Hidamari Sketch (ひだまりスケッチ) is an anime series produced by Shaft in 2007. It ran for 12 episodes (plus three specials) and is based on the manga of the same name by Ume Aoki. It is considered one of the main inspirations for the "slice of life" genre seen over the last two decades. The series received several sequels, totaling four seasons, and additional content in the form of various OVAs.

The story follows a young girl named Yuno after she enrolls at Yamabuki Art High School. She begins living on her own in an apartment building near the school called the Hidamari Apartments. There, she meets three other residents and quickly becomes friends with them.

The series does not have a strict continuity between episodes (though there are occasional references to previous events) and generally focuses on a series of small events that occur during the daily school lives of the Hidamari Apartments residents. These stories are almost always told from Yuno's point of view.

The themes of these short stories are consistently light, relaxing, and positive, giving the series a soothing effect. In the anime, these episodes usually conclude with Yuno reminiscing in the bath with a rubber duck, reflecting on the day's events.

The four main characters are:

Yuno

The protagonist of the series, she is a short, child-like girl who lacks self-esteem despite being a very skilled artist. Her growth throughout the series is a key element, as her interactions with the other residents help her learn the life lessons she needs to succeed.

Miyako

Yuno’s best friend and next-door neighbor. She is a blond girl from a large family who lives in the most "affordable" unit in the building, the one with the most maintenance issues, which keeps the rent low. She is energetic, active, and physically talented. She loves to tease her friends and is often considered the "eccentric" one of the group.

Hiro

Yuno’s senior and the most feminine of the group. She moved into the Hidamari Apartments to be close to her best friend, Sae. She often worries about her weight and frequently goes on diets, which conflicts with her love for food. This struggle is often used for comedic effect when Miyako teases her.

Sae

Yuno’s other senior and the "cool" girl of the group. She has a more tomboyish style than the others, with short dark hair and square glasses. She is a professionally published fiction author, making her the most accomplished resident in the building.

While Yuno is definitely my favorite character, I am always interested in the dynamic between Hiro and Sae. It is lighthearted, but you can clearly see how much they care for one another, and there are often hints of a "yuri" subtext between them. While nothing explicit happens, it’s easy to view their relationship through "yuri-tinted glasses."

The art style is quite faithful to the original manga, though Shaft’s signature stylistic choices in animation and visuals are very apparent. You will notice the same types of "cut-ins" used in the Bakemonogatari series, which was released around the same time.

If you have never watched it, give it a chance; you will see how many of its elements were later reused in other series over the following decade. I rewatched the first season recently, and it was a great experience.