Review of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

I'm a frequenter of /a/, so I've always heard that Clannad is one of the sadder series on that end of the spectrum, but I can't really be sure as I've never seen it. I've also heard both Clannad and Ano Hana referred to as "forced drama shit". I don't know about Clannad, but I can vouch for Ano Hana when I say if you actually watch it until the end, it is particularly heart-wrenching and nothing to me felt forced at all. In fact, Ano Hana hit me particularly hard. It is a tangle of (innocently enough) childhood love triangles hidden beneath a tragedythat everyone carries with them for years.

The best (and I guess worst, in it's own right) part about Ano Hana is that it has a really human feel to it at a lot of points. It's hard not to sympathize and relate when just about everyone has lost someone dear to them and wished that they could go back and and appreciate that time a little more, wished they could say something important to them. I don't know about you, but I know that feel pretty well.

All in all there was not a lot I can really complain about, there was a lot I really liked about it. For instance, I absolutely loved that though it wasn't apparent from the beginning, the answer they needed for her wish was in the opening theme but it wasn't obvious until the last few episodes.

I also felt that most of the characters were very fleshed out and had their flaws. After Menma's death, Jinta became a hikkikimori, Yukiatsu found some... eccentric ways to mourn, Poppo traveled the world, Tsuruko clung onto Yukiatsu but felt contempt over the fact that he could not get over Menma. And I dunno, Anaru became a conceited bitch trying to take Menma's place?? To each his own I guess.

I loved guessing throughout the show what Menma's wish was, but also dreaded them finding out, as they would ultimately lose her for a second time and make it even more painful. I also liked that they avoided something anime can be very guilty of-- everyone believing something at the tip of a hat. Everyone but Poppo really doubted that Menma was back and following Jinta around, Yukiatsu denied it almost until the very end! While it was frustrating sometimes to see his ignorance towards it after just about everyone else believed Jinta but him, I felt that it really kept his character intact, unwavering from what he believed and unable to forgive or believe Jinta after Menma's death.

While I can't say much about "enjoyment' because, well, I don't think I'd watch it again knowing I'll bawl for an hour during the last two episodes, I thought it was a very engrossing series and I liked that it sent me through a whirlwind of emotions--once. I made the mistake of watching the last episode and cried and cried just like I had months before when I'd watched it originally. I don't think I could watch it again-- my heart can't take it.

Overall, I loved the show, the characters were mostly well fleshed out, I paid no attention to the soundtrack unfortunately aside from the op, the art was nice (but what kinda kid has white hair?? whatever, she was adorable and pure) and I would try to avoid watching it again myself but it at least deserves one watch--hopefully one you won't soon forget!