True Tears might be best describe as a realistic yet melancholic romance anime. The motives of the characters are easy to understand, the reasons for their affections are clear, and in the end, the decisions they make are reasonable. In terms of feel it is probably most similar to Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish, A Silent Voice, Kids on the Slope, and From Me to You, though it may not be on the same level as those.

This is an anime which does what it sets out to do, without trying to do more. It develops the relationships between the main characters without trying for comedy, ecchi, or any other romance anime stereotypes. In fact, it is the pure focus on story and character development of this anime which is its strength. Through this, rather than delivering a predictable, needlessly drawn out story of first love, True Tears puts real emotions into the forefront and allows them to guide the story. At the same time, it doesn't unecessarily force the emotions on the viewer. Instead, the emotions and motives are often left to be inferred or discovered.

Unfortunately, the weaknesses of this anime come from the same place as its strengths. At times, perhaps because it is centered on emotion, the emotions lose their realism in favor of drama. Further, there are several missed opportunities to input more positive emotions, which might be helpful in further rounding out the characters. Additionally, because of its focus on the development of the plot and main characters, the supporting characters are sometimes treated simply as vehicles to advance the plot, while lacking development themselves.

What makes (~~or breaks~~) True Tears is its ending. Like the rest of the anime, it is not there to satisfy any stereotypes. The ending is presented simply as a realistic and emotional conclusion to a realistic and emotional anime. This commitment is the reason this anime is worth watching, but also the reason why many people either love or hate this anime. By following through with the character development and plot development to the end, it makes the whole anime feel meaningful, but it also creates a product which might be too realistic for some.

While this anime is certainly worth watching, what makes keeps it from being a masterpiece is its lack of memorability and rewatchability. The anime relies heavily on emotions and character development in a way that makes it lose its impact once you know what to expect. At the same time, the only part that is really memorable is the ending. Sure, the rest of the anime is necessary, but only to the extent that it sets up the ending. Overall this anime is a 7.4/10.