Genre: Drama, Romance, Seinen, Slice of Life, Tragedy
Release Date: 15.04.2011 - 24.06.2011
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Author: Nagai Tatsuyuki (director; original work)
Ok, now we are back to reviewing anime after 4 long album reviews and 1 manga review. I think that it is time to cool the mood and review one of the shows that impressed me this spring anime season. Though it had pretty varied choices, Spring 2011 Anime was poor. Quantity does not bring quality unfortunately but this show proved to be worth while.
AnoHana (bleh instead of typing the fucking long name of the anime I prefer going with the paraphrased version of it) revolves around several childhood friends. An unfortunate event that took place when they were little managed to make them break ties and walk separate paths. Menma's death changed the group so much that they decided to stop talking to eachother and move on with the grief gathered in their hearts.
Until one day when Menma's ghost appears in front of Jinta, the former leader of the group asking him to fulfill her last wish. Yadomi Jinta is now in high-school but because he experienced several life blows (he failed to enter in the high-school that he wished to be and he ended up into one with lower reputation) he became a hikikomori, a person that prefers to remain in his own shell rather than socializing with others. He constantly skips school and the only things he does is sleeping, eating and playing all day. His childhood friend Anaru (Anjou Naruko) from time to time visits him but as well like him, she is still hunted by Menma's shadow.
To fulfill Menma's wish, Jinta has to once again reunite with his old buds. Much to his surprise he suddenly meets Poppo (Hisakawa Tetsudou). Apparently he did not wish to enter in high-school so all he did was to work part-time jobs in order to travel around the world. Soon he will also meet with the other old companions Yukiatsu (Matsuyuki Atsumu) who considers Jinta as his rival and Tsuruko (Tsurumi Chiriko).
However, it is difficult to believe Jinta since Menma can only be seen by him and the others are not able to feel her presence. Thus, Jinta tries his best in order to make his old friends believe him that Menma is still among them. He realizes that his friends did not change much since they were little. Even though they have different goals and entered in different places, deep inside they remained the same.
Question is, will they be able to live together once again as a team or will they continue to grow much more distance between them? And how about Menma. Will they be able to grant her last wish in order for her find peace?
AnoHana in essence is a very sad story. Even though it gives a sweet and heart-warming feeling from time to time, in essence it remains very melancholic. The protagonists have traits similar to those in Clannad, meaning that all of them had experienced events in their life that managed to either provoke a trauma or that changed them forever.
This show shines through the colorful cast of protagonists and also through its compelling and thought-provoking story line. Animation-wise this show ain't bad either. Though the character designs are average, the usual, the background images and sceneries are absolutely gorgeous. From time to time we see some beautiful outfits, especially the ones that Anaru wears.
Sound-wise this show is average. It is not something you can call exciting or even impressing. It's just soundtracks that fit the atmosphere of the show. While watching it you don't get the feeling that it's out of pace, probably the only good point sound-wise.
All in all, AnoHana, after Gosick, is my pick as the best show of the year. Short but unexpectedly well developed, it sends a compelling and heart-warming story with serious drama to the viewer. There is also romance involved in it. So if you guys wanted advice for a show that was good this Spring season, AnoHana is the best choice.
Story: 9
Animation: 8
Sound: 7
Characters: 10
Delight: 8
Overall: 8.5
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| Spring has come, showing off as always Tsuruko! |
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