I only noticed the color saturation change in the final episode. Neat.

I just finished watching Super Cub then found this video, and this is great indepth analysis, good work!

I noticed the saturation changes and googled about it and ended up here. Brilliant breakdown

Thanks for that great review! I look forward to rewatching now. You know, this anime was not nearly as commercial as Laid-Back Camp. And if you read the Super Cub manga, it doesn’t seem commercial at all. The thing is, if you talk to Honda motorcycle riders, they totally immerse themselves in Honda clothes and accessories and talk about Honda all the time. So the product placement and love for Honda seems totally accurate to me.

An interesting analysis, so thanks for taking the time to show your appreciation for what is, in my opinion, a much underrated and overlooked anime series. Most of the points you raised I had already noticed for myself: the subtle colour change, Koguma's 'seasonal' outfits and the background music in the shops etc., but I have to disagree with you re: the yuri angle. Reiko represents a new way for Koguma to view the world. She's the 'seasoned' cub rider who's been there before, eaten the sandwich and worn the t-shirt etc. She has her own domestic issues which she's largely overcome and proved that she can be her own person, in her own right, so Koguma's dreamy recollection of Reiko so shortly after their first meeting and conversation is, at least to me, more a representation of an idealised freedom that Koguma aspires to. "If Reiko can do it then so can I." It's also worth noting that in the two scenes in which Reiko is either semi-clothed or naked, Koguma's reaction is to immediately tell her to cover up or get dressed because she's dripping water on the carpet. There's no dreamy Koguma POV of the semi-naked/naked Reiko. By the way, does curry really taste better when you're naked? Having read all the available manga to date and the books I haven't picked up any subtle references to a growing yuri theme between Koguma and Reiko. In fact, I don't think it's necessary. The story stands as is by its own merits and I see it overall as a tale of gradual self-realisation for Koguma - learning who Koguma really is and what she is capable of. I dearly hope there will be a second season as there is plenty of material yet to be explored. Finally, if you want a good laugh, take a look at the Reddit Super Cub site and look out for a rather bizarre crossover between Super Cub and The Blues Brothers movie. The artist goes by the name of MonkeyClang. www.reddit.com/r/SuperCubAnime/comments/socurc/the_blues_sisters_complete_and_revamped/

A superb, underrated series, a truly hidden gem. Not a lot happens, but it is done superbly. Btw, Koguma, the main character is on her own as her family moved to the town, but her father died and her mother left her, leaving a note that simply said, 'bye'. There is now an English 'dub' available on Crunchyroll. Shii's character development has nothing to do with owning a cub, but more to do with her accident. She was rescued by Koguma and became fixated on Koguma's insistence on the cub being the reason for success. The palette changes only occur when Koguma is happy or satisfied and nothing to do with the storyline.

she only has one daydream but she does dream of making her life better.it's just not an ad for honda but a look into the life of an orphan in japan,which is not very good i read.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees a very subtle but beautifully portrayed yuri relationship growing in this. I mean it's dealt with as something just fine and normal, nothing to shout about, no biggie. Just as it should be. I thought I was the only one seeing / thinking this, and probably just reading too much into it. Your musical breakdown makes me think I'm possibly right. :)

I'm new to Japanese anime..and know pretty much nothing..But I am enjoying my new interest....I started with "K-On!"..Reason being, I have come to have an interest in Japan since losing my partner to cancer...It has been dark times..But the light in that darkness was an all female Japanese rock band. Which..I have come to adore greatly..So much so I flew out to Japan from the UK to see them LIVE in Tokyo...The founder of the band said in an interview that "K-On!" was a fav of hers when she was younger...So when in Japan I brought the Box set...And LOVED IT!..As I was able to spot things in the show which could be related to the band..As in where some of quirks of the band came from so to speak..Since then I have watched "Bocchi the Rock"..and of course "Super Cub"..And have loved them all..The "slice of life" anime appeals to me...And plan to watch "Laid-Back Camp" next..As I brought some of the manga when I was in Japan along with the "K-On!"..Shame I didn't know of "Super Cub" or "Bocchi the Rock" before I went as I certainly would have brought some merch while there..bummer!...Though not alot happens as such in "Super Cub" it is so very well executed..and such a chill to watch....Not taxing....And I love the fact that many of the backgrounds for these "Slice of Life" anime are of REAL places!..I was thinking of visiting the school where "K-On!" is based..But for reasons was not able to get there...anyway..I'm waffling...Just hope for a second season of "Super Cub"...but I doubt it will come..which is sad.

Three years late to the party but WTH, I just saw Super Cub yesterday on Muse Asia. Muse has compiled the entire series into one video with the ED of the previous episode gliding smoothly into the intro sting of the next one, followed by the OP. I didn't know this yet as I neared the end of ep 1, and wanting to skip the ED and OP I skipped forward over the part where Koguma announced coming to school on her Cub in ep 2. Anyway, I paused this video just to rewatch ep 2, and I ended up going to the start of ep 1 and rewatching the entire series. About Koguma's announcement, I still think it was a daydream but it was also a tangible moment of character development. They don't preclude each other, and especially because the anime lets us inside Koguma's head a lot it's not surprising that at least some of her character development is internal. (And like a true introvert, Koguma is mostly feeling her emotions instead of enunciating them even inside her own head. The anime treats this in a show, don't tell manner. Brilliant portrayal of an introverted personality.)

I definitely am going to re watch this amazing anime just not sure when i usually watch something once and then move on i really want to add Super Cub to My Toonami Lineup but i can't since no one has made fan made Toonami bumps for it and i don't know anything about computer editing i didn't think about it much after hearing you say it i have to agree with what you said about Shii as for the daydream about Koguma speaking up in class the way i see it is a day dream i think it's best not to overthink it i imagine any shy person would want to overcome their shyness so that scene is nothing more then a desire that Koguma would want and the later scene of the girl not knowing lets us know that the day dream didn't happen

I don't know if it's been announced yet, but it looks like Super Cub is getting an English dub for the home release: specs for the preorders at both RightStuf and Funimation list English and Japanese as spoken languages. 🙂

The LAST thing I ever wanted to see happen to Super Cub, was to see it turned into a supposedly-secret-yuri show. 😞

Great video, don't think that koguma and reiko relationship are a romantic one, in my interpretation it was something more advanced than friendship but not in a romantic way, more like comraderelationship