Inari Kon Kon - The Complete Series + OVA (Original Japanese Version)

Inari Kon Kon - The Complete Series + OVA (Original Japanese Version) from FUNimation is a delightful 2014 anime series, beautifully blending magic and reality into a captivating visual feast. This beautifully animated series, with its rich narratives and well-crafted characters, opens doors to the world of Shinto beliefs and Japanese folklore, through the refreshing gaze of a middle-school girl named Inari Fushimi.

The series narrates the story of Inari Fushimi, a seemingly ordinary schoolgirl leading a simple life in the Fushimi ward of Kyoto, where she attends junior high school. However, there's more than just the eye meets in the life of Inari. She has a crush on Kouji Tanbabashi, a charming boy from her school, but can't seem to confess her feelings because of her shy and timid personality.

Inari is also a devoted attendant of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, a real-life shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice known for having foxes as his messengers. She often visits this shrine seeking comfort, tranquility, and perhaps a friendly nudge of spiritual advice from time to time. These things do make Inari stand out, but what makes her truly unique is the extraordinary event that happens one fateful day.

During a particular visit to the shrine, Inari saves a fox pup which turns out to be the manifestation of the goddess Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami, also known as Uka. Uka, the divine entity enshrined within the Fushimi Inari Shrine, is the goddess of agriculture and is also fondly dubbed as Uka-sama by her devotees. Recognizing the kindness and purity in Inari's heart, Uka not only grants her the ability to shape-shift into any human form but also befriends her.

From here on, Inari's life takes a magical turn, and the viewers are taken along on this enchanting journey. Guided by her divine friend Uka, Inari learns to navigate the challenges her newfound powers and human life brings forth, all the while, juggling her affections for Kouji. The series also offers an interesting subplot of Uka being subtly entranced by video games, offering a unique take on how the divine might perceive modern human relaxations.

The series comes alive in its vivid portrayal of the vast breadth of emotions that Inari goes through: immense joy at recognizing her powers, anxiety about controlling her abilities, dealing with the typical teen issues, and the emotional whirlpool that love brings along. It isn’t just Inari's story that makes this series so engaging, it's also the stories of the people around her. The series cleverly intertwines Inari's life with the lives of her friends, her brother, her crush, and, interestingly, with that of the gods, making it a multi-layered narrative of human relationships, divine friendships, societal expectations, personal growth and latent teenage issues wrapped up in an elegantly magical anime.

Inari Kon Kon - The Complete Series + OVA makes the divine a part of everyday life, but it never loses its human touch. The story is mature and yet retains an innocence that makes it easily relatable for the viewers. The visual elements such as the beautifully drawn characters, the picturesque shrine and the city setting, help to recreate the mystical yet homespun world of Inari. The use of signature Japanese animation techniques further intensifies the viewing pleasure.

The OVA (Original Video Animation) extends this story arc in the same heart-warming vein, offering delightful mini-episodes that highlight some of the more humorous and charming moments in the series. This series, with its heartwarming storyline and endearing characters, is a perfect blend of slice-of-life, comedy, romance, and magical realism.

The English translation does ample justice to the original mentorship, retaining its context, emotional depth, subtle nuances and, most importantly, its narrative spirit. It ensures that the series remains an engaging watch for global anime enthusiasts who're seeking stories that entertain, charm, and inspire.

Inari Kon Kon - The Complete Series + OVA is not just an anime series; it’s a pleasant and meaningful adventure into the emotional and gentle world of a young girl, her crush, her friends, and a benevolent goddess. It's about living life with its ups and downs, human and supernatural, beautifully packed into the realm of an anime series.