Servant x Service: A thorough look at the appeal and depth of this workplace comedy

Servant x Service: The appeal and depth of workplace comedy

Servant x Service is a TV anime series based on the manga by Karino Takatsu, which aired from July 5 to September 27, 2013. It is made up of 13 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and was available on Asahi Broadcasting and TOKYO MX. Animation was produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto. Copyright belongs to Karino Takatsu, Square Enix, and the Servant x Service Production Committee.

Story and Characters

Servant x Service is set in the counter service department of a local government. It is a workplace comedy that depicts the daily lives of new employees working there. The protagonist, Lucy Yamagishi, aspires to become a civil servant due to her father being a civil servant, and is assigned to the counter service department. Her colleagues include the earnest and meticulous Yagiyama Takeshi, the free-spirited and laid-back Minami Chika, and the calm and collected Sasaki Yuuki. The slapstick comedy they unfold at the workplace and the occasional human drama are what make this series so appealing.

Lucy aims to become a civil servant due to her father's influence, but is dissatisfied with her father's job. Therefore, her struggles at work are also a journey of her own growth and deepening her understanding of her father. Yagiyama's strict personality often causes trouble at work, but her seriousness is also what makes her trusted by those around her. Minami often has a laid-back personality and often leads to people around her being upset, but her free-thinking can also bring vitality to the counter service department. Sasaki often solves workplace problems with his calm judgment, and his presence plays a role in maintaining the balance of the team.

Animation production and direction

The anime adaptation of "Servant x Service" was produced by A-1 Pictures. A-1 Pictures is a production company that has worked on many popular anime, and the quality of their work is well-known. Director Yasutaka Yamamoto faithfully reproduces the atmosphere of the original work while adding the unique production techniques of anime, providing viewers with a fresh experience.

The character designs for the anime are based on the original illustrations, but have been adapted to suit animation. In particular, Lucy's expressive face, Yagiyama's movements that symbolize his meticulousness, and Minami's poses that express his free-spiritedness are impressive. In addition, the use of backgrounds and lighting has been ingeniously used to create Sasaki's cool atmosphere.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The opening theme, "I Am Me and You Are You," is a light-hearted song by 7!! (Seven Oops), that livens up the atmosphere of this workplace comedy. The ending theme, "Song of the Night Sky," is a gentle melody by Miyuki Hashimoto that leaves a lingering impression on viewers. These pieces of music effectively express the development of the story and the feelings of the characters.

Evaluation and acceptance

"Servant x Service" is highly regarded as a work with its own unique appeal within the workplace comedy genre. In particular, it has been highly praised for its skillful portrayal of the characters' personalities and relationships, which makes it easy for viewers to empathize with it. It has also been praised for faithfully recreating the atmosphere of the original work while adding the unique directing techniques of anime.

Viewers often talk about the charms of the characters, such as Lucy's growth, Yagiyama's scrupulousness, Minami's free-spiritedness, and Sasaki's calmness. The slapstick comedy and human drama at the workplace are also praised for being realistic and relatable. Furthermore, the opening and ending music are also cited as elements that leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Recommendations and related works

For viewers who enjoyed Servant x Service, we recommend the following works that also have elements of workplace comedies:

• "WORKING!!" - A workplace comedy set in a family restaurant, depicting the daily lives of unique characters. Like "Servant x Service", A-1 Pictures is in charge of animation production.
• "Gal and Dinosaur" - A workplace comedy about the odd couple, a gal and a dinosaur, filled with humor and emotion.
• "Hanayamata" - A work about youth and friendship, depicting the growth of unique characters. Recommended for viewers who sympathized with the growth of characters in "Servant x Service".

The original manga of "Servant x Service" is also worth reading to get a deeper understanding of the characters' backgrounds and the story. Karino Takatsu's delicate drawing style and humorous story have a different appeal from the anime.

summary

"Servant x Service" is a work that has its own unique appeal within the workplace comedy genre. It has been highly praised for its skillful portrayal of the characters' personalities and relationships, which makes it easy for viewers to empathize with it. It has also been praised for faithfully recreating the atmosphere of the original work while adding the unique production of anime. The opening and ending music are also cited as elements that stay in the viewers' minds.

For viewers who enjoyed this work, we recommend other works with workplace comedy elements such as "WORKING!!", "Gyaru to Dinosaur", and "Hanayamata". The original manga is also worth reading to learn more about the characters' backgrounds and stories. "Servant x Service" is a work that allows viewers to enjoy the charm and depth of workplace comedy, and is sure to be loved by many viewers.