[Anime]Kokoro Library(Kokoro Toshokan)

Unfortunately, Mr. Ross ought to watch more of the anime than one episode before reviewing it. Not that there is a *great deal* of conflict in this anime, but there is some. And if he is looking for realism in anime, then he is in the wrong medium.

It is quiet and sweet and is sure to appeal to fans of Piano, Haibane Renmei or Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. In point of fact, it is very hard for a reviewer or fans of KT to pin down quite what it is that is so good about this anime. As Mr. Ross said, there are certainly cute characters, and gorgeously done art direction from Studio DEEN (again). But the basic fact is that watching this anime leaves the viewer with a good feeling. I cannot watch Kokoro Toshokan without feeling better about the world, if only for a while.

Try it, see for yourself. Currently only available through fansubs, try animesuki.

Cute characters and beautiful scenery do not make a good anime.

For there to be a compelling story, there must be genuine emotional or situational conflict. Kokoro Library is bereft of either, instead trying to artificially create angst by having the main character, Kokoro, worry herself silly over an overdue library book.

Now, in a REAL library system, the responsibility of dealing with an overdue book belongs to the borrower, NOT the librarian, but Kokoro (and apparently the scenarists of this anime) are too ignorant or stupid to realize this. Not to mention that professional librarians deal with dozens to hundreds of books a day, not the *one* that Kokoro processes. Sorry, but real-life librarians are highly educated college graduates with significant amounts of training, not people who sit behind counters just to look cute.

Kokoro Library has all the depth and charm of a computer screen saver. Unfortunately, if I wanted a screen saver, I'd get a screen saver, and NOT a 13-episode anime series.

Better luck next time.