Review of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai or Ano Hana for short is a story about a group of friends, calling themselves the Super Peace Busters, who have drifted apart 10 years after one of their group, Menma, died in an accident who get together again to grant her wish. The story begins with Menma harassing Jinta as he plays a video game and eats dinner and it soon becomes clear that Jinta is the only person that can see Menma. Later that day Menma asks Jinta to grant her wish though she doesn't say or knows what that wish is. We aresoon introduced to the rest of the group of friends who are less than friendly to each other. We also find out that they all have been suffering from guilt ever since Menma died as each of them feels somewhat responsible. This guilt comes to the surface with the reappearance of Menma. We then begin their journey to grant Menma her wish and to resolve their differences.

The characters are very strong. They are very strong individually and add something to the group. We are shown their outward personalities as well as how they are suffering individually. As a result we get some moving scenes.

The animation is excellent and could be said to be of a high standard like Fate Zero. I especially like that the focus of the town in the animation is the bridge over the river.

The music is well done especially the end theme which is a beautiful song sung by the voice actresses of Anaru, Menma and Tsuruko.

Unfortunately there has to be some negative points which I will put down to unnecessary tinkering in the story. Firstly when Menma died the group were supposed to be 5 years old. I think this is probably a bit too young especially when they were supposed to have romantic feelings for each other. Menma's mother is shown to have a hatred for the Super Peace Busters but it is never clear why. Finally my biggest problem with Ano Hana is there is excessive crying. Considering the story you would a lot of crying but I feel they went overboard and seem to be trying to get an emotional intensity like Elfen Lied or Clannad After Story which, for me, it fails to do.

How Menma died or what exactly her wish was is open to interpretation though some suggestions were made. I don't mind this as it means we can all take something different from the story.

All in all Ano Hana is a very good and enjoyable anime but I feel it could have been better.