Review of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

This show was like watching five hormonal teenagers with the worst coping mechanisms try to have a group therapy session while one of them hallucinates. Actually, that was exactly what it was. And it was a ride. Story: 8 The story itself had a very set plot and goal from the start. I think what was very difficult to watch was that the conflict was all internal. Everyone was each others' best friends, lovers, and enemies all at once. Which was what made it so difficult to watch; because everything was very solvable, but it was still an extremely difficult situation to resolve. Of course, thisis a very beautiful story as well, despite the sadness and confusion that the characters and watcher was experiencing. It was a perfect mix of sentimentality, childhood, and comedy.

Art: 10
The animation, for one, was stunning. Extremely smooth, without lacking in detail or depth. The art style was soft and had unique characteristics for each character that made it very enjoyable to watch. Going into Anohana, I honestly expected nothing less. It is universally known in the anime community for being beautifully tragic, very Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso-esque if you catch my drift. And it delivered, bringing a unique type of aesthetic to the front of satisfying anime.

Sound: 8
To start, the opening just rocked. From the very first episode, the start of the opening was just one that hit. I KNEW that by the end of the show, it would be one that I would cry from just the first few seconds. I was right, by the way.

Don't get me wrong, the ending went hard. The way they played the ED at the end just as the story reached its ultimate finale, I actually begged for it to not play because my emotions couldn't handle it. I'm a sucker for when shows start the ED audio as the episode ends before switching to the visuals, and this show did it perfectly.

The rest of the OST I'm sure I'd pick up on if I rewatched the show, but it just wasn't memorable. Not just because they were instrumentals, since I can remember and love OST instrumentals from works like SWKNU and Kimi No Na Wa.

Character: 7
The characters were so perfect for this anime, BECAUSE they were just the worst cast for the story. The only character that fit my expectations was Menma, bright and enthusiastic while having a sad understanding of her situation. They were all such different personalities that were forever tied together with a bittersweet past that could never be changed.

Jintan, the main character, was a very bland personality, if I'm being honest. Which might've been why he stood out. He was respected and loved by all of his friends; despite being a shut in who skipped school for semesters at a time. The fact that he was still lovable to me and everyone else I find very strange, considering he has done very little to deserve the love. I believe it's because he was portrayed as unapologetically human. He reacted just as anyone else would, put into his situation. He coped by shutting himself out. He found it difficult to be assertive, but at the same time, forced himself to think and grow. It was fascinating watching him work and change throughout the series while still maintaining the character that made him Jintan.

Anjo was a character that slowly grew to become my favorite in the series. From the start, she was very stereotypical. Girly, rude to her parents, boy-crazy and completely changed from the nerdy girl with glasses who collected games. I appreciate SO MUCH how, as we learn she is still the same Anjo as her past, being "girly" wasn't seen as a bad characteristic. It infuriates me when someone who goes out with friends and dresses up is seen as less then one who stays inside and reads or something. Instead of her looks changing as her character growth, it was more about getting away from toxic friends and rekindling her old friendships more than anything.

Her loving Jintan was something to really witness, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her just enjoy her time at the fort or play Pokemon. She was just a teenager trying to sort out her feelings and be kind to everyone around her, which is overlooked because of her snide comments every now and then. In the end, she had just wanted everyone to be happy, as everyone else in the show after they had that group sob near the end.

Though I loved how her love for Jintan wasn't the thing that carried her character. This is done so often in anime and it really pisses me off; like how Sakura Haruno was hated because the author made her being in love with Sasuke such a big deal. (Though Sakura grew into an amazing character, and it makes me so upset that others don't acknowledge that. But that rant is for another day.) She loved Jintan, and although it was something she thought about often, she was so much more than that. She was witty. She was a neat freak. She loved video games and comics, but also makeup and Starbucks. Her friendship with Jintan and the happiness of the group came first.

Poppo was so grazed upon as a character that it almost hurts. He was just so underdeveloped compared to the rest of the characters, not to mention that he just was not part of most of their interactions. Everyone was stuck in this web of unrequited love except for Poppo as well, and to be honest I can't see why he was in the show other than to add to the others' personalities.

Tsurumi was a tricky one. My opinion on her was constantly wavering, and even as I ended up appreciating her as a character in the end, there were still a lot of flaws in her design. Unlike Anjo, most of her personality and character purpose was just to be Yukiatsu's #1 fan. This happens a lot in anime, where half of a girl's lines is literally just a boy's name. Hinata Hyuuga, Mikasa Ackerman, you know the ones. But the difference between those two and Tsurumi is they actually HAD SUBSTANCE! Hinata was a kind-hearted warrior, whilst Mikasa is THE badass waifu. They're both equal if not much stronger than their counterparts as well. But Tsurumi didn't have any personality or accomplishments that didn't relate to Yukiatsu. I wouldn't be surprised if every one of her lines were related to, talking to, or simply Yukiatsu's name. Because I can't think of any line that isn't. She had SO MUCH potential that was just squashed by her character leaning on Yuki's.

Speaking of Yukiatsu, oh my God is this man just a HOOT. There are so many passionate and intense breakdowns in anime, but I think him dressing up as Menma and running around in a wig needs to be talked about more. It was just so upsetting to see him so hurt over Menma, but then have the worst personality towards the others. Though he's a character that I've come to really love, because his pain must've been eternally difficult to deal with and I'm happy that he at least got the closure he needed with the events of the show going down. Though I will still happily call him a little bitch any day.

Enjoyment: 9
I'm putting this as a nine because I think it's a phenomenal show that I made sure to be in a peaceful place alone whenever I watched it. It wasn't an anime I could simply play while eating dinner or doodling. I wanted to pay attention to every line, expression, symbolism and so on because it deserved that. The sound and animation put together left it anything but dry, and it wasn't just a full blown sob fest. It was, as said, enjoyable.

This is my first review so I'm unsure if that's what it meant by enjoyable. I debated putting it at a nine or four, because there were many times when their interactions were just terribly sad to witness.

However, it wasn't one of those shows where it was physically painful to watch. Like, you didn't cringe or have to stop to remind yourself that it was just fiction. Which I do acknowledge, considering how bitter of a taste that type of media leaves when being consumed.

Overall: 10
*THIS SECTION CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING
It wasn't my favorite show, but I still think that it deserved a ten.

What makes Anohana such a recognized and undeniably lovable show in the entire anime community? It's the fact that it is one of the most emotional, tear wrenching series without having anything inherently sad about it. I walked into Anohana expecting at least one death, mental illness and some life lessons.

But it didn't have any of those.

Menma was already dead from long before the events, feelings were heard and sorted by the end. Everything was resolved, classifying the ending as inherently "happy". But play the clip of them shouting to Menma that they had found her, and you're sure to bring several close to tears. The whole show was "sad", as in, there were little things nagging at every character.

It was the ending that tied it together brilliantly. If you asked viewers halfway through the show what they think a happy ending would look like, they'd probably say something like a sentimental send off to Menma, with the gang back together and feelings requited. But the creators took the ending in a completely different direction. Menma disappearing was extremely sudden and chaotic, especially with Jintan losing his ability to see Menma for that short window of time when he desperately needed it the most. They didn't have time to say what they needed to, to have that satisfying sunset conversation. Instead, they were screaming at a Menma they could barely see, each and every character and watcher bawling as she said her final words.

The simplicity might've been another reason why Anohana stands out compared to other tragic anime. Menma didn't get the time to say what she wanted, so she just scribbled on notes. That she loved Anjo's realism, or Poppo's sense of humor. That she loved Jintan in that "want to marry you" kind of way. Menma got what she wanted, and she ascended to Heaven. But at the same time, it was just so terrifying to the watcher to witness the entire show lead up to an extremely pressuring and intense three minutes of raw emotion.

I began crying around when Jintan brought Menma back for her final goodbye, and couldn't stop bawling until a very long time, even as the ending song played and I left Netflix. There was no reason to be crying, but at the same time, it was baffling that someone could watch it and not. Then again, I am a major crybaby, so take that as you will.

Overall, although there are many flaws to this show, it will be one that will forever remain a "good watch". I recommend it to anyone willing to try.