Scene taken from the ED animation, with all three sisters.

And with the airing of Minami-ke Okaeri’s first episode last night (or this morning, however you prefer), the winter season officially begins, for me at least. Of course, Okaeri is probably the only series I will watch raws of, since it is particularly easy to understand compared to some others. I might also watch raws of Kemono no Souja Erin after the first episode, since first episodes usually have technical terms that need to be explained via subtitles before I know what the hell is going on. I learned that painfully through the fall 2008 series. Anyway, on to my impressions for Okaeri.

One for the Chiaki fans.

The episode starts off fairly mild as can be expected out of the series, showing some of the usual highlights of the sisters we are used to, such as Haruka’s motherly care, Chiaki’s respect for Haruka, and Kana’s oversleeping and lazy habits. It seemed to be more an excuse to say “Happy New Year” to the viewers, but that is a good way to start off since we are only just out of the New Year. Plus, we get to see the three sisters in their kimono’s.
 

Minami Haruka in yukata is always <3.

They all change into kimono’s and meet Uchida at the local shrine for some New Year wishes and good-luck charms, as well as fortune papers (omikuji and I forgot what they are really called in English) with Chiaki getting a lucky one for love while Uchida, rather envious of Chiaki’s divination, borrows 100 Yen from Kana to get her own, and receives a very lucky foretelling, also in love. Hosaka also appears around this time. I think lots of fans of the series also like Hosaka, though I find him just totally weird and there for the humor. Hosaka also asks for one, more on this way later.
 

One for the Kana fans, despite me really disliking this girl, even though I really like her seiyuu, Inoue Marina.

At the Minami sanshimai’s house, Uchida is still very happy over her fortune paper’s result. They then proceed to have a funny conversation regarding whether or not God is real, and stuff like that. Kana then makes Uchida wait for her supposed beloved by staring at the sliding doors, but after 30 seconds Uchida already feels like giving up. The doorbell rings then, and guess who appears.
 

Fujioka, someone whom I feel rather neutral towards though his shyness and his conflicting desire to be with Kana kind of makes me feel warm.

Fujioka appears, but as usual, Chiaki takes him in, and sits on his lap, while Uchida and Kana debate about how Uchida should act. The OP animation sequence then appears. The new OP is “”Keikenchi Soku Joujou↑↑”. The double arrows up kind of means something, but I cannot remember what. I heard from j|m0ne’s blog too that it might be parodies of other titles, same like the ED for Okaeri. The new OP animation is nothing much, and the song sounds like an average remix of the original, which can never be beaten in the series. I will still pick this up because it sounds ok though.
 

More Haruka is always good. You can already tell, I really like Haruka. :D

The show then continues with the next part, where Chiaki is seen talking to Touma about a certain “cup yakisoba” phenomenon. Basically whatever is inside a cup yakisoba is actually not yakisoba, and that is the phenomenon. Touma then pronounces she is totally unable to understand Chiaki’s logic, and gets owned by Chiaki. Meanwhile, Takeru is seen talking to Fujioka (the soft toy bear Chiaki owns) and Touma also picks on this. Haruka and Kana then arrive back home, and again, Kana causes Takeru to be even more downcast with her words, as usual.
 

Fujioka the bear and Takeru. Man this is a sad guy.

More Haruka goodness.

In an attempt to cheer Takeru up, Haruka decides to make tea for him. She comes up with New Tea (that is the exact name of the brand in English, but I think it may also mean New Year’s Tea, I could be wrong), and Touma and Chiaki observe Haruka’s prowess in taming Takeru with just one cup of tea.

Unfortunately Kana comes in, and makes the observation that it is not New Tea, but something else which I only caught as “old” something. I have no idea if it is expired tea, or some other form, but what then happens is awesome.
 

Moe Haruka!!111! <3

More moe Haruka! ZOMG this is heart-stopping expression.

Of course, both Takeru and Haruka get embarrassed, and instantly, Chiaki and Touma point out the “Cup Yakisoba” phenomenon, repeating the phrase and pointing repeatedly as well at Kana.
 

Another one for the Kana fans.

After this, a scene regarding Chiaki’s school nurse (who still continues to flaunt the fact that she wants a mate), Takeru and Chiaki takes center stage. As Kana suggests, the whole thing is actually a blind date, but Fujioka’s entrance complicates matters. This is where Sankaku Complex mentions there is an error in the report, but I frankly could not care much. Chiaki gets upset over the whole thing and wants the nurse teacher out. This part was a little boring for me, but still fine. The nurse is pretty hot though, and I cannot remember her name so lol.

The ED animation then kicks in. The ED is, again, another average piece for me, but the animation is pretty cute, and you get to see Haruka in a freaking swimsuit! Oh man Haruka fanservice is awesome. The ED title is “Zettai Colorful Sengen”, here are a few of the scenes from the ED.
 

Chibi Chiaki chases chibi Kana.

Swimsuit Haruka! <3 <3 <3

Chibi Haruka lol.

The story then continues for a bit, with Chiaki looking for her bear. The real Fujioka goes out to buy something prior to this, so when she mentions Fujioka is missing everyone knows she is referring to the bear. Takeru then takes out a pen and pronounces that it is a good way to find stuff. He proceeds to place the pen upright on the table, and lets it drop on its own. The direction it pointed to would be where Fujioka was…and Chiaki did find it, in a covered cooking pan in the kitchen. It was quite obvious to her that Kana did it, and Kana of course gets owned.

Haruka then decides to give it a try, and the pen this time drops and points to Kana. More laughter ensues as Haruka turns evil, for it turns out Kana has eaten a rather expensive ice-cream that Haruka had bought.
 

Evil Haruka.

Upset Haruka.

Kana then declares she cannot believe it, and decides to try it out. But when asked what she wants to find, she then hesitates, thinks for a bit, and decides to look for her future husband. Takeru then puts the pen on the table, and it refused to drop. Oh man I laughed so hard at this.
 

The pen that refused to work for Kana, as it should be.

Kana then declares that the whole thing is a hoax, and flicks the pen. Just then, the doorbell rings. Kana goes off to answer it, while the other three stare at the pen’s direction and realizes it points at the door.

When Kana opens the door, guess who stands there? Yes, Fujioka. They then carry on a simple conversation, with Kana totally not realizing or rather, forgetting about the pen. Quite frankly, I would hardly mind if they ended up together, but Kana is too dense for that, and Fujioka’s attraction to her while she is ignorant about it remains one of the humorous highlights of the show that can result in hilarity again and again.
 

The 3 look on at the unlikely couple. I like Haruka’s expression the best.

Of course, what is the episode without more Hosaka ownage? Turns out the guy is still stuck at the shrine buying good-luck charms, though all of them have ended in very-bad-luck ones for him, which I totally lol’ed over. He bought a huge bunch and they were rolled into a ball and stuck on the board, oh man. Seriously, this guy is ownage.
 

The first episode kind of is a reintroduction back to the main characters and their highlights throughout the series so far, and there is nothing really new. Overall, the animation is, as expected, about average, but after watching Hyakko, I guess I am fine with it. The content is what interests me most of the time, unless the animation is that bad, but for Okaeri it is fine. The first episode at least has some funny parts and is reminiscent, though definitely not up there, of the first series. I will probably finish the series, got to love me some comedy and lots of Haruka. <3
 

Related posts:

1. Soul Eater 48 & Minami-ke Okaeri 10
2. Anime Girl of the Month – Minami Haruka
3. WTF IS THIS SAIMOE?