Asobi Asobase

  • Genres: ["Comedy"]
  • Type: TV
  • Status: Finished Airing
  • Year: 2018

Summary: During recess, Olivia, a foreign transfer student who doesn't know English, plays a game of "look-the-other-way" with Hanako Honda, a loud-mouthed airhead. Their rowdy behavior spurs the ire of Kasumi Nomura, a deadpan loner constantly teased by her older sister for her tendency to lose games. Not willing to compete, Kasumi declines Olivia's offer to join the fun, but eventually gets involved anyway and dispenses her own brand of mischief. Soon, a strange friendship blossoms between the peculiar trio, and they decide to form the "Pastime Club," where they are free to resume their daily hijinks.

Whether it be failing to learn English, trying desperately to become popular, or getting caught by teachers at the wrong time, school life will never be boring when the girls of Asobi Asobase are up to their hilarious antics.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Description

During recess, Olivia, a foreign transfer student who doesn't know English, plays a game of "look-the-other-way" with Hanako Honda, a loud-mouthed airhead. Their rowdy behavior spurs the ire of Kasumi Nomura, a deadpan loner constantly teased by her older sister for her tendency to lose games. Not willing to compete, Kasumi declines Olivia's offer to join the fun, but eventually gets involved anyway and dispenses her own brand of mischief. Soon, a strange friendship blossoms between the peculiar trio, and they decide to form the "Pastime Club," where they are free to resume their daily hijinks.

Whether it be failing to learn English, trying desperately to become popular, or getting caught by teachers at the wrong time, school life will never be boring when the girls of Asobi Asobase are up to their hilarious antics.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Available At


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Asobi Asobase Trailers


Asobi Asobase Pictures


Asobi Asobase Review

Asobi Asobase — During recess, Olivia, a foreign transfer student who doesn't know English, plays a game of "look-the-other-way" with Hanako Honda, a loud-mouthed airhead. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.

Thematically, It sits firmly within Comedy conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.19). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.

Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.

On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.

The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.

Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.

No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.

In sum, Asobi Asobase offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Comedy, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.


Characters & Voice Actors

Honda, Hanako

Honda, Hanako

Main

Kino, Hina
Kino, Hina
Japanese
Nomura, Kasumi

Nomura, Kasumi

Main

Kohara, Konomi
Kohara, Konomi
Japanese
Olivia

Olivia

Main

Nagae, Rika
Nagae, Rika
Japanese
Andou, Umeko

Andou, Umeko

Supporting

Sekine, Akira
Sekine, Akira
Japanese
Aozora, Tsugumi

Aozora, Tsugumi

Supporting

Yuuki, Aoi
Yuuki, Aoi
Japanese
Enomoto

Enomoto

Supporting

Sekine, Akira
Sekine, Akira
Japanese
Fujiwara

Fujiwara

Supporting

Uchida, Shuu
Uchida, Shuu
Japanese
Hanako's Grandfather

Hanako's Grandfather

Supporting

Shimada, Bin
Shimada, Bin
Japanese
Higuchi, Chisato

Higuchi, Chisato

Supporting

Maekawa, Ryouko
Maekawa, Ryouko
Japanese
Hijiri

Hijiri

Supporting

Iwami, Manaka
Iwami, Manaka
Japanese
Honda, Kentarou

Honda, Kentarou

Supporting

Fudemura, Eishin
Fudemura, Eishin
Japanese
Kouichi

Kouichi

Supporting

Ishikawa, Kaito
Ishikawa, Kaito
Japanese
Maeda

Maeda

Supporting

Okiayu, Ryoutarou
Okiayu, Ryoutarou
Japanese
Matou, Aguri

Matou, Aguri

Supporting

Toda, Megumi
Toda, Megumi
Japanese
Narrator

Narrator

Supporting

Izawa, Maki
Izawa, Maki
Japanese
Oka, Ruu

Oka, Ruu

Supporting

Kanazawa, Mai
Kanazawa, Mai
Japanese
Olivia's Brother

Olivia's Brother

Supporting

Morikawa, Toshiyuki
Morikawa, Toshiyuki
Japanese
Opposite-san Seitokaichou

Opposite-san Seitokaichou

Supporting

Ishikawa, Kaito
Ishikawa, Kaito
Japanese
Rizzler Baby

Rizzler Baby

Supporting

Iwata, Mitsuo
Iwata, Mitsuo
Japanese
Sainan-sensei

Sainan-sensei

Supporting

Masutani, Yasunori
Masutani, Yasunori
Japanese

Staff

Higa, Yuuji

Higa, Yuuji

Producer

Iizuka, Aya

Iizuka, Aya

Producer

Kimura, Kaori

Kimura, Kaori

Producer

Ogata, Mitsuhiro

Ogata, Mitsuhiro

Producer

Tanaka, Shou

Tanaka, Shou

Producer

Kishi, Seiji

Kishi, Seiji

Director, Storyboard

Iida, Satoki

Iida, Satoki

Sound Director

Hamada, Shouta

Hamada, Shouta

Episode Director

Kimura, Shinichirou

Kimura, Shinichirou

Episode Director

Majima, Takahiro

Majima, Takahiro

Episode Director

Mano, Akira

Mano, Akira

Episode Director

Sasaki, Sumito

Sasaki, Sumito

Episode Director

Shibata, Yuusuke

Shibata, Yuusuke

Episode Director, Animation Director

Suzuki, Takuo

Suzuki, Takuo

Episode Director

Kakihara, Yuuko

Kakihara, Yuuko

Script, Series Composition

Kinome, Yuu

Kinome, Yuu

Storyboard, Assistant Director

Kino, Hina

Kino, Hina

Theme Song Performance

Kohara, Konomi

Kohara, Konomi

Theme Song Performance

Nagae, Rika

Nagae, Rika

Theme Song Performance

Tanaka, Rei

Tanaka, Rei

Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Composition