Based on a manga by Sakuya Amano, this colorfully animated if at times overly sweet anime series centers on Yuzu, a naïve foxgirl brought by her guardian, a nun, to work on the staff of the Konohanatei Hotel, which is located in a sort of neverland between Heaven and Earth and is owned by Okami, a fox who can adopt the guise of a woman. The narrative thrust of the series lies in the relationship between Yuzu and her co-workers: Satsuki, a no-nonsense type who wants to become a priestess; Ren, a beautiful foxgirl with fears that stem from her childhood; Natsume, a tomboyish extrovert; petite, mysterious Sakura; and Kiri, the staff overseer. As the series progresses, Yuzu learns from them and they from her, and all are taught lessons by the unusual guests who stay at the inn. Supernatural elements abound: a peculiar egg attaches itself to some of the foxgirls and a baby grows in short order into a teenager, a strange girl weaves a rainbow, a ghost tries to lure Yuzu to the underworld, and Satsuki is shrunk to tiny size. Overall, the series lacks forward momentum, yet even though the individual stories never quite mesh into a coherent whole, they still offer incidental pleasures along the way. Compiling all 12 episodes from 2017 in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, rated TV-14, this is a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
Konohana Kitan: The Complete Series
(2017) 4 discs. 300 min. Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $64.99. Funimation (avail. from most distributors). Volume 34, Issue 3
Konohana Kitan: The Complete Series
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