What is Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san?#
If you are looking for a quirky blend of the mundane and the macabre, Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san (also known as Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san) is a fantastic choice. This supernatural slice-of-life comedy follows the daily exploits of Honda, a skeleton who works at a bookstore. Most of the hilarity centers around her experiences managing the shop’s manga counter, providing a relatable yet surreal look at the world of book selling.
If you’re ready to dive into this bony world, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
Whether the anime is “finished” depends on what you are looking for. The anime adaptation premiered in 2018, while the original manga source material was serialized from August 2015 through March 2019.
Because the manga continued for several months after the anime’s release, viewers who watch only the anime may find themselves wanting more. To get the full, satisfying conclusion to Honda-san’s story, we highly recommend continuing with the source material. You can buy the manga here to see where the story ultimately leads.
Audience and Appeal#
This series is best suited for viewers who enjoy low-stress, episodic comedy and “workplace” settings with a supernatural twist. Its primary appeal lies in the contrast between the professional struggles of a bookstore employee and the fact that the employee is a skeleton.
Fans of the slice-of-life genre will appreciate the focus on the daily grind of the manga counter, while comedy lovers will enjoy the absurd situations Honda finds herself in. If you love the aesthetic of the show, you might also want to browse for official merchandise.
Recommended Watch and Read Order#
To ensure you get the most out of the series, here are our suggested paths. For a detailed look at how these versions connect, feel free to check out the relationship tree provided on this page.
Release Order#
If you want to experience the series as it was introduced to the public, simply start with the anime (2018).
Completionist Order#
For those who want every single piece of content, we recommend the following:
- Anime: Experience the story with animation and voice acting first.
- Manga: Read the serialized manga (2015–2019) to catch any details missed in the adaptation and to reach the actual ending of the series.
Source Material First#
If you prefer the original art and pacing of the creator, start with the manga, then watch the anime as a supplementary experience.
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Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san • manga • 2015-08-26 to 2019-03-21 (serialized on pixiv Comic)
└─(adaptation)→ Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san • anime • 2018-10-07
