Well, it’s September, and despite the relentless incursion of academic schedules into the infernally hot summer days, this is still when I choose to do some “back to school” content. This year, I’m keeping it short and sweet; those still in education are likely buying their textbooks right now (a topic that fills me with memories of bitter annoyance at certain price tags and the joy of discovery since I took a lot of lit classes) so I’m reviewing an anime about a book shop. It’s tangential at best but I’ve got enough theme months in my schedule, so I’m reclaiming September. Take it or leave it.
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san is a little comedy about a skeleton that sells books (and said skeleton’s eccentric co-workers and customers). And I do mean little – each episode is only about half the length of a normal outing. As such, I went in expecting mostly gag comedy and little to no sense of continuity. What did I find?
Well, one of the first things you’ll notice is the animation. It’s clear that the show had basically no money, so they try to convince you of the illusion of motion and don’t worry too much about fluidity. It’s extremely basic, and I can’t say it actually looks good, but it does at least own its style.
As to the content… yeah, this is basically what you or I would anticipate – each episode shows Honda, somehow the sane one despite being a skeleton, interacting with all sorts of madness germane to a book store specializing in manga.
Like Slow Ahead, it doesn’t make much sense to go in and “spoil” anything about this show. Instead, I’ll do my best to inventory it with the topics covered by Honda.
Man Seeks 18+ Doujin for his daughter, communication issues abound.
Store overrun by BL fanatics from across the world.
An ordinary day of new releases, meeting the rest of the (all masked) staff.
Paper Bag Senpai takes a vacation.
Making of the Manga.
Dealing with salespeople.
Dealing with customer requests and making recommendations.
Customer service coaching (aka hell).
Strange Brazilian asks strange questions.
Author signings.
Censorship, “harmful” books, and an appropriate level of erotica.
The Distribution Department.
Running a book fair.
Dealing with the wholesaler.
A social mixer, and meta comments as the author of the original manga.
People who love bookstores (including possible yakuza).
Dealing with kids (and Texans).
The insane popularity of Yokohama Station SF (and dealing with popularity cycles in general)
Who is an ideal bookseller?
Shuffling responsibilities.
A full fantasy theme vignette about a problem customer.
Terrifying customers, saintly customers, and Honda-san’s negative outlook on life.
Christmas at the Bookstore.
Closing Time at the Bookstore.
And that’s the show in terms of topics. Each one is brief enough that actually going into detail would be fruitless, so how is the content in general?
Despite the aesthetics, where no real people were harmed because everybody’s face is redacted somehow (at least, when it comes to actual people the author presumably knew), it’s all down to earth. Basically, the characters work retail, and are a little goofy or get involved in scenarios that are slightly uncomfortable for them and therefore are funny.
This by all rights should be very low-key humor. It’s practically slice-of-life, as befits the fact that it’s at least semi autobiographical (presumably, author Honda is not yet a skeleton). But there’s a talent in telling this not-quite-an-autobiography in a way that’s consistently interesting and engaging. Let’s face it, most of us (retail worker or otherwise) live fairly mundane lives that aren’t that intrinsically interesting to other people. But the art of storytelling lets you make those little interactions, that stick with you, engaging and interesting to folks you talk to. Or at least it can, your mileage may vary. And Honda gets pretty good mileage.
Honestly, for all that this is a comedy that barely even tells jokes, I got an inordinate amount of joy out of Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san. After the first episode (which was absolutely the weakest) it really hit its stride of having these people work off each other and their situation in order to create something that will at least probably make you smile.
I know this review is pretty bare bones but – pun intended – so is the show. It’s ten-ish minute bites of simple workplace humor, more akin to reading a newspaper comic strip than anything else, which is perhaps why I tend to liken it to the various 4-koma adaptations I’ve reviewed.
Like the other ultra-light shows I’ve given the time of day to, Honda-san only really makes sense to grade as a Pass on the good ol’ Pass-Fail scale. It simply can’t be compared fairly to more heavy and complete shows. But this is the one that really makes me wonder if I shouldn’t have some sort of shadow letter grade for shows that I have to Pass/Fail. Honda-san is good. I’d recommend it pretty wholeheartedly, while some of its nearest rivals I can only weakly say escaped failing. Go ahead and check it out.
And the next time you’re in a bookstore… if you’re going to be a customer to remember, at least don’t be the terrifying one.