Hyouka is an enticing anime and a proud production of Kyoto Animation. A perfect blend of mystery and mundanity, Hyouka makes sure that none of those elements dominates the other.
“Those with talent who aren’t aware of themselves cause pain for those who have none.”
Fuyumi Irisu, Hyouka
Houtarou, a boy with a knack for looking at things with different perspectives thinks that this ability uses too much energy to use and tries his best to refrain doing so.
Chitanda, a girl who excels in bookish knowledge, has a knack of being curious about absolutely everything. She relies on Houtarou’s perceptive abilities for satisfying her lust for knowing the reason behind every little mystery.
With every passing episode, the characters become a little more like each other in subtle ways.
Hyouka is a story that makes us want to look at our own lives with a little more intrigue and enjoy the little details that make our own lives beautiful.
1. Release Order
I. TV Series
- Hyouka (2012)
II. OVAs
- Hyouka: Motsubeki Mono wa (2012)
2. Conclusion
There is only one season in Hyouka and hence, the only way you can watch it is its release order.
The episodes are already in their chronological order so there won’t be any confusion while you watch them.
3. Quick Review
I. Story and Characters
Hyouka is an anime that is a strange and somewhat perfect mix of the slice-of-life and the mystery genre. The story revolves around finding the mystery in mundanity and is a wholesome experience for the audience.
While each episode is self-contained, the events taking place in these episodes, form a larger narrative. There is a hint of a budding romance, but that depends on how you personally perceive the story.
The characters in Houyka are its main attraction. Houtarou, a practical genius does his best to conserve his energy by putting in the bare minimum effort required in every aspect of his life.
Enter Chitanda, an intelligent girl with a bubbly personality who pushes Houtarou ever so slightly just so she could satisfy her curiosity about the mysteries around her normal surroundings.
Both the characters are a stark contrast to each other and complement each other perfectly. Their ephemeral nature makes them realistic as they keep growing with each experience.
II. Animation and Sound
Hyouka has phenomenally beautiful animation. It is comparable to the animation of a Shinkai movie with highly detailed portrayals of everyday actions and illustrious exaggerations of emotions when needed.
The animation also explores the “mind palace” of multiple characters and makes the story more immersive.
The soundtrack again is soothing and an absolute delight. From the solo flute and piano tunes to the amazing openings, every sound we hear are music to the ears!
(Expect the dub. Do not watch the dubbed version of Hyouka, it is extremely painful to listen to and will ruin your entire experience.)
4. About Hyouka
The anime Hyouka is based on a mystery novel written by the widely acclaimed author Honobu Yonezawa who is a prominent figure in the Japanese literary scene. He has won prestigious awards like Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel in 2011.
Houtarou Oreki’s motto in life is not to waste energy on something that doesn’t value much. The motto soon crumbles down before his eyes when he joins the Classics Club at his sister’s request.
The members of the Classics Club led by inquisitive Eru Chitanda drag him into investigating the 45-year-old mystery surrounding this club for his well-known detective skills.
While investigating, Oreki finds himself solving each of the mysteries that come his way.
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