Some people know what they want to do for a living from childhood and dive into a fulfilling career path as soon as they are able. For many others, the journey to a profession and aspiration, is a zigzagged path filled with uncertainty, frustration... and excitement. From the start of Sakura Quest, pink-haired protagonist Yoshino finds herself going down the latter, more scenic route. The anime in which she stars is a similarly uneven, though worthwhile work that narrates Yoshino and four other young women's tenures as travel ambassadors working to revive the rural town of Manoyama.
Sakura Quest consists of two halves: one side focuses
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on the characters' personal issues and development and the other centers on the town's struggles with its dwindling population and economy. The first cour of the anime is very dialed in on the main characters. The travel ambassadors are the primary agents of the show, so it's natural to spend time delving into their backgrounds and personalities. Unfortunately, the way the show goes about it is very formulaic. After introducing Yoshino, the writers devote two-episode mini-arcs to each of her fellow members. The episodes aren't bad in and of themselves—the one with Maki acting in a low-budget zombie movie is a hectic good time—but the tidy way that each girl's conflicts are resolved puts a damper on the realism that the show tries to build. Ririko's arc is the most egregious in this aspect, as her issues seem too serious and entrenched to be addressed in such a short period, and her problems never resurface as an obstacle later on.
Yoshino's development is an important component of the series, as she's initially reluctant to become Queen of Chupakabara, Manoyama's mini-nation attraction. Although it's satisfying to see her grow from an immature kid who hates the sticks into a capable woman who embraces her role and the community, her maturation happens too early and too quickly for it to make a big impact by the end of the show. It's also very heavy-handed: more than once, another character comments on how much Yoshino has changed for the better.
One of Sakura Quest's strengths, however, is the travel ambassadors' natural chemistry. They cooperate in their work, they start and resolve arguments, and they make fun of each other, e.g. Sanae's nickname of choice for Maki, “Oden Detective.” The variety of the women's traits make for some interesting dynamics, though the degree to which they have to interact with other members of the community limits the screen time that could go towards deepening or further exploring their relationships. Even so, it's no coincidence that the show is often at its most entertaining when all the girls are hanging out together in their lodging.
Speaking of Manoyama's residents, the supporting characters are a mixed bag. Kadota Ushimatsu, the stubborn chief of the tourism agency, is by far the most colorful character, and the show provides a backstory on him that sheds light on his current behavior and mindset. Kadota's energy makes him a catalyst for several plot events, but he's not so over-the-top that he comes off as annoying or out-of-place. On the other hand, you have the man known as Sandal-san, who's pretty much only good for Mitch Hedberg-esque one-liners and an occasional plot device. He can sometimes be funny, but as a character he's flat and sitcom-y. Most of the other townspeople are unmemorable, though one exception is Erika, a cranky young teenager who gets a nice arc that also fleshes out Maki and Shiori. It's also great that she stays rebellious instead of changing overnight after the focus moves on from her.
The other major angle of Sakura Quest is the central conflict of reviving Manoyama. One theme that the show does well in examining is the tension between bringing in external influences to boost the town's visibility (at the cost of diluting the local culture) and rejecting outside help (which limits its opportunities for growth). This balancing act that the tourism board has to perform throughout the show is pretty interesting to watch. Of course, the elephant in the room for the series' overarching concept is that the revival of a country town is a very long, protracted process. To its credit, the show doesn't bother attempting to make Yoshino out to be some kind of savior within her year-long contract. But the premise effectively forces it into portraying a couple festivals, a mention of Manoyama on television, and a modest video channel for the town as being more significant than they are, because the alternative to maintaining this optimistic outlook would be to admit that the main characters' efforts won't amount to much in the long run.
Sakura Quest has decent presentation and production value. It's not a series that demands a ton of animation, but what's there is adequate. The character art is attractive and distinctive, and the show features a high number of minor characters with unique designs. Another clear indicator of attention to detail is the complexity of the five main characters' wardrobe, as each girl wears over a dozen different outfits over the course of the show. The anime isn't lacking in the sound department either. The voice acting performances are solid, and the opening and ending songs are catchy and competently performed. The first OP is particularly fun due to the animation's synchronization with the music.
It's easy to see how Sakura Quest's potential is capped by its premise. Bringing a town back from the verge of death is a task that can't be completed in the time span that the show covers, and even signs of progress are difficult to achieve in the length of Yoshino's contract as Queen. Because of this, the show lacks a plot-related payoff that's truly meaningful. What the series does offer, however, is a glimpse into the life of motivated people working in a rural setting, as well as a relatable, if somewhat shallow, story of a young woman's transition from adolescence to adulthood. In that regard, Sakura Quest does its job just fine.
Sep 20, 2017
Sakura Quest
(Anime)
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Some people know what they want to do for a living from childhood and dive into a fulfilling career path as soon as they are able. For many others, the journey to a profession and aspiration, is a zigzagged path filled with uncertainty, frustration... and excitement. From the start of Sakura Quest, pink-haired protagonist Yoshino finds herself going down the latter, more scenic route. The anime in which she stars is a similarly uneven, though worthwhile work that narrates Yoshino and four other young women's tenures as travel ambassadors working to revive the rural town of Manoyama.
Sakura Quest consists of two halves: one side focuses ... |
