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Kobato is a simple anime that is rich with warmth and kindness. As she tries to collect confetti to get her wish, Kobato goes through various difficulties as she navigates challenges like relationships, finance, and social interaction in general. And honestly? It was delightful, charming, comedic, and heartwarming.
What is the point of life if not to be kind to others? To bring joy not only to ourselves when we crave it but also to those around us? In Kobato's case, much of her healing nature lends itself to meddling, but what we can learn from her is how strong a force compassion and love can ... be.
The last episode made me CRY if only for a few hard-hitting concepts (and the fact that it is currently 2am and I just finished watching it). This anime has value, both on the simple level of enjoyment but also on a deeper, human level, and I respect it for what it is.
Also, foolish and naive characters trying their best just really hits the sweet spot.

I want to base this on what the anime IS rather than what it could have been. That said, I really enjoyed BNA. The characters were compelling, the universe was intriguing, the art was stunning, and while the anime didn't accomplish anything particularly revolutionary, I thoroughly enjoyed every episode. It was a good concept with some parts that could have been elaborated on or explored more, but in 12 episodes, I still got a good sense of the world at large, the challenges characters faced, and the overarching themes. For a 12-episode anime, the plot was really well-done with a good amount of build and ... a satisfying (although some might say lackluster) resolution. Character design was 10/10 with diverse body types and a stunning lack of hyper-sexualization. Music was very good. Art and animation, incredible, especially during the scenes with more action. Some heavy topics such as prejudice, discrimination, and eugenics, but they didn't feel glossed over or heavy-handed which was refreshing.

This review is pretty scattered, but in short, certainly not the best anime in the world but definitely worth watching.

I was led to this anime from a clip featuring a discussion between two characters. Though this anime is certainly centered on the sport of soft tennis, it deals with a number of other topics in a relatively mature way. A big contributing factor to my score of 7, however, is the fact that, despite the impressive way the show deals with topics like gender, sexuality, familial/parental conflict, and abuse, it is simply not long enough to adequately discuss or resolve each character's situation. That isn't to say that each issue needs to be resolved, but rather, the way each issue is brought up, it ... seems a disservice to leave so many things without any sense of hope or conclusion. This review is being written before the show's conclusion, of course, but it is difficult to imagine anything beyond the sport itself reaching a satisfactory end.
The nature of this anime falling into both the sports and drama genres is unique and appealing, and so far, I have genuinely enjoyed watching it. The art is pleasant, the characters are unique, and the drama aspects are realistic on an individual basis (including physical and emotional abuse, helicopter parenting, gender identity, etc.). It also has a lot of the best elements of many popular sports anime, including prodigious players, teamwork/team bonding, and the underdog rising under pressure. However, I fear that a 12-episode season wasn't enough to do the idea enough justice.

The story of Souta and Poco is, to say the least, heartwarming. Over the course of twelve episodes, the relationship between the two unlikely pair, a web designer and a shape-shifting tanuki, unfolds as they interact with other characters from both rural and urban environments. The general message conveyed is that of familial love and bonds; however, this does not only pertain to conventional families but found ones, too. Though the plot lacks complexity, aside from the occasional drama that comes with exertion and exhaustion on Poco's part (as maintaining a human form is demanding), the story is compelling and certainly draws the viewer in ... with its music (most notably the fun op and soothing ed), its gentle art style, and its well-crafted simplicity. Poco's charm captivated me immediately (just look at those eyes!) and my affection toward him only grew with each episode and his childish antics. Overall, each episode brought a smile to my face, even though there certainly were moments where the story brought tears to my eyes, and the end was satisfying, albeit a bit heart-wrenching.

If you enjoyed series like Barakamon or Usagi Drop, you'll probably find yourself falling in love with this one, too.

~This is my first review, but I plan on writing more in the future.~