DESCRIPTION

CAST

NOVEL Slice of LifeSuper Cub
MANGA Slice of LifeSuper Cub

REVIEWS

• 

  Magenta

  82/100
  A quiet iyashikei about the more subtle aspects of life that thrives off of making the boring engaging.

  

  Out of any medium, genre, or subgenre, shows that can be considered iyashikei have more self imposed restrictions than most media out there. Most stories would like to exhibit themselves through actions that exhibit great weight. Downtime typically seen is more so just some type of breathing room from the varying turbulent nature of the story. What makes iyashikei stand out primarily is that downtime that is mostly just used to wind down the previous action of a story is nearly 100% of what the whole series is. Iyashikei shows aim to be serene depictions of everyday life, with very little drama with either a nearly unnoticeable overarching plot or nearly none at all. It is the very antithesis of what most stories aim to be. Despite the very concept of the whole subgenre being so inherently boring, there have been plenty of properties in anime and outside of it that primarily have iyashikei components and have also been critically and financially successful. Super Cub is far more hidden when comparing it to the giants that it draws inspiration from. However, out of any of its contemporaries, it pushes many concepts in the genre to such extremes that I have frankly never seen before. Super Cub fully embraces the tropes of its subgenre and makes them their own.

  To go over Super Cub’s plot would be quicker than watching the opening. It is inherently an extremely simplistic story. Much of it is just the daily life events of the characters tangentially strung together through the presence of the Super Cub. Without any intriguing overarching plot, Super Cub and by extension most other iyashikei shows have to entice its viewers through its characters. While there isn’t any real story to call its own, it would be a false statement for it to be considered that there is no development. Super Cub develops its characters through its ability to imbue extremely subtle forms of development that build up over time. Some developments may not even be visible unless inspected upon extremely closely, but it is undeniable that by an emotional climax, the characters have definitely changed for the better. Super Cub’s main form of development centers around Koguma gradually finding her place in the world by finding new friends. It isn’t the most original concept in the world, but it manages to find life due to the previously mentioned subtle developments. A lot of daily life is mostly a series of subtle developments that can only really be put into context with hindsight. Life isn’t inherently an exciting thing, since the stakes are so low for most of the time. However, this can also be a source of excitement. Super Cub takes advantage of the fact that in a sea of mundanity, we can learn to find more joy in it. With the stakes so low all of the time, that makes events that can be considered boring to now be turned into a source of excitement. It makes mild events in the context of another show be considered to be one of the previously mentioned emotional climaxes. Super Cub manages to set its stakes so astronomically low in its early episodes, that it makes nearly every minor conflict that props up along the way feel exciting.

  

  As much praise I have been giving to how Super Cub approaches its story and character development, it would be turning a blind eye to the biggest problem with the series, the visuals. The character designs are blurry, the CGI on the motorcycles is extremely jittery, there is barely any visual appeal in nearly every spot, and the contrast is tuned down at times to a point where it makes everything look muddy. While that last point can be explained away by the contrast being dialed up and down to represent the emotions of the situation, but just for that interesting direction, it comes at a sacrifice of much of the series to look awful. I am not going to try and defend the poor visual quality, as a matter of fact, it bothered me heavily in the first two or three episodes. My personal enjoyment of an anime doesn’t really hinge on visual quality much at all. I can easily get used to poor visuals as long as the story being told is engaging enough, which in this case, it is. While it isn’t a dealbreaker for me, I can get why it is to a lot of other people. To not be negative to all aspects of the presentation, I did really enjoy the general audio component. The lack of background noise and music for most of the scenes made for a calming and quiet atmosphere that really added to the generally subtle nature of the plot’s developments.

  Out of any anime in Spring 2021, this is really one that shouldn’t have been this good. With it just being a glorified advertisement for Honda Super Cubs, and the production being so obviously stretched thin, it may have been predicted to be a disaster on all fronts. However, Super Cub makes the best of its situation, and creates an example of how to develop a story even in a situation where it would seem like you couldn’t. Subtly quiet storytelling where there is more to see under the hood is a rare breed to come by, and to find something that embraces it fully is a delight to see. By the end, Super Cub manages to be a surprisingly resonant work about the general mundanties of life, and how to find joy in it.

  

  Thank you for reading to the end of the review if you did. If you have any criticisms with how this review was made, you are free to message me to critique what I had to say.

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• 

  AnimeDweeb

  70/100
  The Healing Fix of Fixations.

  #Quarantine has been a pretty surreal time.

  It's bizarre to think that so many of us collectively had our bustling lives come to a screeching halt within the walls of our homes. Waiting out the COVID-storm, it's all too easy to feel bored and boxed-in with your thoughts. There are certainly worse problems to have, but this is a problem nonetheless. I, like many others, have picked up hobbies to stay preoccupied and sane. What you're reading right now is a product of one of those hobbies, and I'm happy you're giving this article the time of day! There's something comforting involved in pursuing your passions, and an oft-ignored joy to be had in the small day-to-day victories. Super Cub (Cub for short) is a timely reminder of that very same happiness, and how our interests can bring color into our lives. This review will be spoiler-free, with a Tl;Dr included towards the end.

  ---

  #Enter Koguma - The Girl With Nothing.

  No family, no cash, no ambitions. She doesn't even appear to feel blue about the way things are; a few tears would at least add color to her monochrome life. The still mundanity of Hokuto City is made evident in Cub's quaint opening minutes, drawing us into a world the way Koguma sees it - devoid of color. By happenstance she meets a used Honda Super Cub, which (literally) brings vibrance to her vision and a longing like no other. Much of the show is then centered around Koguma's day-to-day experiences with her Super Cub. She's not on the open road alone though, and is soon accompanied by the strong-willed motorcycle enthusiast Reiko. Also droppin' in towards the end of the season is Shii, newly-avid cyclist and aficionado of all things Italy.

  #If what I've mentioned sounds like a glorified motorcycle commercial… #Well, you'd be mostly right.

  Someone could feasibly make a drinking game out of everytime a character says "This Cub can do anything." It's certainly not the first time a company tie-in was this obvious; Cub even goes as far as to reference Initial D with the urban myth surrounding Koguma's ride. But even if this is a case of selling out, there are certainly far worse ways going about it. Honda Motor Company reportedly supervised the writing behind Cub, ensuring consistent and realistic details that go beyond close-ups on the featured motorcycles. Speaking of mechanical eye-candy, this series is a visual treat. Pulling back the camera lens from the show's motorbike chassis, Cub looks as stunning from afar as it does up close, with scenic visuals of Mount Fuji and the surrounding countryside. Also neat is the show's visuals as they relate to Koguma's perspective. Cub transitions between washed-out, near-grayscale scenes to radiant, saturated colors. The whole show acting as a mood light for Koguma is a trick that thankfully never gets old. The series' OST is a mix of classical compositions and a handful of original tracks, all of which contribute to Cub soothing atmosphere. The cast of characters don't work against this calming background with over-the-top performances, but complement Cub nicely. Performances are lowkey and avoid "moe -blob" generalizations, all while standing out with their own enjoyable personalities. All-in-all, the world of Cub is as wholesome and relaxing as this season is gonna get. You could say that Cub is yet another case of a Cute Girls Doing Cute Things (CGDCT) anime about a niche topic, and I'd be inclined to agree. However, that take doesn't fully account for what this series aims to achieve. This chill watch isn't afraid to introduce momentary tonal shifts, as seen in an unexpected adventure throughout Episode 5 and a solemn incident in Episode 11. These engaging deviations to the formula are enjoyable in their own right and paint a clearer picture of what Cub is trying to convey: the healing power of hobbies.

  #*Cub* is a SoL distilled into its purest form.

  This isn't the kind of show concerned with love triangles or girls running to school with toast in their mouths. Instead, this iyashikei has its sole focus on leaving viewers with a "healing feeling" every episode. To achieve this, Cub draws us in with its effective episodic story structure. Each instalment establishes clear needs, and patiently shows us the process undertaken to achieve those goals. Obstacles introduced are resolved by the end of each episode, and the audience winds up sharing the same satisfaction that our characters do. I know that this observation is hardly revelatory; set-up and payoff is the most basic writing concept there is. But Cub is noteworthy for how stripped-down its methodology is. With little else to distract us, we offer our undivided attention to the low-key lives of Cub's cast, and are rewarded with a cozy reprieve. The characters' love for the open road (and Italian espressos) is all there is, and those personal passions exude strongly due to the depth at which those interests are explored. A 50cc in the picturesque Yamanashi Prefecture isn't merely a mode of transportation, but a lifestyle. As high school girls, there is recreational value to be had in cruising down the highway, as the scenic views of Mount Fuji loom in the distance. Of course, there are considerations as well, which Koguma and her friends need to address in order to continually enjoy their leisurely drives. Plotlines see the girls getting comfortable with their Super Cubs, obsessing over Cub trivia, learning bike upkeep, purchasing affordable accessories, taking on odd jobs involving their motorcycles, and finding ways to stay warm while riding in winter months. I think Cub captures common bike-centric plights and scenarios with a great deal of accuracy. And biking fans seem to agree, judging from third-party accounts from communities far more familiar with biking than I am (we likely have Honda Co. Ltd. to thank for this.) Just like how last year's Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na! was a passionate love letter to the process behind animation, Cub wears its heart on its sleeve and makes its love for biking known. Cub's attention to detail, and the unflinching trust in said detail to carry the show, leads us audience members to enjoy an otherwise unfamiliar interest alongside our girls. Even though most viewers can't tell the difference between a Super Cub and a Vespa, the dedication put into demonstrating these girls' hobbies still strikes a chord. Koguma, Reiko and Shii may share vastly different experiences from ours, but the roots of their passions are universal. The desire to achieve a goal, and overtaking the objectives that make such a reward even more worthwhile on a personal level. It's cathartic to see those desires realized, and Cub emulates that joy with each week. And sure, tasks like changing motor oil or delivering documents are tiny and unremarkable from a distance, but it is Something. And that means all the world to The Girl With Nothing.

  #*Cub* is rather narrow in scope, and may not appeal to a ton of people.

  It's the kind of quiet, meditative watch that I almost exclusively put on before bed. The calming nature of the show might put you to sleep in the worst way. Half of Cub's character development amounts to our stoic MC eventually picking up sarcasm. There's nothing all that interesting about window shopping with Koguma at hardware stores, and it's not the sort of storytelling all audiences would appreciate. My snobby ass might claim that the sophisticated Cub isn't bound by story conventions of a heightened reality, but others would probably say that it's "boring." Something like Yuru Camp achieves relatively similar things as Cub , while adding a light-hearted comedic presence and entertaining character dynamics. In spite of these elements, Yuru is sometimes dismissed as a boring CGDCT, and Cub manages to be even more stripped-down. There's little Cub does to convince audiences that aren't already fond of SoLs or the iyashikei genre, and I can't sugarcoat the show to argue otherwise. If you happen to enjoy works such as Mushishi and Aria , Cub should certainly be high up on your planning list. But if you are foreign to the meditative realm of iyashikei anime, I recommend that you try out at least the first two episodes of Cub. At worst, it's hardly an insulting loss of your time; at best, you just might stumble across some of the most immaculate vibes in anime this year.

  ---

  Before wrapping up, I'd like to leave you with some sappy closing thoughts. It's been over a year since I began sharing reviews, and I've enjoyed (nearly) every second of it. Writing started out as a fun way to kill time, and I gradually grew to enjoy articulating my thoughts and experimenting with my craft. Sharing my rants has not only been a rewarding experience in its own right, but also a process that helped me open up to the anime community. I didn't exactly have IRL pals keeping me company during the ongoing hyperbolic apocalypse. Making these reviews emboldened me to put myself out there. Being inside my home over the past year, I found social circles online that kept my life as lively and fun as it's ever been. Amidst the virus, this hobby healed me. If you haven't already, I urge you to find wholesome endeavors of your own, and share those interests with others around you. It may seem awkward, but there's no shame in trying to enrich your life with activities you enjoy. And heck, if your passion is watching anime, Cub is certainly a great place to start.

  ---

  #**Tl;Dr**:

  Super Cub demonstrates how personal fixations can fix us. Besides the frequent bike trivia persistent throughout the series, Cub takes its time to revel in the joy of pursuing hobbies. Set to a calming soundtrack and stunning backdrops of the Yamanashi countryside, Cub puts us in the driver's seat through relaxing immersion. Viewers without motorcycles need not be worried about doing their homework before approaching this show, as the chill vibes and enjoyment is for everyone. So strap in, sit back and enjoy what this open road has to offer. 7/10~

  ---

  STRAY RAMBLINGS (SPOILERS):

  • Just wanna quickly shout out @azumiii's thread of all the classical compositions used in Cub. The tracks were really calming, so if you're feeling bored of Lo-Fi radio playlists on YouTube, try giving these songs a shot!

  • Koguma's bike has a kill count, it's practically Devil Z lol. Be scared:

  

  • Didn't get to cover this in the review, but seeing Shii's cafe was pretty darn surreal by Cub standards. The show turned into a lesson in interior design for a good 5 minutes, I love it. The blend of all that European iconography, in a country known for being isolationist- 'kay, that's enough musing. I want a German sourdough sandwich.

  • Was definitely not expecting to go from "purposely taking the wrong turn on the intersection" to "scaling Mount FRIGGIN' Fuji on a scooter" by the 5th episode. What a ride.

  • BEST GIRL:

  • And remember:

  You meet the nicest people on a Honda.

  Thanks @ed3d

  ---

  

  Thanks for stoppin' by! After writing all this, I could really go for one of Shii's coffees, ngl. If you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other reviews for seasons past and present. I also frequently post writeups under my list updates, so definitely take a peek if you'd like to see me mald over anime as they hit the airwaves. Peace~

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• 

  veemon23

  88/100
  Like the open road we are infinite

  Call it slow, call it boring, call it whatever you want, I enjoyed this a lot more then I would've ever expected too. By no mean would I call this the best of the season, because this season was packed with great anime. We have many great anime that this one can easily have been left unnoticed. It's premise isn't interesting or special, just girls riding Cubs. You would be forgiven to not watch this if you aren't into the SOL or CGDCT type of anime.
  I am not one to say this was not slowly paced, especially in the earlier episode. Our main girl isn't like your most interesting character, she's more like your awkward and shy girl. She doesn't stand out and doesn't fit as what we would consider a strong lead. But with all that said and done, she does get a lot of character development especially with the introduction of the other two girls.
  Koguma - our main lead, she doesn't really stand out on her own. She can be consider kind of "blend" early on. But over time she does gain more of a personality.
  Shii - doesn't get much screen time until later on but she's super adorable and so easy to love. She's so cute as well.
  Reiko - your more energetic and happy go lucky type of character. She is really the life of the show in where she is probably the one you want to focus more on if you want someone to relate too in a fun way. As Koguma is probably more relatable for me since I feel like sometimes you just do the same mundane stuff in life lol with some bits of excitement to jolt you into action.
  I went into this show not expecting much at all so my expectation was set super low. I know it was gonna be your slow pace type anime and not gonna be anything amazing. But as I watched this, I found myself looking like Koguma.

  

  Having the biggest smile on my face just enjoying the heck out of some cute girls riding on their Super Cub. I did not expect to enjoy this show as much as I did and boy I am glad I watched it. I don't think objectively it will get a high score by no means at all. But I am merely ranking base on my personal enjoyment of the show and base on that, I loved it. It wasn't a show I loved right away but with it's character growth and journey, I feel in love with them.

  If you just want something relaxing, something chill with good vibe, give it a watch. It's not gonna be one of those show that will get you on the edge of your seat. It's just adorable and wholesome. Slow moments and more down to earth type of show. Sure it does have some unrealistic stuff but that's anime for you. At the end of the day, this is your fun and simple show and it was a heck of a commercial. Haven't seen one this great since Code Geass commercial for Pizza Hut.

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