Now that I've gotten around to finishing a few from the summer season, I figured I'd briefly address my thoughts here.
I'll begin with Usagi Drop, which is probably my favourite from the season. I liked its sense of realism, a rarity in anime, that was depicted with such endearment that I couldn't help but smile during each episode. The animation was simple but attractive and very in keeping with the mood and slow pace. Rin's facial expressions, in particular, were highly appropriate and helped to establish the subtle humour that was present and welcomed. Lastly, unlike the majority of anime adaptations, I felt the closure was satisfactory here (I'm also glad that they didn't include the time skip). I suppose, from a personal angle, as someone who is hoping to become a mother in the next few years, the conversation the parents had during the penultimate episode about wanting to spend their free time with their children resonated with me, as it's precisely how I'd imagine I would see it (although it's unlikely I'd be working a "9 until 5" like them). All in all, in spite of its lack of drama, Usagi Drop offered something that was touching and relatable to its audience.
In a similar vein to Usagi Drop, Ikoku Meiro no Croisee excelled for exactly the same reasons, the realism and, quite unexpectedly, its effectiveness in portraying happenings that are seemingly uneventful but highly effective. The relationship that Yune established with her fellow Parisians, Claude especially, was believable and enjoyable to watch. I also liked how they drew comparisons with French and Japanese culture, everything from customary norms to cuisine, which was something I could relate with, having moved from Japan to England. Moreover, the glimpse of how social class can divide people (namely Claude and Camille) was interesting and somewhat saddening in their case. Despite the short running length, there was plenty of character development too such as Claude's relationship with his diseased father. So, while I preferred Usagi Drop slightly more (if only because I have a soft spot for children), Ikoku Meiro no Croisee definitely shared the same qualities.
Ro-Kyu-Bu! had its moments. I wasn't expecting much from this series and actually considered it something of a 'guilty pleasure' but was pleasantly surprised by episode 2's focus on basketball, capturing everything I tend to like from the sport genre. While the anime was unable to maintain this focus throughout, deviating somewhat during the midsection, it picked up in the latter half where it mattered, and we received some decent character development in the process from a select few characters. Not a lot happened in terms of plot progression, but I was content with what the series offered. The animation was crisp and the cute character design didn't put me off at all. So, not amazing but certainly not bad either.