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I watched this movie at the Akibapass Festival in Frankfurt, Germany. First of all, I have to say that I'm not familiar with the original source (published from 1975 to 1979) or the older anime series, which aired from 1978 to 1979. As it is I cannot compare it to these works and watched it completely unaffected and without any previous knowledge, besides the information which has been included in the trailer. Though as it is written on the manga source page, Haikara-san ga Tooru won the first Kodansha Manga Award for shoujo in 1977, so likely it has been very good as well.

The ... story is put-together enjoyable and the art of storytelling has been made in a very lovely way. The transition between different scenes was often in such a smooth way that you just had to smile at how it was done. As the genre allocation of this anime says Comedy, Historical, Romance, and Shoujo, you get exactly that. I laughed or smiled a lot, while I was watching this movie and as I experienced it at the cinema I was surely not the only one with this expression aka impression of this movie. The historical aspects are also depicted quite well and one or the other scene reminded me of pictures I've seen before (in preparation for a presentation I made) about this era. Also, I haven't seen such a pure romance shoujo for a while, which means some scenes have been worked out almost unrealistically perfect or smooth. But still very enjoyable and sweet. For sure something recommendable for romanticists.

The art was clean, consistent and very lovely. I wouldn't describe it as the most artistic outstanding work ever, but it really was enjoyable. As I've seen this movie only once yet, I cannot further go into detail with this point.

The creators have taken great care of this production. The character design and composition also make it very enjoyable.

As it is Part 1 out of two movies, the story is not yet concluded but the first movie is in its own a great work and is not only the introduction to a bigger following story.
(Like some other multi-part movies have been created.)

Targeted at kids this educational anime does a fairly good job. There is always a thin line in educational anime between being interesting and becoming boring, but in Pikaia they were able to balance out the entertainment and educational parts.

The story is pretty interesting, it often felt like being a fusion of futuristic elements, but also the past of Cambrian era. Mostly the pacing of the show was rater slow, except for their little but important adventure missions.

There was usually at first a block with the actual pikaia episode (short recap & current episode) and after that the educational explanation block, in which they ... referred to the episode, the history/background behind it, but also to today's technology and research. In pikaia they were able to pique the interest from the episode for the follow-up educational part. After this, there always followed another short sequence (with simpler animation) in which the animated singers elfin' had a little platform to talk about the episode or the educational part.

As I don't like such little short "talkshow-ish" sequences that much at the end of animations, I think it might have been great for the music cast to present themselves as well, so I don't mind that much anymore.

Overall the music was really good, the opening suits the anime well, but also the background music was always well chosen. Good job on that!

The animation quality was also on a good level and quite enjoyable.
What I probably liked the most was the character design and the series composition of this series. It has been thought through and written loveable.

The short anime episodes (about 15 minutes long) were a good choice as it stays easy digestible and relaxing to watch. I can imagine to watch this series after a stressed day after work/school. Don't expect deep hidden secrets, which have to be discovered by yourself, it is a series aimed at kids after all. Well done NHK!

It's a while ago, when I saw the first season, but I really liked this Special.

So I think if you've seen the previous episodes, it'll be interesting, too. The'll show some scenes in a different viewing point then Season 1. The story's well told and I enjoyed it very much.

Thanks to it, I really could remember the key points of the series, and I'll like to watch the second soon, would even work as preperation to look the second season, but better for sure watch the full first season, it's worth. :D

It might be a long time ago, when an anime impressed me that badly.

At the first moment I asked myself why there was a card based anime which is tagged in sports. But I realized fast, that it's more about then just a card game.

Karuta's a traditional japanese card game which refers to hundred poems of Japanese classics. There are individual matches and team matches, the ultimate ambition is about using good hearing, quickness, instincts, strategy, feelings and the connection between the poems/cards and yourself to win the matches and to become better Karuta players. You have to take the cards from the opposite ... side faster than your opponent, while they were read and collect it to win.

Chihayafuru could take you to the world of Karuta and maybe you'll start to love it even more, than you did for an anime. At least it worked for me. The hole anime's outstanding and somehow I'm thinking about to play Karuta somewhere along the way. So I hope you'll enjoy Chihayafuru as much I did it.

Don't expect too much out of these shortstories, they're short after all. These few minutes are fun to watch, but you should really first have watched the mainstory of Kobato.

Ioryogi's humour is the best of this special, mostly I liked episode 5. Was more than fun to watch, and episode 8 was ok, too. I think. :P

But its a good addition to the end of the mainstory to cheer up a bit.

At the beginning of the story I liked it, but not more. I thought about Kobato that it'll be a nice, cute story, with a really good story idea, I also liked really the characters with their own natures, But the longer I made progress wirh the story the more I liked it and in the end, this Anime managed it to win me over. (Mostly in the last episodes.)

Tragically, heartbreaking and affecting, but also mostly wonderful. I also think its an interesting ending somehow. So I had to hold my tears as good as I could. If you like heartfilling stories, so I think ... you'll like Kobato.

Don't drop this one until the end,even when you're thinking about it while the beginning episodes, it was worth to watch it.

Finally I watched this movie and I've just to say that I'm really glad about.
Sayonara Menma, but she'll always be in our hearts. And somehow I'm glad about I could write my first (MAL) review about it. :3

I didn't think that this movie'll impress me that much, because I already knew the TV Serie. It's worth it even when you saw the serie. The producers (Aniplex, A-1 Pictures, Aniplex of America) did a really good job on it. But I think, it would be the best if you watch the movie after you've seen the serie, too. It'll give it more depth. (Doesn't mean ... that it won't work without the serie. ;))

I would give the movie at every point 10/10 (except sound), but I've made the character rating a bit lower, because there's not much room to give more in the movie itself, so if you've seen the serie before it'll be a great plus.