Hanayamata

Episode 12

The previous 11 episodes have aligned so well that screwing up the final episode would have required substantial effort. That the series does not do. While the finale does absolutely nothing unexpected or original, it executes with every ounce of the charm and warmth that it has established on full display. That results in a finish that is as eminently pleasing as it is satisfying, and with a light touch of humor and more than a little bit of an emotional tug to boot.

With Hana gone to America, the rest of the Yosakoi Club has soldiered on, determined to perform in a way that would pay honor to Hana's efforts to establish the club. In no one is that determination more manifest than in Naru, who in the eyes of her fellow club members positively shines – and although that is what she always wanted, it is still much to her embarrassment. She even finally confesses to her father (who has long been imagining her getting into something much worse) about what she's doing, but is pleasantly surprised by his reaction, too. In fact, all of the girls have family members showing up to watch; all that's missing is Hana. Or is she? As a dramatically-timed phone call reveals, a finished version of the music being delivered to her father finally pushed her to talk to her mother about her conflicted emotions, and so the race is on for her to make it to the festival. Will she make it in the nick of time to join the other girls on the stage, perhaps even with a dramatic entrance? Really, if you have to wonder at all about that question, then what kind of series do you think you're watching here?

But while that is the big dramatic climax and ostensibly the feature scene of the whole series, the emotional plateau of this episode is actually reached before that. All of the girls have had their little crises over the course of the series, but in the end this is ultimately more Naru's story than anyone's. The series began with her in her shell, a shy creature who dreamed of being part of fairy tales. Over the course of the series we have gradually seen her push out of that shell, seen her grow to gradually be more assertive, more confident, more trusting, and (relatively speaking) more intrepid. Though the moment where her friends practically squeal over how she now shines is presented comically, it is also the completion of that growth, which makes her fierce determination (rather than anxiety) as she takes the stage so fulfilling. Other characters have their moments, too – particularly the love evident in the actions of Hana's parents – but aside from Hana's dramatics, all of that fades behind Naru's achievements.

And of course we have the featured dance scene, complete with the lavishly decorated costumes and appearance of the parasols. The limitations of the animation budget are still sadly evident here, as corner-cutting prevents the routine from being fully-animated, but it's at least enough to give us a sense for how dazzling the performance is supposed to be and this is still the best visuals of the whole series. It and the predictable plot twists are the only significant negatives, though, as even the occasional bits of humor fit in nicely. (Sea Monk has become such a great comedy foil since his infatuation with Sally has become evident.)

Ultimately Hanayamata achieves everything it set out to do. On that and most other measures both the final episode and the series as a whole are unqualified successes.

Rating: A-

Hanayamata is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.