Deaimon First Impressions

“You know, when people eat yummy things, it makes them feel better.”

Slice-of-life series sometimes get a bad rap for being directionless or having no substance, but it’s not feasible to summarize an entire genre in such a manner, particularly when it’s as diverse as slice-of-life. Deaimon is the first slice-of-life I’ve watched this season, but it’s a pleasant installment and makes good use of a niche environment to tell a story about family and responsibilities. If you’re looking for a nice show to unwind with at the end of the week then Deaimon will probably scratch that itch, but if you find yourself unswayed by most slice-of-life series, it’s hard to imagine that this will be the title to change anyone’s mind.

Deaimon is centered on the happenings at Ryokushou, a family owned Japanese confection shop, which our lead, Irino Nagomu, left behind years ago to pursue a career in music. However, after years of his career not taking off, Irino learns that his father is ill and decides to return to the shop. It turns out the illness is nothing serious, but it forces Irino to reassess his priorities. He insists that he has returned to take over the family business, but his parents quickly dismiss Irino’s proclamation with the revelation that they have taken in a 10 year-old girl named Yukihira Itsuka who will one day take over the shop. This premise works well at setting-up a complicated new family dynamic for its characters to interact in. Aspects of the relationship bear a passing resemblance to Usagi Drop, with Irino suddenly taking on a position in Yukihara’s life that calls for new awareness and introspection, but the nature of the players involved is notably different. Irino is presented to the audience as a happy-go-lucky fool, but one who has a degree of emotional insight. In contrast, Yukihira is fixated on being responsible and isn’t prepared to address the various emotional issues that are weighing on her. They provide a delightful balance to one another, and while Irino might not be comfortable with his mother’s suggestion that he act as a father for Yukihara, he clearly cares and is willing to put himself out on the line for her.

When I looked up the info on this show and saw the studio was Encourage Films, I got a far off look and wondered why that name sent a wave of unease through me. A glance at their listed works quickly clarified things for me. Three years ago, they produced an anime called Isekai Cheat Magician, and it was really ugly. The fact I’ve even heard of this studio is rather amazing, because despite having been around for 13 years, they’ve produced very few shows. Regardless of their shaky history, they appear to have done a good job adapting Deaimon as the visuals may look simple, but they never appear ugly or cheap. There is a strong visual cohesiveness between the plain character designs and the calm pastels of the background environments. It all comes together in a manner that complements the heartwarming tone. The show also employs a decent amount of humor and it is cute, but sometimes there can be a sliver of dissonance between the jokes and the series’ aesthetic. The reveal that Irino’s father’s illness was hemorrhoids was not what I was expecting from a show about making traditional Japanese sweets.

Before I wrap up, a few Notes and Nitpicks:

• I enjoy the occasional slice-of-life, but reviewing them can be a pain. Most of the time, it feels like you’ve exhausted everything you had to say by the time you’re done with the introduction.
• To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of Japanese sweets, though my exposure is a bit limited. I have more of a traditional western sweet tooth, but if I ever get a good opportunity I’ll be sure to try more.
• I guess my last slice-of-life would’ve probably been Horimiya. Technically, Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro might qualify as a slice-of-life, but it doesn’t really seem to fit, to me.
• So, Irino’s band was manju-themed, hence the big chestnut on his head in that image. I’m not clear on whether it was an intentionally comedic band, or if he’s just insane.