r=640)~~~ ____ 10/10 Characters : One of the strong points of this anime is the characters who are always so endearing and hilarious :) The arrival of Azusa still brings a dare of cuteness and seriousness, as well as the relationships with the members of the group that become stronger and stronger. The characters are the main key that makes this anime just wonderful! ~~~img400(https://giffiles.alphacoders.com/121/12132.gif)~~~ ____ 9/10 Why watch it ? Well, even though the anime is a bit dated, it is still very drinkable for its time! In spite of the simplistic aspect of the anime, it has something more than the others that make us happy and joyful as well as sad. We go through a lot of emotions while watching it :) The people are all well presented even those unfortunately with less screen time that would surely deserve more ^^ ____ I hope you enjoyed this review! Don't hesitate to tell me on my profile and to follow me so that I don't miss the other reviews on the next anime as well as the Oav and movie to finish the K-on series!

henghost

The thirteenth episode of K-On’s second season, “Late Summer Greeting Card!”, sees a swarthier-than-normal Azusa, the youngest member of the Light Music Club, fade in and out of anxious dreams, brought on by the balmy buggy summer. In one, she must save the perennially oblivious Yui-senpai from consuming fatty tempura alongside watery watermelon, only to awake upon realizing it’s already too late; in another, she encounters Mio at a horror movie, except this can’t possibly be her scaredy-cat senpai because she isn’t reacting to any of the onscreen frights, which means . . . And she wakes up again. The climactic sequence comes when Azusa meets up with the rest of the band to attend a summer festival. They order street food and eat it on nearby steps and laugh at the color of one another’s tongues. Azusa reflects to herself, “My life is definitely better when I’m with them.” Fireworks shoot into the air, and Yui takes Azusa by the hand to lead her to a better vantage point. The frame rate halves, and there’s a POV shot from little Azusa’s perspective as she stares up at the back of her senpai’s head, and she thinks: “So pretty!” -- does she mean Yui or the pyrotechnics? -- “So pretty! Is this real? Or am I dreaming?” And there’s a cut: The Light Music Club has vanished into the crowd (were they truly there to begin with?) and the fireworks have ended. “Late Summer Greeting Card!” is K-On writ small: a series of absurd and ephemeral pseudo-conflicts, punctuated by sincere and profound love. Youth, after all, is one big dream. The only issue is, as Azusa realizes in her post-festival bath, that morning is just around the corner. “Next year, I’ll be all alone.” Still, in the meantime there’s plenty of joy to be found. Every aspect of K-On -- from its animation to its music to its character writing -- is calibrated for maximum delightfulness and adorability. It’s there in the opening theme, where Yui hops to the beat and hollers the saccharine lyrics into a can instead of a microphone. It’s there when feminine Mio must play Romeo and masculine Ritsu must play Juliet, and to do so they play _each other_ playing their respective characters. It’s there in the fit of Yui’s tights, and in the flourish with which she plays her paramour Gita. With every fiber of its being, K-On screams, Youth! Beauty! Girlhood! _Life!_ And it is because of the masterful execution of its happiness that the dead-silent moments between, when everyone must reckon with the fact that it all has to, at some point, _end,_ evoke in the audience that awful terror that comes just before sitting up in bed, dripping with cold sweat. K-On earns its emotional weight. Where other, weaker series might feel the need to implement “stakes” or “conflict” or -- ew -- “plot” to achieve a similar effect, K-On is comfortable with its glacial meandering pace, because it understands that its characters and its style and its sound are just that strong. (And what sound, by the way! You can nine songs from anime on my Spotify: (1) “rose” by Anna Tsuchiya from Nana, (2) “again” by YUI from FMA:B S1, (3) a couple covers of Renai Circulation, and the rest from K-On: “No, Thank you”, “Pure Pure Heart”, “GO! GO! MANIAC!”, “Don’t Say ‘Lazy’”, “Fuwa Fuwa Time”, and “Cagayake! Girls”.) Yes, K-On is a dream. And I never want to wake up.

NovaZero

~~~_Note: This review covers both Season 1 and 2_~~~ #~~~ ___Preface___~~~ Ah, the slice of life genre. For casual watchers, one can put on an episode and know that they’re going to be in for a pleasant half-hour; to hardcore enthusiasts, the slice of life genre is the epitome of enjoyable television. And as we all know… ~~~img500(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o3Zx_q8OVcc/maxresdefault.jpg)~~~ Besides, who doesn’t love Cute Girls Doing Cute Things? Even if that’s not exactly your _cup of tea,_ ~~~img500(data:image/jpeg;base64,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)~~~ K-ON! is almost certainly lovable by anyone. Superficially, it looks like a bunch of silly girls having fun and playing music, but it also contains themes of growing up and maturing. The slice of life genre usually doesn’t contain storylines like these. But K-ON! does, and goddamn, does it do it perfectly. But more on that later. Let’s start at the beginning: what *is* K-ON!? K-ON! (the name being a shortened version of the Japanese word _keion,_ meaning “light/happy” music) is about just that: five girls playing happy music. These five girls grow together, making music and memories. The story begins with two lifelong friends who want to join the music club at their new high school. Unfortunately, however, the requirement for being allowed to have a school-sponsored club is to have a minimum of four members, meaning that these two friends have to find ~~victims~~ other girls willing to join the club! #~~~__CHARACTERS__~~~ At the heart of the show we have five girls. First we have ~~~img500(http://pm1.narvii.com/6523/403101e8ff277a7926443305c39de3eee3bbb5dd_00.jpg)~~~ #~~~Ritsu Tainaka~~~ The tomboy queen. She’s an energetic drummer, and the first of the two aforementioned friends. She’s the main reason why anyone joined the club. Ever since she was little she dreamed of being in a band, and roped her friend into learning an instrument to play together. As the first member of the club, she nominates herself president of the club, although she can be somewhat irresponsible at times. Next, we have ~~~img500(http://pm1.narvii.com/6377/510e4b06a1a140c366bbe25f641d93727df220e1_00.jpg)~~~ #~~~Mio Akiyama~~~ The shy and quiet beauty. She plays the bass, because she feels like the bass represents what she is: quiet and in the background while still being important. Best friends with Ritsu from childhood, she’s extremely introverted, although she gets annoyed at Ritsu's constant teasing. The first member they manage to convince to join the club is ~~~img500(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pZ46KImImoM/maxresdefault.jpg)~~~ #~~~Tsumugi Kotobuki, "Mugi"~~~ A sweet girl… who just so happens to be rich as hell. Considered a piano prodigy from the age of four and playing on keyboard for the club, she’s a well-mannered girl who simply wants to experience the joys of middle-class social life. A running gag is that she has large eyebrows that look like ~~~img500(https://i.imgur.com/gN8BVtt.gif)~~~ She also seems to be quite strong, carrying around Ritsu’s drum pieces with ease. Whenever the club takes a break, they drink expensive tea and eat cakes, which are provided to the club by Mugi. Originally planning to join the choir club, she joins the light music club to participate in Mio and Ritsu’s antics. After getting Mugi to join, the fourth girl to join is ~~~img500(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1f/c7/3b/1fc73bfef2d3515b35cca7c8f74dec03.jpg)~~~ #~~~Yui Hirasawa~~~ A very simple-minded, fun-loving girl… who doesn’t know a lick of anything music-related. She seems to have no real idea of what she wants to do, and initially checks out the club thinking she would be playing castanets. When she joins the club, however, they fill the 4-member threshold, so she’s pressured to stay. This turns out for the better, however, as she learns to play guitar and sing. She can eat all she wants without gaining weight, so she’s usually the first to call a tea time break. And last but not least, we have the most beautiful, blessed, perfect anime character to grace the world with her existence ~~~img500(http://s3.narvii.com/image/4pawj3m7czw3lkekzoary7bz4yabp2lz_00.jpg)~~~ #~~~Azusa Nakano, "Azunyan"~~~ Alright, so maybe I’m exaggerating, but I do love Azusa. She’s the last member to join the club, and a year younger than the other four. She plays on rhythm guitar, and although she claims to be only intermediate, she plays much better than her lead guitar counterpart. Sometimes she’s made to put on cat ears, making Yui dub her “Azu-nyan.” She’s considered very cute by everyone, and although she gets upset at her fellow band members for not practicing, she too enjoys having cake. These five girls develop as the show progresses, each happily finding what they respectively wanted or needed. With the characters out of the way, let’s go on to #~~~__PLOT__~~~ I’ll admit, while K-ON! is my favorite anime of all time, season one is slightly a drag to power through. It’s a little slow and repetitive, always ending the same way: the girls begin to practice music, Yui gets tired five minutes in, and they take a break to drink tea. It’s best if you only watch a few episodes at a time of season one as it can get monotonous if you binge it. That being said, it’s necessary, because it sets up the relationships and foundations of season two… goodness gracious, season two is the final and greatest utterance of the human mind. It’s both fun and philosophical. In season two we see the girls each overcoming their own obstacles: Ritsu becomes more responsible, Mio becomes more comfortable with herself, Yui begins to take her life more seriously, Mugi finds a place where she belongs, and Azusa learns to enjoy the little things in life. All of these life lessons are shown realistically as five teen girls go through high school together. And they'll touch your heart easily. So an anime about music… surely it must have great music? That it does. The five turn the club into a band called Ho-Kago Tea Time (meaning "afterschool tea time" in Japanese) and every song released by Ho-Kago Tea Time is an absolute masterpiece. The music is cutesy but lyrically deep. For example, the first and most iconic song written by HTT, __Fuwa Fuwa Time,__ has the two pre-choruses claim: >Oh, please, God/I am begging you/to give me some dream time for the two of us >Why is this Dream Night so painful/That I’ve come to like it?/I’ll cuddle my favorite teddy bear to fall asleep tonight/Will I be okay tonight? It’s mostly endearing pop-rock love ballads, but the songs are bangers and great to listen to. Here’s a sample. youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv8gqDMEdTY) The OP’s and ED’s as well are incredibly well done, and will have you bopping along to them, if not trying to learn Japanese to sing along to them. youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwpK5QJu6K4) In addition to music, the art style is incredibly breathtaking and detailed. Definitely one of the better works of Kyoto Animations. I mean, look at this turtle: ~~~img500(https://external-preview.redd.it/VW1qz_FFXXB56zWTzT5hkoVM2RVpY2b-2B4o1ybmVHk.jpg?auto=webp&s=d2108378d5894bee559f679176bdebc998eabef8)~~~ It’s very visually pleasing by all means. ~~~img500(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dyuBkX-BkN8/hqdefault.jpg)~~~ So to wrap up. K-ON! Is a must-watch for anyone and everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned weeb or dipping your toes into anime, K-ON! is lovable by everyone and easily one of the best anime of all time. You can watch it and have fun, or you can analyze it from a literary standpoint, and find in either book the show is a masterpiece.

AnimeDweeb

~~~ [ img100%(https://i.imgur.com/zSOh3d5.png) ](https://anilist.co/activity/210905962) *** **The following review of *K-On* S2 is a direct follow-up to [my review of S1](https://anilist.co/review/19172).** **I strongly recommend giving that a read before continuing here, thanks!** *** img100%(https://i.imgur.com/nhUW0Bp.png) ~~~

Naoko Yamada's *K-On* found immense success for one key reason. A factor so instrumental and important that, if absent from the get-go, may have resulted in the show's cancellation after its freshman season. Instead, the sequel got greenlit faster than you can say "[lycopene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ditnIMCzV9U)". Yamada's team were back in business [as early as 3 months after the production of S1](https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2015/11/01/k-on-s2-staff-interviews-pt-1-director-naoko-yamada-series-composer-reiko-yoshida-dialogue/), catering to droves of fans hungry for more *K-On*. Since this was all happening way back in the early-2010s, most of you might need some context on what exactly *K-On* did to earn such infectious demand in its heyday. Fret not, I've got you covered! Here's a shocking hint: the largest contributing factor to *K-On* 's popularity has almost nothing to do with the reasons discussed in [my breakdown of S1](https://anilist.co/review/19172).

Whenever you're ready, click the **spoiler-free** tag below to uncover the truth.

~~~ img50%(https://media.tenor.com/2xSCxo2jtUkAAAAM/stressed-out.gif) ~~~

The show's never-before-seen commercial reach managed to bring in [audiences who hadn't previously frequented anime](https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=369067). Viewership of males and females were also relatively even during the heights of "*K-On* Fever", indicating a wide-spread appeal significantly unaffected by individual differences in taste or genre preferences. And echoes of this broad appeal can still be observed today amidst the anime community, long after the show's explosive popularity has faded away. We now can identify a plausible cause for the franchise's success, but the source of *K-On* 's longevity is a different matter altogether. What makes this show so universal and timeless? Time to find out, let's jam!

~~~ img75(http://i.imgur.com/enFZm6X.gif) ~~~

---

~~~ webm(https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/cff790b8bf7662b03cf005296cbb4cce.mp4) ~~~

To clue us in on how [KyoAni](https://anilist.co/studio/2/Kyoto-Animation) tackles the girls' sophomore season, we need to bring up a prologue to S2 that isn't discussed frequently enough. I do sympathize with why no one talks about it, the reason being that it's by and large the weirdest episode in all of *K-On*. Airing the week after S1's finale, "Winter Days" (S1 Ep13) goes against the CGDCT grain and delivers possibly the most stress-inducing bonus episode I've seen thus far. Most OVAs would be content with throwing in fan-service scenarios and crafting low stakes for its characters. But for a series where "lowkey fun" is already the default, this episode provided Yamada & [Yoshida](https://anilist.co/staff/97076/Reiko-Yoshida) the opportunity to tackle a narrative prompt neither [Kakifly](https://anilist.co/staff/102362/Kakifly) nor the production staff had worked on up till that point. This experiment opens on Houkago Tea Time (HTT) at their clubroom, before spending its second act following separate storylines from each girl's POV. With HTT momentarily parting ways, the show tries its hand at exploring the girls outside of the group dynamic, and the results are kinda unnerving. Yoshida's script is a mini "variety hour" of unexpected detours, which I'll rank here based on the distance each arc left between my jaw and the floor:

~~~ img100%(https://64.media.tumblr.com/686335cba8c400857aa3c38b8112d959/c1a56aa61863301a-5a/s540x810/af337680b6ca6b253f20aa140c611442a3ded284.gifv) ~~~

Of course, this is still *K-On* at the end of the day, and these side stories wrap up in sweet fashion. With no bearing on the rest of the series moving forward, this episode is by no means a landmark moment for the franchise. If anything, the script having to juggle 5 mini-arcs within 20 minutes leaves these plot points feeling rather bare-bones. That's not to say that *K-On* 's oddest installment isn't noteworthy either. Stripped from the series' chirpy BGM and warm color palette, this winter episode's cold tone deviates heavily from the laid-back sitcom we've come to know and love. As the storyboard artist for this episode, Yamada evidently influences many of the stylistic and visual choices here. In particular, scenes featuring Ritsu are arguably Yamada's most mature in all of *K-On* , and bears closest resemblance to the director's critically-acclaimed output of recent years. In summary, this bonus story displays the production team's willingness to bend and break the CGDCT mold, in favor of taking a more comprehensive deep-dive into the band members' life experiences. The weird experimentation of "Winter Days" formed rough outlines at worst, but provided a conceptual blueprint for an endearing second season to come.

~~~ webm(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/766670782494408744/1054326555339395092/Yui.mp4) ~~~

In essence, *K-On* 's mission statement in its sophomore season is change. Change is evident as early as its iconic opening sequence; the two series premieres are distinct in approach. Yui, the once-aimless first-year who did the whole "girl running with toast" thing, only to end up arriving at school early on accident, is now punctual on purpose. She's shown practicing an opening riff in the clubroom, with an initiative built up over two years with the club. Outside her window, cherry blossoms signal the entrance of Spring, and a new season of change. The typical *K-On* fare of upbeat slapstick is supplanted with a more melancholic tone. As the third year of HTT's founding members commences, so is the underlying sense that change is on the way. Now, we'd be remiss to expect some radical overhaul. A majority of S2 retains the cutesy comedy of its predecessor. Outsiders criticize HTT for lazing around in their cozy clubroom, but don't be mistaken. Impermanence between seasons and across the span of S2 showcase organic growth. This is a gentle change, as slow as it is inevitable, and S2 seizes opportunities to catch viewers off-guard with its presentation, much like with this opening scene.

There's a discernible bump in visuals across the board. Of course, that includes the storyboards, which are bursting with a fuller non-verbal command of the medium — a hallmark of both the director's and studio's illustrious track records. A bigger budget and more streamlined production pipeline enabled Yamada's heightened influence over the series' visual direction. Depicting new backdrops both within and beyond HTT's school campus, S2 marks an impressive improvement in both scope and detail. The production team displays a good eye for foreground, background and off-screen interplay. Characters enhance their surroundings by interacting all across the frame, even in places one might not expect. One more key upgrade lies in S2's naturalistic tweaks in art direction. Where its predecessor would rarely shy away from loose linework and *chibi* cutaway gags, S2 instead strikes a more grounded approach towards the band members' visual vocabulary. [Horiguchi](https://anilist.co/staff/102497/Yukiko-Horiguchi)'s versatile character designs are instrumental in this regard, enabling more realistic mannerisms that convey both comedy and personality. The idiosyncratic "[Yamada-isms](https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2015/11/01/k-on-s2-staff-interviews-pt-1-director-naoko-yamada-series-composer-reiko-yoshida-dialogue/)" incorporated further evolves the characterization *K-On* already excelled at during the season prior. These aesthetic adjustments allow *K-On* to deliver two different kinds of key experiences throughout both seasons, which I'll let you compare for yourselves here:

~~~ webm(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/766670782494408744/1054330044899672064/S1.mp4)
####K-On *S1 Ep 4, "Training Camp! "* webm(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/766670782494408744/1054332883495550996/S2.mp4)
####K-On *S2 Ep 13, "Late Summer Greeting Card! "* ~~~

*K-On* 's first season can be described as having built itself around big "landmark" moments. A new member joins, a band trip takes place, a major school concert happens, and they do it all over again in Year 2. The predictable nature of this sitcom structure does lend S1 a consistent momentum in terms of pacing. But because high school lasts just a year longer for HTT, simply repeating the same rigamarole for the sequel wouldn't work without some adjustments. With twice the episode count and half the chronological time period, S2 decides to double- no, *quadruple* -down on its mundanity. Understandably, consistency gets thrown out the window with certain episodes feeling even more uneventful than before; "Hot" (S2 Ep11) sticks out in my mind as an especially exasperating example. Despite this downside, this change in approach works wonders for the *K-On* franchise. Watching the ways HTT laze their days away may not sound appealing on-paper in terms of entertainment value. But as moments that showcase the girls' tight-knit cohesion and chemistry, these small scenes become as important to *K-On* as their key highlights. Where S1 was tasked with portraying a growing relationship between band members, S2 is given free rein to deepen its core bonds beyond the context of the club. Plot points revolving around school trips, cultural festivals and sports days are almost obligatory when it comes to every high school SoL. That being said, these beats in S2, as well as other less-orthodox premises (S2 Ep7), further flesh out the world around the girls, while contextualizing their experiences as touchstones of their youth. If Kakifly's *4-koma* resembled a newspaper comic strip in structure, S2 decisively shatters that perception in entertaining fashion, while still building upon its defining character comedy. Further iterating on the groundwork set by "Winter Days", *K-On* engineers fresh premises and explores new dynamics within the clique. Sharp characterization grows from strength to strength, as Yoshida frequently finds new ways to comment on and play around with established pairings. Episodes that are self-aware of its formulaic moe trappings (S2 Ep16) and dare to break that cycle entirely (S2 Ep13) prove that its fun is not (entirely) mindless. The "landmark" occasions I spoke of feel more important thanks to added buildup and catharsis, allowing the sequel season to one-up itself with every milestone.

~~~ webm(https://i.imgur.com/9dDdxqE.mp4) ~~~

The lowest points of S2 are offset by its emotional peaks. This CGDCT sometimes blindsides viewers with powerful scenes that fully tap into the series' potential as a coming-of-age story. From tedious start to heart-wrenching end, and the gradual changes in-between — *K-On* 's most memorable moments result not from goofs and gaffs, but from documenting the precious high-school years of HTT's founding members. Sure, there's every chance that these experiences are mundane and unremarkable on the surface. But as the saying goes, there's no time like the present. And the present moments mean everything to these young girls.

>### [ "K-On" mostly only has female characters appear in it. And yet, [Yamada's] thoughts were not about making it focused on “moe” but instead making its theme about “**adolescence**” to [deliver] a kind of freshness that hadn’t been felt before. For me, I wanted them to appear **more than just being cute**; I wanted them to feel “**alive**.” Also, I wanted to impart that feeling of “**they’re living in no other point than at this moment**.” ](https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/k-on-staff-interviews-pt-1-director-naoko-yamada-series-composer-reiko-yoshida-dialogue/)

--- Reiko Yoshida, Series Composer

What makes *K-On* an impossible classic? Readers, I think we finally have an answer.

~~~ img100%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/766670782494408744/1054428097207873536/41f4d76e6647e3cbf5c59526ffbb177854253053.jpg) ~~~

Looking at various interviews about the series' development, a recurring theme brought up by staff members was that of [*K-On* prioritizing "atmosphere" over story](https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2015/11/01/k-on-s2-staff-interviews-pt-1-director-naoko-yamada-series-composer-reiko-yoshida-dialogue/). Audiences are treated to a backstage, all-access pass to the atmosphere of HTT — these girls' lives behind the curtain as *both* band mates and school companions. The show deals with band experiences not because they're meaningful to musicians, but because they're meaningful to *them* as a collective of close friends. This same meaning manifests in the mundane day-to-day scenarios that make up a majority of the show. From rockin' out in front of a packed hall to spending an entire afternoon trying to turn on an AC, the bonds shared within the band remain the primary focus. But in diminishing the impact of the story, the atmosphere needs to fill the gap, and Yamada meets that need like few other creators could. In my S1 review, we touched on how [Yamada and Yoshida fed off each other's creative energy](https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/k-on-staff-interviews-pt-1-director-naoko-yamada-series-composer-reiko-yoshida-dialogue/). Yamada made Kakifly's characterization comprehensive, with an almost obsessive fixation on the girls' individualistic portrayals. Yoshida, inspired by Yamada's attention to detail, caught on to the task at hand through thoughtful dialogue and screenplays, which in turn gave Yamada more to chew on with her direction. Yamada's team injects an overabundant amount of detail into seemingly underwhelming situations, and the end product is, funnily enough, immersion! Where many other shows attempt to construct hilarious performances worth laughing at (ex. [*Nichijou*](https://anilist.co/anime/10165/Nichijou/) , [*Kaguya-sama*](https://anilist.co/review/6996) , etc.), *K-On* 's approach has more in common with an inside joke uttered within a group of close friends. "Objectively" it may fall short, but the intimacy created between show and viewer allows for even the dumbest moments to land like comedy gold. "Fun things are fun," regardless of how these seemingly mundane moments are perceived on-paper, because of the intrinsic value of the present, shared alongside the closest of friends — that's *life* , and this show is impossible for being imbued with so much of it. Whenever *K-On* does decide to try its hand at more ridiculous storylines, the friends' undeniable rapport remains the grounded core of the show. The sitcom itself is really silly and borderline insufferable at times, yet is a perfect vehicle for our friends to build authentic on-screen camaraderie. I could watch these goofballs do anything and everything. Where a lack of a narrative is often seen as a negative, here it's what allows the series to shine. HTT invites us into the band and the bond they share, with a curated authenticity of being amongst a tightly-knit group of friends that goes above and beyond the details I typically observe and critique in other media. Despite the decade-long attempts of countless CGDCTs and *moe* -adjacent shows (a couple noteworthy examples you should definitely check out: [*Sora yori mo Tooi Basho*](https://anilist.co/anime/99426/Sora-yori-mo-Tooi-Basho/), [*Bocchi the Rock!*](https://anilist.co/anime/130003/Bocchi-the-Rock/)) to emulate this success, *K-On* stands out so deeply to me because I know no other show like it. The sweet kinship these endearing girls develop throughout their detailed daily-life experiences offer a sense of lively immersion that's somehow both fictitious yet real. That's the reason why they make up my favorite ensemble cast of all-time. It's why I laugh along with their stupid sketches, and why it hurts when they have to say goodbye. Change is as slow as it is inevitable, and the series bows out in front of its audience, leaving a question to ponder as the curtain closes:

~~~ #What happens after "After School Teatime"? img100%(http://38.media.tumblr.com/4fbc0c9f074b8ba0ef3ea6b1fc2aab7d/tumblr_nch6pl1vUi1ti6a52o1_500.gif) ~~~

As much as I adore each of the five girls, I have to admit that Azusa used to be my least favorite of the quintet by a huge margin. Not that there was anything wrong with that, as there was plenty of reason to believe that this consequence was natural and possibly by design. Heck, even Yamada herself wasn't sure if Azusa would be featured in the TV series, and [entertained the possibility of limiting the show's focus on the main four from start to finish](https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/k-on-staff-interviews-pt-1-director-naoko-yamada-series-composer-reiko-yoshida-dialogue/). Missing out on a whole year with both HTT and the audience, Azusa just didn't feel on-par within the in-group, but ever so slightly seemed like an outsider and odd-one-out. She played the straight man at times where even the level-headed Mio would get carried away, and in the process somewhat sacrifices potential charisma for being somewhat of a buzzkill. The lively, chaotic presence of her *senpai* O.G.s were sorely missed in episodes where she split off from them. Of course the other 4 cherish and value her all the same, but that distinction still lingers in Azusa and the audience's perspective. She's someone who stumbled across a home in the light music clubroom, and a family in Houkago Tea Time. This means a lot to her, but she sees herself one step behind her graduating seniors. When next Spring rolls around, change will beckon her to keep the club running with new members, thereby opening up the possibility of preserving her home and the club's glory days. Back in S1 Ep 9, the song that Yui plays helped Azusa understand what makes HTT and *K-On* so special: the precious and meaningful friendship shared among these individuals. For all her musical know-how, Azusa hadn't found bonds so special until she came across the band. And the time had now come for these special friends to leave us both behind. Azusa was my least favorite member when I watched *K-On* for the first time, because she most closely resembled me, as the audience. And it's for this same reason that she became my most important character on repeat viewings.

~~~ img100%(https://animewriter.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/let-the-sun-shine.jpg) ~~~

Change, as slow as it is inevitable. The TV seasons of tea-drinking (and the few jamming sessions in-between) had come and gone. These 5 friends weren't going to be with each other in the same way. Things were going to be different, but they didn't have to be over. It's a track from the band that gave Azusa answers in S1, and it's fitting that one last song comes to the rescue in the series finale. "Graduation is not the end," Yui sings, as a parting gift from each of the seniors. Change is part-and-parcel of life, but important friends can outlast phases. HTT was formed before the 5 girls became friends, yet those bonds will outlast the short-lived school band. In friendships, what you do doesn't matter, be it making music for a band or stuffing yourself silly with sweets. Rather, it's about what you find as a result of those shared experiences — the highs and lows of life, the sweat and tears, the lessons and laughter, the friends we make along the way. *K-On* taught me that message by letting me experience the intimate friendship of these girls on a deep, personal level. HTT may never reach Ritsu's lofty dream of performing in front of a packed Budokan. But as they wrap their live set on that school festival stage for the last time, in the peak of their high-school days; Ritsu, Mio, Mugi, Azusa and Yui are eternal. **8/10**~

~~~ webm(https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/3f86158391b74c2b539b705d17a5dc52.mp4) ~~~ *** ~~~ #**FIN**... ~~~ ***

…is what I would have liked to say, but this story has other plans. Can't believe I'm about to make a complaint about filler in a series with barely any plot, but here we are.

~~~ #Dweeb's Quick Rant About [*K-On! Movie*](https://anilist.co/anime/9617/KON-Movie/) img100%(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/33/d0/38/33d0380af5c37810a75b1d92c8314b84.gif) ~~~

If you feel that the perfect way to end this review happened 2 paragraphs ago, then perhaps you might empathize with my mixed feelings toward this film. For the record, there's nothing I really dislike about the *K-On! Movie*. But I've binged the entirety of *K-On* twice now, and the movie has stuck out as easily the least enjoyable part on both occasions. Simply put, I just think it doesn't need to exist. And no, this isn't me complaining about the anime production deviating from the source material with an original movie; if you need further proof of just how superior the adaptation is to the manga, take a look at how both versions conclude and realize that the heartwrenching plotline of Azusa bidding her seniors farewell is COMPLETELY omitted by Kakifly, who just treats his final chapter like any of his previous sketches. Similarly, my personal gripes with the movie stem from making this distinction. When you have a series finale as phenomenal and fitting as "Graduation!", is it really worth detracting from that with a sequel? Well, the answer turned out to be yes, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if KyoAni greenlit the project due to the mouth-watering boatloads of money possible with the *K-On* cash-cow IP. Despite it containing a couple of the most funny sketches in the entire series, I don't believe that the movie is a substantial improvement over anything we've seen in the series. Story-wise, it only makes sense thanks to a series of confusing retcons via bonus OVA episodes released after S2's broadcast. Following this, the film's emulation of the structure of the TV show isn't as effective on the big screen, and it meanders between mildly amusing comedy scenes before staging what is essentially an encore of S2's finale. While the movie's big budget is much appreciated, the locales of London don't hold a candle to the lived-in atmosphere of the Music Room. The animation staff likely had a lot of fun traveling in the UK to bring this impromptu vacation to life, and the film's backdrops showcase yet another level-up in the visual department. Still, I don't think Yamada necessarily improves all that much from her work on the TV series, and the introduction of camera shakes for half the film communicate questionable style over comfy substance. Overall, while an above-adequate movie, this sequel is overshadowed by the powerful moment of closure that it aimed to repeat. As painful as it may sound, I wouldn't mind being in a world where the iconic "[I AM A BUCHOU](https://anilist.co/activity/159039814)" never happened. There just isn't a whole lot to justify the movie's central conceit of shifting the perspective of *K-On* 's final episode from Azusa to the seniors. However, things finally start to come together towards the amazing last 15 minutes of the movie, which I would have preferred to have seen as a bonus OVA, rather than a full theatrical release. Now, all this isn't to suggest that the *K-On! Movie* is devoid of merit. I'm just candidly sharing my experiences, and it would be disingenuous of me to suggest that the film makes for the ideal send-off for HTT. I think my reception of the movie is significantly impacted by watching it so soon after S2, so maybe keep that in mind if you're planning on binging the series yourself. Personally, I'd recommend saving *K-On! Movie* for a rainy day, and giving it a watch as an alternate, less time-consuming means of revisiting the gals. **6/10**~

***

With that cute last encore, *K-On* had done the impossible and cemented its anime legacy for years to come. With both fictional and real-life iterations of the band having stepped away from music, the IP's popularity did recede with time. *Mangaka* Kakifly's [repeated attempts at reviving the franchise](https://anilist.co/manga/102317/KOn-Shuffle) never really [got off the ground in quite the same way](https://bluebluewave.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/k-on-manga-end/). As a commercial juggernaut, *K-On* certainly received more praise for the product than the person who put it together. At the time, Naoko Yamada's contributions to the show may have been understated in the public eye, but they did not go unnoticed within her studio. Kyoto Animation was convinced that Yamada's big break was no fluke. The young animator's short yet exponential rise in the industry demonstrated undeniable talent, with no signs of slowing down. KyoAni's old guard of trusted animation veterans were counting on her to take the studio to new heights. All eyes were on Yamada and her new venture — one made more bold and daring than her last, thanks to a big new development: [complete creative control](https://anilist.co/anime/16417/Tamako-Market/). Was the weight of immense expectations too much, too soon for the aspiring director? Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

But maybe not for long though. Y'all real ones know how slow I was with dropping this review, *tee-hee*.

~~~ img100(https://i.imgur.com/lAZMhPc.gif) ~~~ ~~~ webm(https://i.imgur.com/czLIeVq.mp4) ~~~ *** ~~~ #You've just read Part 3 of **Understanding Yamada**. img100%(https://i.imgur.com/zSOh3d5.png) ##**U.Y.** is an ongoing series of reviews, dedicated to exploring the evolution of one of the most prominent directors in anime today. img47%(https://i.imgur.com/QPjlMaF.gif) img47%(https://i.imgur.com/P95WxPX.gif) img44%(https://i.imgur.com/jNK6z5d.gif) img49%(https://66.media.tumblr.com/970f6cf332cddd5a2423f57aaed9776b/tumblr_pnycj9MzB31qkz08qo1_540.gif) *** ##Click below to view the series so far! [ img15%(https://i.imgur.com/GUxr4DK.png) ](https://anilist.co/review/10909) [ img15%(https://i.imgur.com/5mABX8x.png) ](https://anilist.co/review/19172) [ img15%(https://i.imgur.com/YO0KCI5.png) ](https://anilist.co/review/19238) [ img15%(https://i.imgur.com/LFGXqPb.png) ](https://anilist.co/review/23528) img15%(https://i.imgur.com/IHX7D4V.png) img15%(https://i.imgur.com/IHX7D4V.png) ~~~ ***

Oh, and if you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other [reviews](https://anilist.co/user/AnimeDweeb/reviews) for seasons past and present. I also frequently post writeups under my list updates, so definitely take a peek if you'd like to see me mald over anime as they hit the airwaves. Peace~