book shop Archives | 100 Word Anime

Skull Face Bookseller Honda-San Episode 9 Review

Honda really can’t deal with people, and this fact has been the consistent source of jokes and amusement throughout this series. It becomes even more apparent this week when we first see him confronted by fans of a book who missed its release and now can’t find it anywhere. As a book-lover I know this pain all too well having spent many fruitless hours as a kid walking between bookshops for the latest Animorphs volume or whatever else I was into at the time.

However, this then transitions into another teaching moment about what happens to books that aren’t selling and how they make room for new stock. The agonising the characters go through when looking at their shelves and deciding which books to go back is exaggerated just enough to bring a smile to the face without going totally over the top.

What this show gets right is understanding people who love books. Seeing the character early on who yells at Honda-san for suggesting he get an ebook copy after coming to a book store… even readers who like ebooks will understand that when you’ve decided to go and buy a physical copy, an ebook just won’t do. Seeing the disappointed fans who couldn’t get the book they were chasing was just kind of perfect. But what really sold this whole idea was Honda himself and his genuine thrill and enjoyment on being able to get a copy of the book he was chasing at the end of the episode.

If things get a bit weird in the middle with a wrapped book talking to Honda while he tries to shove it into a shelf, then that’s a small quibble with an otherwise fairly enjoyable episode of this. Honda remains a watchable show and an amusing enough diversion, though there still isn’t a lot to this anime other than that.

Thanks for reading
Karandi James

Consider supporting the blog by:

Or, use one of my product affiliate links.
Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda San (Anime) Intro/Outro Themes: ISBN – Inner Sound & Book’s Narrative

Skull Face Book Seller Honda San Episodes 6 + 7 Review

Episodes 6 and 7 of Skull Face Book Seller Honda San don’t really deliver anything new in the way of material. We do get a look at some of the more behind the scenes people who keep the bookstores stocked and we also get to accompany Honda San as he goes to a drinking party and is forced to listen to criticism of his own work, but basically this is business as usual for this anime short.

Skull Face Bookseller honda San Episode 6

As a customer who is incredibly shy when in bookstores, I completely agree with this statement.

And why shouldn’t it be? The formula works as we are introduced to the set up and then we see the characters run about doing their jobs with ridiculously overblown reactions before the segment ends and a new one begins. While it doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression, it remains amusing enough.

Though, I think a lot of people are definitely just in this for the game of spot the reference that never seems to get old. Episode six certainly liberally peppered in titles that you’ll probably recognise in amongst the store talk.

Skull Face Bookseller Honda San Episode 7

There is one thing that this show absolutely nails every time though; and that is a deep love of books. Multiple times throughout the episodes Honda or another character reminds us that some people just love books. Just finding a book you’ve been looking for can bring a happy smile to your face and holding it in your hands can be the best moment, at least for a little while. It is very hard to dismiss an anime that really does understand people who like books.