(This review does not contain spoilers. However, be aware that it may include commentary about the overarching direction that the plot takes, without giving out any particular details. Not even the spoiler tags contain direct spoilers, but do contain some more bold discussion that you might want to avoid if you haven't watched it yet)
I'm sorry, crushed like smarties
I'll be here just like I'm Mari
picnic basket full of parsley
why do you hurt me so harshly?
These words, from blxty's song "regret", echoed through my mind as I went into Anohana. Regret is definitely a very big theme in this anime. The lyrics' references to the video game OMORI aren't a coincidence either, as both tackle parallel themes, even if OMOCAT's masterpiece takes it in a far, far darker direction.
Anohana presents us with an interesting premise. A group of childhood friends have drifted apart after the death of one of the beloved members of the group, the cute genki girl Menma. However, five years later, Menma's ghost reappears again, saying that she wants her wish to be granted... only that she doesn't remember what that wish was! And, furthermore, only our main character Jinta Yadomi can see or hear her at all...
My stress. My trauma...
What follows is a deeply emotional journey as Jinta and his former friends reunite once more and try to figure out just what her wish is. Anohana's greatest strength is its deep exploration of grief through the different characters. Anohana's characters are basically defined by their interactions with others, and through that lens we can learn about their personality and their different (and contrastive) ways they have to cope with Menma's death. Most importantly, there is a very strong and realistic sense of group dynamics, which justify the characters' motivations and actions really well, and connect the group's past with their present in a believable and well-conceived manner.The reason it all works is because it feels natural.
Another of Anohana's strong points is presentation. Anohana looks great, the animation is good, and so are the backgrounds and sound design, including the emotional opening and ending themes.
Pacing is one of Anohana's flaws in my opinion. This anime is really short - only 11 episodes, each 22 minutes long - so the plot rushes forward at full speed. Nothing strictly wrong with that, but towards the beginning, narrative devices are perhaps a bit too transparent, whereas towards the end plot progression slows down a bit. I believe it is an intentional decision though, meant to put the focus on Anohana's most emotionally impactful and narratively important moments by downplaying (time-wise) those that aren't that important, which makes sense given the overall length.
But perhaps Anohana's main flaw is how everything revolves very, very heavily around the grief over Menma's death. It almost defines the characters and drives the plot forward (ironically, this also means that Menma is actually one of the weakest characters out of the main cast as she isn't grieving over her own death, at least until she gets some more development). You could say that Anohana is a bit obsessed, perhaps, in delivering its message, and while generally it works for the reasons given above, it makes Anohana a bit hit or miss, in the sense that Anohana is definitely not for everyone. With how hard it leans on its central theme of grief, ultimately your enjoyment will rely on your ability to connect with the characters. If you can't connect to them, then Anohana is nothing short of pure melodrama that is just presented in a gorgeous manner. If you do connect with them, then Anohana is nothing short of a masterpiece.
And before you ask, no, I didn't cry while watching Anohana. But then again, I've never cried to any piece of media ever, so take that as you will. I definitely felt something intense while watching it, and I frequently found myself taking breaks mid-episode to process my emotions for a bit. In other words, Anohana is definitely a hit for me.
Veredict: 92/100. With some of the most natural character dynamics and with a profound exploration of grieving for a lost loved one, Anohana is a beautiful emotional journey. However, it is definitely flawed and can be very hit or miss. Personally, I loved it, but this may not extend to everyone.
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