YuruYuri is a 12 episode anime based on the manga of the same name. Set in middle school focusing on three childhood friends, Akari, Kyoko and Yui, they are quickly joined by Chinatsu. It begins with Akari waking up and being late for her first day at middle school, where Kyoko and Yui already attends as second-years. Once there, she joins the Amusement Club which is just comprised of those three. The aim of the Amusement Club is to have fun doing whatever they want, it's not really an official club and they are unofficially occupying an abandoned clubhouse which was formerly the Tea Club's (which has since disbanded).
Chinatsu turns up and somehow gets roped into joining the club as well (mainly because she wanted to get closer to Yui). Each character has their own unique traits, as you'd expect. Akari is often laughed at and targeted for her lack of presence. It ends up becoming a running joke with characters forgetting she was there, and despite the viewers being told she is the main character, she may only turn up for the title call and then does not reappear for the rest of the episode.
Moreover, Akari will get picked upon, be turned invisible and have other characters remark that her only recognizable visual trait are her hair buns and that losing them will turn her into another generic background character. While this is cruel to her, it works quite well as humour. Kyoko is the troublemaker of the group and often creates the gags of the series. Despite her carefree attitude, she is clever, getting top marks without studying or breaking a sweat. She has crazy ideas and exaggerated motions. Kyoko ends up becoming the highlight of the series and the main source of all the humour.
Yui is the more serious one of the group, being reserved and quiet, she keeps Kyoko in check. Chinatsu is obsessed with Yui (and Kyoko in turn is obsessed with Chinatsu, who doesn't return her feelings). Initially, she was only mean to other characters in passing but as the season goes on, she becomes more and more cruel and you can see the twisted blackness of her heart. This easily makes Chinatsu the most unlikable in the series.
The four characters are joined by a variety of supporting characters such as members of the stuent council (with a few showing tsundere traits such as Ayano). This includes Chitosu, who often fantasizes about Kyoko and Ayano, leading to nosebleeds. This happens at least once every episode and is funny every time. Despite the relatively large amount of characters, it never gets overwhelming and each gets enough of their own screetime to become an endearing character. YuruYuri is within the slice-of-life genre covering various situations such as sleepovers, a school trip and Christmas, basically, it's your typical events. The anime is not shy of only focusing on certain characters in each episode so not everyone will appear.
However, with the slice-of-life direction, this means that the plot has no objectives to head towards but the humor and chemistry between the characters alleviates this. The other thing is that there is a large focus on the feelings that each girl has for each other. As you'd expect of something in this format, the ending doesn't really end anything, however, it does make you eager for more. Overall, YuruYuri is a perfect combination of visual gags, lighthearted music and charming characters. The misunderstandings and funny gags are hilarious, creating enduring characters that you want to see more of what they will get up to next (and of course, who could forget about Kyoko's awesome tomato pajamas?).
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