Review of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Ano Hi Mita Hana No Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai, shortened to Anohana, takes place a long time after the dissolution of the Super Peace Busters, a group of six children who made memories in their secret base atop a forested hill. The reasons for the dissolution were the events surrounding the death of one of their members: Meiko Honma, also known as Menma. Ten years later, the Super Peace Busters reunite in order to overcome their trauma and regrets. Though the progression of the plot can be illogical at times, Anohana packs an intriguing story and an emotional punch. Unlike a majority of othertragic stories, death is not he climax of the story. Rather, it is the catalyst for the events that occur in the story. Menma "lives" with Jinta, whom is her only connection to the rest of the cast. Her existence and actions add a supernatural aspect to the show; other people cannot see or hear her, but she can manipulate the environment to interact with them. The properties of her spirit form are never properly explained. For example, when she hugs people, Jinta has to relate what is going on, even though the person clearly feels the contact. She picks things up and moves them around, but it is not known if the objects simply float through the air. It is not confirmed whether or not someone can touch her: What would happen if someone walks through the spot where she is standing? The main issue with the story is how contrived and situational Menma is. She seems less like a ghost and more like an invisible girl. Typically, things like her tears or presence are excused and ignored. Nobody freaks out like they legitimately should be.
Visuals are vital in both animations and still pictures, and there are no problems with the visuals of this show. Expert analyses can be found elsewhere, but the animation is solid and does not seem unrealistic like certain other anime. Small details in the scenery and in a character's body language adds immersion and subtlety to the show. The world is beautifully drawn, especially at night time. The opening and ending animations look amazing. During certain moments, the scenes may seem to have different lighting and filtering. This is to be taken as one wills.
Music and voices are an integral part of any film, and Anohana utilizes them just fine. Voices fit the characters as far as this unversed casual is concerned, and the music is just splendid. Both the opening and ending have happy tones, though the opening is more upbeat than the ending. The latter is not necessarily sad or sentimental, but it is quieter and can be interpreted as more emotional in that way.
An abundance of dynamic characters makes for an interesting show. Anohana has no shortage of character development, as the entire show is about moving on. Every individual that was close to Menma has something weighing on their mind, and it holds them down as they struggle to come to amends with themselves and their new lives. Even among the group of friends, personalities clash and lead to interesting developments. Relationships amongst each other leads certain members of the group to bear animosity toward certain others. Any melodrama aside, watching the characters interact and grow was a wonder.
Being a consumer with arguably low standards, it was difficult to hold back tears during tender moments in the anime. It is easy to form emotional bonds with characters that are relatable, memorable, or simply human. With a cohesive and interesting plot, Anohana was a pleasure to watch.
Certain parts of the show could have been done better, but there were no outstanding issues with this anime in general. For the most part, the story and characters were good. Sound, voices, and music enhanced the experience, and it was colorful and easy on the eyes.