Kiniro Mosaic - 6

Art: Why does every anime series under the sun have to have a fan-service episode? An episode in which the cast all wander around in swimwear or less for no real reason? It's so low-brow.
Pip: Shall we confirm that by watching it again?
Art: Absolutely.
— Sequential Art

Inevitably, the beach episode was somehow going to find a way, as it always somehow does in your typical anime production. However, a struggle was going to be necessary before this could be achieved, for another girl firmly suggested going to the mountains. In the end, the chosen method of settling this dispute was playing cards, with the winner being able to make the group decision. Fortunately, the Beach triumphed yet again...

...or so I'd been cruelly led to believe:

O.O WHAT???

...and that's how we ended up with our mountain episode:

Translation Note: Mount Fuji

I'm being too laconic here, so time to get on with the review!

While England can be a back garden for the snobbery of institutional elitists, there are also people like Karen's father who are really laid back, relaxed, and above all, seemingly fun. For most daughters of rich men over here, they get sent to the best private schools the nation can offer, no questions asked. However, Karen is allowed to go hang out in a Japanese public school, and more importantly, with Alice. This offers some sort of point from which either culture can be compared, and I'd say Japan edge this out by miles, though there is a tendency to overdo things...

They come rolling in style

Putting that asides, after enduring the mountain trek under the treacherous sun, the girls begin to regret adhering to Karen's idea. I couldn't help but nod in agreement, imagining how much cooler everything would've been if only they'd gone to the waters of the beach... and amazingly, they still decided to make the best out of the excursion (Reaching the top will be an achievement we can proudly look back upon rather than moaning at Karen). Only Karen reveals they're not going to climb further, instead opting to play at the mountain riverside, her aim being river fishing. More cuteness overload from Alice, who gets absolutely smashed by Karen at fishing, and becoming a violently jealous moeblob along the way.

'A-a-alice! You're burning!' - Shino

On a side note, Aya's bland cooking actually improved! Lo behold, the surprise I simply couldn't contain, that's almost never happened before (killer cooking must always remain killer cooking). Water fight erupts, and sparkles glitter all over the screen. I really enjoy the stylization in this anime, where some expressions are perfectly captured, and well framed. Other moments also involve unique sound effects, which serve to elevate the experience, as well as providing comedy. I have the vague feeling I was trying to get at something here... never mind, all that matters was that I squealed in delight when everyone fell into the water!

We all fall down

Summer still has a long way to go, and there's nothing like a Summer Festival to top the cherry on the icing on the cake! My brain froze when Alice squealed 'Happi' in excitement. I thought she sounded like a small, cute furry mammal proclaiming that they were 'Happy' in a rather primitive sense. Seems like she was just referring to a traditional Japanese straight-sleeved coat... Karasuma-sensei looking for her 'Onii-chan' was priceless, and her desperate attempt to deny the fact only added fuel onto the flames of my laughter. Teachers can be so stern that we forget they have a life, and personality out of the classroom, so it comes as a huge comic relief when scenes like this happen. Unfortunately, the rest is just boring to describe, and you would do much better by going to watch this yourself. I recommend it with the highest approval.

I loved Shinobu's fashion sense here

Watching the fireworks wilt from a third person perspective, I couldn't help but feel melancholic, and ponder whether it was a symbolic representation, or shallow reflection of Kiniro Mosaic itself. Someday, these girls will graduate from high school, and part ways, meaning the fun times they're having now will almost likely never happen again. As the series progresses, I've come to realize that this is becoming more like Azumanga Daioh meets Great Britain. In other words, it's quirky fun that stirs up the nostalgic feeling of a bygone era in anime. Whether it can attain the heights Azumanga Daioh did seems very unlikely, however, I'm able to settle with this as being better than the latter in my personal opinion. Well, that's just my own opinion, so it doesn't count for much, other than the fact I'll continue to ardently review this series.

End episode short:

Yoko tells everyone a horror story, about a girl who sat alone facing her desk... clueless as the clock ticked down to midnight, and therefore 00:00 of September 1st. It was then that she noticed, SHE HADN'T DONE A SINGLE SUMMER ASSIGNMENT. At which point Aya comes in, turns on the lights, and points out it describes just about all of them other than herself... (cue screams of horror)