Production: Hal Film Maker
Publisher: Nozomi Entertainment / Lucky Penny
DVD Release Date: September 1st, 2015
How do you express yourself? Do you write stories that engage even the lightest of readers? Or, or do you produce music that reigns as king on the dance floors? How about drawing? Do you enjoy wacky characters in school art clubs from anime that didn’t air in 2016? Well, I’ve got a title for you! Sketchbook ~full color’s~ is a slice-of-life anime produced by TYO Animations and published onto DVD here in the USA by Nozomi Entertainment and it is a very relaxing and enjoyable watch. The show truly benefits from its main character’s relatability, the overall cast of characters, and the music. (Many thanks to Nozomi Entertainment for the review copy.)
The show’s protagonist is Sora Kajiwari, a shy girl who carries her sketchbook with her everywhere she goes. Due to her awkward, shy personality, she has trouble expressing herself verbally, so she introduces herself by showing her name in her sketchbook to people. The story follows her and the other members of her high school’s art club. From a bug-loving senpai to a photography-fanatic middle-schooler, Sora’s life is filled with friends of all types. Sketchbook ~full color’s~ is mostly seen through the eyes of Sora as she learns a bit more about the people (and cats) in her daily life.
Personally, I found Sketchbook ~full color’s~ to be a very endearing show. I was hooked on it from episode one, as I was able to relate with Sora’s dilemma. I get embarrassed when people praise my work; I find it hard to talk to someone face-to-face for the first time; and I better express myself in other media, much like Sora. I discovered more of the world through the internet with RP forums while Sora discovered the world through her sketchbook. Sora’s relaxed nature really carries the show far when almost every other character is as wacky as a wacky-waving inflatable tube man.
Boy, are the characters crazy or what? As you can see from the screenshot above, even the cats in the series have intense personalities. Everyone is distinct in their own way, even the two characters who act the same as each other like some kind of crazy, mind-linked twin entities. Puppet-toting, curtain-hiding, bug-loving, easily-embarrassed, english-speaking, and cat-loving are only a few ways to explain this particular cast of characters. Personally, I felt like I was watching the Idolm@ster anime at one point, because every character, at times, feels like a main character. The only thing more dynamic than the character types would be the music of the show itself.
Yes, the music in Sketchbook ~full color’s~ is just as relaxed and laid-back as Sora. Balloon Mode is a very light piece with (what feels like a xylophone and) a piano and violins. Watashi no Jikan-Mata Ashita is another piano-focused piece that drives home the everyday feeling of the series. Happy Hour is a piece that I very much enjoyed from the OST due to its upbeat sounds and lively playing. However, what really stood out the most from all the music was the OP and the ED. The guitar in the OP is made of love and the singer’s voice carries gentle strength in the lyrics. Combined with the changing visuals in the OP sequences, the OP is a very strong start to each episode. On the other hand, the ED is a powerful piece meant to put a smile on your face at the end of each episode. Once again, gentle vocals carry the piece far and truly make you feel the finality of the episode, though you may want more anyway.
Overall, I highly recommend Sketchbook ~full color’s~. Watch Sora develop through this coming-of-age type story and fall in love with the characters and music. For the cost of $39.99 USD on RightStuf at full price, I truly feel that you get your money’s worth with this DVD. Chock-full of extras and with pretty menu/disc art, I wholeheartedly enjoyed Sketchbook ~full color’s~ and I hope you will, too. There’s no high-octane, Michael Bay-level battle scenes, but there is a chicken.
Lolinia gives Sketchbook ~full color’s~ a Drastik Moé Measure of 8.1 out of 10.0 (81).
Features:
– 13 episodes on 3 discs
– Picture Dramas
– All OPs and EDs in clean versions (No credits)
– Commercials for the show
– Anime Promos
– Excellent cover/disc/menu art
PS.
