By Dustin Cabeal

Sometimes, I see comments on shows before I have a chance to view them. Just random people stating their opinion on the show in a quick burst. I hate it because it’s almost always something without context, but manages to stay with me the entire I watch the show/episode of the show. This time the comment was, “Anime of the season.” Which is a far cry from the truth.

Sakura Quest is about a pink haired girl that’s about to graduate college and is looking for a job and getting denied left and right. Partly, because she’s terrible at interviews, but mostly to force her into the story at hand. She’s offered a modeling type job in a small town. The job entails her being the town’s Queen and ushering in a new era of tourism for the small town. Being that Koshi is from a small town herself, the job isn’t ideal, but she has nothing else going on at the moment.

There are two catches to the story, the first being that she’s the wrong person. Due to the handwriting of one of the elders, they got Koshi instead of a previously famous idol, who is also dead. The other catch is that Koshi didn’t read the contract and signed up for a year of work without realizing it.

The episode does a fine job of introducing all of this and some of the bit characters. There’s the weirdo manager of the dorm that Koshi is living. There’s the woman her age that’s going to act as her guide and friend to the town. There’s the old man that was previously the “King” of the town and other supporting characters that are shown, but not developed. The ongoing conflict will be to see if Koshi stays or goes. Cue the Clash.

The animation is really beautiful. It’s not quite movie level, but it’s been given a budget, that much is clear. The comedy stays, in reality, meaning no giant circle eyes or super deformed characters. The animation is stunning to look at, even if the main character has ridiculously light pink hair.

It’s a short and sweet episode, but it’s nothing special, at least not at the moment. Being that it’s a “slice of life” anime, it has the potential to be really good or just a boring, well-animated series. It is definitely not, the anime of the season, at least not yet. Why anyone would say that after one episode is beyond me unless that episode was something truly stunning and different. Two things I would describe Sakura Quest as, but maybe quaint and familiar would fit it much better.

Score: 3/5

Sakura Quest E.01