Introduction
“Unhappy” (also known as “Annie Happy”) is a light-hearted comedy animation that tells the story of a group of female high school students who encounter bad luck. Despite their misfortune, the play emphasizes the power of friendship and hope in the face of adversity. Blending humor, lovable characters and feel-good themes, Unhappy puts a modern twist on school life. In this blog, we will explore what makes Misfortune such an interesting and high-quality anime.
Story
“Unhappiness” is set in Tennofun Academy, a special school for grades 1-7, known as the “Happiness Class”. The course is for students who have been down on their luck or experienced unusual misfortune, and is designed to help them find happiness in their Unhappy circumstances.
The story tells the story of five girls: Hibari, Hanako, Botan, Hibiki and Ren. Every girl has her own funny or quirky special name that leads to common mistakes, accidents, and misunderstandings. Despite their Unhappy circumstances, the girls are united by their shared experience and, with the guidance of their brilliant teacher, Mr. Xiaoping, set out to improve their lot.
What stands out about “Misfortune” is its positive and heartwarming message: that despite constant misfortune, happiness can be found through friendship, determination and a sense of happiness.
Main Characters
- Hanakoizumi “Hanako” An: The title character, Hanako is an embodiment of bad luck. Misfortune follows her everywhere—whether it’s falling into random holes or getting hit by stray objects, Hanako always seems to find herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, her cheerful and optimistic attitude never wavers, making her the heart of the group.
- Hibari: Hibari is the more grounded and sensible member of the group, but her misfortune stems from her romantic interest in a construction sign—yes, you read that right. Hibari often acts as the voice of reason, though she too is susceptible to the strange misfortunes that affect the group.
- Botan: Botan is a frail girl who is prone to injury at the slightest touch. Her constant health problems are played for laughs, and despite her physical fragility, she remains a kind and gentle soul who deeply cares for her friends.
- Hibiki: Hibiki has an incredibly poor sense of direction, often getting lost even in the most straightforward of places. She’s also competitive and easily flustered, especially when it comes to her childhood friend, Ren.
- Ren: Ren is cool, calm, and collected, but her misfortune involves animals being strangely attracted to her, often leading to chaotic situations. Despite her aloof personality, she cares deeply for her friends, even if she doesn’t always show it.
Background Information
- Creator and Studio:
- Creator: “Unhappy” is based on the manga written by Cotoji, which was serialized in Manga Time Kirara Forward. Cotoji’s whimsical and humorous storytelling shines through in both the manga and anime adaptation.
- Anime Studio: The anime is produced by Silver Link, a studio known for its vibrant animation and knack for bringing slice-of-life comedies to life. Silver Link’s previous works, such as Non Non Biyori and Baka and Test, share a similar lighthearted and humorous tone.
- Source Material: The anime is adapted from Cotoji’s manga, which spans multiple volumes. The anime covers much of the source material, with its signature blend of comedy, charm, and quirky situations.
- Release Date: “Unhappy” aired during the Spring 2016 season and consists of 12 episodes.
- Genres:
- Slice of Life: The show follows the everyday misadventures of its characters, focusing on their day-to-day lives in the Happiness Class.
- Comedy: The series excels at slapstick humor and situational comedy, with much of the humor stemming from the characters’ misfortunes and how they deal with them.
- School Life: Set within the confines of a school dedicated to helping unlucky students, “Unhappy” puts a unique spin on the traditional school setting.
Themes in Unhappy (Anne Happy)
- Optimism in Adversity: One of the main themes of “Unhappy” is finding joy even when things seem to go wrong. Despite the girls’ constant bad luck, they always find ways to smile, laugh, and make the best of their situations.
- Friendship: The series emphasizes the importance of friendship and how having a supportive group of friends can help people get through tough times. The girls may be unlucky, but together, they form a bond that helps them overcome their misfortunes.
- Self-Acceptance: Each of the characters learns to accept their quirks and bad luck as a part of who they are. Instead of letting their misfortune define them, they embrace their individuality and work toward happiness in their own unique ways.
Visuals and Animation
- Art Style: “Unhappy” has a colorful and vibrant art style that matches its cheerful tone. The character designs are cute and expressive, perfectly capturing the girls’ personalities and the show’s lighthearted nature. The use of bright, pastel colors adds to the overall feel-good atmosphere of the series.
- Animation: The animation is fluid and playful, especially during the comedic moments where the characters’ exaggerated reactions are a highlight. Silver Link does a great job of bringing the manga’s humor to life through clever visual gags and dynamic expressions.
- World-Building: The setting of Tennomifune Academy is whimsical and surreal, with the Happiness Class feeling more like a playground for mischief than a traditional classroom. The unusual and sometimes fantastical scenarios the girls find themselves in contribute to the show’s unique charm.
Sound and Music
Opening and Ending Themes: The opening song “Punch Mind Happiness” is sung by Happy Clover and has a fun tempo and upbeat vocals that set the tone for the entire show. It perfectly reflects the optimistic spirit of the show. The ending song “Ashita de Ii Kara” is sung by the same group and has a slow tempo and deep melody, which brings calmness and optimism to each episode.
CHAT SONG: Victory is simple and fun, perfectly fitting the mood of the show. Music helps enhance the humor and emotions of the play and strengthens the audience’s connection with the characters.
Voiceover: Transcripts bring each character to life with lively and entertaining performances. Hanako’s optimism and happiness, Hibari’s quiet mind and Botan’s delicate demeanor are well captured by the talented voice actors, adding depth and beauty to the characters.
Review
“Unhappy” is a part of life that favors loved ones and a happy message. While the show’s introduction of a “cheer group” of underprivileged students may seem strange at first glance, it soon becomes clear that the show is not about the girls’ Unhappy, but how they deal with it with humor and grace.
The comedy is timely and funny, often relying on the misfortune of the characters to get laughs. However, the true power of misfortune lies in its goodness. This show emphasizes hope, friendship and self-acceptance and is great from start to finish. While it doesn’t delve into plot or deep themes, its simplicity is part of its charm.
“Unhappy” is a must watch for anyone who likes sweet character driven drama and enjoys silly and exciting stories. It is a refreshing interpretation of the theme of school life with the right dose of humor and emotion.
Meta Description:
“Unhappy” (Anne Happy) is a funny film about a group of unhappy girls who find happiness in their troubles. Follow them on their journey to Sky Ship Academy’s Happiness Classroom!
