Naru getting the last laugh

Seishu Handa is a professional calligrapher, despite his young age. When the elderly curator of an exhibition criticizes his calligraphy for being too unoriginal ("like a textbook"), Seishu gets angry and punches him. Because of this, his father sends him off for a retreat on Goto Island, near Kyushu. There, he meets the colorful villagers, interacts with them, and begins to find his own style.

The title of the series means "energetic/cheerful one" in the local provincial Goto Islands' dialect. The first episode is also called "Barakakodon/ばらかこどん" which means "energetic/cheerful kid", which refers to Naru Kotoishi, a very hyperactive kid that comes into Handa's life.

The story of prequel spin-off Handa-kun is about the hilarious high school days of the calligraphy genius, Seishu Handa, who was also protagonist of Barakamon.
半田清舟は、若くしてプロの書家として活躍している。ある展覧会で、年配の学芸員から「教科書のようだ」と酷評され、怒って殴りかかる。そのため、父は彼を九州に近い五島列島に隠居させる。そこで、色とりどりの村人たちと出会い、交流し、自分のスタイルを見つけていく。

シリーズタイトルは、五島列島の方言で「元気な人・明るい人」という意味です。第1話は「ばらかもん」とも呼ばれ、半田の前に現れた多動な子供、琴石奈留のことである。

前日譚のスピンオフ作品『半田くん』は、『ばらかもん』の主人公でもある書道の天才・半田清舟の愉快な高校時代を描いた物語です。

anime ばらかもん Barakamon