Nichijou

  • Genres: ["Comedy"]
  • Type: TV
  • Status: Finished Airing
  • Year: 2011

Summary: Nichijou primarily focuses on the daily antics of a trio of childhood friends—high school girls Mio Naganohara, Yuuko Aioi and Mai Minakami—whose stories soon intertwine with the young genius Hakase Shinonome, her robot caretaker Nano, and their talking cat Sakamoto. With every passing day, the lives of these six, as well as of the many people around them, experience both the calms of normal life and the insanity of the absurd. Walking to school, being bitten by a talking crow, spending time with friends, and watching the principal suplex a deer: they are all in a day's work in the extraordinary everyday lives of those in Nichijou.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Description

Nichijou primarily focuses on the daily antics of a trio of childhood friends—high school girls Mio Naganohara, Yuuko Aioi and Mai Minakami—whose stories soon intertwine with the young genius Hakase Shinonome, her robot caretaker Nano, and their talking cat Sakamoto. With every passing day, the lives of these six, as well as of the many people around them, experience both the calms of normal life and the insanity of the absurd. Walking to school, being bitten by a talking crow, spending time with friends, and watching the principal suplex a deer: they are all in a day's work in the extraordinary everyday lives of those in Nichijou.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Available At


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Nichijou Trailers


Nichijou Pictures


Nichijou Review

Nichijou — Nichijou primarily focuses on the daily antics of a trio of childhood friends—high school girls Mio Naganohara, Yuuko Aioi and Mai Minakami—whose stories soon intertwine with the young genius Hakase Shinonome, her robot caretaker Nano, and their talking cat Sakamoto. 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: 8.47). 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, Nichijou 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

Aioi, Yuuko

Aioi, Yuuko

Main

Honda, Mariko
Honda, Mariko
Japanese
Aioi, Yuuko

Aioi, Yuuko

Main

Garrett, Morgan
Garrett, Morgan
English
Minakami, Mai

Minakami, Mai

Main

Togashi, Misuzu
Togashi, Misuzu
Japanese
Minakami, Mai

Minakami, Mai

Main

Lauda, Brittany
Lauda, Brittany
English
Naganohara, Mio

Naganohara, Mio

Main

Aizawa, Mai
Aizawa, Mai
Japanese
Naganohara, Mio

Naganohara, Mio

Main

Clark, Leah
Clark, Leah
English
Sakamoto

Sakamoto

Main

Shiraishi, Minoru
Shiraishi, Minoru
Japanese
Sakamoto

Sakamoto

Main

Bowling, Anthony
Bowling, Anthony
English
Shinonome, Nano

Shinonome, Nano

Main

Furuya, Shizuka
Furuya, Shizuka
Japanese
Shinonome, Nano

Shinonome, Nano

Main

Rial, Monica
Rial, Monica
English
Shinonome, Hakase

Shinonome, Hakase

Main

Konno, Hiromi
Konno, Hiromi
Japanese
Shinonome, Hakase

Shinonome, Hakase

Main

Saxton, Jad
Saxton, Jad
English
Aioi, Mother

Aioi, Mother

Supporting

Yamamoto, Keiko
Yamamoto, Keiko
Japanese
Aioi, Mother

Aioi, Mother

Supporting

Lenti, Marissa
Lenti, Marissa
English
Akagi

Akagi

Supporting

Miyashita, Eiji
Miyashita, Eiji
Japanese
Annaka, Haruna

Annaka, Haruna

Supporting

Sadohara, Kaori
Sadohara, Kaori
Japanese
Annaka, Haruna

Annaka, Haruna

Supporting

McGuire, Kristen
McGuire, Kristen
English
Biscuit No. 2

Biscuit No. 2

Supporting

Kozakura, Etsuko
Kozakura, Etsuko
Japanese
Biscuit No. 2

Biscuit No. 2

Supporting

Viktorin, Alison
Viktorin, Alison
English
Daiku, Kenzaburou

Daiku, Kenzaburou

Supporting

Yoshizaki, Ryouta
Yoshizaki, Ryouta
Japanese

Staff

Cook, Justin

Cook, Justin

Producer

Herek, Samantha

Herek, Samantha

Assistant Producer

Senami, Riri

Senami, Riri

Assistant Producer

Ishihara, Tatsuya

Ishihara, Tatsuya

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard, Screenplay

Tsuruoka, Youta

Tsuruoka, Youta

Sound Director

Ishidate, Taichi

Ishidate, Taichi

Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Assistant Director

Kigami, Yoshiji

Kigami, Yoshiji

Episode Director, Storyboard

Kitanohara, Noriyuki

Kitanohara, Noriyuki

Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

Sakamoto, Kazuya

Sakamoto, Kazuya

Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

Takemoto, Yasuhiro

Takemoto, Yasuhiro

Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

Utsumi, Hiroko

Utsumi, Hiroko

Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

Yamada, Naoko

Yamada, Naoko

Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

Yoneda, Mitsuyoshi

Yoneda, Mitsuyoshi

Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

Hanada, Jukki

Hanada, Jukki

Script, Series Composition

Itou, Atsushi

Itou, Atsushi

Script, Planning Producer

Muramoto, Katsuhiko

Muramoto, Katsuhiko

Script

Nishioka, Maiko

Nishioka, Maiko

Script

Furuya, Shizuka

Furuya, Shizuka

Theme Song Performance

Hyadain

Hyadain

Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Performance, Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Composition

Itagaki, Yuusuke

Itagaki, Yuusuke

Theme Song Arrangement