'Super Cub' Anime Review- Celebrating The Simplicity Of Life
This was originally published in 2022
The Japanese animation Studio Kai brought us this 2021 underrated gem Super Cub. It is a slice-of-anime based on the light novel by Tone Kōken and illustrated by the artist known as Hiro.
Koguma (Jackie Lastra) is a lonely high school student living in Hokuto, Japan. Both her parents are absent and she lives off a stipend she gets from them in an endless routine. One day, she spots someone on a small motorcycle. Curious, she travels to a Honda store where the owner sells her a used Super Cub 50 and shows her the basics of caring for it. She soon meets another student named Reiko (Dawn M. Bennett) who also owns a motorcycle. They become good friends and soon take a younger student named Shii (Skyler Davenport) under their wing. With new friends, Koguma soon opens up and sees her gray world become more clear.
Now, there were a few loose ends. I understand that the manga answers many of the questions and, unfortunately, the anime was canceled before it could explore these. For instance, why was Koguma alone? Where are her parents? Where does her budget come from? I know in Japan a student can live on their own when they are of high school age, but still, why is she alone?
With this in mind, the beauty of this show is how it displays the simplicity of life. Often we get caught up in the complications, but the story of a lonely girl reminds us that the good things in life can be found in the simplest moments.
Koguma lives a life in a constant cycle, but a simple purchase brings about a whole new world. This is displayed during her happy times, the gray tones of the animation soon turn into living colors. It was a simple work of art, but profound.
I found the show a good one to chill to. You could relax, breathe, and enjoy the beauty of life shown through the lives of the protagonists. There is no action, eccentricities, or flashy effects. It is an anime that celebrates life, friendships, and coffee profoundly.
Check out the trailer below:
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Minor violence, Minor crude humor
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, anime, TV show, movie, or novel you would like me to review.