Erk Mizuhara
05-05-2007, 09:11 PM
I bought this anime just yesterday (Friday the 4th) and I must say I have never felt this way about an anime before.
Here's what's on the back:
Meet four high school friends: Haruka,Takayuki, Mitsuki and Shinji. Life's promise shines brightly on them until an accident leaves Haruka in a coma. Her boyfriend, Takayuki, can't forgive himself and seems determined to follow Haruka into a comatose state. Mistuki dedicates her life to taking of this tragic young man,and the pair fall into a relationship floundering in guilt. When Haruka awakens after three years, everyone must pretend no time has passed. Town between his unhappy real-life relationship with Mitsuki and the daydream high school romance with Haruka, Takayuki feels the tiny silver lining left in his life being mercilessly and methodically stripped away.
Harsh? Sounds a bit 'seen it before'? Who care? Watch it anyway. It's brilliant piece of animation that moved me to the verge of tears. If it can make ME nearly cry, then it MUST be good. The way the guilt and anguish of the characters is portrayed is an art within itself, and the animation of the characters is a paramount of incredibility (i think that's the right word).
I'll admit, upon first seeing this, i thought 'It's Coronation Street in anime format'. Then, I decided to buy it. I have never purchased an anime that makes me glad I bought it, but at the same time regret the decision. Never have I seen an anime that makes me feel so sorry for the characters, feel their pain, and yet hate their guts. Everything is beautifully visualised and put across, that you can't help but feel the characters' pain.
One small thing that ruined it for me was a small chibi animation after the ending credits of episode 3. It spoiled the mood for me incredibly. However, come episodes 4 and 5, I was glad that they were there, too. They snapped me out of the depression that had consumed me, and prepared me for the next episode. If not for the chibi mini-animes, I most likely would have cried because I wouldn't have been able to handled the sheer emotion that this anime bombards you with. It bombards you in a violent horrible, yet discreet way. You feel the harsh emotions creeping up on you throughout episode 2, then it just hits you. Hard.
By the end of the anime, I was in complete shock of what I had seen, The story, the way it's played out, and the characters are all simply beautiful. My heart pounded at the scene when Takayuki rushes toward an accident, praying it isn't Haruka, then my heart stopped dead when her name was confirmed.
And now, the bit that you all most likely skipped forward to; the summary.
In just two words, I can sum up what this anime is mostly about.
GUILT TRIP.
Now, I challenge all who watch this to say, in full honesty, that they weren't moved or affected by this anime in anyway.
Here's what's on the back:
Meet four high school friends: Haruka,Takayuki, Mitsuki and Shinji. Life's promise shines brightly on them until an accident leaves Haruka in a coma. Her boyfriend, Takayuki, can't forgive himself and seems determined to follow Haruka into a comatose state. Mistuki dedicates her life to taking of this tragic young man,and the pair fall into a relationship floundering in guilt. When Haruka awakens after three years, everyone must pretend no time has passed. Town between his unhappy real-life relationship with Mitsuki and the daydream high school romance with Haruka, Takayuki feels the tiny silver lining left in his life being mercilessly and methodically stripped away.
Harsh? Sounds a bit 'seen it before'? Who care? Watch it anyway. It's brilliant piece of animation that moved me to the verge of tears. If it can make ME nearly cry, then it MUST be good. The way the guilt and anguish of the characters is portrayed is an art within itself, and the animation of the characters is a paramount of incredibility (i think that's the right word).
I'll admit, upon first seeing this, i thought 'It's Coronation Street in anime format'. Then, I decided to buy it. I have never purchased an anime that makes me glad I bought it, but at the same time regret the decision. Never have I seen an anime that makes me feel so sorry for the characters, feel their pain, and yet hate their guts. Everything is beautifully visualised and put across, that you can't help but feel the characters' pain.
One small thing that ruined it for me was a small chibi animation after the ending credits of episode 3. It spoiled the mood for me incredibly. However, come episodes 4 and 5, I was glad that they were there, too. They snapped me out of the depression that had consumed me, and prepared me for the next episode. If not for the chibi mini-animes, I most likely would have cried because I wouldn't have been able to handled the sheer emotion that this anime bombards you with. It bombards you in a violent horrible, yet discreet way. You feel the harsh emotions creeping up on you throughout episode 2, then it just hits you. Hard.
By the end of the anime, I was in complete shock of what I had seen, The story, the way it's played out, and the characters are all simply beautiful. My heart pounded at the scene when Takayuki rushes toward an accident, praying it isn't Haruka, then my heart stopped dead when her name was confirmed.
And now, the bit that you all most likely skipped forward to; the summary.
In just two words, I can sum up what this anime is mostly about.
GUILT TRIP.
Now, I challenge all who watch this to say, in full honesty, that they weren't moved or affected by this anime in anyway.