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!
