Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai (generic thread)

[Reckoner]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I just realized...

Spoiler for Episode 1:

Considering Menma's dead, even if everyone get happy endings, she's still going to leave in the end. Either that, or she gets resurrected or something [which I don't think will happen]. Either way, I think this anime is going to make me cry by the end.

It's certainly going to manage to pull on the heart strings if this episode is anything to go by...

[iceyfw]

i already have a feeling i can see the ending of this show, but it is definitely emotional in its own way on some level when some of its audience watches it. it is most likely because the audience can relate to how some kids in their childhood grew apart from them while living in the same area and also changing how they look physically and sometimes their personality too. this and denpa onna are the only anime shows which intrigued my interests so far this season. now to wait for deadman wonderland raws to appear and watch C later.

[Archon_Wing]

Ah, decent series. At first, it looked like a random harem, but uh oh... his guilt has driven him mad! It's unfortunate that Jintan's entire life was basically stalled because of this setback, and he can't moved on. Menma's death has also pulled the entire group apart and they just went off.

I like how the show does constantly show that he can't get away.

Not bad, and I like Tsurumi. I'll give it an 8 for the first episode.

[Pellissier]

I agree, this was more powerful and impactful than Hanasaku Iroha. Perhaps because being 11 episode it has to concentrate its emotions whereas HI being 26 can dilute them, but overall it just makes you more involved.

When Jintan said, "that smile tore my heart apart" (when she said Menma was ugly) wasn't he spot on? I mean, I almost felt the same even if I had never seen Menma before. It takes some consistent script skills to convey so much a feelings in en episode 1 when you're just supposed to slowly become familiar with the characters. Also the art is unbelievably classy and colorful, top notch.

I noticed a lot of things that reminded me of Cross Game. Starting from the seiyuu of the 3 main CG characters being here, Tomatsu Haruka (Aoba there, Anaru here), Irino Miyu (Kou, Jintan), Sakurai Takahiro (Azuma, Yukiatsu). But also the plot:

Spoiler for do not read if you've not seen Cross Game episode 1 or read the manga:

Similarities:

- Kids using to hang out together and starting having crushes betwen them.
- A little girl died, it seems in the same way. Drowned.
- The main character was in love with the girl who's dead, and he was not the only one.
- There's a tangible feeling of loss and mourning on the characters.
- There's the feeling that time has frozen for several years and now starts to move again.

Of course, there were consistent differences in Cross Game:

- Love between the protagonist and the deceased girl was already mutual and "established" at the time she died.
- Friendships weren't affected by the happening. No senses of guilt, also because no one was responsible of anything.
- Characters didn't significantly change when grown up.

All in all, a great watch.

[LusterFlare]

Originally Posted by Pellissier

I noticed a lot of things that reminded me of Cross Game. Starting from the seiyuu of the 3 main CG characters being here, Tomatsu Haruka (Aoba there, Anaru here), Irino Miyu (Kou, Jintan), Sakurai Takahiro (Azuma, Yukiatsu). But also the plot:

Spoiler for do not read if you've not seen Cross Game episode 1 or read the manga:

Similarities:

- Kids using to hang out together and starting having crushes betwen them.
- A little girl died, it seems in the same way. Drowned.
- The main character was in love with the girl who's dead, and he was not the only one.
- There's a tangible feeling of loss and mourning on the characters.
- There's the feeling that time has frozen for several years and now starts to move again.

Of course, there were consistent differences in Cross Game:

- Love between the protagonist and the deceased girl was already mutual and "established" at the time she died.
- Friendships weren't affected by the happening. No senses of guilt, also because no one was responsible of anything.
- Characters didn't significantly change when grown up.

All in all, a great watch.

Very good observations on the similarities with CG. I'm one of the many here on AS that loved CG.

[mpt37]

I thought of Cross Game too after watching this but in the sense that both series packed such an emotional punch with just the first episode. Didn't even realize overlapping voice actors until you mentioned it.

I don't think anything too unexpected will happen with the story but I'm still really excited to see everything unfold.

[Forsaken_Infinity]

Continuing with the comparisons with Cross Game, as far as pure emotional punch goes, NOTHING will surpass Cross Game's episode 1 (it was just that good and the manga chapter is just as if not more emotionally involving). But you know, as good as Cross Game was, episode 1 was the best episode of the show and it was quite a few levels above the rest of the show. On the other hand, I seriously expect things to get better (from a viewer's point of view) from here on for this show.

[Westlo]

I won't go into detail since people have already said what I wanted and expressed it better than I could. Just dropping it to say how much I liked this first episode, also really happy seeing it rank so highly on Amazon Jp. Came out of nowhere to grab the #6 spot for the moment, hope it maintains interest and stays top 20...

[Used Can]

Well, fuckity, fuck fuck... Why the hell did I watch this?
Now, don't get me wrong, this seems like a beautiful story, but hell, I'm sure this is going to get me in a very sad mood with each passing episode, and quite likely in a depression after this ends.

Damn it!

[-Sho-]

Wow first episode was great , very interesting show with childhood friends and their relationships. Sad story for Menma... Everyone has changed after this... now she wants to get them together again. Really , promising anime.
So Menma is a ghost that can still touch things and only Jinta can see her.
Very nice ED song.. looking forward for more.

[Pocari_Sweat]

Unfortunately, I was never hooked into Cross Game so I can't really share the positive reception, but nonetheless, this was a fantastic pilot episode. In all seriousness, I think Anohana has one-upped Hanasaku Iroha in the emotional drama department, but Hanasaku Iroha is probably still better in the coming of age department and in animation quality. But Anohana was still very pretty and well animated.

What I am most impressed by is the script writing. This is how you write an emotional drama without falling into the "cheap" category. Although it did have a few lighthearted moments to "lighten to load", it did not resort to slapstick comedy and it also transitioned very well from its lighthearted moments to its dramatic moments. It's subtle, not hammy, but still provides that emotional punch. An example is the scene where Menma's mother was praying for her dead daughter and where Menma's brother was telling her mother to forget about her resulting in Menma crying that she knows she dead was particularly touching, but not hammy.

I also applaud at how Menma's moeness actually significantly adds to the drama. Instead of invoking a "Omg Kawaii" reaction, it instead invokes a "Omg how tragic such a cute girl has to face such a fate", thus giving it an emotional attachment in conjunction with visual pleasure. The last time this happened to me was with Ushio in Clannad AS.

Talking about Clannad AS:

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I just realized...

Spoiler for Episode 1:

Considering Menma's dead, even if everyone get happy endings, she's still going to leave in the end. Either that, or she gets resurrected or something [which I don't think will happen]. Either way, I think this anime is going to make me cry by the end.

Spoiler for Possible Spoiler regarding Clannad AS:

If this series ends like it did with Clannad AS, I am seriously going to punch my monitor in disgust because that is the cheapest ending to a drama series you can get alongside the "everybody dies" ending.

Anyways, Mari Okada has activated god-mode this season with this and Hanasaku Iroha. I am optimistic that both series will continue with the level of quality it has taken off with.

[Reckoner]

Originally Posted by acejem

Talking about Clannad AS:

Spoiler for Possible Spoiler regarding Clannad AS:

If this series ends like it did with Clannad AS, I am seriously going to punch my monitor in disgust because that is the cheapest ending to a drama series you can get alongside the "everybody dies" ending.

If Okada pulls off something like that in the end, my praise for her goes out the window. Thankfully, I don't think she will.

[alu546]

Jintan should die in the end and join Menma in the afterlife.


If their is a show that surpasses Haanaku Iroha for me this season then this could be it.

[Tenshi_]

I hope that this show won't be underrated :P for me, this is probably one of the best show in Spring.

I might be exaggerating since only episode 1 is out but, it sure got my attention

[Pocari_Sweat]

Originally Posted by alu546

Jintan should die in the end and join Menma in the afterlife.

Or a better ending imo, is Menma disappears but Jintan is able to get a hold of himself and life goes on. The bittersweet ending. Always the best in a drama imo.

[Haak]

Hot damn, I never expected such a strong contender against Hana Saku Iroha so soon. This season is really starting to deliver. I really liked the first episode. Definitely a keeper.

[MeoTwister5]

... Wow. Talk about getting brass knuckles to the gut, then having the same fist pick you up and try to put you back on your feet. I probably haven't seen such a degree of first episode catharsis since Kitamura Kou realized that all he had to do was cry.

NoitaminA continues to impress. Between this and Hana-Saku Iroha, 2 or 3 more good shows and this'll be the strongest single season since spring 2009.

[Sides]

Just wow. Interesting story and good animation and the fact that they used secret base as ending theme gets a mega bonus. Makes me want to look for my zone cds.

[Z3120]

Spoiler for Episode 1:

"My stress. My trauma."

It's almost unbelievable to have Hanasaku Iroha and AnoHana in the same season, yet here they both are. This is my favorite show between the two.

[Pocari_Sweat]

Originally Posted by Z3120

Spoiler for Episode 1:

"My stress. My trauma."

It's almost unbelievable to have Hanasaku Iroha and AnoHana in the same season, yet here they both are. This is my favorite show between the two.

It's almost more unbelievable that both are anime originals which have their script/story/screenplay written by Mari Okada, who is of True Tears, Toradora and Wandering Son fame.