Ranked #170

ef - a tale of memories.

Several love stories... they will make you cry. Definite recommendation.
Love. Tragedy. Sadness. And a happy ending. This show has all the basic ingredients that's needed to make me cry. . However, not all shows with those basic ingredients have done so. What made this show so special then?

I guess the characters, and the way they were portrayed. They were all struggling... struggling with their dreams. What to do. Who to be with. That was portrayed in such a way that I completely fell into it, with my entire mind. It was as if I was standing next to them, having to watch them struggle through their dreams and loves... forcing me to cry, both in the good and bad times they were experiencing. Also, the animation and the way the scenes were made was really beautiful and enjoyable. It was something I've never seen before, and normally I'd probably say that it was weird, I guess. But with this show... it just fit in so perfectly. The ending of this show was also something that was enjoyable. When I started watching the show, I'd never think about the ending it had, and I'd definitely not like the idea of such an ending. However, after having watched it, I msut say that it was indeed the perfect way to sum it all up. It couldn't have been done more beautifully, not the slightest inch better. Not at all.

This show is truly one of the best shows I've watched, and I think that anyone who enjoys a tear-jerking show will love this show. Fully and completely.

To 'Not Helpful' voters (and you 'Helpful' voters too): Feedback greatly appreciated =) read more

“Put your wishes into the memories you do not want to forget…”

Ef – a tale of memories is one of those anime that will probably stay in your memory and will be used as a standard to compare with other similar series in the future. Why in the future? Because the entire series is so beautifully made that there is only a very small handful of shows that are worth comparing it to at present time. In fact, as far as animation quality and technique are concerned Ef – a tale of memories is one of a kind and will most likely remain so for some time to come.

The unique animation style is first shown in the first OP. While colourful images and sceneries directly taken out from the anime itself often proved to be an effective foreshadowing device (and a good way to capture viewers attention), the exact opposite apparently also work! With a simple coloured background plus a bunch of text, and some occasional symbolic representation of certain character/event, the OP of Ef – a tale of memories can be quite addictive to watch. Aside from the OP, the anime itself is equally impressive (if not more impressive). Extremely high quality animation is just a standard for this show. What makes it truly unique are the camera angles used in difference scenes, or in some cases the very effective use of repetitive text on the screen. The former often give viewers a greater view of things and present some background of the setting, while the latter case, the simple words and phrases are enough to advance the plot and at the same time depicts the mental state of the characters.

Viewers will most likely find the beginning of Ef – a tale of memories hard to follow. This can be attributed to the introduction of most (if not all) of the primary casts in the first episode. However, it was necessary to introduce all the seemingly unrelated characters at once since the storyline focuses deeply on the various characters’ developments. It should also be pointed out that a few of the secondary characters will actually become the main characters of the sequel, Ef – a tale of melodies. Thus becoming familiar with the sideline characters now will serve as a good foundation for the sequel.

There are two parallel plots occurring simultaneously. The first involve a simple love triangle between a guy and two girls (somewhat similar to True Tears for those who have seen it), personally I did not find this plot particularly well written. However, the second plot is what makes Ef – a tale of memories shine like a bright star among numerous other anime of the same genre (it is also where the title of the anime came from!). The concept of the second story was designed to move ones’ heart. It was built around pity and sadness. It was written in a way such that viewers will unconsciously find the couple destined to be together, yet due to some circumstances, made it near impossible for them to stay together. Overall, the story and characters are there to evoke a mixed array of emotions from us, the viewers.

As previously mentioned, the entire show is beautifully executed. This includes the music as well. From the BGM in the prelude episode to the OP to the BGM throughout the series to the ending, they all fulfill their purpose very nicely and matches perfectly with the particularly scene at that particularly moment. Personally, it was the amazing OP (plus stunning animation from the OP) that caught my attention to this series. The music are largely composed by Tenmon who happened to be the music composer of other great shows such as 5 Centimeters per Second, Voices of a Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, et cetera.

Ef – a tale of memories is truly a great romance anime that all romance suckers should not miss. From unbelievably stunning animation to music to characters to story, there is hardly anything to complain about this show (aside from the lack of “big name” seiyu which some people care about). On the whole, Ef – a tale of memories is, without a doubt, one of the top romance anime of the decade. read more

Stumbling across Tale of Memories amongst the sea of eroge adaptations is akin to finding a piece of artwork rivaling the Mona Lisa in playboy. Something so rare that its likely to be met by skepticism by friends till they experience the most unlikely gem themselves.

The premise of Tale of Memories isn't exactly original. It details the story of two guys. One who helps a girl who can only remember events for 13 hours achieve her dream. The other who must get over his indecisive nature before his love triangle becomes School days (i.e, deadly). But then, the Mona Lisa is just a picture of some chick smiling. The devil is in the details, and Memories tells these stories so flawlessly that you'll likely experience the joy and despair that each character faces first hand.

The second half of episode 7, for example involved a girl whose phone calls went unanswered for a day. While this likely gets a standard 2 minute treatment of a girl acting moe is any other anime, memories combines astounding voice acting with unprecedented symbolic visuals to form a portrayal of mental breakdown so powerful that it'll likely send Chuck Norris into a stunned stupor. Given that I have already given Clannad 10 for animation, memories deserves at least 11.

The artwork in Memories is astounding. While most anime are content to simply use animation to show what is happening on the screen, Memories goes several steps further, playing with everything from color saturation, transparencies, to background abstraction and non-standard cropping to convey powerful emotions in every scene.

This attention to detail permeates through all aspects of the series. The minor differences between episodes in the OP, the sudden scenes without color, everything has a purpose. Memories is one of those rare shows that deserves a immediate rewatch, for it is a joy to notice all the meaningful details you missed the first time round.

Memories only weakness is that like any piece of serious art, it is not friendly towards casual viewers. The first episode, with its unique presentation, and multiple intertwining characters, is likely to confuse. However, anyone who watches past episode 3 will be awarded with one of the most powerful and moving series they'll likely to have ever watched.

Just like the Mona Lisa, Tale of Memories isn't for everyone. It is not light hearted, it is not a romantic comedy, but it is a work of art. While the series is easy to be ignored on first glance, the closer you look, the more impressed you will be. read more

ef - A Tales of Memories is a Psychological, Romance, Drama that may seem like all the other romance anime based of a visual novel (dating sim), yet there is something special about this one.

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The first episode of the series may seem pretty confusing and hard to follow, as the viewer is dragged, from one situation to another. However once you’ve grasped the concept, it quickly becomes clear that this series is made up of two separate, main stories. From then on the show becomes easy to follow and to enjoy, for its uniqueness. There are so many twists and turns that are able to turn any anime cliche into a work of art.

The characters are great and very well defined, as they all developed in their own way, throughout the story. You will have some that are involved in a tangled web of romance, others with their own psychological issues and one in particular that is suffering from an illness (which I must say, has never been portrayed so well in a long time). These characters are then able to show a mixed array of emotions and in turn, makes us viewers feel a mixed array of emotions whilst watching them.

The animation and music quality are one of the best points as it illustrates scenes in such a way that you’ll forget this anime was based of a visual novel (dating sim). This is just another one of the few SHAFT works that boast superb and somewhat unique artistic animation style and quality. The music is pretty amazing in its own way, with some really catchy OP and ED themes and during the show itself; there’s also a wide collection of piano and violin melodies.

Overall ef- A Tales of Memories proved to be a truly captivating romance anime that excelled, far above expectations. Having to go up against the mighty titan that is “Clannad”, this short anime series proved to be a worthy opponent. It’s a very enjoyable series to watch, as each episode brings forth an interesting development however some of these developments can make anyone feel slightly disturbed. But it's this that sets the anime series apart, from all else. If you have a soft spot for romance anime, then there is no chance you'll be disappointed with this work of art.

^_^ read more

I'm not quite sure how I should write this. More or less, this series had the potential to be either a grand slam or a game ending triple play. In fact, the first time I watched it I thought it was pretty bad. I dropped it after watching half of the second episode. However, I picked it back up on a whim and boy was I surprised. This epic drama is probably the perfection of Greek drama on top of the romantic expectations in this day and age. But here is a warning, ef - a tale of memories demands more of the viewer than the average drama does.

In most dramas, you can predict a lot of the things happening. There will be "X" love triangle, there will be "Y" incident, etc. In a sense, one of the two stores in ef -a tale of memories does that (the one reloving around Hirono). However, it is the other strand (the one revolving around Renji and Chihiro) that makes this drama. The complexity of their story will probably move you to tears (or close enough). Though it is an extraordinary situation, it hits home hard. Without Renji and Chihiro's quest, I doubt this anime would be any different than the scores of romances and dramas out there. It was their relationship that had me glued to the computer screen watching all of ef - a tale of memories. Of course, saying any more would reveal this wonderful plot.

The story line was great. Though it is confusing to start, once the story begins to reveal itself, it absorbs you and you want more and more of it. Some of it is predictable, some of it is a surprise, and some of it is predictable but still delivers the same blow as a surprise turn in the plot would.

The character art could leave a bit to be desired but overall, the creators used color transitions, black/white, different drawing styles, color overlays, etc. in a beautiful manner. I couldn't really ask more from a show than this.

Now the soundtrack wasn't the greatest in the world. It wasn't bad, it was good, but I felt that it had its ups and downs. There were times when it was right on cue and enhanced the scene. There were times when I thought that it worked but something different would have been much more effective.

The characters all start a bit confusing but their development is fun to watch and it is their development that enhances the story. They aren't a bunch of static or stereotypical characters. Each one fits his or her role perfectly and work amazingly with the plot.

I enjoyed ef - a tale of memories a lot. In fact, it is probably one of the best dramas I have ever seen. So I think its worth a try whether you are interested in this genre or were just looking for something to watch. read more

ef - a tale of memories had everything to be just another harem show adapted from an eroge. The season also brought the incredibly antecipated Clannad, so many wouldn't have given this show a second thought. However, the way such a simple story was developed is different from any other eroge adaptation that has seen the light of day so far.

The story isn't that original if you think about it. Dependable girls that simply need the protagonist, a dose of drama here and there. You're certain you've seen it all before until there were twists you weren't expecting. Somehow, the distant story feels all the more reachable, that it doesn't seem like just another story anymore. The hurt, the love, the helplessness, it is easier to connect to them than you'd have thought, and although the pacing may be a bit fast, you'll be caught thinking "Hey, if it were me, would I do diferently?"

The art is unique. Some may question it, say that it ruins the atmosphere of drama and turns it into another "SHAFT Freak Show". But that is not true. The colors are so vivid, it's like you're watching the emotions themselves. The facial expressions, the sky, the ocean. Everthing looks so bright and detailed, you wonder why no one thought about doing this before. Dark colors when the characters are down, shining colors when they're bursting with happiness. It's like a moving portrait. A work of ark.

The sound in ef is essential. Due to the eccentric art, there are times you can feel the tension rising through the background sound and the work of the seiyuus. The sound is sublime and as touching as the story itself. It's unpredictable and touching, and completely fitting for every situation. Each girl has their own theme, which show their hopes and fears. Not to mention the theme of the anime, Euphoric Field; even though it may have Engrish lyrics like so many others, it's shows completely what the show is about: hope.

The characters are more than they seem to be. What's most impressive about ef is how you can easily connect to the character's feelings. There are some flaws, yes, in the development. But the feelings are easy to connect and comprehend, the jealousy, the desperation, the love. The girls may be but princesses waiting for rescue, but their feelings can be dark and shadowed by real human flaws. And as each episode passes, you can see them grow, their emotions grow.

All in all, ef had everything to be 'just another show'. But between the two main stories, you're caught wanting more. It succeeds where many others have failed, at some times, being more touching than the big hit Clannad. But don't let the fact that it's a small series trick you. Have an open mind and embrace the emotional wreck that is ef. There are funny moments? Sure, why not. It's like the calm before the storm, and they lighten up the mood, almost trying to not prepare you for the worst. But ef is a drama series, and at that, it succeeds. And between all other 'drama' shows this season, it is the number one. read more

"Letting go of a bond that you have created will cause you the same pain as having your body torn apart."

Bonds and dreams- they are two of the things which connect human beings on a universal level. Humans are social creatures, they need bonds in order to keep on living, and they also need those bonds in order to strengthen their confidence in themselves when things do not seem to be going the way they wish them to go. Unfortunately, life works that way sometimes and as result, the bonds formed between lovers and even friends are at times necessary to remind us of who we are and that which we wish to become.

"Ef- A tale of memories", is an anime that showcases these ideas beautifully and in a way that is instantly relatable to the viewer who is watching it. These ideas are conveyed through the story, art, sound, and characters within the story.

Story- The story of "ef" follows a group of individuals and their relationships with one another. However, the story is different then a lot of other anime's because of the way in which it is told. For example, while in most anime's it is not surprising to see multiple relationships viewed from different perspectives, I find myself hard-pressed to find another show where it is as nicely done as it was in "ef". However, much of why the story was good has to do with the overall presentation of the show, since without it, the story would not have been nearly as outstanding as it was.

Art and Character development- Words cannot describe the importance of the art direction in "ef". It is the element which makes ef, well...ef. Interactions between characters take place in front of a backdrop that is constantly changing, seemingly reflecting the mental state of the characters as they interact, and often times the viewers thoughts as they are watching the scene. In addition, the incredible art direction seems to foster a deeper connection between the viewer and the characters within the story, a connection that is quite different then any other anime I have seen. The existential themes of the show are very much reflected in scenes where characters are left alone and given a chance to reveal their thoughts and feelings unabashedly- in such scenes, faces contort and change, and the color palettes of these scenes follow suit. It is truly an incredible thing to see.

Sound- The music in "ef", is just as effective in conveying the themes of the show as the art direction is. Music, like art, is an essential part of most peoples lives- much like dreams and bonds are- and the creators of ef did a great job in using this to their advantage, creating an almost unconscious connection between the show and viewers. For instance, in the real world there is a sound for every feeling, a music for every mood, and in ef these ideas are realized splendidly. To illustrate this, one need only look at scenes dealing with Chihiro and her dream world, since without the music that accompanied these scenes they would be nowhere near as effective, and let me tell you, anyone that has any emotional capacity whatsoever will know what I mean upon watching these scenes. Voice actors are also incredible in this series, doing their part in making ef's presentation a thing to see.

All that being said, I enjoyed this show very much and I don't think I have had as much of a connection with an anime as I did with ef. But it must be noted that the show needs to be watched multiple times since if it is only watched once, viewers will lose many of the subtle nuances that make ef the show that it is. In conclusion I give "ef- a tale of memories", a 10, and while I do realize that I did not say to much about the actual story of the show, I must say that it is something that needs to be experienced rather than simply read about. So what exactly are you waiting for? Watch it, I guarantee you that you will not regret it. read more

“Miracles don’t exist in this world. All that exists are accidents, inevitabilities and the actions that one takes.” - Yuu Himura
The actions taken by the characters make it a really gripping series to watch.

I couldn't focus watching this anime because it was hard to figure on what I should focus on; the artwork, or the plot itself. Whether you pick one or the other, or both, ef - a tale of memories is a great experience to watch.
Being a sucker for romance and drama, I knew I couldn't pass up on this.

Story: ef - a tale of memories gives you two stories in one. One story follows Renji Asou, meeting Chihiro Shindou near an abandoned train station. The other story tells about Hiro Hirono and his encounter with Miyako Miyamura. Both stories involve love, but what makes it different from your other romances is that it does not present the feeling of cliche. I'm not saying there is absolutely no cliche at all, but there is little to no cliche for the most part. Sure it's funny sometimes, but the drama is the one of the focal points of this series. Tearjerkers will be satisfied and the story in general was satisfying.
Rating: 9/10

Art: I could write a lot more about the animations if I wanted to, but I will try to keep it short as possible. It just speaks a story of its own. From the start, the animation and visuals are incredibly vivid and detailed, and provides a great presentation to the story. It portrays the character's feelings and thoughts well, and interprets normal situations into a dreamlike and surreal atmosphere. Out of all the anime that I have watched so far, this probably has the best animations that I have seen. Have you heard of putting your thoughts and feelings into words? Well ef puts the character's thoughts and feelings into art. This series looks like an artist's dream coming to life, and it makes up for some of the bad melodrama (which is why I gave the story rating a 9).
Rating: 10/10

Sound: The soundtrack joined with the visuals is like heaven. The OP's music combined with the visuals made it really fitting, and the EDs were nice to listen to as well. The background music sounds just as vivid as the animations (if you can even compare those two) and provide a really great mood throughout the series. The voices are pretty good as well. Oh, and Euphoric Night sounds so beautiful.
Rating: 9.5/10

Character: There are 4 main characters of this series: Renji Asou, Chihiro Shindou, Hiro Hirono, Miyako Miyamura, and you can consider Yuu Himura and Kei Shindou main characters as well. Both of the stories have a lot of development between each other (different stories, but two of them are sisters). The character development makes for an entertaining love triangle, and struggle with a relationship that seems impossible.
Rating: 9/10

Overall: I really enjoyed watching this series. All the elements combined made a masterpiece that everyone should give a chance. If you're a fan of good animation, romance, drama, looking for something memorable to watch, or all of the above, then this series is for you.

Overall Rating: 10 read more

I recently watched this series after I saw some recommendations about it when surfing the Kimi ga Nozomu eien page. Did it live up to my expectations ? Well, let's see....

Story

First off, please don’t let the first episode turn you away especially if you never looked at summaries or played the games. I admit that I was confused after watching the first episode. After the first 3 episodes, it should be smooth.
Aside from this, the story is excellent. For a 12 episodes anime, the character development is great. By the end, you pretty much know all of the main characters, their past and why they act in such a way.
The ending is satisfactory although it leaves plenty of intrigue for another season to happen. Also, it certainly has a great replay value.
Lots of things will make a lot more sense when I re-watch it. For example, the way some scenes were edited, the texts and words that come before some scenes and even during the opening songs, the different ending songs all have significance. I still haven’t figured out everything since it was my first viewing but it will be fun to re-watch with another perspective.

Art

Picture perfect. The characters are well drawn and mostly colourful. The places and backgrounds feel real.

Music

The music fits the series well. From the prologue to opening song, the multiple ending songs and the dramatic moments.. It really adds to the story. Great soundtrack.

Characters

Like I previously said, the character development for such a short series is tremendous. You really feel like you know the main characters by the end. They made sure to show some flashes of their past throughout the series so you can get a better understanding of the way they’re acting. They all had some kind of trauma in their past that prevents them from doing something or making the right choices.
I would have loved to see more from some of the supporting characters like Yu and Yuko. Even if they were not well developed, you get a feel that there’s more to them than meets the eye.

Enjoyment

I enjoyed the series and I’m definitely going to re-watch it . If you like a short series that has some drama , romance, great characters , excellent music and great art, this is for you!!

Overall

I gave it a eight. For most parts, it lived to my expectations. However, the thing that prevents me from giving it a higher mark was because I just felt it peaked at episode 11. The ending was good but I found myself on the edge of my seat at episode 11 not so much at episode 12. Aside from that, great series and I’ll be waiting for another season.
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Pursuing happiness, seeking love and acknowledgment, chasing dreams, and all being led with the faint whisper of hope, Ef is one of the most emotionally powerfully pieces of art out there. Redefining how animation can be emotionally jarring to all the senses, Ef illustrates how anime can really be more than just a show; it's an art. For those who enjoy heart-wrenching drama and heart-warming romance, this is a story you do not want to miss.

Ef is not like any other anime you have ever experienced. Instead of watching what the main characters go through from an stranger's third eye, you experience the emotions as if you were there and a part of them. To be able to see the emotions of pain, hear the echoes of loneliness, and feel your stomach turn and throat tighten up feeling your hope slip away, the art and the music, together, play such a powerful melody that you can't help but get chills from the effect.

Aside from the novelty of the graphical art and audio, the character development and story progression itself makes this anime worth watching. The tale of three separate love stories loosely tied in relation and theme. Each character is dynamic in their own way with their own hopes, dreams, and fears. They seem so real that you can step into their shoes and understand them from the inside out. Fictional characters? Maybe. But the emotions you feel watching them, those are real.

I love this anime and enjoyed every second watching it. The experience is just too hard to describe. It's just a really powerfully piece that you just have to watch to understand. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys dramas. It will make you cry; I guarantee it.

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This is my first review and I would like to apologize for any incorrect grammar.

First of all, I have seen the whole series twice: once before reading the visual novel and once afterwards.

Story: 9
The story is great. Although it could be confusing as it is a story that consists of two stories from the point of view of different characters. Each characters shows their own struggles in life and how love can help each character live through their pain. I gave this a 9, whilst I very much enjoyed the ending between Chihiro and Renji, to the point that I actually preferred over to the Renji/Chihiro ending in the visual novel, however as a consequence they did not concentrated as much on the relationship between Kei and Kyousuke.

Art: 8
While I do very much enjoy the animation done by Shaft as their style of animation is very twisting, you would know what I mean if you have seen their over works such as Bakemonogatari and Maria Holic.
I gave this an 9 rather than 10 probably due to my biased opinion of comparing with the animation within the visual novel. (Which i believe Shaft was also involved to an extent). However with Shaft's animation style it brings serveral different tones effectively.

Sound: 9
I have enjoyed the music very much, particularly the ending song used in episode final episode of the series 'Yuukyuu no Tsubase 07mix' as this song was used as the opening in the first part of the visual novel.

Characters: 9
After watching the series a second time, i liked the fact that they have brought in the original voice actors that was used in the game, I thought that it showed consistency as an adaption is aimed to bring the same feel to the original material to an extent.

Overall, as an adaption, it was beautifully executed. At times I feel that some parts of the story was superior to it's original material, mainly the Chihiro/Renji section. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance/drama titles read more

I decided to watch this anime after watching some AMVs. I've always despised the art style of this anime (big heads, pentagonal faces and skinny characters don't really appeal me), but the animation was gorgeous, which motivated me.

Story: 5.
The story doesn't pick up until episode 5. I almost dropped watching it because it's boring at first, but it does get better as it goes, and since it's actually a short anime, I recommend watching it all. This anime could be divided in three stories. Sadly, aside from Renji and Chihiro's part, the story is very poor. If you're looking for a more complex, mind blowing story, I recomend not watching this. While I love drama and I respect the director's decision to stage it in a unique way, some of the most dramatic parts in this anime are laughable, Like when Chihiro falls at the beach and Renji reaches out for her, or when Renji breaks down in later episodes.

Art: 6.
Here I devide it in two, visual style and animation. For visual style: 3, animation: 9. As I said before, I'm not fond of deformed characters, with extremely huge heads (like Miyamura's), but it's not for me to state my personal preferences in this review. I really like how a lot of the scenes in this anime look like vectors moving, it was really original and it's what I like the most about this anime (the opening itself is a very good example of it).

Sound: 10.
I have nothing to say here. It's really good from the very beginning to the very end. All songs are brilliant and it blends in magically. "Euphoric Field" is something you'll want to put in your iPod right away.

Character: 8.
For a 12-episode anime, the characters develop pretty well, each following their own pace. Most notably are Kei and Chihiro. Miyako also changes a bit at the end, but overall, she's your tipical annoying, childish girl.

Enjoyment: 7.
This anime has a very serious problem: you'll find youserlf glued to the screen at some point while watching it (episode 11 speaks for itself), but at other parts you'll just yawn and think about dropping watching it (like when Miyako calls Hiro in episode 7 and 10).

Overall: 6.
It could've been better written, but it wasn't a waste of time watching it. I'm still in love with it's animation and vector-like style (can I call this 4 wall breakage? I really enjoy that. Google it if you don't know what it means). It's not an anime I'd recommend to others, but if people asked me if it's worth watching it or not, I'd simply say: It's good. read more

ef - a tale of memories is another brilliant work produced by Shaft, responsible for Negima!?, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, and Hidamari Sketch. Based on the visual novel of the same name, ef is split into two different storylines told simultaneously across 12 episodes. As it being a romance story, you can expect many cliches, but this is definitely one of those anime that molds all of that into a brilliant plot.

Story: The plot is split between two stories, both told simultaneously throughout the show. It follows through different scenes of melodrama, emotional distress, and many touching scenes. The plot is slightly slow for the first two or three episodes but picks up to an amazing finale.

Art: Shaft's presence is definitely noted in this show as well as their other works. The art designs are actually not at all that great but due to Shaft and their experimental style, it generates a beautiful environment and colorful characters. The colors are vibrant and ever changing, fitting in with the flow of mood changes throughout the show.

Sound: The music in this show is simply outstanding. The music is produced by Tenmon, also responsible for the music in Makoto Shinkai's movies (5 Centimeters per Second, etc). The music fits perfectly with the scene and changes at a dime's notice for even more well executed dramatic effect. The soundtrack is definitely one to be picked up.

Characters: The characters here are full of personality. At times you can feel you can connect to them in different ways and at other times, you'd might even hate them. The characters are not exactly the most original created, but they definitely fulfill their roles in an amazing way.

Enjoyment/Overall: I am personally not a big fan of serious romance drama so I gave it an 8 for Enjoyment. Even so, the story and style was extremely done well. The show just completely oozes of romance and it certainly delivers. A definite choice for a romance drama for those in search for one. read more

Another review from: Erisu! Don't be mad because I didn't stopped writing my f*cked up reviews, I only do it for the fun, if you like them, thank you very much, if you hate them then you shouldn't read them at all, whaha! =D

Story
If there is an anime with a good story, then it's Ef - A Tale Of Memories. I saw alot of 'drama' animes but I think Ef - A Tale Of Memories is the best so far. At the beginning, you won't understand the story, neither did I. But don't stop after the first episode, it's really gonna get much better and you'll understand the situation! This is a story where you really could cry about.. If you like drama and romance you'll just gonna love this, wait and see.

Art
The art of Ef - A Tale Of Memories is a very big pluspoint! This anime has a very unique art that's well made. In some scenes something changes, I don't really know how to explain this because I'm dutch, just watch it for yourself. But I never seen something like this before, like I said, it's just unique. Maybe I'll see this as the anime with the best art from 2007, maybe also the best story.

Sound
It's hard to say something about this. The songs are awesome, the sound is how it needs to be, and that's everything I can say. But I'm sure that the sound isn't the most important thing for watching a anime.

Characters
The characters of this anime are also unique. Each of them has their own story, something that I love. Miyako, Chihiro, Renji, Hiro and the rest are just awesome. BUT the character that I really hate is Kei, who does she think she is?! I'd seen alot of people who also hate her and I can understand, you also will if you watch it. I NEVER saw a character who is so selfish as Kei, I really can't stand the fact why she is in such a good anime. But she doesn't messes it up for me because I'm sure that she's gonna lose and I can't wait to see that! I love every character but just not Kei, you're my friend if you think the same, haha! =D

Enjoyment
If you want comedy, then you're at the wrong place. I don't think that this is supossed to be funny, even though every anime has their funny moments. But this is really a drama/romance, mostly drama I think, so if you're not a drama-type at all, don't watch this. I'd warn you! Back at the good part: If you LOVE drama then this is a MUST see anime! I really enjoy this with all my animeheart! =D Let's get our handkerchiefs ready for the rest of this anime!

Overall
I couldn't help my myself.. I give it a 10! Some people will call me crazy because maybe they're not into drama, well get out of here! This is my review, muwhaha. All the people who want to watch this now: I wish you a great time watching this awesome anime! <3

Review writen by: Erisu

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“There are only inevitabilities and accidents in the world and what you’re going to do, but nothing will happen if you only wish for it however wishing is the first step to achieving your dream!!”

I'm pretty sure many people has comes across this line at least once when a decision had to be made that determine which path to take, “I have no idea on what I want to do!" and that the things you are doing presently aren't exactly fulfilling what really you want. You are only doing them to fulfill other people's expectations of you!

This story is a very exquisite piece of work that comes across with a philosophical message. People behave very differently and they constantly changing their mind depending on their experiences or memories. Decisions aren’t easy things to initiate because no one can account for what will be in store for them in their future. This story shows the perspective of 3 selected male individuals deciding on what they should do when a serious decision needed to be made. However what they do share in common is that they all feel that something is missing in their lives and this story shows how they find this missing piece when they each encounter the female protagonists. However not everyone can adapt to the sudden changes in ones environment, thus having mental breakdowns/ despair on what they should do next. The art style and sequence of colors and frames really capture the emotions of the character during each scene. The artist also incorporates various sceneries using them as motifs and messages. I find that point shine the most in the entire anime.

The artwork is very comely, the art styles of each character are drawn in very easy on the eyes, and no characters were exaggerated. The colors especially gave the most tone to each character’s story(s). Sometime it varies in color mixed with abstract symbols and sketches which defines the mood of the characters. Like sometime it goes black and white to create a lonesome/ troubling effect and immediately fill with colors when their mood changes. Like yellow for happy and blue for sad.
The music inserted really emphasizes or deepen the mood/feeling of the situation and I find it very captivating.

Honestly, the structure of this story is placed very nicely, like how they incorporate 3 main protagonists with their own princess that they need to save really change the audience’s viewpoint. Each protagonist has their situation, each more devastating than the next, however they are linked on the message that all three different story contributed to.
This anime is a tragic, sad yet very beautiful piece. To be honest this is my 3rd time re-watching it and I still like it. I highly recommend this anime to the anime fan who love a good romantic drama. Hope you enjoy it!!


“Put your memories into wishes you don’t want to forget”

~Later


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When I was recommended ef - a tale of memories, I was not expecting much since it looked like another romance/drama show, and in the end it was, but it was not just like any other series out there...this one felt a little unique in its own way. Mostly because of how everything was delievered.

Story: This anime is mainly divided by two main stories happening simultaneously. Most of the episodes would focus half of its airtime to one story and they switch to the other one. IMO this didnt bother me but it does kill some momentum if there is something important going on. This story is really powerful and has some really shocking, sad and happy moments as well. I'll be honest and say that I favoured Hirono's story more than Renji's even if Renji's was filled with more tragedy while Hirono's had more drama, and that I also didnt really get into this story until after ep 7.

Art: I mentioned episode 7 because the last minutes of that episode have been one of the most breathtaking, unique, and even scary moments I've seen in any anime...the way the 99 messages where displayed was REALLY powerful and it would leave anyone with their jaws open. Now that I've mentioned that I can say that I'm giving this score to the art but not because of character animation but because of the scenery and the backgrounds. Also this show felt like watching an abstract piece of art in a way, with the way they would invert the backgrounds or even deliver some of the content, an example would be having 3 different ED songs and it would change between the 3 almost every episode, same goes with showed the OP for the first time AFTER then end of ep 2, and ep 12 when the OP was indeed changed with the JAPANESE version of the song...this is IMO the show's best feature.

Sound: I dont have much to say about the sound, other than they really made a great job on using the correct sounds at the correct moments. So in the end this score is mostly about not how good it is but how good it was used

Characters: I never really got attached to any character in the show but every character was really well developed along the conflicts and their reactions seemed to fit their looks perfectly. Chihiro was IMO the best developed character in this show.

Enjoyment: I dont have much to say, this show was really good and i found it quite unique.

Overall this is one of the better drama/romance shows out there and should definitely give it a try since I'm sure you will get amazed at the way this show delivers It's story.

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Ef - a tale of memories is not so much a romance. Take all the dialogue from ef and put it into a song. The result would not sound much like a love song. Ef is a capturing of moments, each moment given just the right amount of time and attention to maximise their effect on the viewer. When we remember such moments, they become memories. Ef is not a love story about the guy getting the girl or the girl getting the guy, but about finding one’s identity and belonging in the world. Ef has something to say, and it really speaks to us and it speaks from the heart, but what it says is nothing complicated. Ef tells a very simple story, one that does not melt your heart but one that offers to heal a well-worn and wounded heart, and it’s this simplicity that’s so emotionally evocative.

We are presented with very simple characters who suffer from very real and simple problems. That is what makes ef’s characters so easy to relate to. These are people who run away because they are afraid of being hurt, who want to become free from rules that restrict the choices in their life and who are unsure of who they are or where they belong. These are characters who take life seriously and are in no way foreign to us (even though they all speak Japanese and make bentos and stuff).

One guy is a student who wants to pursue his dream but also has to deal with school. What he wants to do is not accepted by neither his parent nor his childhood friend. That friend tells him he needs to focus more on his studies and wants him to change as a person. While one girl remains true to herself, and loves and accepts him for being exactly the way that he is, while also seeking to be accepted for being exactly the way that she is.

Is it possible for him to be many things or does he have to sacrifice certain aspects of his identity in order pursue what he really wants to do? Can he be loved for who he is or does he have to change so that others will love him? Is okay for him to belong to many people who have varying degrees of love for him or does he have to choose to belong to only one who loves him dearly?

Another guy is unsure of what he wants to do for the rest of his life. Is school what's important? What of those who are unable to go to school?

Another girl is a different person each day. She may have an uncommon medical condition, but like many others, she's just 'different' and finds it hard to fit in. If she is not ever the same person, then who or what do the people who claim to love her really love? Can she even love herself? If so, who is she loving and who is the lover? What is it that even makes her who she is?

These are some of the questions ef tries to answer and its the satisfying resolution of all the problems faced by the characters that makes ef so great. The characters are finally able to find a sense of belonging in their world. However, that is not the end of their story, but only the beginning - the beginning of lots of happy times ahead. We are happy for this beginning.

But, just like getting to know someone for the first time, we are strangers to ef’s characters for the first few episodes and, as the story progresses, we come to understand them more and more. Everything they say and do all makes sense. We totally get them. By the end, we establish such a deep understanding of them that we are able to be their closest of friends.

Even ef’s unconventional use of art and animation is simple. It does not matter whether or not the art and animation is good or bad as long as it is used correctly, and ef makes use of all the right animation techniques for every scene. Some scenes have very limited to no animation which emphasise sound and voices to maximise the intensity of what we hear. Another scene has only a small silhouette in front of a red background to let body language do most of the work. One scene of nothing but silhouettes alone is capable of emotionally moving you.

Our understanding of the characters is enhanced by the music and visuals. Sometimes, what we see and hear are like the strong emotions of the characters, themselves. Other times, we are presented with excellent use of visual metaphors. Ef uses its sound and visuals to set just the right mood for every scene. Although we are often unconscious of the feelings we feel as we watch, that’s okay because feelings are meant to be felt, not thought about. While we subconsciously feel exactly what ef wants us to feel, we still do not forget that we are watching a story unfolding.

Ef is not really a piece of art, although it is art. Any anime is a form of art. Ef is a simple story told very well and presented with an unconventional visual style. The end result is not perfect - nothing is ever perfect (not that perfect is any good). But it succeeds at what it does - delivering strong messages and conveying poignant feelings - and that is what matters. Some of the decisions ef has made to express itself may be questionable, but I think its made all the right choices. Ef has stayed true to itself from start to finish, and that is its greatest accomplishment.

Like someone confessing their love, ef conveys its feelings to you and waits for your response. Will you accept those feelings or will you say “No.”? It is you who makes that choice, but ef will never change and will always be waiting. It does not force you accept it for who it is, but it is futile to try and talk to ef, because it does not care about what you think. Ef is selfish like that. read more

If you expected me to hate this, then just read the rest of my review.


Story~
It isn't divided into separate arcs, but rather, the two stories blended together with each other. The first plot, which is pretty much your average love triangle-- just that. Average. Though the way they executed it and the way the characters developed was at least a refreshing love triangle, compared to all the other crappy ones I've been watching. It really irritated me in some parts, but for the most part it was better than your cliche love triangle. The second plot that blended in with it was another matter ENTIRELY. It was so beautiful in every form that I really found no fault at all with it. It's been a while since I've seen such a dramatic romance that I've actually enjoyed. Some people in anime have disabilities, which makes a romance difficult. But this disability was one I've never seen before. Maybe I haven't watched enough romance, but this was beautifully unique, and perfectly dramatic. I liked it so much more than the other plot. In fact, if it didn't have the second plot in here, this anime would have only gotten a 6 or 7 maximum.


Art~
The style itself seems somewhat cliche-- the big shoujo eyes and shiny hair. But the way it moved so smoothly was amazing-- but the camera angles and different styles they approached were gorgeously refreshing. They'd take a black background and draw the character's image into it, then fill it with something in the background, like the ocean waves or the sky, or anything else. It very much fit the mood when it needed to, and never detracted from the feeling. Text is constantly popping up on the screen, in a sort of way to portray what's going on in the character's head, or even just foreshadowing something. It's all very enthralling and well-written.


Sound~
Most of the time, I noticed the sound. Granted, some of it was a very cliche style for romance anime, but other pieces were just so beautiful that I couldn't help but notice them playing. Some of it was simple instruments to cast a spotlight on the mood, while others had just a slight voice in the background. The opening song was a rather interesting one, and did a good job at portraying the characters all in their unique ways. It's hard to explain. And... Well... I was so excited to move on to the next episode that I never listened to the ending song, so... Anyway, voice acting. Each character was brought out perfectly, and their voice actors did a good job when it was needed. They started out filling a sort of cliche-sounding character, but delved much deeper into it when it was good for the series. It was all very nice.


Character~
Oh my. The characters from the first plot seemed like your typical shoujo characters, but were later fleshed out. They all had their own unique quirks, I suppose, but they started out too cliche for my liking. Even though they were fleshed out, some remained more on the average side than the unique one. Overall, they were still good characters, and made for an entertaining(ish) love triangle. The characters of the second plot started out the same, seemingly (sort of) cliche, but with their unique quirks. They were a bit fleshed out, but for the most part they grew and developed beautifully and dramatically. Chihiro's development was rather dark and depressing, but I suppose it all ended well. Renji's development was sort of based around Chihiro, bit even through all his confusion and conflicting feelings, he stayed himself. It was all very interesting, but sure depressed me...


All in all, I'd recommend this anime with pride to any romance/shoujo freak. It really is one of the gems in its genre, and I'm simply delighted I stumbled upon it. The overall confusing and seemingly tossed around plot may turn some people off, but I stuck with it since I could only hope it would end somewhat decently. My expectations were exceeded, and I'm just delighted I found this.

It's definitely one of the best romance I've seen, and though it is refreshing, it's not calming by any means, since I did find it rather dark and depressing-- but there wasn't anything wrong with that. No, the drama was gorgeous, and every moment kept me enthralled.

I'd definitely pass on this title to almost anyone. read more

ef- a tale of memories is a slice of art masquerading as an inspiring, emotionally-charged anime that asks us to fight for our dreams, take charge of opportunities, and to break free of the proverbial ``chains`` that bind us.

In this review I'm attempting to go for a somewhat more "minimalist" feel which will hopefully appeal to those who want straight, fast, hard-hitting investigative reviewing.

Quick synopsis:

"Do you have any memories you don't want to forget?"

ef- a tale of memories is an arresting story which follows our main characters as they each struggle with the discovery and procurement of their most treasured dreams. Depending on how one counts, there are no less than SIX (6) main characters (Alternatively, one or two of those can be argued as more minor for the count to be dropped to 4 or 5); their adventures are chronicled in the space of 12 highly-acclaimed episodes.

Breakdown of this anime:

Art: 5/5
+ Unconventional usage of perspective and colouration adds heaps to an extremely well-drawn set.
+ Lighting effects are used to great advantage here.
+ Particle effects and mesmerizing skies, water take the art from beautiful to extraordinary.
+ CG and drawn animations add to the depth of the art.

Story: 4.75/5
+ The story is impressive and includes a colourful cast of characters with all sorts of haunted pasts and character "flaws".
+ Well paced, with each episode opening and closing parts of the past or the present.
+ Any show that attempts to fit six interconnecting character arcs in a 12 ep series is laudable; this series manages to do this without any noticeable discomfort.
+ Underlying symbolism abounds, with references to connectedness and "breaking free" artfully executed throughout.
- The few minor charcters are not really explored, instead giving occasional cameos.

Sounds: 4.5/5
+ Soundtrack is well executed, being used at the right times for the majority of the show.
+Sound effects are realistic, from the clasping of a bag to the wind.
+ Japanese voice acting is right-on.
+ Euphoric Field by Tenmon and ELISA was a fantastic piece for the OP's. I prefer the Japanese version (OP2), but both versions really fit the anime.
+ Both OP's and all ED's are well made in general.
- Music in some instances was slightly overplayed.

In conclusion, ef- a tale of memories sets a new standard for any modern love-romance anime hoping to compete in a crowded market of mediocrity. Combining a revolutionary CG/ drawn/ SFX style with a heartwarming, emotional, and empowering story, ef manages to stand head and shoulders above competing love-romance titles.

I watched this in 720p, and if you can find this title on Blu-Ray I highly recommend it, as the incredible aesthetics are best viewed and can be fully appreciated in HD.

In mentioning that this series sets a new standard, I say so because I truly hope that other series producers can capture the beauty and style reflected in this title, innovate a bit, and port it to other stories.

"Put your wishes into the memories you do not want to forget..."

9.5/10 read more

I loved this anime very much. It is extremely emotional and very well written. First of all, this was NOT a typical romance/love triangle anime.

Story:
The story is very well thought out. It can be confusing at times, but is quickly cleared up. It is full of surprises, morals and everything a fan of anime would love to see. Its split into two parts with two stories following extraordinary events (damn, sometimes i wish i was him.) and is set in the same place. I believe that the time of the stories were different, however, it is plain to see if you watch this series which i highly recommend. Despite the switching between the two "stories", it flowed extremely well with each other. A climatic event may be coming up soon, but it suddenly switches. This was perhaps, the only flaw that i found in the story. To me, this bother was so miniscule that it didn't impact my viewing experience in anyway. Hirono, the manga artist, had an awkward love triangle story going on, which brought frustration. Despite this, it is highly amusing and intriguing to watch. Renji's story was different; it brought depression and sadness. Metaphors are used EXTREMELY effectively in this story. Together, the series is overflowing with human-problems that it seems like it will be difficult to conclude the series in an effective way. This was quite the opposite. Through the drama, frustration, sadness, romance and jealous, the story concluded shockingly well. One of the best I've seen. Many shows try to incorporate many different themes, but have failed. This is one that succeeded.

Art:
The art is beautiful. The scenery (sunsets, beaches, etc) was gorgeous. The desperation shown by one of the characters was amazingly portrayed. The last few minutes of that episode was so nervewracking (in a good way) and was shown with a fading screen. Very powerful. The opening scenes during the theme songs were very colorful and bright. It was very pleasing to the eye. The characters were also very well designed and colored.

Sound:
The sound? I guess i could say the sounds were used effectively. When doors slam shut, all you here is the slamming; there is no useless background noise. Also, to emphasize the sounds, the screen fades to black so you can focus.

Character:
The character development was very good. I fell in love with many of the characters, but that is just me. Piece by piece the information concerning each of the characters comes. By the end, you will know everything about each of the characters. Development was great, we knew what we needed to know about the characters in order understand what was going on and why it was occuring at that specific time. Each of the characters were unique, there was no character that acted the same way another character did. Chihiro was my favorite character because her past seems so clouded and mysterious, i got hooked. Her 13 hour amnesia makes room for a hugeee character development. There are so many things that could result of this one small detail. Also, the art of the characters are very good.

Enjoyment:
Ah, how do i describe this. You are presented with morals and things you can do in reality to make your life better. Never give up, follow your dreams, yeah yeah sounds repetitive. Wrong. Instead of mindless nonsense, characters state their respective problems, then pursue them to correct them. I enjoyed the series very much also because of the story. It never lost my interest. It is one-of-a-kind. How often do you watch a accident-victim who can only remember 13 hours of memories?

Overall:
As previously stated, it is very unique, effectively incorporates romance, sadness, happiness, frustration, jealous and morals. The art was amazing, story was topnotch, characters were lovable and most importantly, the ending was so well done, i don't think i've watched any anime that concluded such a perplexing storyline so well in 12 episodes.

Being able to watch how a character reacts in a love triangle can be very informative, and funny at the same time. This is one of the best drama/romance/slice-of-life shows i have ever seen, so i highly recommend you watch it. It sure is a tear-jerker and this is one i will not forget in 13 hours. ;) read more