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Why Is Hyouka So Good? (Facts Revealed)

When you translate Hyouka in English it means Ice-cream, Which actually has nothing to do with the Anime’s story and just comes out as a random Pun “I scream”.

The writer also picked up a different way of solving a mystery in this Anime rather than sneaking into places and finding pieces of evidence.

The characters sit together and rack their brains to find the answer to their mysteries. 

As the program progresses, intriguing mystery plots are revealed, and the animation is breathtaking to see!
As the program progresses, intriguing mystery plots are revealed, and the animation is breathtaking to see!

Hyouka is a 22 episodes slice of life Anime produced by Kyoto Animation and written by a renowned Japanese mystery Author Honobu Yonezawa.

In 2001, the 21-year-old Author made Hyouka public by publishing it in form of a novel on his blog, Becoming the first volume of his classic literature trilogy. 

In essence, Hyouka is based on a slice-of-life light novel. This isn’t your normal high school drama. As the show goes on, it reveals engrossing mystery plots, and the animation is stunning to see!

It was simple yet somehow lovely. The humor was smart and unconventional, and the character development was fresh. The music is beautiful. It also has a lovely conclusion.

TitleHyouka
No. Of Episodes22
Written ByHonobu Yonezawa
GenreHighschool, Mystery, Slice of Life
Studio Kyoto Animation
Release DateSpring 2012
Bout Hyouka

What is Hyouka?

Honobu Yonezawa penned the 2001 Japanese mystery novel Hyouka.

The Classic Literary Club series begins with this volume. Between 2002 and 2016, five additional volumes were released. Taskohna’s manga adaption debuted in the March 2012 issue of Kadokawa Shoten’s Shnen Ace. From April 22 to September 16, 2012, a 22-episode anime adaptation produced by Kyoto Animation and directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto aired.

Hyouka: Forbidden Secrets, a live-action film directed by Mari Asato and starring Kento Yamazaki and Alice Hirose, was released on November 3, 2017.

Hotaro Oreki, a student at Kamiyama High School, joins the Classic Literary Club to prevent it from being dissolved at the request of his older sister and is joined by other associates Eru Chitanda, Satoshi Fukube, and Mayaka Ibara. The narrative takes place in Kamiyama City, a fictional city in Gifu Prefecture based on the author’s own hometown of Takayama, also in Gifu.

The fictitious Kamiyama High School is based on Hida High School in real life. They start solving different mysteries, both for their club and at Eru’s request.

Who is Houtarou Oreki?

Houtarou Oreki is the protagonist of the Classic Literary Club and Hyouka series.

He attends Kamiyama High School and is a member of the Classic Lit Club. Houtarou is a cynical individual who puts energy saving above everything else. He does, however, have amazing deduction skills, which he is frequently made to utilize by the ever-curious Eru Chitanda.

Houtarou lives in a detached house with his elder sister Tomoe and his father, yet due to Tomoe’s constant travels, Houtarou is frequently alone at home. His typical day at home includes reading the newspaper and napping. He reads manga on occasion if it piques his curiosity. Houtarou prefers coffee that has been shallowly roasted.

What kind of Anime is Hyouka?

Opening of Hyouka

The plot and mystery of this Anime seem to be well overall. The majority of the mysteries were intriguing and fun. Regrettably, a few of the stories were executed poorly and were just plain dull.

Fortunately, there were few and rather short. This Anime features a healthy dose of humor and romance as well.

All Oreki wanted was to live his remaining student life without indulging in sports or making friends, or spending his energy on unnecessary stuff at school. Until he reluctantly joins the high school literature club after receiving his sister’s letter. 

At first, he dismissed it as a no big deal but as he enters the club room he meets the charming Eru and begins to solve a 45-year-old incident.

Satoshi and Mayaka also join the group, and when Eru starts looking into a mystery linking her uncle to the group, Oreki’s ambitions to be lazy go by the wayside.

Hints to the mystery can be found in an old issue of Hyouka, an anthology issued by the Classic Lit Club in the 1960s.

The series is flawlessly produced and absolutely unassuming. Hyouka depicts how, ironically, with the focal character, everyday life can be interesting and intriguing.

That an ordinary lifestyle, ordinary joys, and ordinary efforts can in fact create something special.

What makes Hyouka a good Anime?

It is strongly hinted that Chitanda is romantically attracted to Oreki given their close proximity.
It is strongly hinted that Chitanda is romantically attracted to Oreki given their close proximity.

The animation, plot, and characters are what made me hooked on this Anime in the first place.

Although the high school trope is a pretty common thing in Slice-of-Life Anime, the mystery, and itsy-bitsy romance made this Anime a worthwhile watch.

Animation

The first thing that catches the eye of an Anime fan is art.

Kyoto Animation has always been called out to include more style rather than substance in their work and this time also they’ve done a fantastic job in bringing the characters to life.

Not to mention the eyes had more emotions and life in them rather than just being colorful beads.

The backgrounds and the overall art were enough to pull the audience. The Anime stays consistent with visuals throughout its 22 episodes

Plot

The writer did a good job of portraying normal life mysteries that would not require you to go to extraordinary lengths like in a murder mystery or some treasure hunt.

Instead, their strongest points were the intriguing situations, which had a strong build-up and, for the most part, reasonable and rational ends.

It involves investigating old books, figuring out the author of a piece, learning the specifics of an incident that happened in the past, etc.

It is obvious that the original author of the book gave this a lot of time and care to ensure that nothing would be overlooked. 

Characters

Each of the four main characters of this Anime has a contrasting personality, quirks, likes, and dislikes but they work in conjunction to solve the mysteries. As the mysteries get resolved each one of them feels an exhilarating change in them, in a positive way. 

Their emotional and psychological growth is something that gives a sympathetic touch to their personalities.

It also shows the flaws of characters in a realistic way which makes the real world relatable to Hyouka’s world, it gives away the fact that people lie make mistakes, and still have to keep living their lives. 

Eru Chitanda

My personal favorite is Chitanda mainly because of her curiosity spell on her group members. She can’t help thinking about a mystery whenever it is brought to her notice.

She can convince Oreki to do anything by just expressing, “I’m curious.” She is basically everything that went right with this story.

Hotaru Oreki

Hotaru Oreki
He is also incredibly smart and resourceful, and when necessary, he can find out how to solve complex problems.

His passive nature and expressionless face of Oreki cause him to be uninvolved in his school most of the time, he gets bored easily and dislikes activities that don’t have a clear goal or benefit right away.

However, he is also a very intelligent and resourceful person who, when required, can figure out how to overcome challenging issues.

Oreki is apathetic, yet he cares a lot about his pals and is always willing to go out of his way for them. If it’s not essential, I won’t do anything, is his mantra.

Satoshi Fukube

Satoshi is a typical high school student without any remarkable skills or talents.

He contrasts with Oreki in being upbeat and active. But he constantly seeks out his area of expertise and desires to encounter everything.

Mayaka Ibara

She went to middle school with Satoshi and Houtarou. Since middle school, Mayaka has had a crush on Satoshi.

She is a responsible girl even if she may be impetuous and headstrong at times. Her interests include reading and creating her own Manga. 

Does Hyouka contain romance?

There is very little to no romance between the main characters in the Anime, however, you might see some moments here and there. You can find the light novel with heavier romantic tones than the Anime.  

The relationship between Eru and Oreki in the Anime is developing; as the episodes go on, they become closer to one another, just as Oreki’s behavior is subtly changing. But in the novel, particularly in the sixth volume, Oreki and Chitanda start to open up to one another.

It’s not a show where the main character says “I love you” aloud, but rather one about their improving relationship and healing old wounds.

Does Hyouka have a good ending?

There isn’t a Manga for Hyouka. It was adapted from a light novel, and both the Anime and the light novel are said to have the same conclusion. 

I don’t understand why people keep seeking romance in some Anime series when it is obviously nonexistent. Oreki’s momentary feelings at the end of the episode are just that—fleeting thoughts; Hyouka wasn’t a love story. The final scene served as a suggestion, a teaser that piques our appetite for their reunion but left the details of what happens next up to our imagination.

Conclusion

  • Overall Hyouka is a really good slice-of-life Anime with great animation, sound, and characters. 
  • The mysteries are the core element of the Anime however some of these mysteries were dragging the plot. 
  • There is a very slight touch of romance to Hyouka overall this Anime does not rely on romance and leaves it to the audience’s imagination to decide what happens after the end. 

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