Asobi Asobase: Workshop of Fun

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Comedy, School, Slice of Life, High School

First Aired: Summer 2018, 12 episodes

Summary: Three unlikely high school friends embark on all manner of adventures! Olivia is a transfer student. She pretends to be a foreign exchange student from the U.S.A. even though she was born and raised in Japan by American parents. She gets into trouble because she doesn’t speak any English. Hanako Honda is a loud-mouthed, energetic airhead. She always wants to play strange games and started the friendship trio with her outgoing personality. Kasumi Nomura is a loner, constantly picked on by her sister for losing games. She looks like a bookworm but is far from it. The three friends are always getting into trouble with their shenanigans and generalized horseplay. One day they are challenging the tennis club to a match while using creative rackets while another day they are playing basketball with a smelly punishment being doled out to the loser.

Asobi Asobase is a simple bit of fun. It is not going to blow you away with the simple and mellow animation. The soundtrack is basic compared to many other anime. This anime shines in the humor and character interaction. All three friends possess a unique personality that deals well with one another. It is a perfect example of a high school slice of life anime.

You might enjoy this if: You want an inside look into Japanese high school humor.

You might not like it if: You are tired of the high school setting in anime.

Similar Series: How Clumsy are you Miss Ueno, Hinamatsuri, Pop Team Epic, Nichijou, The Master of Killing Time, Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto

Note to the Viewer: Asobi Asobase is made by studio Lerche, makers of such anime as: Magical Girl Raising Project, Kino’s Journey, Assassination Classroom, and Danganronpa the Animation.

Asobi Asobase Opening – Three Piece by Hanako Honda, Olivia, and Kasumi Nomura

AMV – Na Na Na by AMV Y MAS KJ

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