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Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Through Rose-Tinted Glasses
Series in a Sentence
Yadomi Jinta, the former leader of a childhood friend group called the Super Peace Busters, sets out to fulfill the last wish of Menma, a former member of the Super Peace Busters who is now a ghost that only Jinta can see.
What I liked
There is something about the style that Anohana has that just appeals to me, and this goes beyond just the character designs. Yes, I like the character designs and yes, I like the variety of characters, but what I’m talking about is how the whole series presents itself. For example, the way that we see just enough flashback scenes without them being overbearing, but still allowing us to marvel and wonder when presented with character growth, was executed in a great way. In a similar way, the way that the show was able to give each character a time to shine despite its short episode-count was a feat that many series fail to pull off. Piggybacking off of that, the way that each character grew during their own arcs despite truncated times in the spotlight made the introduction, and subsequent appearances, of each character interesting. This growth, coupled with looks into the past-times enjoyed by the main cast and the flashbacks to when they were kids, made the world feel more alive and made events feel more impactful while also giving off the feeling of nostalgia.
What I Didn’t Like
My main criticism of this show is really not about the show itself as much as it is about the way that people remember it. This show undoubtedly has its feels-filled moments BUT, having rewatched it many times and rather recently, I can confidently say that some people that sing praises of it being “the saddest anime ever to exist” are looking at the show through the good old lens of nostalgia. I am guilty of this too, as I have sworn up and down that the series is extremely sad, but perhaps that was because my memories of the show were from when I was younger. Looking at the show now, rather than being sad I feel uplifted at the sight of characters coming back together to overcome grief and trauma while reigniting old and worn bonds. At a time I might have viewed this purely as a sad show, but having more experience in life it is clear that this is not the case. I challenge anyone who hasn’t watched it in a long time to rewatch it now, and look beyond what is on the surface. Let me step off of my soapbox now for some wrap up criticisms: the show was a bit short, characters could have been given a bit more time to develop, and the ending feels complete yet more open than I would have liked.
Overall Feelings
Anohana is without a doubt a good show. It has characters that are always growing, it emulates the feel of being a part of a friend group, and it has its moments that really hit home emotionally. However, it is also a victim of years and years of hype. Pegged as one of the saddest series to watch, I have witnessed many people go in expecting insane tearjerkers only to come out underwhelmed. Again, this show is not bad by any sense of the word: It is merely a show that many people express feelings about based upon warped memories. Should you watch this show? I would say yes. However, you should not expect the “saddest anime series ever” and you should instead temper your expectations. This is, after all, an 11-episode series that tries to cram the development of 6 main characters into its plot. That being said, as I’ve been repeating here, watch it and enjoy it but don’t let the hype ruin it. Rose-tinted glasses can make good things look even better in the mind’s eye.