Anime News Network's review of Hyakusho Kizoku-the farmer's days (Seasons 1–3) landed on October 6 with an A- overall grade, which is a good excuse to answer the obvious question: is Hiromu Arakawa's farm-life short anime worth your time? Short version: yes, and you can finish all three seasons in an afternoon.
Quick answer
Hyakusho Kizoku-the farmer's days (*Hyakushou Kizoku*) is a comedy short anime by studio Pie in the Sky, based on Hiromu Arakawa's autobiographical essay manga about growing up on a dairy farm in Hokkaido before she created Fullmetal Alchemist. There are three seasons of 12 episodes, each about 4 minutes long: Season 1 premiered in July 2023, Season 2 in October 2024 and Season 3 in October 2025, with OVAs in between and a fourth season announced without a date. Crunchyroll streams it in English-speaking regions as Hyakusho Kizoku-the farmer's days. SenpaiRanks tracks Season 1 at 6.60, with Season 2 at 6.60 and Season 3 at 6.53.
The pitch
Every episode has the same setup: Arakawa, drawn as her famous cow self-portrait, sits down with her editor and tells stories from the farm. Some are about livestock care, some are about the weird things that happen when you grow up around cows, and some are about her parents. The editor plays the straight man until a story gets so strange she has to react.
Hyakusho Kizoku — Pie in the Sky
Is it good?
Per ANN's review, yes: the reviewer praised the comedy-duo chemistry between Arakawa and her editor, the country-themed soundtrack and how much you learn about farming, and gave the series an A- (Story A, Art A, Music B+). The one real knock is the animation. It's flat and limited, and the B- animation grade reflects that.
Our read: this is a show you watch for Arakawa. If you liked the farm details in Silver Spoon or you've wondered where the grounded side of Fullmetal Alchemist comes from, this is a 48-minute answer per season. If you need plot, skip it. The board agrees: a 6.60 is a respectable score for a 4-minute short, but it's nowhere near Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood at 9.08.
Worth pairing with
- Silver Spoon (Gin no Saji) — 7.83. Arakawa's agricultural-school manga, adapted by A-1 Pictures in 2013, and the obvious next step. It's also on our food and cooking ranking.
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — 9.08. Her best-known work, and our board's top-ranked TV anime.
- Our slice-of-life ranking and comedy board for more low-stakes watching.
Watch order
Season 1 (2023) → Season 1 specials → Season 2 (2024) → Season 2 specials → Season 3 (2025) → Season 3 OVA (2026). The order barely matters, though: there's no continuity to break.
More SenpaiRanks rankings and guides
- Orb: On the Movements of the Earth — Where to Watch & Is It Good
- Hunter x Hunter Goes on Hiatus Again — Where to Watch the Anime and Where It Ranks
- Liar Game Season 2 Announced: Where to Watch & Is It Good?
- Saint Seiya: Where to Watch, Watch Order, Is It Good & Ranking (2026)
- Sailor Moon Watch Order, Where to Watch & Ranking (2026)
- Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Ends: Season 3 & Where to Watch
- Best 80s & 90s Anime, Ranked (2026) | Where to Watch the Classics
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Hyakusho Kizoku good?
A: Yes, if you like Hiromu Arakawa or farming stories. ANN gave Seasons 1–3 an A-, and SenpaiRanks tracks Season 1 at 6.60.
Q: Where can I watch Hyakusho Kizoku-the farmer's days?
A: Crunchyroll streams the series in English-speaking regions under the title Hyakusho Kizoku-the farmer's days.
Q: How long is Hyakusho Kizoku?
A: Each season has 12 episodes of about 4 minutes, so each season runs under an hour.
Q: Is there a Hyakusho Kizoku Season 4?
A: Yes. A fourth season has been announced, but it doesn't have a premiere date yet.
Q: Who made Hyakusho Kizoku?
A: It's based on Hiromu Arakawa's essay manga, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist and Silver Spoon. Studio Pie in the Sky animates it.