Non Non Biyori Repeat

Non Non Biyori Repeat

Non Non Biyori Repeat anime series cover art
Non Non Biyori Repeat

Overview

Non Non Biyori Repeat (のんのんびより りぴーと) is a pseudo-second season of the slice of life series Non Non Biyori, which I first reviewed about a year and a half ago. So to say that this review is a little late is a bit of an understatement — but I did just recently finish watching it.

The interesting thing about Non Non Biyori Repeat, or Repeat as I’ll be referring to it from now on, is that it isn’t really a second season of the series. I mean, it is, because it’s the season which came out second. But it’s not a chronological second season.

Instead, Repeat takes place over the same one year time period that the original series did. They both start out at the same point in the year, and while I don’t actually remember the ending of the original series, I assume they both end at the same time as well.

The best way to think about Repeat is that it tells extra stories which were skipped over in the original series. In that regard, both seasons of Non Non Biyori work in the same way that the Kiss x Sis TV and OVA series do — they compliment each other with an interwoven chronology.

But the important thing to keep in mind about Repeat is this: If you enjoyed the original series, then you’re going to enjoy Repeat. And the same is true for the opposite. If you didn’t enjoy the original series, you probably won’t enjoy Repeat.

It’s just more episodes of the same thing.

Difference From Non Non Biyori

There’s really only one difference between the original series and Repeat, and that’s who the “main character” of the series is. Yes, you could argue that Renge, Hotaru, Natsumi, and Komari are all the main characters of the series, and that’s right, but there’s still a protagonist.

In the original series, I’d argue that Hotaru was the protagonist. Although both seasons begin at roughly the same point, that one starts off the series with Hotaru transferring into the school. And she’s the main focus of the majority of the episodes — although the other girls also get their time to shine.

Repeat, on the other hand, focuses much more heavily on Renge. And to be fair, this is the reason why Repeat is better than the original series. Rather than starting with Hotaru’s transfer, Repeat begins with Renge becoming a first grader at the school.

Renge Miyauchi holding a bucket from the anime series Non Non Biyori Repeat
Renge Miyauchi holding a bucket

This focus on Renge also means there’s more of a focus on the other characters who are more closely associated with her. Natsumi, Komari, and Hotaru are definitely still main characters of the series, but Renge’s older sisters and Candy Shop (Kaede) play more of a role this time around.

Also, I don’t know about you, but I was never all that interested in Natsumi, Komari, and Hotaru to begin with. Natsumi and Komari’s older brother, Suguru, is entertaining for his small part in the series though, and luckily he’s still around.

But Hikage, Kazuho, and Kaede are much more entertaining. There’s also Konomi, who I didn’t remember at all from the first season — she’s pretty good too.

How Should You Watch This Series?

Since Repeat doesn’t chronologically come after Non Non Biyori, there are a few different ways in which you could watch the series. So let’s start off with the ways in which I think you shouldn’t watch the series: Repeat first.

As the better of the two seasons, it may be tempting to simply skip over the first season and watch Repeat if you haven’t seen either of them yet. Or, you may tell yourself that you’ll watch Repeat first, and then if you like it, you’ll go back and watch the first season.

The problem I see with this method is that although they cover the same time frame, repeat does expect you to already know the characters and the general background of the series. So without that knowledge, I expect that you would miss out on why the characters interact and act the way they do.

Renge Miyauchi dressed as a teru-teru bōzu from the anime series Non Non Biyori Repeat
Renge Miyauchi dressed as a teru-teru bōzu

So, does that mean you should watch Non Non Biyori first, and then Repeat second? Not necessarily.

That’s how I watched this series, but I don’t particularly think it’s any better than watching the series in chronological order. The only real difference between these two orders is whether you go through the school year once in 24 episodes or twice in two sets of 12 episodes.

And just in case you’re wondering what the chronological order looks like, refer to the chart below.

Non Non Biyori Chronological Order

I Became a First Grader Season 2 Episode 1
A New Transfer Student Came Season 1 Episode 1
We Went to the Candy Store Season 1 Episode 2
We Went to Look at the Stars Season 2 Episode 2
We Got Motivated During the Holiday Break Season 2 Episode 3
I Ran Away from Home with My Sister Season 1 Episode 3
I Made a Teru-teru Bouzu Season 2 Episode 4
We Ate Okonomiyaki Season 2 Episode 5
We Made Friends With Fireflies Season 2 Episode 6
Summer Vacation Started Season 1 Episode 4
We Bravely Dove In Season 2 Episode 7
I Pretended I Forgot My Swimsuit Season 1 Episode 5
I Became a Ghost and Tried Hard Season 1 Episode 6
My Rice Crackers Turned Into Curry Season 1 Episode 7
I Took Lunch Duty Season 2 Episode 8
We Looked at the Moon Together Season 2 Episode 9
We Cooked Rice at School Season 1 Episode 8
We Tried Having a Cultural Festival Season 1 Episode 9
I Practiced Really Hard Season 2 Episode 10
I Became a Pampered Child Season 2 Episode 11
We Watched the First Sunrise of the Year Season 1 Episode 10
We Made Snow Houses Season 1 Episode 11
Spring Came Again Season 1 Episode 12
A Year Passed Season 2 Episode 12

Conclusion

Although I think Repeat is better than the first season of Non Non Biyori, I have to give it a 6/10 just like the first season. It’s an enjoyable watch, but it’s never really something I wanted to go out of my way to watch. That’s why watching Repeat took me 5 months from start to finish.

I also don’t remember the OP/ED for the first season, but I’d imagine they weren’t all that different from the Repeat OP/ED. So I’ll just say that the OP/ED for Repeat are just as good as the ones from the first season.

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My review of the Non Non Biyori Movie: Vacation is available.

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