Artistically, Your Lie in April was one of the most beautiful series I have ever seen. Not only does the series have art and its influence on people as its core content, but beyond that, the anime itself is grounded in beautiful poetry. Firstly, the inner monologues of the characters, where their emotions are expressed in images of nature, whether through a very vivid color metaphor (gray - colorful) that illustrates the mutual influence Kaori and Kousei had on each other, or through seasonal metaphors where Kousei's character journey is symbolized by the external season (coolness - warmth - cold). Secondly, through specific gestures of each character, which vividly portray their state of mind. For example, the piano tells Kousei's inner trauma, while Tsubaki's movements (running, walking, sitting, carrying and being carried, etc.) convey hers. I would even say that I fear a part of the poetry has inevitably been lost in translation, but it is still very dominant and beautifully spans the anime.

The narrative structure is very fascinating, where Kaori and Kousei are portrayed as two similar characters (musicians) who both see music as the voice of their hearts but suffer similar traumas, symbolized by the loss of their ability to play their instruments and thus express the voices of their hearts. However, they are complementary to each other and manage to pull each other out of their depression, giving them the courage and strength to follow their instruments and thus the voice of their hearts yet again. It is particularly well done that the process is not linear for either of them. Although Kousei manages to pick himself up, he falls back into depression before finally freeing himself from it, while Kaori falls into the exact same hole from which she pulled Kousei.

It becomes especially bittersweet with the dramatic ending, where I'm not sure how to categorize it: whether it's brilliant that Kousei doesn't get a happy ending but has to learn to live with the loss, or whether it takes agency away from Kaori because her character ultimately exists only to advance Kousei's internal journey. However, the plot resolves this well by expanding all supporting characters into independent figures with their own dreams and motivations, which trace back to Kousei. Yet, in the last episode, Kousei's monologue makes it clear that each of these characters has shaped him and helped him find his way in life. Thus, the reciprocal relationship between them is always preserved: Kousei influences his environment, but that environment also influences him. This aligns with the wonderful poetry of the entire work and underscores the lyrical qualities that make this series so special and heartwarming.

This was truly an incredible masterpiece and definitely one of the best things I have seen 2023.