Usagi Drop – 11 [END]

And a year together comes to a close~

~I THOUGHT USAGI DROP WOULD BE 12 EPISODES –SOB- I was definitely not prepared for this to end so soon. How I managed to get through this without crying the buckets and buckets of tears I had expected to, is beyond me (Sheer will power? HA) With that, it’s time for the ceremonial last summary of one touching and sweet series.

After receiving the news that Yukari is sick with a cold, Daikichi takes Rin and Kouki to buy some snacks for her cold. They go to her apartment to drop them off, where Yukari reassures a worried Rin, who’s been afraid she caught her cold because of her, that she’s sure to get better soon. The next day, the two meet up again at the park so Rin and Kouki can practice jump roping for a contest at school. They are soon joined by Sayaka’s and Nobu-kun’s father, who Daikichi met at the school’s festival.

Returning to the park a few days later, the fathers join in on the jump roping due to some gained weight. Daikichi impresses them with his boxer-style jumping and soon has Kouki and Nobu running after him to teach him how to do it. When Daikichi takes a break, he comments on how incredible kids and adults are. It’s there he tells about his situation with Rin: how he’s not her father, that they’ve only been together for a year now, and that his lifestyle changed once he couldn’t have time for himself anymore. Daikichi then asks his fellow parents if they’re all right with not having ‘time for themselves’ all the way down the line. They all admit, with smiles on their faces, that they’re fine with it.

One evening, Daikichi asks Rin about the jump rope contest. She tells him that she only did 15, but in backwards jumping, she got first place with 203 jumps! The next day the two ride the train to Daikichi’s parent’s house. At dinner while Rin is eating boiled beans, she suddenly stops and pulls out a loose tooth that’s come out! With the commotion over and Rin asleep, Daikichi and Kazumi talk in the kitchen about Kazumi getting married. Her future husband wants to have a kid right away, but she doesn’t want to, admitting she’s not confident she could sacrifice herself to raise a child. Daikichi reassures her saying she’d manage if she put her mind to it. A flashback reveals the reasons why the other parents don’t mind giving up their own time for themselves as Yukari tells that time with her son is her time also.

A year has now passed as the family gathers around Grandfather’s grave with Rin telling him about her adult teeth coming in. On the train ride home, Daikichi flashbacks to the most changing memories of Rin, from first seeing her at his Grandfather’s home, to catching her trying to change her pajamas after wetting the bed, to her first day of elementary school, and even the memory of Rin recognizing the ink bottle with a single blue flower inside as Masako’s. When he runs after her, he ends up going through a path lined with trees and falling leaves as the season changes to autumn, only to appear in front of his house at the end.

One evening as Daikichi makes dinner, Rin rushes to the bathroom, her other tooth supposedly coming loose. Daikichi quickly goes to her, and upon entering the bathroom, she gives him a big smile to show her two missing teeth! Overly excited, Rin poses for a photo to send to his parents~.

Final Thoughts: Someone remind me why this sweet, innocent show has to end so soon. MY THURSDAYS ARE MEANINGLESS NOW (at least until a show can fill this bunny-sized hole in my fangirl heart)…

I have to say this was a very satisfying and beautiful ending to this series. I don’t think I’ve ever been so content with a final episode before. It felt like a very stylized summary of all that’s changed in Daikichi’s and Rin’s past year together, and of all the lessons they’ve, and other characters, have learned throughout the series. I absolutely loved how they took those tidbit scenes from previous episodes and re-played them again in present time to show what’s changed, like Rin’s pigtails being fixed almost perfectly, and the much happier ride to Daikichi’s parents’ home. Yet with that, there’s more of Daikichi learning new things, even him admitting that he’ll still get nervous and worked up over those new, little things to show that there will always be more to learn.

Usagi Drop has always been wonderfully animated, but this episode had some of the most beautifully animated scenes in my opinion. All the little details from the transitions to the particular views made it all the more emotional and special. What got me to finally choke up and shed some tears though was the flashback scene as Daikichi remembers all the major moments he had with Rin. I thought the transitions from memory to memory were really neat, and then to have it end at home, where the house is lighted and his grandfather’s favorite flower are fully bloomed, got to me so much for some reason.

As for things I’ll miss, most definitely Rin and her adorable self, along with Kouki and his cutely troublesome ways. I don’t think there’s any other cuter kids in anime out there, seriously. I’ll be missing Daikichi’s inner and outer monologues as well~ Daikichi has always been a favorite character of mine because of how real and noble a character he was. He was strong, but had his weakness shown at the same time. He had his faults, his doubts, and said what needed to be said. When he made mistakes, he came back, improving (sometimes with a little help). He gave up his old lifestyle, his own time, all for the sake of Rin and making sure she was comfortable. If we were to have most noble male character award for this season, it’d go to Daikichi, hands down.

Overall Usagi Drop was a lovely series, and one I wouldn’t mind re-watching it when I’m older, possibly with my own kids. I’ve definitely learned quite a bit from this actually (like to appreciate my single mother more *clings*), even though I can’t really apply all of what I’ve learned since I’m still quite young. To be honest, there were times I felt that I wasn’t mature to actually blog this series (but that may have just been me overreacting again). I’m glad I managed to stick with it though~. And now, as another new season approaches, it’s time to bid farewell to another show. Until next time then~!!

About Hoshi

A tired, over-dramatic 20 year old college student who likes manga and cheesy Korean boy bands. Prone to succumb to laziness and refuse to work for hours on end.