[img]http://i.minus.com/isT4pQ5CFLwWR.png[/img]
Title - Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai. (AnoHana) (あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。)
Genre(s) - Drama, Supernatural, Romance, Slice of life, Tragedy
Studio(s) - A-1 Pictures
Episodes - 11
Episode Length - 22 min. per episode
Rating - PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Airing Date - Apr 15, 2011 to Jun 24, 2011
Airing Status - Finished Airing
On Crunchyroll? -
Yes
Synopsis
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 Ten years after the incident, the leader of the group, Jinta Yadomi, has withdrawn from society and lives as a recluse.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. At first, he only tries to help her minimally because he thinks he is hallucinating. But 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. All of friends join him, though most of them reluctantly. However, things grow increasingly complicated when his friends accuse him of not being able to get over the death of Menma, for Jinta is the only one who can see Menma's ghost and his friends think he is seeing things. But as things progress, it is realized that Jinta is not the only person in the group who is having trouble letting go of the past. It is revealed that a majority of the group members blame themselves for Menma's death and hidden feelings for other members of the group are rekindled. Along with feelings of bitterness from Menma's parents, the group struggles as they grow from trying to help Menma move on, to helping themselves move on, too.
Characters
![[Image: 115711.jpg]](https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/16/115711.jpg)
Meiko "Menma" Honma
Menma is a girl who suddenly appears several years after her death to Jinta and asks him to reunite their group of friends so her wish can be granted. Yet, she does not seem to remember what is her wish, but she knows she has to reunite her friends in order to remember. Despite being "dead", she is a very positive, energetic and lively person. According to Jinta, she is quite selfless and cries very often for others when they are hurt or upset, but not for herself.
Jinta calls her "the beast of the summer" as he relates her to being a manifestation of his stress instead of a ghost girl.
![[Image: 116629.jpg]](https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/10/116629.jpg)
Jinta "Jintan, Leader" Yadomi
Jinta is the main character of the series. In the past, Jinta was an energetic, young boy and the leader of his group, the Super Peace Busters. When Naruko asked him if he had a crush on Menma, he said, "Why would I be in love with such an ugly—?" He had plans to apologize to her the next day, but she died later that night in a drowning accident.
Unable to forgive himself, Jinta spent the next years of his life in a constant state of gloominess. He became withdrawn and eventually became a hikikomori, or a shut-in. He currently lives with his father. While he is enrolled at the same high school as Naruko, he stopped attending.
![[Image: 118996.jpg]](https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/2/118996.jpg)
Tetsudou "Poppo" Hisakawa
Poppo is the first friend that Jinta reconnects with. As a child, Poppo was uncontrollably energetic and friendly and was always loyal to Jinta recognizing him as the leader of the group. These traits have not changed. Presently, Jinta reunited with him when he was searching for Menma. He visited their old clubhouse and found that Poppo was living there. Poppo explains that he works part-time jobs to earn money. When he makes enough, he goes on trips around the world. Because of this, Poppo has not attended school in several years.
Poppo seems to have questionable interests: Jinta found several pornographic magazines upon entering the clubhouse. Poppo also seems to have an obsession for foreign girls, especially Vietnamese girls. Overall, he has a lewd personality.
Tails' Opinion
AnoHana was that show that people will tell you it will make you cry and you dont believe them. Oh, its about a girl who essentially haunts her crush after she died. But I can tell you, its a ride. The reason AnoHana succeeds at driving a truck of feels into your face is because the characters. A story can be average, the art can be shaky, the music can be meh, but characters is where an anime shines. And AnoHana definitely shines. The characters are carrying on pretty realistic lives and the dynamic they have is actually believable, they decisions they make are ones you could see them making in your mind as if you thought this up. Now the story was above average but not perfect there are some times Id like to see more and its only 11 episodes which is a bummer. The art was good it just wasnt my favorite. There werent times I hated it but there were times I wish it was better, which is very easy to get over especially when the actual show is really good. Overall, I think it could have been better but its still a really good show and Id recommend it to anyone who likes tragedies.
Programmargorp's Opinion
Tatsuyuki Nagai, the director who bought you Toradora, Railgun, Ano Natsu and Hachimitsu to Clover along with A-1 Pictures, who bought you a variety of stuff such as Oreimo, Fail Art Online and Shinsekai Yori comes something that fits the studio more than Another did.
This week, we have Ano Hi Mata Hana no Name o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (Anohana for short); following the exploits of Yadomi Jinta 10 years after the death of his childhood friend Honma Meiko and the band of not so similar people who get drawn into a bunch.
Anohana is one of those series which Type B watchers would massively enjoy while not screwing over Type A watchers completely. While the focus of the series is situated in the character scope, in no way does it neglect the story. Following the events of the now NEET Jinta, Anohana follows the events which occurred after the return of Meiko as a ghost. While it wasn’t the best story I’ve ever seen, it does deserve praise.
Story wise, I rate this a 9/10
As I said before, being a heavily story driven series, majority of the events is focused on the characters. Throughout the series we get glimpses of everyone’s resentment of their inability to save Meiko along with the gradual opening of each character. The essence of this series lies in the development of characters, to the extent of people “crying oceans”.
Character wise, I rate this a 10/10
The art of Anohana is by no means bad and fits the style which they were going for quite well, the backgrounds are detailed and character drawings were pretty decent. However, while Nagai did quite well with the characters, the same can’t be said about the art, it simply cannot compare to other art heavy series such as Penguindrum or Guilty Crown, let alone something that Makoto Shinkai managed to pull off.
While I say that, the art wasn’t absolutely terrible either, hence
Art wise, I rate this a 8/10.
Overall, for anyone looking for just a generic Slice of Life or Romance series, look away; the genre Anohana really does well in is Tragedy. If you’re one that enjoys a good tragedy, this is for you; if you can’t bare to see anything sad, you might want to pass on this one.
Tails' Rating 8/10
Programmargorp's Rating 9/10
Like this review? Want to read my other reviews? Here they are!:
Yumekui Merry
Sword Art Online
Trigun
Shuffle!
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
Nobunagun
Mahou Sensou
Inu X Boku SS
Beyond the Boundary
Oreshura
Dance in the Vampire Bund
RIN: Daughters of Mnemosyne
My Mental Choices Are Completely Interfering With My School Romantic Comedy
Stella Women's Academy, High School Division Class C
Ga-Rei: Zero
Corpse Princess
Gunslinger Girl (Both Seasons)
Mysterious Girlfriend X
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou
Problem Children are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?
This is a link leading to AA Weekly in which I reviewed Battle Girls - Time Paradox
Title - Solanin ( ソラニン )
Genre(s) - Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Tragedy
Demographic - Seinen
Author(s) - Asano, Inio (Story & Art)
Serialization - Young Sunday
Published - Dec 5, 2005 to May 2, 2006
Status - Finished
Chapters Scanlated - 28 (Fully scanlated)
Synopsis
After graduating from college, Meiko went straight to work as an office lady, but she can't help feeling there should be something more to life. Determined to find a worthier goal, she quits work, but can she actually make her neubulous dreams come true- and how will her sudden decision affect her relationship with her boyfriend Taneda?
My Opinion
For those of you who know Asano Inio, perhaps by Solanin, perhaps by his more known work Oyasumi Punpun, perhaps by his lesser known work Subarashii Sekai, Nijigahara Holograph, or Sekai no Owari to Yoake Mae, you will without a doubt agree with me when I say his work will not appeal to everyone. Slice of life isn't a very popular genre in and of itself, but Asano's dark, cynical and realist approach to the genre can work to turn even hardcore slice of life fans away. It does, however, draw in a different type of audience.
Solanin is a short award winning manga and Asano's first critically acclaimed work, later followed by Oyasumi Punpun. If you've read Punpun and expect something similar from Solanin, don't. Although dark and cynical in it's own right, it's not nearly as twisted as Punpun, for better or worse. Take that as you will.
Now, I am aware not many people in AA have read any of his work so I'll stop with the comparisons. Solanin tells us the story of the young couple Meiko and Naruo during their early twenties, as their lives start spiraling out of control. I say that quite dramatically but in truth, as a short two volume manga, there's not so much happening throughout. The things happening, however, are told abysmally and very heartwarmingly, and as an Asano Inio work the actual focal point of this manga isn't the story but the characters, which are amazing for what they're supposed to be. In another author's hands Solanin, and just Asano's stories to begin with, would drip with cliché and hackneyed nonsense, but Asano somehow manages to take concepts and ideas that would normally make us cringe and turn them into something fresh, compelling and emotional.
Solanin runs the gamut when it comes to the emotions it evokes in the reader. It's fabulously told in a very dense two volumes, but as a very cynical, realist slice of life it's not a story for younger audiences who don't have a lot of life experience. Additionally, as the manga that marks the time when Asano started to shine, Solanin is the perfect place to start if you plan to read his masterpiece Oyasumi Punpun (or any of his work for that matter). The art, the style, the characters. It's all there neatly wrapped up, and while Oyasumi Punpun is better in my opinion, they're both truly amazing and well worth a read.
My Rating 9.5/10
*Away on Holiday*
*Away on Holiday*
Note: This weeks loli of the week contains spoilers for Black Bullet.
Enju! Yes! Black Bullet fans should be pretty happy with this weeks loli of the week. Enju, a 10 year old loli with a crimson long hair tied up in twintails leaving the back of her neck exposed to you guys. Her hair reaches all the way down to her knees, with two black tags tying her hair which have some sort of bunny designs on it. With cute bangs covering her forehead as well as large crimson eyes, Enju is definitely a cutie pie that you'd pet to death.
Enju's clothing is something different, not seen on regular lolis. She wears a white dress underneath her orange hoody, zipped up partially. The sweater itself is somewhat oversized. She also wears knee high boots with a skirt that comes down to her thighs. Strange taste? Well, nobody will complain. She's just too darn cute.
Enju's appearance resemblances her personality. She is warm, sweet and a friendly girl that strives to protect her friends with everything she has. Enju is definitely a girl with the heart of a knight. As lively as she may be, she also feels pain when other girls are isolated or even mistreated because of the blood running through their veins.
Series: Black Bullet, ブラック・ブレット BLACK BULLET ［黒の銃弾】
MAL:
http://myanimelist.net/anime/20787/Black_Bullet
Every week, you can vote on a poll for your next loli of the week. This way we can vote and admire them together as well as seeing who the most popular is between the AA! For next week, you can vote for either:
Pico, from Boku no Pico.
Nagi "Ojou-sama, Mask the Money" Sanzenin, from Hayate no Gotoku! & Zettai Karen Children.
The News Team:
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