"Himothe House" review: Exceeding expectations with fun and charming characters

"Himote House": A slightly realistic depiction of the communal life of girls with unique personalities

"Himothe House" is a TV anime series that aired from October 8 to December 24, 2018. It is set in a house in Nakano, Tokyo, and depicts a group of unique girls spending their days happily while worrying every day about how to become popular. As an original anime work, it was written and produced by Bouncy, and directed by Ishidate Kotaro. It is broadcast on TOKYO MX and BS11, and consists of 12 episodes, each 15 minutes long.

story

Himote House is set in a house called Himote House in Nakano, Tokyo. The three sisters of the Himote family, Tokiyo, Kinami, and Kokoro, who own the house, and Kokoro's classmates Tae and Minamo, as well as the pet cat Enishi, live here together. Each of the girls has their own unique personality, and they spend their days worrying about how they can become more popular, but they also spend their time happily. What's more, these five people and one cat all share a secret: they all have mysterious powers.

Commentary

"Himote House" is a story about five people and one pet living together in a slightly realistic way. Their daily lives are filled with real worries and joys, such as love, friendship, and work. As it is an original anime, there is a high degree of freedom in the story and character settings, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps viewers from getting bored.

cast

• Tae Hongo: Aya Suzaki
• Kokoro the Stringer: Satomi Akesaka
• Kinami String Hands: Suzuko Mimori
• Tokiyo Himote: Kaoru Mizuhara
• Arai Minamo: Uesaka Sumire
• Enishi: Nishi Asuka
• Peach Bound: Kino Hina

Main Staff

• Director: Ishidate Kotaro
• Original story: Ishidate Kotaro
• Series Composition: Ishidate Kotaro
• Character design: Buta
• Animation Director: Suzuki Kyoki
• Music: Junichi Inoue, Hajime
• Visual design: THINKR
• CG: Linked Brain
• Video production: Linked Brain
• Original author: Bouncy
• Animation Production: Bouncy

Main Characters

Hongo Tae <br> A friend of Kokoro's from college who is now living with the Himote family. She is not shy and says whatever is on her mind. She is a troublemaker with a high level of initiative and a carefree personality. She is the type who tries to get things done with momentum. She is planning to start working as a shop assistant at a department store in Shinjuku this spring. She was born on June 30th and is blood type O. She has a younger brother.

Himote Kokoro <br> The youngest of the three Himote sisters. She is a straightforward, reliable, realist, and quick-witted girl. She loves cats and mainly looks after her pet cat, Enishi. Her hobby is girls' games, and she actually dreams of a beautiful romance. She also has a surprisingly feminine side, such as a love for character-based things. Born October 21st, blood type A.

Kinami Himote <br> The second daughter of the three Himote sisters. She has a romantic disposition and the most girly and troublesome personality. Despite being among the unpopular girls, she is the most enthusiastic about love, but she always seems to spin out of control and end up with broken hearts. She thinks she's good at pretending to be nice, but her true nature is easily revealed. She works at a commercial production company, working as a desk clerk rather than a producer. Born January 27th, blood type B.

Himote Kiyo <br> The eldest of the three Himote sisters. She has a calm and mysterious personality. She sometimes gets excited in strange ways. Her occupation is unknown. She has traveled around the world to research "immortality." She is known for quoting proverbs from around the world in her conversations. Her hobby is photography. She was born on September 8th and is blood type AB.

Arai Minamo <br> A friend of Kokoro's from middle school and high school who lives in the Himote family. A soft and fluffy Japanese woman. Although she is an elusive and mysterious character, she also has a dark side that sometimes makes you feel that she has a deeper side. She works part-time at a bookstore and is studying at a graduate school in literature, aiming to become a novelist. She is not very interested in romance, but seems to have feelings of admiration for Tokiyo. Born October 7th, blood type O. An only child.

Enishi <br> The pet cat of the Himete family. Friendly personality. Although he is a cat, he seems to be allergic to cats. For some reason, he sometimes speaks in Kansai dialect. His trademark is the amulet he wears around his neck. He voluntarily adds "nya" to the end of his sentences so that he doesn't forget that he is a cat, and sometimes he forgets to add it. His birthday is unknown.

Momozono Shibari <br> A research assistant to Dr. Himote Ibuki, the father of the three sisters.

subtitle

• Episode 1: I'll give you something romantic
• Episode 2: Maiden's Policy
• Episode 3: I'm not afraid of getting hurt
• Episode 4: Surely Tomorrow
• Episode 5: The one I love is far away
• Episode 6: Let's go home
• Episode 7: A journey that continues like a prayer
• Episode 8: Things that never change
• Episode 9: A story you don't know
• Episode 10: No Limits
• Episode 11: The Crimson Sun
• Episode 12: Emergency special! A special episode where the cast looks back on the past three months at Himote House

Theme songs and music

OP1
Song title: I want to be popular Lyrics: Junichi Inoue Composition: Junichi Inoue Arrangement: Hajime
Sung by: All the Himote House residents

ED1
Song title: Let's go home Lyrics: Junichi Inoue Composition: Junichi Inoue Arrangement: Hajime
Performed by: Hajime
Sung by: All the Himote House residents

The appeal and evaluation of "Himothe House"

"Himothe House" is a work that depicts the daily lives of unique characters. The episodes that arise from the common concern of the girls, "wanting to be popular," resonate with viewers. In addition, the backgrounds and personalities of each character are carefully drawn, allowing viewers to enjoy their growth and changes.

In particular, each character's personality stands out, such as Kokoro Himete's attitude as a realist, Kinami Himete's love nature, Kiyo Himete's mysterious charm, Minamoto Arai's mysterious character, and Tae Hongo's ability as a troublemaker. In addition, the mysterious powers of Enishi, the pet cat, add depth to the story.

The animation by Bouncy is of high quality, with beautiful character designs and background art. The music, composed by Junichi Inoue and Hajime, adds to the atmosphere of the series, with the opening theme "I Want to Be Popular" and the ending theme "Let's Go Home" becoming memorable hits for viewers.

Recommended points

"Himothe House" can be recommended for the following reasons:

• Characters with distinctive personalities : Each character has a distinct personality, allowing you to enjoy watching them grow and change.
• Realistic depictions of everyday life : The show depicts everyday life, filled with real worries and joys, including love, friendship, and work, eliciting empathy from viewers.
• The presence of mysterious powers : The mysterious powers possessed by the five people and one pet add depth to the story and draw the audience in.
• Beautiful Animation : Bouncy's high quality animation really adds to the appeal of the game.
• Memorable music : The opening and ending songs set the mood of the film and stay in the viewers' minds.

summary

"Himothe House" is an original anime that depicts the somewhat realistic communal life of girls with rich personalities. The charm of the work is enhanced by episodes that arise from the girls' common concern of "wanting to be popular," the presence of mysterious powers, beautiful animation, and memorable music. It is a work that is full of elements that will resonate with and entertain the viewer, so we recommend that you give it a watch.