Gin no Saji

Speaking of back to basics, this month's anime pick is called Gin no Saji (Silver Spoon).

Now life doesn't get more basic than in the world of agriculture: where man raises plant and beast for his benefit - and it is into this world, that the protagonist of Gin no Saji, Hachiken, is thrown.

A recent high-school graduate, Hachiken has no idea what he wants to do with his life, but there is one thing he is sure of: He wants to get as far away from his old life as possible.

This is why he enrolls in an agricultural university out in the boondocks. The farther away, the better, he thinks - and really, how hard could agric. be, for a smart city boy like himself?

But as you can imagine, Hachiken is given a rude awakening when he discovers that life in the boondocks is far from easy. With early mornings, grueling manual labour, and a bunch of coursework he's never even heard of (like "the breeding habits of pigs"), Hachiken is soon left to wonder about his choice...

A coming of age story, Gin no Saji looks to entertain us, as a young man tries to find his place in the world and encounters some of the brutal truths of life in its most basic of forms.

So if you're tired of all the action I've been throwing your way, and would perhaps like something a bit more relaxed and funny. This may be just what you need.