I can see the Lucky Star comparison too, which I think is a positive thing: both shows have an everyday, nothing-much-happening premise and a small cast of characters that you gradually acquire a sentimental attachment to. While Lucky Star was zany and reliant on pop culture references though, Hidamari Sketch takes a more sedate, iyashikei approach.

I didn’t realise it was animated by Shaft though – it certainly explains those visual quirks and patterned backgrounds you mention. The c/p of real photographic images of objects for instance is odd but it works…it makes everything look like one of Yuno’s collages or something.

It’s one of those series that is quietly and subtly fantastic – pure animation therapy!