The heart does not beat anymore when listening to music [...] If this can no longer make me cry, if this can no longer make my heart flutter, perhaps this will be how I die once.

BTS' Black Swan can be called the SparksNotes version of Your Lie in April down to the score, with the song having an orchestra version that could easily join the OST of this great anime. For artists, there is no greater pain than breaking apart from the thing you devote your life to, constantly battling between love and hatred for it and wondering if it's all worth it. Your Lie manages to capture this struggle and portray it in the raw pain and beautifulness of it all.

When doing a show revolving around music, and with such strong emotions to convey, it might be a tough challenge to choose what pieces to include as part of the score. YLIA never once had that problem. It's obvious that every song was carefully chosen to portray exactly the thoughts and feelings of the scene and they all make you feel exactly what the characters—and by extension, the writers—want the audience to. Though this might not be an action anime, every musical performance has the viewer at the edge of the seat craving for more (the best example of this is Emi's performance of Etude Op. 25, No. 11 in episode 8). And despite being an OP and not an inserted song, Goose House's Hikaru Nara adds nothing but perfection to this wonderful setlist.

Regardless of A-1 Pictures earning mixed reviews about their works, I cannot help but say Your Lie in April is one of their best projects thus far. The animation is absolutely gorgeous, with one of its fortes being the color palette choice according to the episode's atmosphere. Color theory and the intent behind it is not something that is appreciated enough in animation, and this show makes you appreciate its complexity. Perhaps the most noteworthy thing about this is how Kaori's hair changes as the story progresses, with it being a bright, lively shade of yellow in the beginning and a dull, pale color by the end of it. It's one of those tiny easter eggs barely anyone notices, but it adds a world of difference to the story, especially considering how they emphasize her relation to spring. The color Kosei's life was gaining as the story progressed was the same one Kaori was losing through it.

While it is understandable why someone might think it can be somewhat boring or dull, Your Lie in April is still a must-watch for everyone. Heart-breaking yet captivating, this is a story that will tug at your heart strings with the same ferocity these characters play their instruments.