!!! CONTAINS SPOILERS, SKIP TO THE CONCLUSION !!!
The story revolves around a calligrapher named Seishuu Handa. In the first scene, he was splashing out his big brush against the blank canvass. He aggressively stroked the brush which made the ink go everywhere. At this point, he is losing his marbles as if going crazy. He fell on the wooden floor, thinking of what happened to the art exhibition.
What do I like About Barakamon?
This is a new taste of anime for me. Normally I would go for a rom-com or fantasy anime. This time, it does not involve any romantic scenes. Well, at first I thought that it would be boring because usually I get giddy and excited on rom-com type of animes. I cannot remember the last time I watched a wholesome anime. This is definitely a fresh eye for me!
It is set in the countryside, not the typical city setup. The episodes are mostly set on an island far away from the buzzing and chaotic city of Tokyo. Handa arrived at a ghost-town-like airport. He was the only person in the arriving area. He wondered if he could get a ride going to his rented house. No luck but to walk. Luckily, a grandpa was passing by on the same road and offered a lift.
The anime is not just about calligraphy. It also showed a little culture and the daily life of the island. It is the episode wherein Seishu and Naru visited the grave of grandma for the Bon festival. Onde dance is a dance to welcome spirits. It is 600-year-old folk entertainment for the festival. The music and dance vary depending on what region.
What I learned from Barakamon
Sticking on a minimalist or usual design is not boring!
Sometimes, more is just putting your work into fire. The minimal design focuses on the important element of art. For me, it is important for an artist to master the minimal details before jumping to the bigger picture because it is the foundation of your art. less but better!
Live your life, not on the lives of others
Naru taught Seishu to be carefree for a minute and forget about his failure in the competition. Kids are most likely do not think of failures and disappointments, they are just having fun. As adults, we put ourselves in the expectations of others because that what make us good in their eyes. We do not like to be seen as a failure. When we fail, it is not the end of the world, and it will not always be night. Tomorrow, we can try again.
Worry now or later will not change a thing
Seishu was worried and going back and forth if he will make a good job on painting on a boat owned by a yakuza-like guy. He stared at the blank surface of the boat. Suddenly the Naru and the kids put hand prints on the boat. This made him very worried. He became calm and trusted his skills. He painted over the hand prints, and the art turned good!
Worrying will not change anything. It will just cause you stress later on. So whatever you are pursuing, just do it! Stop worrying what may go wrong, let life roll.
Knowing yourself is the most important thing
Know who you are. Know what you love about life. Know what do you like to achieve in your lifetime. Know what excites you. Hear that little child inside you that whispers "I like this, this is what excites me!" Sometimes we listen to social media, our friends, or someone else. So, that what makes it difficult for you to know who you are. That is when you choose the things that are not right for you. What leads to this is that you do not put yourself into that thing emotionally, eventually, you lose the fire. The next thing you do is go to an island, make a new hobby, etc. It will make you happy for a day or a week but then gradually it will not lead to anything that will last, again just the cycle, you will do the same thing again.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an anime that is art-related, Bakaramon can be on your list. Well, it does not really revolve around art, but also around life. The characters are adorable, especially Naru. The vibe is just wholesome and calming, not a complicated anime. If you want a motivational and relatable anime, I recommend Barakamon.
Ugh, I post anime depression incoming... Too bad it is just 12 episodes T__T
My rating 9.8/10
That is it for this blog. I will see you at the next one!
📸 All photos are owned and taken by me, otherwise credited. ©️jijisaurart