Wagnaria!!/Working!! Series Review

This is a comedy/slice of life type of #Anime. It was released in 2010 and 2011 by A1-pictures (who made "Fairy Tail", "SAO", and many other popular series'). It was directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike, who hasn't done anything famous that readily comes to mind. I think he did something on "Excel Saga" awhile ago. There may be a third season, but this review is on seasons one and two. Let's get to it.

A group of people who have different eccentricities all work at a family diner named Wagnaria. The main plot, if there is one in slice of life anime, starts with a girl named Poplar Taneshima needing to find another part time worker for the restaurant where she works. After a long day of asking random people in the street if they want to work at the restaurant, she bumps into Sota Takanashi on his way home.

 

Takanashi at first believes she is a child and that she is lost. Once he learns she is 17, he can't believe someone so tiny and cute could be 17 (he has a strange weakness for tiny and/or cute things). He decides to take the part time job because the tiny elementary schooler (he is in denial about her age) would be there. He then meets the cast of characters at Wagnaria. The cast eventually expands to about fifteen who are all strange, in their own unique ways. Takanashi feels like the only normal person there, while his co-workers think he is kind of creepy. Funny and harmless, but still creepy.

 

  

The plot then revolves around the individuals problems or just everyday things, occasionally adding new characters. Takanashi does try to help one girl specifically and that is the main story line of both seasons. The girl's name is Mahiru Inami. Inami has a general fear of men, and will punch them on sight.... hard. He tries, unsuccessfully in most instances, the curb her murderous intent for all men. At the very least to make her stop punching her co-workers, who fear for their lives.

 

 

Now the question, is it shit?

 

Not at all. The animation and music aren't the best, but it achieves the goal of being funny. It was probably one of the funniest Anime I've seen since "Kore wa Zombi desu ka?" aka "Is This a Zombie?" It is set up almost like a comic strip. One gag after another with a loose premise to hold it all together. The gags can get repetitive at times. The personalities are all different and play off each other well. Even the minor characters, like Takanashi's three sisters for example, were all interesting and at times hilarious. The music, other than the two fantastic openings of both seasons, wasn't very good at all. It was generally elevator type music (which is somewhat understandable given they are in a family restaurant) with cartoon sound effects. There is a noticeable improvement of the art and animation in the second season. I originally didn't watch the series because the art and animation looked old compared to other 2010 Anime. I gave it another try last month, and I'm glad I did. If you like comedy, specifically dry humor and slapstick, you will love this anime. 

 

Overall score: Three girls happily jumping in front of a rainbow.