Atashin'chi

Which anime series bring back your childhood memories?

Crayon Shin-chan, Doraemon and Atashinchi always make me think back to my childhood. When I was a little kid I loved those and even though I'm not the youngest anymore (I was born in 1997), I still love them and always enjoy watching them. Since they were also available with Chinese dub (all three were pretty popular in China), even as a little boy, I could understand everything, but after more than 15 years it is twice as much fun watching the whole series again. Childhood is something beautiful that everyone likes to remember. Enjoy this precious ... time!

Now let's take a closer look at this masterpiece:

STORY:
There is no real plot here, the anime shows the everyday life of our little Tachibana family. We experience their everyday life, what they do, what they eat, who they have fun with, etc. An “interesting” family where everyone is a little bit different.
Every now and then we get to see a different setting, so we see the family in medieval style, but also when they are in the future. No matter what period, they still remain themselves.

CHARACTER:
The characters are those what makes this anime special. Everyone is unique in their own way and has different interests and friends.
Let's start briefly with the "heart" of the family: the mother. She's the best bargain hunter and knows the best way to save money. She takes care of the whole household and has fun with her friends, who are similar to her. Together with Ms. Mizushima and Ms. Toyama they form the perfect housewife trio and can overcome all hurdles.
Her husband, on the other hand, is a classic working man. He gets up early in the morning for work and in the evening having a nice beer/sake. Without alcohol, the life wouldn’t be that great (well…I agree with him in this point). He doesn't talk much, but together with his wife they both harmonize perfectly. He's someone who likes to take matters into his own hands. His biggest hobby is by far Pachinko, nothing makes him happier.
With a daughter and a son, they have a perfect family. The older sister Mikan is a typical high school girl, she enjoys spending time with her friends, falls in love and hates it when she is embarrassed by her mother. But she is a very kind girl and does not ask for impossible things that would be financially not makeable for the family.
Her younger brother is a smart guy who recognizes the different situations and can act on them. He understands very quickly what the thing is about. He likes to fool around with his friends and have fun together. Yuzukiho also enjoys playing video games and is very interested in technical devices.
In addition to these four main characters, we also get to know the friends of our family members. They are very different, but all are nice people and have their hearts in the right place.

STYLE:
It is THE Atashinchi art style, there is no doubt. Of course, the animations are a bit outdated compared to the modern anime, but that's exactly what makes it perfect. You feel very comfortable watching it and, even if there are parts that are not perfectly animated, you have a lot of fun. The old style differs significantly compared to the newer version.

SOUND:
"Konnichiha arigatou sayonara mata aimashou". For me it was more like: "Hello. 你 好吗. 郑重 再见. 期待 再 相逢" since I watched it in Chinese. But no matter what language you watch, you love the OP. It brings you in a happy mood already. If you hear the first note of the OP, you know: THIS IS FROM ATASHINCHI. This song will always stay in your head.
The first ED "Kite Kite Atashin'chi" on the other hand brings the after-work atmosphere home. You know the day is over and you can look forward to your warm home and your family. Wholesome music and lyrics.

ENJOYMENT:
I always enjoy watching this series. As mentioned earlier, I strongly associate them with my childhood. All the beautiful, but also sad moments are brought back my memory. I think many of you will agree with me on that point. It is something we will never forget. This series is a part of it. Thanks, Atashinchi!

In conclusion I can only quote the very first sentence from the OP (translated): "Hello, thank you, goodbye, let's meet again!".

This is one of the anime series that is pretty close to the modern Japanese lifestyle other than Chibi Maruko-chan.

STORY: 8/10
Is there a plot? No. This series is literally about the Tachibana family's everyday lives. I find a few early episodes boring, but I still love the Tachibana's everyday lives.

ART: 9/10
Let's say that the art style is very unique, I mean, you can't find an art style exactly like this. The animations are pretty normal, which is good, we don't need really smooth animations just for an entire episode about going shopping or something.

CHARACTERS: 8/10
Just silly little characters.
Mother Tachibana is an ordinary Japanese housewife ... in modern times. She buys REALLY cheap groceries, and makes a...let's just say an average dinner.
Mikan Tachibana is a high-school student. She was also supposed to be the main character. She sometimes gets frustrated and worried, but she's the kind of person who's a relaxed kind. Sometimes.
Yuzu Tachibana is also a high-school student. He's pretty smart and innovative. OH YEAH! He can cook too. At midnight. That's good.
Father Tachibana is an ordinary salaryman. He was pretty quiet in the early episodes. At least he has time to be there his family.
The other characters are pretty fine and have different personalities. Nothing really else to say.

SOUND: 10/10
The first opening song is really really good, and is quite meaningful. The first ending song is also pretty nostalgic, even though I watched this only last year. The rest are also great.

ENJOYMENT: 9/10
I enjoy watching the series. I'll never forget about this anime. Nothing else to say.

OVERALL: 9/10
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