3. Sketchbook ~ Full Color’s ~

It wasn’t all too long ago that I was looking forward to Winter. The frosty days, the silent and snowy nights, the warm and inviting spaces… it’s a wonderful time of year. And for seven months, it damn well better be. But when the season gets off to an especially wonderful start, it doesn’t take long before you get to yearning for scorching days, hot and muggy nights, and cool and breezy spaces. Or something in between. The fact is, after a month of snow and cold, I’m sick of freezing my ass off and wish Summer would just hurry up and get here. Then, I’ll have a reason to look forward to Winter once again.

In the mean time, I’ll just put the Sketchbook ~ Full Color’s ~ OP on repeat.

Last year, this number three spot was occupied by a show not unlike Sketchbook. In fact, the two shows are practically siblings. I should just make this the honorary “iyashikei” spot in the Year in Review and be done with it. And, just as I didn’t know what to write last year when recognizing Aria, I’m also at a loss for words with regard to Sketchbook. Both shows provoke similar feelings, but those feelings truly defy description. They’re far too ephemeral. Too ambiguous. Incomprehensible.

It’s kind of annoying. After all, I want to preach the gospel of Sketchbook to every man, woman, and child willing to listen, but the truth is, I got nothing. I don’t know how to explain Sketchbook. Sure, I can write about the quirky humor, the interesting characters, and the tidy animation. And I can write about the adorable lead, the charming stories, and the polished direction. Or I can write about the talking cats. Yes, talking cats.

But, even if I wrote about all that stuff, I don’t think I’d be able to say what I really want to say. And that is, in essence, “Go watch Sketchbook, and be happy.”

Amen.