Handa-kun

2016

Original language: Japanese

animation
comedy

The story

Set six years prior to the events of Barakamon, detailing the life of Seishuu Handa as a high school student—and a very interesting life it is. In Handa-kun, Seishuu Handa is admired by his peers as a calligraphy genius and given the utmost respect, but Handa-kun himself is under the mistaken impression that the deference and attention he receives from the other students is actually bullying. Handa just wants to live a quiet life, but hilarity ensues as one character after another challenges his position as the school idol, and somehow comes away as a fan all while Handa is horrified and clueless.

What it’s like

Bright, clean anime frames with flat pastel backdrops and loose, expressive character cutaways, the kind of sun-washed school hallway and calligraphy-brush studio that feels airy rather than moody. Its comedy runs on quick reaction faces, exaggerated gestures and punchy cuts, with the bustle of classroom chatter and a light, bouncy score filling the gaps, though much of the sound is simply the scratch of ink on paper. Episodes move briskly, each beat landing a joke before settling into the next. The vibe is warm, goofy and gently absurd, a feel-good slice of school life where a deadpan lead is mistaken for a hero again and again and grows a little flustered at every misreading. The intensity is mild: some slapstick and comic peril, no real violence, nothing frightening, and no sexual content. It suits a light weeknight watch, a cheerful lift on a grey afternoon, or a low-effort background show while doing chores, and it is for viewers who enjoy character-driven comedy, cheerful high school settings and affectionate teasing between friends.

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