Review of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Well... I never! I may as well just change my name to "never" cause this just took me by surprise. I could very well only recommend the first episode of AnoHana, because any fully equipped and functional human being would automatically feel like they owe it to themselves to watch the rest. I'll try breaking down this review as I've seen others do it this way: Story So unique man... it's as if the creators studied the depths of human psychology and put together something that would really capture the hearts of men, and not only capture it but lock it in an underground prison under acastle of stone surrounded by a moat filled with alligators and like 2 kindra's. Menma the ghost girl who only our protagonist Jinta can see seems to me like the perfect plot (what's the opposite of hole?) "pile of dirt" allowing the viewer some intuition on the whole childhood trauma on which this is based on. Not to mention it adds this sense of creepiness like the silent phone calls thing or her communicating via the diary.
Art
+Flashbacks are so pretty and nostalgic
+Just look at those clouds
-Nothing really gets exaggerated or break the barrier
-No ecchi at all (go ahead and click Not Helpful)
-Menma looks like she came out of a pool of flour
Sound
+Cicadas, my favorite thing to hear in any anime
+Awesome ending theme, which works very well as makes its way in a touching scene
-Lame opening theme song, sounds like Kicell (hurray for knowing obscure Japanese bands)
-Piano can get overused *sometimes*
Character
- Character development? lol the heck's that
- Manma is literally the best. As a matter of fact, I went out of my way in finding out how to add a favorite character on this site just for her. And I love those shots of her when she's looking into the camera and smiling full of life.
-Jinta's my homeboy. Favorite moment of his is when he walks to school on a hot day before Naruko's friends make fun of him.
-Yukiatsu reminds me of Norman from Psycho
Enjoyment
The thing that swept me was not only the amount of sacrifice the characters are willing to go through for others, but them finding out the extent of their kindness, then they become happy so they sacrifice a little something in return like making egg soup and they appreciate it which in turn makes them happier and its just one gigantic whirlpool of happiness. Then suddenly the whirlpool turns into a roller coaster and everything shifts downward in gusts of sadness revolving around death, love, guilt, etc. Aside from the magnificent conclusion, I'd say episode 8 was my favorite. The dinner I had around ep 9 was disgusting (my mother just had to add broccoli in the meat), but the kitcat ice cream made up for that, so I'm not complaining. I know my mind's definitely going to be immersed in thinking about this one when I go to bed. Goodnight reader, and goodbye Manma... I told you I'd find you!