Hidamari Sketch - × 365

The second season of Hidamari Sketch is just as fantastic as the first, perhaps even better – or at least, it felt like I enjoyed it just a bit more. It seamlessly fits into the overall narrative puzzle, offering a beautiful addition to the story. The (chronologically) first two episodes of the series are cleverly tucked in here, allowing me to put the entire school year of the main heroines into perspective. It's amusing how the two seasons are uniquely linked, with all the disconnected parts falling nicely into place. While the first season (excluding specials) concludes with Christmas, the second one (again, without specials) wraps up with New Year, directly following that Christmas (and the way the heroines start singing the opening from the first season at the end of the episode is the literal cherry on top). Simply put, having recently seen the first season and vividly remembering it, I thoroughly enjoyed this interconnection, picking up on various details that might have otherwise escaped me. The characters are still delightfully quirky, entertaining, and endearing. The stories remain enjoyable, occasionally warming the heart. Overall, I had a consistently pleasant feeling and I was smiling throughout, making it an ideal bedtime show for me. There seem to be fewer shaftisms this time, but it remains an interesting and visually original spectacle. Moreover, I would say that animation-wise, this season is overall a bit better. In short, an excellent show. 8.3/10 (2024.01.27)