Healer Girl

What would you do if you possessed an angelic voice that could cure illnesses? It almost gives off a Disney princess aura, doesn’t it? But something like this is right up Anime’s alley too! In a world where the Healing Arts intertwine beautifully with the power of Melodies, a captivating tale sets the stage for an extraordinary journey.

It warmly welcomes you into a realm dominated by three esteemed schools of Medicine: Western Medicine, Eastern Medicine, and the enigmatic realm of "Vocal Medicine.” As the boundaries between Science and Magic blur, a symphony of hope and resilience rings out, bringing with it the power of melodies that can become a conduit for healing both the body and soul. Get ready to be spellbound as this Anime immerses you in a world where the human voice becomes a captivating force of restoration and compassion!

Healer Girl is a Japanese TV Anime series produced by Studio 3Hz. Yasuhiro Irie directed the series; Noboru Kimura wrote it; Yukie Akiya designed the characters; and Ryo Takahashi composed the Music. Lantis, Live Viewing Japan, and Bandai Namco Arts produced the show in cohesion, where the four central cast members form the singer-voice-actress choir combo Healer Girls.

The series aired from April through June 2022. This original series has 12 episodes, each lasting 23 minutes, and belongs to the genres of Fantasy, Slice of life, and CGDCT, with the theme of music. It was rated PG-13 for audiences aged 13 and up. Imo no's spin-off Manga series, Healer Girl Espressivo, was serialized in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive magazine from the 26th of May 2022 until the 26th of April 2023.

As previously mentioned, the three schools of medicine dominate the world in which the story takes place. In this mystical world, healing illnesses and injuries with songs is a unique practice that improves not only the mental health of patients but also the mental health of doctors.

When called upon to respond to the health and concerns of patients and doctors alike, such "Healers" attempt to do so by singing. Thus, this Anime showcases the Karasuma Vocal Medical Institute's healer girls in action. "Vocal medicine" is a well-established discipline on par with conventional medical procedures here, and it is the practice of utilizing songs for treating health issues and accidents. Young people worldwide want to perfect the technique and become "healers," who use the power of their voices to aid others.

Kana Fujii, a naturally gifted vocalist who became motivated to seek a career in Medicine after an event that changed her life, is one of the many Healers in training. Kana trains at Karasuma Phoniatric Clinic with the driven Reimi Itsushiro and the laidback Hibiki Morishima under the strict yet caring mentorship of Ria Karasuma. Kana and her friends meet numerous colorful healers as they strive to reach their dreams, realizing there is much more to vocal medicine than diligent studies.

The plot comes first, though. It's not the most compelling plot out there, and it even began quite generically, with the protagonist demonstrating her powers and the show's overall concept: Singing can be used to heal.

This notion is not new to Anime, but it is the first to devote an entire episode to the topic alone. And I must admit, they did an excellent job with the mending via the song. As a matter of fact, there isn't a single point in this series where the female characters “healing someone by singing” breaks your immersion because the singing skill is still found in actual situations. Simply put, the singing is just to assist the patient in overcoming pain or calming their anxiety. In other words, they're a bandage and an anesthetic rolled into one.

They are not the go-to treatment for each ailment and disease, and Doctors still do that work, but the Healer Girls are primarily there to help them. These small things are simple yet powerful at making the environment feel believable and likable. That is this Anime's greatest strength. Pacing is another one of its strengths, as each episode takes just the right amount of time to tackle the conflicts in that scenario correctly. My only concern is that they somehow messed up the entire sequence of cuts with flashbacks in a particular episode in the latter half, confusing things. Aside from that, everything else went well in this department.

Moving on to the Characters! All the characters in this Story are fascinating and likable, something you don’t see in many series these days. Sonya is unquestionably my top pick for Best Girl. But they're all excellent ladies who deserve applause for their efforts in some way or another. Over the course of the series, they all develop gradually, leaving you feeling satisfied. Additionally, the way they interact with one another and how entertainingly different they are from one another will compel you.

There’s something beautiful about characters like this who aren't simply one-dimensional cardboards that change with anything and everything. They don't have overly sophisticated or annoying personalities either, remaining well-written characters from start to finish. The side characters are also memorable, as they, too, had an impact on the tale and the main characters themselves, whether it was to develop them or to improve the series' world-building.

Like any pleasant and cozy sitcom, the characters are undoubtedly the show's most vital selling points. Every girl in this series is waifu material and is typically endearing. Beware; you might fall in love with Reimi the instant she comes on screen. By far, one of the year's best girls! The other girls have exciting origins and bring something unique, creating a fantastic overall experience.

At its foundation, the show is a slice of life about cute girls pursuing their aspirations, all of whom have their own reasons for choosing the road of becoming healers. The three primary protagonists have terrific chemistry, with their distinct personalities complementing one another, while the rival and secondary cast have been nicely fleshed out too.

Let us now proceed to the Art, Animation, and Cinematography department. Simply put, it's incredibly well done. This is arguably the best non-Ufotable, KyoAni, Wit, or Mappa animation I've seen in ages. That's just how visually good this is. Every movement flows to a beautiful rhythm, and there are rarely any off-models in the frames. In addition, the Artwork is consistent, which is always a win in my book. The direction is also well handled. You can expect significant and exciting shots and a lovely sequence in which the girls begin to sing in every episode. It's just delightful to watch, so don’t bother your brain much during the experience.

Next up is the Sounds and Music department. Music is rarely the saving grace of Anime because it goes unnoticed most of the time, but the greatest of compositions add so much more to the series. This series is about Singing, so expect noteworthy performances all over the Anime, even when unrelated to their work as Healers.

The three main characters will spontaneously burst into a song about virtually anything, and the Animation is so crisp and whimsical in these scenes that you'd think this Anime was explicitly developed for Disney+. It's lovely, pleasant, and occasionally funny because it's evident the girls are improvising the lyrics, but they do a darn good job of that. It's a lovely finishing touch, a cherry on top of this cake.

This show also has a lot of other bangers. The OSTs, insert tracks, Opening, and Ending are all equally fantastic. The Opening theme is "Feel You, Heal You" by Healer Girls, and the Ending theme is "Believe like Singing." by Healer Girls, both of which aren’t easily skipped. As one would expect from a Music anime, this is amazing—right up there with Love Live Music, in my opinion.

It's not like Healer Girl is devoid of any faults, though. Even the greatest of creations have flaws here and there. If anything was lacking here, it was the lore and worldbuilding. It would have been much better to see a comprehensive explanation of the notions of therapy through Music, such as how specific Songs acquire Healing characteristics or the rules and constraints required to make them function.

This could have provided a much deeper experience. Unfortunately, these aspects were only hinted at in brief fragments of conversation. Because of this, the present-day story arcs and developments can sometimes feel a little out of sync, although this doesn’t result in any significant concerns. Despite its minor problems, the potential for a more fleshed-out plot remains, so we'll just have to wait and see how the sequels go.

Overall, I appreciate how strong the foundation of this Anime is. It has a powerful premise that meshes well with real-life mechanics, which kept my immersion intact. The cast is excellent and filled with exciting Characters, and the Animation and Soundtrack sections are incredible. It's just an anime with very few defects, which is why it's the most outstanding anime of the Season.

Healer Girl is a funny, serious, and musical Anime that beautifully combines all these elements and makes them work to provide a delightful experience. I compare watching this one to drinking a fine blend of coffee on a sluggish Monday morning. If you're looking for a pleasant, comfortable, feel-good show to kick off the week and you like pretty females doing adorable things, try this one.

Finally, this is a decent to great Slice-of-Life anime, depending on your preferences. The easygoing tone, good concepts, and good characters establish an audience for themselves within the genre and make them easy to appreciate. If you dislike Musicals, you might need help to like this one.

This has Music from start to finish, including at least one musical number in each episode. The degree to which they link to the Plot varies, but they do an excellent job. If you enjoy slice-of-life shows, I strongly recommend this one. You can see that the people behind this Anime cared about it, which is part of the charm. If you’re not enjoying it after around the 5th Episode, that’s a good time to drop it.