Poco's Udon World

Little dude and I were looking for something kawaii and boy, did we find it. Poco's Udon World apparently came out around the same time as Sweetness & Lightning and didn't fare well against it, perhaps because a lot of people thought it was going to be a similar cooking-themed show. It's not at all, though I can see why people might think it based upon the name and the cover image. It's a slice of life with a bit of a twist and it's a one season and done kind of thing (or, at least, it mostly wraps up the story and doesn't leave you hanging).

Meet Souta. He's 30 and lives in Tokyo working as a web designer. He's come home to Kagawara because his father has died and he and his sister are planning on cleaning up the family's home/udon restaurant and selling it so they can get on with their lives. He's feeling very ambivalent as he hadn't been close to his dad since insisting on moving away to the big city rather than continuing the family business.

But he's soon got something to distract him -- he finds a wee little boy hiding out in the restaurant. But it's not a boy...it's a tanuki who can change into a child. After coming to terms (sort of) with this strange predicament, he begins to take care of Poco, introducing him to everyone else as the child of a friend that he's just taking care of. Poco is adorable squared, whether in his human form, total tanuki, or a blend of the two. Seriously. Kawaii. Like make your eyes bleed kawaii.

It's a story of Souta coming to terms with himself and his family. Of family in general. It's about kindness and fear -- fear of things left undone and unsaid. The supporting characters are also great -- his best friend from high school with the pointiest teeth I've ever seen in anime (not just two, but ALL of them) and his own relationship with his father. And Souta's sister, who has fears of her own related to motherhood (their mother died when they were both really young). And there's a charming bit where Souta meets up with an old crush from high school and winds up becoming "mom friends" with her.

Little dude loved all of it except the very end, though I hate to tell him that I'd figured out what was going to have to happen (as well as the "twist" regarding Poco's connection to the family). Poco wasn't going to be able to remain in human form forever. He'd really like more episodes and I wouldn't have minded either. It was surprisingly deep and sweet and satisfying. The only thing I wish was that they'd given a peek into Souta's future--it would have been nice to see him starting his own family. It looked like it was headed that way (Next door Granny's grandaughter made a late appearance) and there was the sister of the Shrine priest.

Souta's one of the nicest anime guys I've seen in a while. You just wanted to give him a hug.