The story revolves around 30-something Daikichi, who finds out that his recently deceased granddad had another family: a six-year-old daughter called Rin, much to the embarrassment of his family.
Nobody knows what to do with her, and none of them wants to take her in when they find out her mother has disappeared and abandoned her. Daikichi decides to be her guardian.
While I rarely like such life dramas, Usagi Drop is well written and engaging. The first episode might be slow-paced for those who like action animes like Bleach and Naruto, but those who like storytelling over cheap gags and exciting visuals will find this anime hard to resist. What made it compelling for me was the interaction between Daikichi and Rin. They barely speak, but through their studying of each other, a bond is formed. The writing is on a higher level than most, and conveys complicated emotions and sentiments through simple acts.
The manga that the anime is based on was written and illustrated by Yumi Unita. It was originally published in the young female adult anthology magazine Feel Young.
I have high hopes for this anime based on the first episode and look forward to seeing the rest of the series.
I give Usagi Drop a big A+. Keep an eye out for it on Animax or J2 soon.