To Chara or Not Chara

The first episode of Non Non Biyori Nonstop doesn’t show a character’s face until nearly two-minutes into the episode. This sort of emphasis on atmosphere and tone was common in 70’s and 80’s anime; however, with modern anime that’s so heavily dependent upon the marketability of its characters, most contemporary anime make certain to reveal a primary character’s face within the first few seconds of a first episode. It’s a subtle change in the style of anime, but a difference that’s very noticeable and consistent when you consciously look for it.