Locodol

Episode 12

The Locodol Festival is finally here! We finally get to hear the song that Nanako wrote! Will it all be worth it? The answer is rather unsurprisingly “yes,” but the way the show chooses to make it all worthwhile is what's really interesting. Whereas one might reasonably expect the Nagarekawa Girls to make an attempt to do it all and pull it off with only minor hitches, the focus being on their increased competence as an idol group, Locodol decides instead to look at what's really important to the girls and has been the slow, subtle theme throughout the show's run – that what locodols really need is a hometown and the support of those in it. Between the Cute and Loose Characters Field Day, the special stands, and now the Locodol Festival, it has looked as if the girls were putting more importance on national acceptance. This was backed up by the emphasis on the locodols-turned-idols Awa Awa Girls and the planned marketing strategy of Glass Cute. When the show instead looks to the ever-growing bond between Yukari and Nana and the regret that the Awa Awa Girls seem to feel at being distanced from their hometown roots, however, Locodol really shows where its heart is.

On the less positive side, the girls' new costumes are not all that attractive, mostly due to the design of the cropped tops, which don't quite cut off in the right spot. That they are used to make another “tubby Nanako” comment is a major detraction, especially since Yukari's comment could be interpreted as agreeing with Nana. There's no Urogokoro-kun to speak of, which is a shame, and a fair amount of concert audience footage is clearly reused. What is a nice touch, however, is how simple the girls' choreography is – had it been complex, the episode would have lost some of its realism and certainly would have confused the point about two local girls doing their best.

While this penultimate episode does offer other treats, such as finally hearing the song and the girls' new costumes, that's just window dressing. What strikes us is the strength of the community presented. It isn't perfect (see: creepy manager and vaguely creepy uncle) while at the same time being far more perfect than any real small town, but it is heartwarming to the point where any clichés feel safely ignored. That we also get to learn Vaguely Creepy Uncle's “hidden” talent is a bonus.

Rating: A-

Locodol is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Rebecca Silverman teaches English and writes ANN's RTO manga review column.