Anime Review! Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011)

 Hey Otaku Puppy Podcast listeners, it's jrockfreak here, and today I'm diving into a review of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. Now, this is one of those anime that's constantly recommended, praised for its emotional depth, and known for making even the toughest anime fans tear up. So, naturally, I had pretty high expectations going in.

The story centers around a group of childhood friends in Chichibu, Saitama, who are torn apart by the tragic death of Menma. Years later, we find the former leader of the group, Jinta, now a recluse, haunted by Menma's ghost. She needs help fulfilling a forgotten wish so she can finally move on. To do this, Jinta has to reunite his estranged friends, forcing them to confront their shared past and hidden feelings.

Now, before I get too deep, let me preface this by saying I'm a big advocate of the "three-episode rule." If an anime doesn't grab me by the third episode, I usually drop it. It's just too easy to get caught up in finishing a series out of obligation, even if you're not really enjoying it. And unfortunately, that's exactly what happened with Anohana.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate anything about it. The premise is intriguing, and the underlying themes of grief, friendship, and moving on are definitely there. However, the characters just weren't clicking with me. I struggled to connect with them on an emotional level, and the episodes felt somewhat bland.

I know, I know, Anohana is super highly-rated, and I can understand why people love it. The potential for a deeply moving story is definitely there. But for me, it just missed the mark. Maybe it was the pacing, maybe it was the character dynamics, but something just felt off.

The good news is, I watched the dubbed version, so I might revisit Anohana in the future and give it another try with the original Japanese audio and subtitles. Maybe a different viewing experience will change my perspective.

So, should you watch Anohana? Well, if you're looking for a potentially tear-jerking anime about friendship, loss, and second chances, it might be worth checking out. Just be prepared for a potentially slow burn. As for me, I'm putting it on the back burner for now.

That's it for my review of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. Let me know what you think in the comments, and until next time, happy anime watching!

Anime Review! Angel Beats (2010)

Anime Review! Angel Beats (2010)

 Alright, Jrockfreak here, back again with another anime review for the Otaku Puppy Podcast! This time, we're diving into the 2010 series, Angel Beats! Now, this is one of those shows that’s been lurking on my watchlist for ages, and I’m kicking myself for not checking it out sooner. Set in this bizarre high school in the afterlife, a sort of limbo for those who've had rough lives, Angel Beats! follows Otonashi, an amnesiac who stumbles into this rebel group called the Afterlife Battlefront, or SSS. They're led by the fiery Yuri, who's basically waging war against God for their crappy pasts. Their main target? The mysterious Angel, the student council president with crazy powers. It really does have some Suzumiya Haruhi vibes, which, for me, is never a bad thing. We get a pretty interesting cast of characters. Hinata the co-founder, Iwasawa from the Girls Dead Monster band, and the boisterous Yui. I enjoyed the cast so much, and it was very engaging.

The show does a great job of blending action with some surprisingly emotional moments. Otonashi's journey of rediscovering his memories while questioning the SSS’s actions, is really captivating. And, let's be real, Episode 10, "Goodbye Days," with Hinata's confession to Yui, that hit me right in the feels. It's a great example of the emotional depth this show can achieve. Now, I’ll admit, the middle of the series felt a bit inconsistent at times, like the pace faltered slightly. But man, the show really kicks it into high gear towards the end. The revelations about the true purpose of the afterlife, the shadow entities attacking, and Yuri's emotional breakthrough, it all works so well in bringing the story to a wonderful conclusion. The final goodbye scene between Otanashi and Kanade is so bittersweet that is had me all choked up. Overall, Angel Beats! is a fantastic watch. It’s not a total tearjerker like a Clannad, but it’ll definitely tug hard on your heartstrings. I felt it was an incredibly enjoyable anime, with loveable characters and a fascinating story. I think if you've not seen it before you should definitely add it to your watchlist!