Shiawasette Naani

Shiawasette Naani is a short OVA of some historical interest. It is one of the earliest Kyoto Animation works, and the directorial debut of Ishihara Tatsuya, who went on to direct a huge chunk of the KyoAni corpus. It is also the first in a series of anime commissioned by, and based on the writings of, cult leader Ookawa Ryuuhou.

It is clear that the production values here are not high. The animation is somewhat stiff and choppy. I didn't like the sound design, which combines plenty of awkward silence with some weird, overly-loud effects. The extent to which the voiceovers don't match the characters' mouths ... is truly egregious.

As for the story, though, I don't dislike it. Unlike later works associated with Ryuuhou, Shiawasette Naani isn't overtly sectarian propaganda, but comes across as more of a general-purpose parable. I think its message is basically a good one: that remaining cheerful in spite of minor setbacks helps to make life more bearable for everyone around oneself. A simple, bite-sized moral that seems about right for a 15-minute OVA.

By far the most enjoyable part of this, for me, was simply the opportunity to see the humble roots of a director and a studio which I know and love. Recommended only to the amateur anime historians out there.