AnimeSuki Forums

stardf29 · 2012-07-16, 04:04

Oh, I am so glad I pre-ordered this one as soon as I could, despite having only watched one episode of the show at the time. 10/10, and currently my second favorite anime of all time, right below Clannad (including After Story). In fact, the two are practically tied for first in my eyes.

And believe me, I don't say this lightly at all.

A lot of things really got to me in this one. First off, I've always liked childhood friend stories; the themes of shared memories, knowing each other, being there for each other through thick and thin... All of these themes were incorporated in this show, and moreso in a balanced 3-guy-2-girl-1-dead-girl ratio, adding in that "group" sense to it all. Romance was incorporated nicely, too, if you ask me.

Beyond that, though, it's a story about being stuck in the past, and how to move on after tragedy. Where some consider the best way to do so is to deny or forget about the past, this show shows how that is exactly what keeps people stuck there. Which is why the show's most dramatic moment which I guess some people found to be too melodramatic, is also my favorite moment...

Spoiler for Ep. 11:

Take all of that to the grand finale, which was equal parts heartwarming and heart-wrenching, and it all closes out this amazing story. Except, it's not really an ending, but the beginning of a new story, one where the characters remember the past but are no longer trapped in it.

There's more to the charm of this whole series, but those are the big things that really make this an absolute favorite of mine.

Hiroi Sekai · 2012-07-19, 20:09

I guess it's never too late to post my review.

Kirroha · 2012-07-22, 05:42

...

JintANaru

YukiaTSUruko

holy crap my mind is totally blown

Akito Kinomoto · 2013-06-28, 18:34

Well, this is what happens the emotion a show packs is underminded by the very reason it starts. AnoHana is ultimately disappointing and something I'd rather forget. More thoughts below...

Spoiler for Length:

AnoHana is a lite-fantasy drama about the hardships of the death of a friend, growing up and drifting apart, and regaining those lost bonds. A heartwarming story of loss and gain, love and friendship, and life and death. With a set-up as beautifully poignant as this, what could possibly go wrong with the show’s actual quality?

Apparently a Hell of a whole lot.

But let’s start with the good. The character interactions between everyone as –friends- were actually very nice to watch. Not because they were endearing but because it was anything but; that incredibly awkward feeling between people who haven’t met in a long time is conveyed so well when they’re all interacting as –friends- (more on this later). The show also packs a strong emotional punch and becomes a stand-in for how all of the characters are feeling. AnoHana is excellent in that regard.

That is, until you start looking at why everyone is becoming so emotional in the first place.

Most of the show’s story revolves around the ghost of Meiko Honma coming back after dying in a tragic accident 10 years ago to have her wish granted. The only problem is Jinta Yadomi is the only one who can see her, meaning he’s running around trying to grant her wish, whatever it might be, while his (former) friends question what exactly is wrong with Jinta when he’s seemingly interacting with nothing and talking to himself. The tension toward his friends rises because Jinta can’t expect them to accept their best friend is back from the grave. This is despite how Meiko can –interact with the objects around her-. Yup. Avoiding all of this drama is as simple as Meiko picking up an object in the presence of her friends and it’s further exacerbated by how the show points out how a lot of drama could have been avoided if she interacted with an object while around them. Oddly enough I wouldn’t have noticed if the show –didn’t- point this out; failed damage control much?

Now remember what I said earlier about the interactions between everyone as –friends- being very good? Well, the show also has interactions between the characters in a web of –romance-. Every guy who knew Meiko was in love with her and every girl that knew Meiko was jealous of her. 10 years prior to the show, this makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is how all of the characters feelings toward Meiko remain largely unchanged even 10 years after her death. No matter how strongly one feels toward someone or how devastated they are after their death, it is something that eventually heals with time and certainly should only be an occasional memory after 10 years. But nope. Everyone is still devastated over Meiko’s death because lolanime. The heavy themes in AnoHana require a realistic touch but instead they get a bombastic slam.

If you’re looking for an anime with an emotional punch, AnoHana can certainly deliver. I found myself choking on my emotions despite how a lot of things were messed up. And while I normally don’t disregard my feelings in an anime like this over some irrelevant plot points, it’s when those plot points actually matter to the emotions that I feel cheated. Jinta and company may have remembered the name of the flower they saw that day but this is one show I’d rather forget.

deadite · 2013-07-22, 07:01

New OP for the rebroadcast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGu0aYhOtFc!

sky black swordman · 2013-07-23, 05:02

^ It's decent.

Overall, I prefer the original OP's song, but I like this OP's animation more than the original OP's animation.

ices · 2013-07-23, 06:15

^^ Ah, it's so refreshing.... Like it. The animation and the song.

deadite · 2013-07-25, 13:05

they seem to show off their post series looks in a lot of promotional material for the movie

www.indypressny.org

deadite · 2013-07-28, 05:22

New PV. 1 year after? Jintan and Anaru doing Karaoke?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=v5Mo4OatkZw

~~Pocari_Sweat~~ · 2013-07-28, 06:46

That new opening song is truly wonderful. Has the whole mono no aware atmosphere in spades.

Too bad instead of "gentle sadness" or "wistfulness" we got a full out theatrical bawfest which still leaves me disappointed to this very day

. Decent series but could have been so much more.

Guardian Enzo · 2013-07-28, 06:55

It seems to have become trendy to bash AnoHana, but I think it holds up as one of the best series of 2011, and I appreciate a show that's emotional without being apologetic about it. As long as the drama is earned, go for it.

Haiprbim · 2013-09-01, 09:17

AnoHana.
A half-season (11 episodes), featuring pure Drama, Slice of Life and Supernatural activity.

Well, it was a fun little watch.
I don't know if there is something wrong with me, but the disappearing scene was meant to be really emotional, and it was, but I think it could have been done a lot better for some reason.

Regardless, a 9/10 overall.

View Poll Results: AnoHana - Total Series Rating
Perfect 10	46	37.70%
9 out of 10 : Excellent	40	32.79%
8 out of 10 : Very Good	26	21.31%
7 out of 10 : Good	5	4.10%
6 out of 10 : Average	3	2.46%
5 out of 10 : Below Average	1	0.82%
4 out of 10 : Poor	1	0.82%
3 out of 10 : Bad	0	0%
2 out of 10 : Very Bad	0	0%
1 out of 10 : Painful	0	0%
Voters: 122. You may not vote on this poll

2012-07-16, 04:04	Link #41
stardf29 Member Join Date: Aug 2007	Oh, I am so glad I pre-ordered this one as soon as I could, despite having only watched one episode of the show at the time. 10/10, and currently my second favorite anime of all time, right below Clannad (including After Story). In fact, the two are practically tied for first in my eyes. And believe me, I don't say this lightly at all. A lot of things really got to me in this one. First off, I've always liked childhood friend stories; the themes of shared memories, knowing each other, being there for each other through thick and thin... All of these themes were incorporated in this show, and moreso in a balanced 3-guy-2-girl-1-dead-girl ratio, adding in that "group" sense to it all. Romance was incorporated nicely, too, if you ask me. Beyond that, though, it's a story about being stuck in the past, and how to move on after tragedy. Where some consider the best way to do so is to deny or forget about the past, this show shows how that is exactly what keeps people stuck there. Which is why the show's most dramatic moment which I guess some people found to be too melodramatic, is also my favorite moment... Spoiler for Ep. 11: ...the moment where the entire group spills out their selfish motives in everything. Honestly, if you ask me, I don't see how it could not have been melodramatic. Here, these five friends finally bare their deepest wounds and their dirtiest parts of themselves out, after having denied them so long in an attempt to assuage their pain over Menma's death. It's an incredibly cathartic experience for all of them (enough to make them all break out in laughter over double eyelashes almost immediately afterwards), and it is what finally makes the estranged friends no longer estranged, and lets them take that final step to move on. Take all of that to the grand finale, which was equal parts heartwarming and heart-wrenching, and it all closes out this amazing story. Except, it's not really an ending, but the beginning of a new story, one where the characters remember the past but are no longer trapped in it. There's more to the charm of this whole series, but those are the big things that really make this an absolute favorite of mine.

2012-07-22, 05:42	Link #43
Kirroha Just... disturbed. Join Date: Dec 2009	... JintANaru YukiaTSUruko holy crap my mind is totally blown __________________ Play RE: Prince of Nigeria here!

2013-07-23, 05:02	Link #46
sky black swordman Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: California	^ It's decent. Overall, I prefer the original OP's song, but I like this OP's animation more than the original OP's animation. __________________

2013-07-22, 07:01	Link #45
deadite Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010	New OP for the rebroadcast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGu0aYhOtFc!

2013-07-23, 06:15	Link #47
ices Working Hard Join Date: Sep 2012	^^ Ah, it's so refreshing.... Like it. The animation and the song.

2013-07-25, 13:05	Link #48
deadite Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010	they seem to show off their post series looks in a lot of promotional material for the movie www.indypressny.org

2013-07-28, 05:22	Link #49
deadite Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010	New PV. 1 year after? Jintan and Anaru doing Karaoke? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=v5Mo4OatkZw

2013-07-28, 06:46	Link #50
~~Pocari_Sweat~~ <em style="color:#808080;">Disabled By Request</em> Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Australia	That new opening song is truly wonderful. Has the whole mono no aware atmosphere in spades. Too bad instead of "gentle sadness" or "wistfulness" we got a full out theatrical bawfest which still leaves me disappointed to this very day . Decent series but could have been so much more.

2013-09-01, 09:17	Link #52
Haiprbim Banned Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Visual Dream Panire	AnoHana. A half-season (11 episodes), featuring pure Drama, Slice of Life and Supernatural activity. Well, it was a fun little watch. I don't know if there is something wrong with me, but the disappearing scene was meant to be really emotional, and it was, but I think it could have been done a lot better for some reason. Regardless, a 9/10 overall.