Hyakusho Kizoku-the farmer's days (Seasons 1-3) Anime Review

I have a lot of respect for Hiromu Arakawa, not just because she made some of my favorite stories of all time, but also because she has never been afraid to discuss her roots before becoming a manga creator. In fact, I personally knew about Arakawa's background well before watching this series, since I know it also influenced the creation of shows like Silver Spoon, which took place at an agricultural school. Like that show, Hyakusho Kizoku-the farmer's days is a fun introduction to different elements of farming, but this time it's framed through a much more direct and personal lens. Each episode is about four minutes long and starts almost the same way: Arakawa, decked out in her iconic cow avatar, sits down with her editor to share stories or go over fun scenarios from her time growing up on a dairy farm.

The style itself is incredibly simple, with most of the animation being very limited. Everything is flat, and it uses a lot of motion tweening. The art style itself is far simpler than almost any other series that Arakawa has drawn. There are still some iconic bits of presentation in the characters' facial expressions, like when they get shocked or angry, because Arakawa has a very particular way of drawing these types of faces. So even if this is stylistically different from what mainstream fans might be used to, it still has a charm that is unequivocally Arakawa's. The soundtrack matches the zany tone and fast pace, with a lot of country-themed motifs.

The dialogue itself is very fast-paced and snappy. The back-and-forth between Arakawa and her editor almost feels like a comedy duo, with Arakawa fluctuating between being over the top or incredibly sullen for the sake of a punchline, while her editor Ishii maintains a more even tone throughout until something so shocking happens that even she has to scream at it. The chemistry between them is incredible to the point where I feel like these two could genuinely talk about anything, and I would still find it entertaining. While neither character is played by their real-world counterpart, the acting is so involved and passionate that I have no trouble believing there is at least some truth to this dynamic, mirroring how the two get along in real life.

As for the stories themselves, they often range from being incredibly mundane to wildly fantastical. Most of the stories seem to be based on Arakawa's actual experiences, like taking care of specific livestock, some of those stories that happened on the farm growing up, stories that she heard from her parents, recent stories that happened after she left the farm, or things that she hopes for the future. Some stories don't have a point, while others clearly highlight a specific part of farm maintenance that many general audiences don't know or often overlook. Even if there are some stories that I don't personally find entertaining, I always feel like I'm walking away learning something either about the world of agriculture or about Arakawa's personal way of looking at things. Considering that this is a mangaka I deeply respect, that is honestly enough for me.

But is it enough for other people? I think so unless you just really hate Arakawa or agriculture. Not many anime go into these particular topics this way. The fast pace, combined with the short episode length, means that even with three seasons, you could finish all of this in an afternoon. However, even if the series were longer, you can still get a lot of both enjoyment and knowledge from it compared to other shows out there. It's refreshing and sweet to hear what influenced Arakawa, how much she still appreciates where she came from, and how she never wants that part of her life separated from the success she is experiencing. Trying out a few shorts is worth your time. It might not make you burst out laughing the whole time, but the energy is infectious. Next thing you know, you might've just ended up watching all the way until the end like me.