Review: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai [2011]

Alternative Title: Ano Hana

Studio: A-1 Pictures

Episodes: 11

Plot (wikipedia):

A group of six childhood friends drift apart after one of them, Meiko “Menma” Honma, dies in an accident. Ten years after the incident, the leader of the group, Jinta Yadomi, has withdrawn from society and lives as a recluse. One summer day, the ghost of an older looking Menma appears before him and asks to have a wish granted, reasoning that she cannot pass on into the afterlife until it is fulfilled. Since Menma does not remember what her wish is, Jinta gathers his estranged friends together once again, believing that they are the key to resolving this problem. However, hidden feelings, internal conflicts, and lingering feelings of bitterness from Menma’s parents result in complications for the group as they struggle to help not only Menma move on, but themselves as well.

I Say…

The feeling is somehow similar to Honey and Clover, funny and sad at the same time. You just can’t help it. Ano Hana is very short yet it etched a big time in my memory. There’s no such thing as forever because there’s “change”… and change can’t be helped at all. It’s part of life.

Just like for the troupe Super Peace Busters… life used to be so simple. One single tragedy changed them all forever.

I don’t know whether to classify Menma as a ghost or just Jinta’s hallucination. Hallucinations don’t write on diary pages or cook steamed bread, right? Poltergeist perhaps? Nah. Let’s leave it for you to be excited about.

Soundtrack is good as well, adding more feeling to the series. Galileo Galilee is a bit Suneohair-ish… that’s why I always get reminded of Honey and Clover. The ending theme Secret Base, is like the song of all songs for Ano Hana… a very strong theme that says it all.

All in all, it was worth the watch. One way or another it will make you remember some childhood memories too.

Review: Aishiteruze Baby [2004]

Running time: 25 minutes
Number of episodes: 26
Vintage: 2004-04-03 to 2004-10-09
Director: Masaharu Okuwaki
Series Composition: Genki Yoshimura
Music: Miki Kasamatsu
Original Manga: Youko Maki

Opening Theme: “Sunny Side Up” by Yo Hitoto
Ending Theme: “Nennensaisai (Every Year, Every Age)” by Yo Hitoto

Cast:   
Daisuke Fujita as Kippei Katakura
Fumina Hara as Kokoro Tokunaga
Miyu Tsuzurahara as Yuzuyu Sakashita

I Say…
It was 85% (my rough estimate) like the manga, and is really kid friendly. I think I can let my younger cousins see it. The ending of the series was different from the manga, it’s not that sad. If you’re too lazy to read the manga it’s alright, the anime version is fun as well. Yuzuyu and Kippei are so cute together!

Review: Honey & Clover II [2006]

Alternative title: Hachikuro II ; Hachimitsu to Clover II
Vintage: 2006-06-29 to 2006-09-21 (Japanese Fuji TV)
Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai
Script: Yousuke Kuroda
Music: DEPAPEPE; Yuzo Hayashi
Original Manga: Chika Umino
Running time: 25 minutes
Number of episodes: 12

Voice Actors:
Haruka Kudou as Hagumi Hanamoto
Hiroshi Kamiya as Yuuta Takemoto (eps 1-11)
Kenji Nojima as Yuuta Takemoto (ep 12)
Mikako Takahashi as Ayumi Yamada
Tomokazu Sugita as Takumi Mayama
Yuji Ueda as Shinobu Morita

Plot Summary:

The sequel and final installment to the highly popular series once again delves into the life stories and love lives of Takemoto Yuuta, Mayama Takumi and Morita Shinobu. The story continues where the first season left off, after Takemoto’s self-discovery journey around Japan. Of course, the love triangles and tribulations they face will continue, and eventually decide the paths to their future.

I Say…
No wonder this series captured hearts of women young and old during its release, and it wasn’t so long ago. I can’t pick up words to describe it since I’m still in contemplating mood. I was planning on doing the review after I saw the last episodes last night but can’t… my emotions were indescribable, really. I just had to go to bed and fall asleep.

If a person gets a little bit more emotional while seeing this one, well… they will absolutely cry. Honey and Clover 2 showed more emotion and less foolishness compared to the previous one. It brings you to reality… It will make you cherish youth and encourage you to always move forward in life.

And with that, I am encouraging you all, most especially girls, to find time for Honey and Clover. You won’t regret watching it and I’m sure you will learn more about what you still don’t know.

Review: Honey & Clover [2005]

Japanese Title: Hachimitsu to Clover
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Josei
Original manga: Chika Umino
Directed by: Kenichi Kasai
Studio: J.C.STAFF
Original run: 14 April 2005 – 26 September 2005
No. of episodes: 26
Running time: 25 minutes

Voice Actors:
Hanamoto Hagumi – Haruka Kudo
Takemoto Yuta – Hiroshi Kamiya and Kenji Nojima
Morita Shinobu – Yuji Ueda
Mayama Takumi – Tomokazu Sugita
Yamada Ayumi – Mikako Takahashi
Hanamoto Shuji – Keiji Fujiwara

Plot Summary (from animenewsnetwork) :

Takemoto Yuuta, Mayama Takumi, and Morita Shinobu are college students who share the small apartment. Even though they live in poverty, the three of them are able to obtain pleasure through small things in life. The story follows these characters’ life stories as poor college students, as well as their love lives when a short but talented 18 year old girl called Hanamoto Hagumi appears.

I Say…
It started silly and ended silly. Honey & Clover is silly. But this one’s good. If you think you’ve learned about being young in Boys Be, reconsider. Reconsider and watch Honey & Clover. Cheers to the power of youth!

Do you really know how far you can go without turning back?

Review: DN Angel [2003]

Number of episodes: 26
Original Manga: Yukiru Sugisaki
Story: Yukiru Sugisaki
Art: Yukiru Sugisaki

Plot summary: (animenewsnetwork)
Niwa Daisuke is your average teenager, until his fourteenth birthday. He tries to declare his love to the girl of his dreams, but fails. Suddenly, whenever he thinks about this girl he turns into the legendary phantom thief known as Dark Mousy. Daisuke’s mother, very much aware of this, makes him turn into Dark and steal valuable works of art for a purpose unknown to Daisuke. As the story unfolds, he learns why, and about his classmate who seems to have the same ability.

I Say…

DNAngel is a shoujo anime with a male as the lead. As expected of shoujos they’re going to give you this giddy feeling while or after watching them. It’s really entertaining, and the 26-episode series will really make you want for more. It instantly turned into one of my favorites. (And this is an old one… jeez… where was I during the DNAngel fever was rampant?)
Niwa Daisuke is sooo cute! He is really kind to his mother and to everyone! From the beginning I’ve always thought he was extraordinary minus the fact that he’s turning into Dark Mousy! I think it was great that he ended up with Harada Riku instead of Harada Risa whom he originally liked and thought of as his Holy Maiden.
The story seemed a bit slow though (at least for me), because the explanation on why Dark lives in every Niwa male and the existence of the Hikari family was all told on the 25th episode only. And it kind of made me sad that Dark has to be sealed, even though the ending was happy enough (*sighs* ).
Oh, and I also love the BGMs… they really make me feel the characters’ emotions.