Dagashi Kashi

Episodes 1-2

So as far as silly slice of life comedies go, it feels like there are a few distinct appeals Dagashi Kashi has going for it. First, there are the actual jokes about dagashi candy - a mix of Hotaru getting ridiculously enthusiastic, using the candy themselves as comedy props, and extended fantasy interludes bringing the candy to life. Those fantasy interludes play into appeal number two, where Dagashi Kashi is almost something of an educational/cooking show, except specifically for cheap candy snacks. There are explanations of where specific candies came from, and extended sequences extolling the virtues of certain flavor mixes. All of these candy-focused events play out in the context of appeal number three: the show's overall laid-back, pastoral world. And they're generally driven by appeal number four, Hotaru herself, whose crazy eyes, big boobs, and lovingly animated expressions make her a walking vehicle for a very specific kind of fanservice.

That's a pretty unique mix of variables, but does it make for a good show?

Well, not yet. I'm not disliking my time with Dagashi Kashi, but so far I'd describe it as “inoffensive” more than particularly funny or soothing. It's an easy way to pass the time, and that may be the point, but so far it's not anything more than that.

The main issue is the comedy. Most of Dagashi Kashi's jokes fall into classic manzai patterns, with Hotaru doing something somewhat abnormal and Kokonotsu replying “that's somewhat abnormal.” As established of a comedy tradition as this apparently is, it's not actually funny - there's no real wit to it, it's just a slightly more formalized version of a character making loud noises and everyone staring at them. Sometimes these jokes can work by themselves, but this relies very heavily on the strength of whatever Hotaru's particular ridiculous action is. When she's just being loud or excited, it's not great, but when she's leaning into her combined utter self-confidence and rambling absurdity (“The technique commonly known as 'God's Left Hand,' correct?!?”), she can sell jokes all by herself. Kokonotsu unfortunately gets the worse part of this bargain; he doesn't really have much of a personality yet, and playing the bland tsukkomi part doesn't help.

If most of the real-world jokes are too simple to entertain, the extended fantasy sequences do fare better, if only because they're just so absurd. The second episode featured an extended Gundam parody in the first half and a classic coming-of-age drama featuring a whistling candy in the second; even if they lack in internal jokes, the base structural ridiculousness of these ideas, along with how completely they commit to their alternate genres, makes them kinda entertaining regardless. And little touches, like Hotaru randomly representing the sun in the second fantasy, make for a better reflection of her very silly personality than many of her real-world actions.

Personally, my favorite of the show's appeals is its overall atmosphere, but so far that's been the one least focused on by the show itself. Beyond the classic cicadas and summer heat, Dagashi Kashi is scattered with pretty backgrounds and small moments of the characters just lazing around and enjoying their everyday lives. These sequences don't need to be funny to charm, and if the show's humor is going to remain inconsistent, I'd be happy to see it lean more consistently into letting its characters feel like real people in a real place.

And finally, there's Hotaru. Even the show's first key visual makes it clear how and why Hotaru is central to the show's appeal, what with her propped-up boobs, wild eyes, and almost drooling expression. Hotaru's dramatically sexualized lust for candy is a constant in Dagashi Kashi, one of its central pillars of appeal, and as far as fanservice goes, this one is a pretty smart idea. Focusing Hotaru's sex appeal on her love of dagashi means the show's actual character drama doesn't have to progress at all; she can make breathy whispers to the camera all she wants, and in the end it'll just finish with her greedily crunching up some ten yen powdered whatever. Dagashi Kashi isn't the most beautiful show (outside of those nice backgrounds), but it works hard to sell Hotaru's appeal, carefully animating lips and eyes and whatever else is necessary to impress upon the audience that if Hotaru could have sex with this candy, she would not be here talking about it. It's a strange sort of fanservice, but it certainly does its job.

Overall, I'm finding Dagashi Kashi a little slow, but reasonably pleasant overall. The main issue is how hit-or-miss the jokes are, which is almost a guaranteed weakness of manzai comedy. That weakness may fade over time, though, as the key to slice of life shows is often just spending enough time with characters that you inherently enjoy their company. Dagashi Kashi isn't there yet, but summer vacation's only just begun.

Rating: B-

Dagashi Kashi is currently streaming on Funimation.

Nick writes about anime, storytelling, and the meaning of life at Wrong Every Time.