4 stars of fascinating slice-of-life anime.
Hyouka Part 1 is based on the mystery novels written by Honobu Yonezawa and is also known as the Classic Literature Club series. It is produced by Kyoto Animation (K-On!!, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions) and directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto (Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu). This release includes episodes 1-11.
“If I don’t have to, I’m not going to. And if I have to, I’ll do it as quickly as possible.”
Hyouka tells us the story of Houtarou Oreki (Adam Gibbs – Penguindrum), a high school first year whose main aim in life is the conservation of energy. At the request of his sister Tomoe (Caitlin Glass – Fullmetal Alchemist, Guilty Crown) who is travelling overseas, he agrees to join the Classical Literature Club in order to secure its survival.
He is quite happy with this, as he believes there are no other members, meaning that he will have the club room all to himself. He’s in for a shock however, as there is another person in the locked room when he arrives, Eru Chitanda (Madeleine Morris – Love Tyrant). She has also joined due to a family interest, as her Uncle was a former member of the club.
She is shocked to discover she was locked in as she doesn’t have a key and along with Houtarou’s best friend Satoshi Fukube (Dallas Reid – Gosick, Noragami Aragoto) who arrives just in time, they decide to go and investigate. 
Having enjoyed their first investigation together, Satoshi decides to join the club and is quickly joined by the feisty Mayaka Ibara (Jill Harris – Show by Rock!!) who works in the library. Together they decide to put their new found detective skills to the test to solve a number of mysteries around the school and attempt to satisfy Chitanda’s insatiable curiosity, while Houtarou constantly tries to keep the workload to a minimum.
Hyouka is a very interesting anime, with a lovely animation style which is quite unusual in places. The characters are really well written and easy to identify with and you feel as if you are solving the mysteries right along with them. It doesn’t take itself too seriously either, the mysteries they work on are of little if any consequence, which makes the experience quite refreshing.
This is a really good anime and certainly well worth adding to your collection.
“I just…I have to know!”
Hyouka is available to buy now on Collector’s Edition Blu-ray and standard DVD.
| Director | Yasuhiro Takemoto |
| Author | Honobu Yonezawa |
| Genre | Mystery, drama, romance |
| Starring | Adam Gibbs, Madeleine Morris, Dallas Reid, Jill Harris, Caitlin Glass |
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