Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

Sugar Apple Fairy Tale lives up to its name as a charming fairy tale. It does touch on deeper themes like prejudice and slavery, and it doesn't shy away from blood with some grittier moments adding a layer of complexity to the narrative; however, at its core, it's a heartwarming story about a girl overcoming challenges with the help of a cool elf prince. It's clear that the target audience is younger, and as a seasoned viewer pushing forty, I might not be the prime demographic. Yet, I found myself enjoying the series nonetheless. I rooted for the main character's success in both her work and love life, appreciating her determination and kindness. I was also intrigued by the lore surrounding fairies — how they came into existence and their history. However, the constant focus on baking sweets didn't quite captivate me. While the series attempted to showcase the power of kindness through sweets, it fell a bit flat for me. I found myself wishing for more exploration of the fairy uprising and other compelling storylines. Despite this, the animation was pleasant, and the music added to the overall ambiance. While the first half of the series felt somewhat predictable, the latter half picked up momentum, keeping me engaged. Even as I reflect on it now, I'm torn between a weak 4-star or a strong 3-star rating. After some deliberation and comparison with other anime shows I've seen, I settled on a rating of 6.4/10. (2023.09.22)