My Deer Friend Nokotan - Episode 1 Review- An Absurdist Slice Of Life

'My Dear Friend Nokotan' just released its first episode on Crunchyroll on 7th July, 2024. More weekly episodes on the way, here's a short review on why 'My Deer Friend Nokotan' can be a great series to watch when you just want to turn off your brain and watch some dumb fun.

Produced By Wit Studio, An Odd Addition To Their Collection Of Series

Those who recognize Wit Studio will remember them from their work on the first three seasons of 'Attack On Titan', as well as their involvement in other works like 'Spy X Family' and 'Vinland Saga'.

They are a very recognisable brand, known for their involvement in a lot of mainstream anime series. It was a big surprise to find out they were behind this seemingly average slice of life show, as 'Wit Studio' don't usually work on shows like these.

It was only after watching the first episode did I realize that 'My Deer Friend Nokotan' is anything but average.

A Girl, That's Also A Deer, And Somehow No One Cares

The plot of the show can be summed up in one sentence.

An honour student with a delinquent past befriends a girl that's also a deer.

It seems simple, but there are some inconsistencies. It's never established how or why the girl is part deer. Nor is there any explanation for why no one except the protagonist seems surprised that a half-human, half-deer hybrid exists in the first place. While deer, specifically the Sika deer species, are very common in Japan, the show doesn't seem to acknowledge any real facts about deers.

It's all very absurd, which I think is the point of the show.

Absurdist Humour, Self-Awareness, And Slice Of Life

Slice of life is a very common genre in anime. Like any popular genre, it has its own cliches and tropes. But what if you had an anime that was self-aware, and made fun of these tropes? What if the anime also included tropes from other genres, and involved situations that you'd typically expect from shounen anime series? What if the anime even broke the fourth wall at times?

Well, that anime already exists and it's called 'Nichijou'. It was one of the first shows to go mainstream with absurdist humour in a slice of life anime. That being said, 'My Deer Friend Nokotan' seems to closely follow in its footsteps, having most of its episodes revolve around a ridiculous concept and the absurd humour that can arise out of it. While 'My Deer Friend Nokotan' doesn't have the same unique style as 'Nichijou', it has its moments of some very pretty looking scenes and absolutely hilarious visual comedy.

Those that simply want a slice of life anime will probably watch it and understandably get very confused. But for those who know what they're in store for, this anime can be great for just enjoying the chaos of a show that doesn't take itself seriously at all.

People can watch 'My Deer Friend Nokotan' on Crunchyroll, with the first episode already out and new episodes releasing every Sunday.