[ANIME] Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Concierge-san - 北極百貨店のコンシェルジュさん (2023)

Or Akino's personal hell.

Akino is a new concierge at the Hokkyoku Department Store, where all customers are animals. At this unusual department store with human clerks and animal customers, extinct animals come to consult with the concierges about items they are looking for or problems they have. As Akino tactfully solves the problems of the customers with a smile, her sincerity gradually softens difficult customers.

When one sees weird anime. Should this be a commentary type of anime? Probably.

I saw a promo for this anime a long time ago. Somehow remembered and decided to watch and I don't refuse my words that it's a personal hell. I know it's a hot take. I actually thought this would be different from what I expected.

The anime starts with little Akino stumbling among animals and trying to avoid them she almost falls down, being caught by a concierge who is a human. She is so impressed by that image that she becomes one herself. But why she was there as a child we have no idea.

Now the thing is, the movie ends with a similar scene with a little girl stumbling into Akino wearing same dress and shoes as hers in the first scene, which created a loop to me.

Another point why this is "heaven" for animals but also place for people to kinda atone for it is the fact that it provides service only to animals. As we find out they're extinct species all thanks to humanity. And the workers are all humans who try to please customer requests.

It's weird that it's a department store, as if everyone should consume material things to feel some sort of elevation. Because money are mentioned. But from another point because of concierge involvement it also concentrates on good experience than simple buy and go. And Akino does exactly that, exaggeratedly involves herself in several cases just to give the best experience.

This is why I had this "unhinged" idea when I finished watching and saw the loop. Like lol Akino what did you do~.

And there is no lore behind it, just a huge building standing in the middle.

Anyway, although it's colorful and quite heart-warming it's still weird to me.