“Those who have left us won’t be coming back anymore but it’s not like we are alone in this world, so don’t think you have to stick it out on your own.”
— Morinomiya Youko
When Ryuuichi and his baby brother Kotaro lost their parents suddenly to a plane crash while on holiday, the brothers are left wondering how they will survive from now on with no other relatives take them in. But with the help of the Morinomiya Academy’s Chairwoman, the brothers now have another chance to grow up and live a stable life — that is under one condition… Ryuuichi must join the academy’s babysitting club and takes care of the faculty’s children. And there begins the journey of two brothers and the many people they will meet through this babysitting club.
This anime is the perfect slice of life and heartwarming show for anyone who is interested in a light anime. Although I must warn you, you might need a tissue box by your side every now and then because I sure as hell did use up quite a bit of them.
(Caution: some spoilers ahead – read at your own discretion)
At the memorial service for the victims of the plane crash, the two brothers catch the eye of Morinomiya Youko, chairwoman of Morinomiya Academy and someone who also lost loved ones in the plane crash. Youko decided to adopt the two boys, provide them a home and admission to her academy if Ryuuichi joins the academy’s babysitting club and takes care of the faculty’s children before school.
Adapted from the original manga with the same title by Hari Tokeino, it is produced by Brain’s Base Studio, known for Durarara!, Wolf and Spice, etc. But what I found is that this art style is clean and colorful. The characters still hold the same art style as the manga and the art style is not that complicated. But holy hell do the babies look freaking adorable! It warms my heart whenever I watch this anime. I mean look at those chubby little guys! They’re so cute!
(look how cute they are!)
It is amazing to see little Kotaro slowly start to walk, talk, and gain more confidence in himself. When we first meet Kotaro, he barely talks and is very shy and timid. He constantly sticks to his older brother and cries the moment they are separated. I don’t blame him for being so glued to Ryuuichi…they’ve just been through a huge tragedy. But slowly, and sometimes even surprisingly, Kotaro will surprise Ryuuichi — and us — with how fast he learns things, how fast he’s growing, and how fast he’s becoming his own character. And, his voice and overall character design has my heart soaring every time he speaks or does anything!
It is also amazing to see Ryuuichi grow, too. At the beginning, we meet Ryuuichi as a teenage boy who is only worried about Kotaro’s wellbeing more than his own. But slowly, he begins to realize that Kotaro is growing up a lot faster than he thought — soon one day, Kotaro won’t be depending on him anymore. As much as Kotaro was depending on him now, Ryuuichi is also depending on Kotaro, too. Their brotherly love and bond is stronger than any sibling relationship I’ve seen in some animes in the past.
This anime deals with themes of growing up, enjoying life, and also teaches you about dealing with grief after a loss of a loved one or loved ones. I think the biggest lesson I took out of this anime is that accidents and tragedies happen, but it is what you do and make of yourself after these tragedies that helps you move on. You honor the memory of the ones you lost by never forgetting but not getting stuck. This anime is heartwarming, light-hearted, but it has the underlying message of dealing with grief — what a great and subtle way of delivering a message.
I seriously recommend this anime to anyone who is looking for a easy-going anime without too much complications in plot. I always revisit this anime because to me, it will never get old. Have at least some tissues near you. I hope that if you do choose to watch this, let me know what you think!
Where to find this anime:
