Ranked #146

Kimi ni Todoke

Only rarely does a series break the mold its genre has cast for it and even more uncommonly does it set itself apart from all others. Such is the case with Kimi ni Todake. It takes all the classic shoujo romance stereotypes and plot devices and flips them on its head leaving us with a thoroughly rewarding and groundbreaking romance.

At first, Kimi ni Todake drew me in before I saw its first frame of film with its story concept. Our heroine is Sawako, a sweet and gentle girl with an awkward personality and an uncanny resemblance to Sadako from The Ring. Desperately wanting others to understand her she is instead shunned and feared by her classmates. This all changes when she meets a boy named Kazehaya who is the first to truly see her and slowly she begins to draw herself out of her shell. The remaining story is one of self discovery as Sawako experiences the first feelings of love and friendship she has ever felt. While her situation is a bit contrived and not overly realistic, the way it is presented is so wonderfully sweet and beautiful that it is impossible not to love.

I firmly believe that in order to really fully appreciate just how special Kimi ni Todake is, you have to already be a veteran of at least a dozen or more of its shoujo peers. There are none of the usual tired clichés. Sawako isn’t the plain and perky heroine determined to get a man to fall for her who ignores her or treats her horribly. She isn’t out for revenge nor is she being pursued by a harem of bishounens with a desperate struggle to choose between them. Kazehaya isn’t a dick, for lack of a better term. He’s a guy who will be loved by viewers not because he’s hot, but because he’s just a really nice guy any girl would want to fall in love with and guys would want as a friend.

The feelings and situations presented to us are real and powerful but not in an overly dramatic way. Nobody has torturous family lives or tragic pasts or other situations that always feel forced in a way to create drama that could be better achieved with fantastic characters and storytelling. The concepts are simple, the pacing slow, and full of the required blushes and aw shucks moments. Much like its soft artwork and color palette, Kimi ni Todake is the kind of show you will sit back and relax too, forgetting about all the problems of your day.

This is not to say that it doesn’t have its faults. While just about every aspect of the series was wonderful to behold, the series already slow pace comes to an even greater crawl over the last 8-10 episodes. While I still enjoyed them immensely, I suspect some viewers will likely begin to lose patience at the lack of progress or action in the story. And while perhaps we are also being setup for a continuation at some point, since the manga is still ongoing, the ending was also not particularly ideal.

Sawako herself goes down as one of my all-time favorite characters. She is so completely earnest and innocent that she is impossible not to love. While her character concept is initially not all that unique she becomes so much more than just a socially awkward, shy, and moe girl. Everyone can find something to relate with her over and from a character development standpoint, the person she becomes by the end of the series is so remarkably different from her beginning that it’s truly amazing. Yet despite this enormous change she never deep down changes from what she really is at her core. Her closing monologue at the end of the show is a prime example of just how much she has grown.

Kazehaya is a rare breed for a romance series. First he is the one and only love interest. No reverse harems of bishies here to waste story time or antagonize the heroine. He is also unique in that outside series such as Kanon or Clannad, he is one of the only leads that looks and feels like a real person. He is never made out to be a caricature of the fantasies and dreams of young girls. He is not super wealthy, nor is he a famous athlete, or come from a notorious family. Sure he is really good looking, popular with the girls and the guys, and good at baseball but you never feel like these are things that he didn’t earn with his own merits. Unlike most of his anime contemporaries who have abrasive or aloof personalities but are still enormously popular because well they are supposed to be. They’re perfect men after all! His personality is the kind that draws people to him and his popularity is not just because he’s handsome. People like him because he's nice to them. What a novel idea!

While on the surface, Kazehaya and Sawako seem to be completely different people, deep down they both share the same confusing emotions and fears about the feelings each has for the other. The interaction between the two is truly special and lovely. Amazingly I never really lost my patience with them either or yell at the screen, “Oh come on just kiss her already!”

Kimi’s supporting cast is also quite remarkable. This is nowhere more evident than with Sawako’s new best friends, Ayane and Chizu. From the start of the story you never would have though these girls would have become her friends. They had almost written on their faces “villainess” and it was such a pleasant surprise to see these two develop into perhaps the best shoujo best friends I have seen yet. They are so completely different from one another that it is a bit surprising they are friends. Ayane is the beautiful, fashionable temptress, while Chizu is the butch and athletic type. Their reactions to Sawako kind of mirror the way the audience will perceive her. There bonds grow stronger as they experience things together, and overcome some adversity. They were truly a joy to watch.

Other characters come and go but are no less impactful to the story. The only real rival, Kurumi, who appears in the middle portions of the story never, outstays her welcome and while she would technically serve as the series villainess, she never really feels to me like a villain. Shockingly Sawako’s family life is also quite normal, she neither has a tragic home situation or a perverted father, and they are both loving and normal parents (both to her and to each other).

Artistically Kimi really shines. Its soft colors and artwork just match the beauty and sweetness in the story perfectly. It does a good job of mixing in comedic art along with its beautiful scenery to make every episode visually appealing and smile inducing. This is even more brought out with the spectacular musical score and cast. Mamiko Noto seems to have been born to play this role. It’s a typical character type for her, one that we have heard from her many times, but this will be one that fans will remember for years and years to come. I can’t say enough about the OP theme, I was instantly in love with from the first chorus and its animation is tremendous. I also found the ED to be equally perfect, though I suspect Chara’s gravelly voice to be unappealing to some.

Overall, Kimi ni Todake is easily a top 5 series for me and one of the best shows of the decade. It was immediately appealing to me from the first episode and I am extremely sad to see it end. This is how more romance shows should be done and is not to be missed by anyone who likes the genre in even the slightest bit. It really doesn’t get much better than this one.
read more

How do you recognize that you’ve watched a great show? Do you wake up the next morning and think about it the whole day? Do you talk to people full enthusiasm and passion about the show? Or did you just get that feeling that makes your heart ache and feel all good and warm inside? Kimi ni Todoke manages to do all this.

Kimi ni Todoke starts off as an anime that could make you wonder if you’re actually watching said series. The very first scene is practically a half-horror scene attempted by the animators to make you understand in a snap what kind of person the main character is. Kuronuma Sawako: a girl who looks a bit gloomy and scares away most of the people she’s nearby to. The reason because of that is a simple one: she’s very easily misunderstood. The tone of her voice sounds like a ghost that waited a thousand years in a closet and finally sees someone to scare away. Sawako may not have waited a thousand years but she does scare away people with her awkward attempt to greet someone, which earned her the nickname ''Sadako'' (the ghost from the movie ''The Ring'').

It’s natural that any person watching until now will get a feeling of sympathy. We see and hear things that play in Sawako’s mind, and in Sawako’s mind only. She doesn’t mean to scare anyone away. She doesn’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Even her life motto (''A good deed a day'') sounds like it’s something made up by a loving person who likes to help. This is by far the biggest message the story is trying to convey: no matter how good your intentions are deep inside, if it’s not coming out in the proper way, nobody will see it on the outside. Sawako is struggling with this harsh truth that tackles her every single day. She has no real friends, feels very lonely at times and has a hard time understanding social situations not knowing how to react. It all feels very sad for Sawako and she is just trying to fit in and help people. But she can’t because of her way of conveying a message to another person; she hasn’t learned to do that properly.

If there is a second message this anime tries to portray, it has to be the message of hope. Because even for Sawako, light in the dark tunnel of social situations can be seen. You could say that Sawako actually is a clean slate of life that hasn’t been written on. The good things and the bad. Because that slate is almost empty, she’s never learned to interact, to recognize backstabbers and to clear up a misunderstanding. But also, she’s never learned to talk behind someone’s back, to steal anything or even to spread rumors.
Sawako is unique. An empty book that can be written in with all the things that life teaches us. That is one of the most brilliant ways to begin a story about an individual that grows up and steadily learns new things.

It’s actually unusual to write so much about a character in a show, even if it’s one of the most complex main characters. The story and the thought behind the story is what should be elaborately written about. But here, the character IS actually the story. Of course it’s possible to name all the events that happened in the show and write a bunch of thoughts about that. The truth is however that the story itself is very thin. And the best thing about that: it does not matter at all.

Which brings me to my next point. To understand why the story doesn’t matter, we have to look at the pacing of the show. Most stories tend to start off with a bang. Then there are some small events that explain all the things about that big happening and move the story forward. Then there is another peak in the story and the cycle repeats itself.
Kimi ni Todoke is nothing like that. You must realize that the pacing is extremely slow in this show. But the joke is that you must ask yourself the question if it matters to you. The story is about Sawako experiencing all the things in life that almost anyone can relate to. From your first classmate ever sitting next to you, to your first love in high school. It’s that emotional ride that makes this anime so darn special. And the pacing has a very, very important role in delivering those emotions. Basically, it actually makes it possible to notice all the small talk that the characters are having, the fun moments that they’re experiencing, the flowing rivers of sadness that are shown and even the growing love between characters. And most importantly: it’s possible to notice Sawako coming out of her shell. It’s because the pacing is that slow, you can notice and appreciate those things that come by in the anime.

In terms of art, it’s really crucial that you watch this show with an open mind without prejudices. Keep in mind that this is a ''shoujo''. This means that it’s a story with the point of view of a girl and most likely with some ''girly'' elements. But if you manage to overcome these things (or are a girl yourself), Kimi ni Todoke is a breath of fresh air to watch. While the animation may not be the greatest you will ever see, the art is amazing. It’s one of those anime which captures the feel of the manga almost perfectly. The scenery is beautiful and everything has this ''fresh'' feel, as if you’re diving in a nice cold bath after sweating.
Most of the time in animated shows, either the characters are well drawn or the backgrounds are. Kimi ni Todoke does both well with maybe the backgrounds being a tiny bit better drawn than the characters. Cute bubbles and sparkles pop up randomly in many scenes but actually fit very snuggly in the story strangely enough. And the people who composed the musical score deserve applause. The music captures those emotions portrayed beautifully and manages to play as a nice ear massage if listened to.

It’s too bad that Kimi ni Todoke has one of the most banal summaries you will ever see. Ever. Anyone who decides to watch an anime based on the summary he or she has read will most likely miss this gem of a show. If one day someone will invent a way to include snippets of emotions in a summary, Kimi ni Todoke will stand at the top of the charts and that inventor will hopefully be rich and famous. It’s also too bad that the anime is over. The manga is still going strong so there is hope for a second season; there are literally many who are begging for one. It’s not possible to fully share in words what this anime makes so special, it’s an experience you’ll have to call your own. And because you can relate to almost anyone in the show, it will give you that honest feeling. That feeling which makes you believe that life has more in store, that you CAN move forward and change things. Sawako manages to do it, and so does everyone. read more

The first season of Kimi ni Todoke is really something special. To put it briefly, it is a show that simultaneously both rejects and indulges in the structure of its genre. It defines many of the core aspects and tropes of its genre, while demonstrating why they are relevant and valid. At the same time it also casts out many tropes and clichés that distract from the main driving focus of the show. Even when the show is dead set on incorporating some tired plot contrivance, it manages to execute it with tact and finesse. It's show that knows what it is, what it's doing, and why it exists in the first place. Coupled with Production I.G.'s distinctive aesthetics, and direction, Kimi ni Todoke is a show with an air of absolute confidence. It has a goal, and achieves it flawlessly.

Kimi ni Todoke is a Shoujo in the purest sense of the word. To call it anything else not only sells the show itself short, but whatever genre it gets lumped in with as well. Its foundation is so concrete, and unabashedly in love with its forefathers, that it's almost not even a point of discussion. It does everything a typical Shoujo should do. Timid, loner, socially awkward female protagonist? Check. Said protagonist falling in love with the most popular boy in her school/class? Check. A token bitch girl who is also in love with the protagonists boyfriend? Check. Said bitch hatching an elaborate scheme to win over the protagonists boyfriend? Check. Side characters that exist for comic relief, with only one real, major, subplot? Check. Christmas episode? Check. Cultural Festival? Well no, but there is a sports festival that's used in much the same way. Small, multi-episode, arcs that are only tangentially related to one another? Check. I could go on all day about this stuff, but I think the point is fairly self-evident: Todoke has no real aspirations to dramatically alter the formulas or structures of its genre. Instead, more often than not (which we will get to later), it seeks to validate these tropes and give them the credit they deserve. The protagonist Sawako herself is a great example of this. She fits the shy, introverted, Shoujo protagonist mold to a "t" (or rather a "d"). While she does have unique, defining, traits that do make her stand out from the horde of other shy, and introverted, Shoujo protagonists, these differences do not define her as a character. Everything from her appearance (save perhaps the excessive hair length) to her personality is still firmly rooted in that proverbial mold. The only difference is that she is fleshed out just enough, such that she could pass off as a truly authentic human being. Her actions are always, and I repeat ALWAYS, within her character. The subtle embellishments made to her character just allow her to never have to break character. The amount of flexibility added from the changes to her mold, as well as the characters around her, make it so the work can remain as true to its archetypes as possible, while maintaining a distinct presence and letting the plot flow as naturally as possible. In short it made a necessary sacrifice in order to improve upon its foundation. This goes for almost every trope in the show. From the rest of the cast, to the events that take place, everything (for the most part) is only slightly altered from the blueprints of the genre. Beyond giving the work a slightly more distinct style, these alterations also draw attention to the tropes in the first place. I can't even begin to count the number of times I saw something happen, made a prediction, was either right or wrong (it usually didn't really matter), and then reflected on what I had just watched. The scene where Chizuru went on a walk with Ryuu's brother is a prime example of this. I was waiting for the moment where he would do something bad, or at least morally ambiguous, because, you know, that's just the thing that happens in Shoujos. It gives a reason for the protagonist in question to give up on their idol. However, throughout the scene, as well as the show, he doesn't really do anything but good for Chizuru, instead acknowledging Chizuru as somewhat of a spiritual sister. I actually had to take a minute, pause the episode, and digest exactly what had happened. After a few, quiet, minutes of thought I came to the conclusion that the scene actually still had the same desired effect, and outcome, as the run of the mill, predatorial meetings that are so commonplace in the genre. It both created, and resolved, drama, and gave the protagonist a legitimate call to action. Throughout the scene I was fully aware of the trope being used in the moment, as made obvious by my premonitions, however the work managed to somewhat trick me into thinking that something else had actually happened after the fact. It wasn't until I actually sat down (or rather stayed sitting) are really thought about what was taking place, that I saw the scene for what it was. It was exactly what I thought it was, just turned on its head. It was a clever little trick that really got me to think about that that scene was meant to do not only in Todoke itself, but in Shoujos in general. By repurposing the plot point to fit the story, it offered a valid case for its possible effectiveness when executed correctly. A trope that I had initially thought was played out, now seems to have just a little more life thanks to this show.

With that portion of the gushing out of the way, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the other side of the coin. Just because Todoke is so in love with the Shoujo archetype, does not mean that it doesn't see the general shortcomings of some of its most popular tropes. The show will disown a trope just as quickly as it embraces one. One of the most notable examples of this, as well as the first time I noticed it myself, was with the conflict that many Shoujos spend a loin's share of their runtime resolving: rumors. Yes Todoke does in fact have a typical "Shoijo Bitch", and yes one of the early conflicts in the show does revolve around lies she is spreading about the Sawako's friends in order to break up their friendship because it's getting in between her and her future boyfriend. The blame for starting these rumors obviously falls on Sawako, because obviously nobody has the mental capacity to remember who actually told them the story, and her friends catch wind of it. Through a few misunderstandings, and awkward conversations, the trust of Sawako's friends start to wane as the suspect that she might have possibly been involved in this. At this point most shows would devote the next three to five episodes playing this drama out before the protagonist was eventually exonerated. It's generally a tedious process that is what turns most anime fans I know away from Shoujo in the first place. However the way Todoke handles this conflict is remarkable to say the least. Instead of having the friends wildly jump to conclusions in order to force some drama out of the show, they instead simply have them do what any logical sane person would do from the start: they simply ask Sawako, who has been nothing but 100% honest with them up until that point, if she started the rumors. Sawako says no, and that's good enough for them, and the viewer. While the trope itself isn't dumb, they did include it in the show after all, its execution does bring up an obvious point. Most of the time this trope is simply misused, and just thrown in to cover up whatever deep seeded issue a show has. Most of the time it only adds superficial drama when used, and is constantly dragged out for far to long. Just as I reflected of the scene with Ryuu's brother, this moment made me give another long hard mental deconstruction of this trope. The small amount of payoff, solving the superficial problem of the group being split up, for the amount of time it takes makes a fairly obvious statement about the writers disposition about the trope. It's elegant, while still being obvious. While Todoke only does this kind of thing from time to time, it helps reinforce the structural aspects of its genre does embrace. It lets the viewer know that while Todoke does love being a Shoujo, it is still cautious in its decisions of what to accept whole-heartedly.

The only real, serious, issue I had with this show was pacing. If I am being completely honest with myself the show does sag a little bit around the Sports Festival arc. When I actually watched this show, I put it on the back-burner around episode 12 or so because I felt that the show was just kind of treading water. In this arc, the token bitch character is given her chance to grow and evolve, but despite that she stays fairly stagnant over the five or so episode arc. It's the same arc we've all seen a million times, and Todoke really didn't really do much different. Stop me if you heard this one before, but, one of the most popular girls in the school has really been masking her abusive personality all along. To make matters worse Todoke pops the true personality card early in the arc, and all that's really left to see is her plan fall apart. It wouldn't be so awkward if it wasn't so obvious she was going to fail. Much like the fools gold arc in the second season of Spice and Wolf, there is really no reason to think that the cannon pairing will be split apart for any reason. The buildup is bland, and the payoff is also lacking. They even go as far as to make a big deal out of establishing the bitch as a token rival, but then never do anything with her again (within the season, calm down). This coupled with the awkwardly placed recap episode make the second quarter of this show a little bit of a drag compared to the rest of the content.

I could mention the art by Production I.G. or the fantastic voice work, but I don't really think those points need to be discussed, so I'll just close out. The simple fact is that Kimi ni Todoke does far to many things extremely well to really level any just criticism at it. The sag I mentioned was really only a sag in comparison to the rest of the show, and by general Shoujo standards it was by no means bad. On the flipside the show redefined what it really means to be a Shoujo. It deconstructs the very structure of the genre, offering its own criticism, while offering an enjoyable ride on the surface. To top it all off it executes everything with such sincerity it's hard not to fall in love. Even though this show takes a bit of prior knowledge to truly appreciate, it is still one of the ideal entry points to the genre as well. It is truly a must watch in every aspect of the word, and has set a standard for the shows that came after it. If for some reason you haven't seen it, and are digging deep enough for this review, just watch it, it's probably not worse than anything else you're gonna watch this season. read more

After reading some positive reviews on the internet, I decided to watch Kimi ni Todoke, thinking that the storyline may be similar to Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, which is very fun and entertaining. However, after watching the first episode I was disappointed by the fact that Kimi ni Todoke holds totally different story than Nadeshiko Shichi Henge. For a moment I thought that it was way too girly for me to watch (of course, it's a shoujo but some shoujo really does attract male audience these days), and the animation looks a bit uncommon (not the characters ,but the colorful painted background which seems surreal at first).

So, despite the fact that I am not suited for this anime, I continued to the 2nd and 3rd episode anyway out of curiosity on what this anime had to offer.

And before I realized it, I couldn't bring myself to stop watching this anime...!
Kimi ni Todoke really changed my view on shoujo romance.

The heroine, Kuronuma Sawako is the most kind-hearted, soft-mannered heroine you'll ever see in the entire anime universe. Not because she is stunningly beautiful, not because she is wealthy, not because she is very popular in school either. The fact is, she is an ordinary high school girl who lives in a very normal environment.
What makes her special is her personality. She is the type that would never wish for someone else's misery. Being a hard-working student, family-loving daughter, and caring friend, none of us would dislike her. Her true happiness is to be useful to her friends and family. Even her motto is "Do a good deed everyday". Despite that, she is not a typical weak kind of girl you usually see in another shoujo anime. At times she can stand for herself without depending on anyone. And she will never, ever tell a lie even if it's to save her own skin. She will cheer her friends at times of need, and will cry for someone else's sadness.

On the other hand, our male main character is Kazehaya Shouta, the most popular guy in school. He is very lively and willing to talk to anyone, though deep inside he is quite soft, shy, and hard to understand. From the outside, he may looks very cheerful and happy, but even himself has his own weaknesses and flaws which is very normal for a human to have.

There is no one in this anime which is too perfect or too evil by all means. They're all normal humans, each with their own flaws and emotions, which is interesting because it often allows us to reflect ourselves in them.

For the story, contrary to what most people say about this anime, It is NOT a typical shoujo romance story about popular guy who falls for the unpopular heroine at first sight. Yes, those elements do appear inside this anime, but in totally different pace. Unlike other fairy-tale like stories, Kimi ni Todoke is not in a rush. It seems rather slow, but it isn't. When you start to think that an episode seems too slow (some people states that the winter episodes seems rather mellow, just like what a winter should be), try to review what has happened in that episode. You will realize that there's already much information flowing through your head without you realizing it.

Yes, Kimi ni Todoke isn't as typical and slow as they say.
Its seems as it is saying to us, "Love is not a rush. Just take it slow and enjoy the bitter-sweet moments of love". read more

Okay, here's what I thought after watching this Anime up to it's latest episode. Also, I didn't include spoilers, so don't worry.

Story: 10/10

One word, superb. I got hooked up since episode one because this Anime looks like it's real, and by real, I mean no swords, magics, etc. It portrays love and friendship as you can see these elements in every episodes. Also, I love where this Anime is going. It might get cheesy sometimes, but they did it so well, that you have no choice but to go with the flow and be affectionate.

Art: 10/10

The Art/Animation was outstanding. I loved everything. It was well drawn/animated. Every detail and objects stood up, even the surroundings, and the characters. Also, adding a chibi form of every characters made it more enjoyable. You can't help it but laugh after seeing their chibi forms.

Sound: 10/10

The sound was perfect. I loved the OP/ ED songs. It fits perfectly with the Anime. Also, everytime something happens, the background music/sound always fits into it, and because of that, it emphasizes the event even more.

Character: 10/10

You can't help it but love our main girl, Sawako, and others. There's nothing to hate. Everyone has their own emotions, characteristics, which made everyone unique and be part of the Anime. They also give spotlight to Supporting Characters, which is good, in my opinion. They don't focus on 2 characters, but everyone, which is great.

Enjoyment: 10/10

I was really entertained while watching this. I didn't get bored at all. This Anime is one of the Anime that I've seen that made a good job combining the elements (Comedy, Drama, and Romance). They didn't fail in doing that. You can find those elements in each episode. Some episodes are really relaxing, which can make you smile or laugh the entire time, while some episodes are really touching that you can't help it but eith cry or be teary.

Overall: 10/10

I recommend this Anime to everyone. Guys, don't be scared to watch this. I'm a guy and I find this Anime incredible. I'm 100% straight, don't worry. I've only seen 8 episodes but I can tell that it's going to be awesome from beginning to end. It's a masterpiece.

Also, this is my first review, so please bear with my mistakes. :3 read more

When l sat down to watch kimi ni todoke, I was looking forward to a good ol fashioned lovey-dovey story, but you know what l got? a turtle race. Now heres the bad part, not only was it really slow-paced, but it was like both turtles decided to go home before getting to the finish line of this perverbial event.

I suppose now is the time that I ought to justify my remarks so I dont sound like im trolling the show.

The story as you've probably read by now is about a girl named sawako as she wanders through her lonely life. As a side note, almost every anime out there has that lonely shy girl in it, but this is the first that i've seen where the show is about the shy girl, and that was quite refreshing.

In the show, she meets and falls in love with a cool-ass dude by the name of kazehaya and well it sorta seems mutual. At this point it becomes that turtle race to see who realizes it first, but you cant make a show around that right? Well, it seems they didnt need to, as in the show it also follows sawakos efforts to make friends, participate in events, and basiaclly just get a social life (which can be quite difficult, l speak from experience).

The art in this show was somehting that I wont soon forget. It wasnt super-amazing or anything like that, but it was different. I say this because the animators could make sawako look extremely beautiful, or so scarry that my bowels just released... At first l felt like the animators just didnt care, but eventually l realized that it was probalby the most appropriate animation possible in this show.

The characters are a little generic, as l said earlier the only thing thats really different in the character department is that the shy girl is the main character rather than the supporting role. Other than her though, you have the steriotypical nice guy, that guy who just doesnt give a shit, some girl who would wreck most guys in a brawl, a couple plotters, and the ever present crew of goofy-asses which are there to make the main characters all the more appealing.

l enjoyed the concept of the polar-opposites falling in love, and as it progressed I really got excited for them. The problem that I had is really just the less-than-stellar ending. The way I see it, if you make me sit around for a 25 episode show, you better give me a reason to come back for season two, and as it stands im not sure if they have. read more

This anime left a bad taste in my mouth. Before watching I read some of the previous reviews and was spurred to watch it after many comments stating how original it was. It's not. There are certain aspects of the anime that differ from the usual but really it was just another shy girl meets popular boy type of anime.

The first few episodes were definitely enjoyable, the back story to why Sawako is an outcast is different and interesting and so is how she begins to make friends. Unfortunately after about episode 6 or 7 you are wasting your time. This anime should have been shorter as it moves at an incredible slow pace. Honestly it began to become a mission to sit through another episode. Not only were the episodes repetitive (never has a character cried so much before this) but you can pretty much guess what is going to happen in each episode after the first minute. Unfortunately there is no great ending to uplift the series, it just sort of flattens out part way through and never gets any momentum back.

I think was really annoyed me the most is the lack of development with the characters. There were so many beginnings of side stories and other love interests in this anime that never really developed. At least these could have livened up the second half of the series.

A few good things about this anime were the art, I thoroughly enjoyed the almost water colour style. The opening track is lovely to listen to as well and suits the anime perfectly. Kazehaya was actually quite a good character and was probably the most original out of all of them with his glass half full attitude that never wavered.

Overall I am giving this a 5/10 as although the first half was enjoyable the second half nearly put me into a coma. read more

This is my first review, so hopefully this will go over well. ^_^ I haven't seen the series in a while, so I'll try to accurately try to portray how I felt when I watched it the first time.

Story:6/10
Indeed, the story summary was what pulled me in. It sounded like and interesting spin on a old storyline, and it was a bit. It certainly was interesting to see the interactions of he characters of Sawako since so many were afraid of her. But when you really get down to it, this is a lot like other high school romances. Outcast girl likes most popular guy, they get close, and fall in love. And of course, there's high school drama along the way and plenty of morals and such. This definitely isn't something you haven't seen before if you've been a long time anime fan. Still, it's at least worth a look if you're interested.

Art: 9/10
The art in this anime get's the highest score from me. It was certainly amazing and breathtaking in quite a few places. The artist of the anime definitely took the time to add every detail, sparkle, and breath correctly. It was really great to look at. Of course though, there were a few parts that had not so great animations. It was few and not too bad, but still there and prominent.

Sound: 8/10
The opening and ending song was fantastic. The opening especially caught my eye. It really captured the essence of a slice of life romance. It fit perfectly. The ending was also quite good, although I didn't like it as much as the opening. That's probably more of a personal taste, so you should definitely give it a listen. Other music throughout the anime was quite good and done well, too. The opening and ending definitely stand out, though.

Character: 6/10
Now here is where the anime started to go a bit downhill for me. At first I wast entranced by the characters and thought they were all great, and for some that is indeed true. Others... Not so much. This wouldn't be as bad of a problem if it wasn't the main characters who were the not so great ones. Sawako and Kazehaya didn't get very much development throughout the series; It was very, very little. Kazehaya remained pretty much the same through the whole thing, and after a while you just get kind of tired/used to it. Sawako is the biggest example though, since she is the main character you follow. She's decent I suppose, but not really main character material. She got very little if any character development. For example, even after she's had friends for a long time, she still cried her eyes out every time they did something nice for her. I believe this series would be a lot more heartwarming if you actually got to see her get used to these things; That way you could know she truly has made good friends. The side characters of Ryuu, Ayane, and Chizu on the other hand were fantastic. They did a great job with these characters, and went in a really good direction with them. I was happy with them for sure.

Enjoyment: 7/10
During the first half of the series, I did enjoy watching it. It was interesting, and seemed like a pretty good anime. Towards the middle though, the series slammed on the breaks. Kazehaya and Sawako went nowhere in their relationship all of a sudden, and the story just started to seem all the same. I would sometimes find myself watching the clock to see how long the rest of the episode was because I wanted it to end. That's not to say it was bad; Just decent. Taking a look back on it I realize it wasn't all that fantastic, but it is enjoyable when watching it the first time. It's gets a solid 7 from me.

Overall: 7/10
This anime is worth the watch of a few episodes if you're interested, and you can see how you feel about it from there. I would recommend it mostly to anime fans who love the slice of life romance genre, because this is the anime for you. Personally though, I just can't give this anime a score higher then seven. Hope this review helped to people who were considering watching, and thanks for reading! read more

As a guy, who is confident about his sexuality, I would just like to say that Kimi ni Todoke was thoroughly enjoyable. I personally have nothing against shoujo anime; many of my favorites are in fact shoujo, but when I confronted my mates about watching this, suggesting it, I was rejected with: “your seriously getting gayer everyday”, and “go lick dick please”, which really made me reflect on how faggish my friends are… or more importantly in this respect, if this particular shoujo anime was suitable for me, it even made me revise the idea of dropping which I’m glad I didn’t. Because quite ironically what Kimi ni Todoke taught me was; the value of friendship.

When I say that Kimi ni Todoke has a romanticist’s view on things I don’t just mean it metaphorically, it literally shows things with a rose tinted window, and not only with flowers either, sometimes the screen is blissfully covered with colorful bubbles, and truthfully as a boy, it kind of really makes me gag. I would like to think of myself as a strict anime marker, and that means I don’t like to give high scores to just any random anime, when it comes to Kimi ni Todoke, regardless of all the pejorative things I’ve said, I’m easily handing out a 9/10. Despite the individual issues I have with shoujo styles and etc, this anime was more than just entertaining, the sentimental aspects were more than just exhilarating and the subtle romance gives you more than just a heart warming experience.

With no doubt I.G has masterfully produced this anime and employed Sawako’s character quite cleverly to create countless hilarious scenarios. The art is fine, I don’t particularly like shoujo style art and my parents always taught me when I was young, that: if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it, and I won’t. Plus, there are far too many anime with different art, with any particular anime that has weird or different art, after a few episodes you just get used to it, and Kimi ni Todoke’s art isn’t bad at all, its just that anime with absolutely great art entice me the most and I tend to be quite biased when it comes to the subject matter.

Sawako the socially awkward girl who apparently looks like the girl from The Ring (I wouldn’t have a comparison as I have never seen and never will see The Ring and any form horror movie for that matter) hence nick named Sadako is stereo typically quite a kind hearted and caring girl. Her problem arises from her lack of confidence in herself and other people’s social ability, this all changes when she meets the seemingly perfect boy Kazehaya, who pulls her out of her socially inept world and begins her adventure of new friends and problems. Mix the well organized plot with a cast of inspirational characters and Kimi ni Todoke comes out as an anime that’s history in the making.

I’ve probably got a lot more to say, but Kimi ni Todoke’s popularity makes it so that everyone all says the same stuff. These are my personal opinions, hopefully reading my writing isn’t too much of an eyesore again, feel free to comment, whether it be criticism or discussion it’s appreciated.

Kexiu.
read more

What was your first impression of Kimi ni Todoke? It is a shoujo anime about a girl, shy and timid, who gets into a relationship with some guy.
Well, it is that in all its essence.
The thing is that this show presents itself in a very unique perspective, one which amplifies and embellishes little elements that are usually overlooked in a typical anime of its genre. What's special about this show is the experience one gets from watching it.


The story is told mainly through the eyes of Kuronuma Sawako, the main character. She's a shy little girl having a ghostly guise, constantly feared or misunderstood by many people because she resembles Sadako (her nickname) from a movie called The Ring. Being told in her perspective, we get to see first-hand of all the happenings in her life in perfect detail, her social transformation as she opens herself out to the world.

The thing I found interesting about the story is that how the season changes correspondingly with its progress. Everything starts off in spring where Sawako first met Kazehaya, the male lead. As spring is the season for new things to happen, this fateful event marks the starting point where wonderful things such as friendship, start revealing themselves to Sawako one by one. It's rather like planting a seed in the lushness of spring. Then things begin to peak in summer. Autumn doesn't seem to last long here. The last season, winter, is where all things are brought to an end at the start of a new year. In my opinion, I think this is an orderly display of plot and we can sense that time goes on with a change in season.

The pacing is set at a slow speed. No, it doesn't mean you will find fillers and the likes, this is because the show really needs that much time for it to deliver this natural feeling. All episodes link to one another smoothly except for one recap episode where I find it highly unnecessary for it to be included.

The show also includes a short arc with Sawako's friend, Chizuru getting the limelight. And it packs quite the punch for its size.

It's sad to see the end of the series, what with the sudden bringing down to a close type of ending. Though it would be satisfying hear a second season coming along.


This simple storyline is complemented with crisp, clear and vivid art which go extremely well together. Starting from the background, done with bright and lively hues of watercolor, the skies in day or night, rain or shine, blending in so well with the scene and season. The lighting is also a job well done especially on the characters and for once you don't see them pasted with the background.
And I must comment on how they pay attention to the little details. Flowers aside, they animated ladybugs and birds in the backyard, something that we rarely see in shows these days.

The character drawing is not much to brag about, it is consistent, they are drawn in such a simple manner that it is pleasing to the eyes, with modest blushes, and their eyes and facial expressions portrayed accurately as well. The chibi forms of the characters are what that made my day, literally. They are an excellent source for making a few laughs and make things look plain cute, I'm talking about Sawako with a twinkling star beside her face, and Ayane with flabby lips. Sometimes, the characters tend to swap from normal to chibi mode too much, but for me it's all right, they still maintain a fair balance of the two.

As for the environment, this is, I believe, what made the art attractive. Throughout the spring and summer seasons, you can regularly see bubbles and pentagons appearing in emotional scenes dancing about that really adds humidity and that almost visible sense of freshness you find in morning gardens with glistening dewdrops. It really amplifies the overall feel of the picture.


Sound is yet another treat in Kimi ni Todoke. The seiyuus all did a very good job to bring out the characters, all befit their roles superbly, Sawako sounds kinda eerie at the beginning, but her normal soft and shy voice can at times make your ears melt out of sheer pleasure. Her short little gasps can very well put her in the moe category. Even Pin's annoying laughing and jeering is pleasing to hear sometimes too.
The soundtrack came out to be fine, and it really enhances the mood of the environment. These quiet tones bring out the sentiments of the characters, some support a romantic or sad scene, and there are one or two that fit in just fine with the comedy. Oh and there was this particular track that made me feel like a was watching while floating in midair.

The opening sequence, Kimi ni Todoke is the best. It's like a blast of emotion that made my feelings erupt the first time I saw it. This piece has a guitar and piano version which can be heard in the anime, and believe me, the piano solo is no less than perfect in my view. The ending theme, Kataomoi is fine to the extent of ending the episode. It slowly brings you to a smooth landing after being up in the air watching for so long.


Here is the part that shines in this show, the characters. Is is also the most important aspect of the show. In Kimi ni Todoke, we have Sawako who has all the qualities of a quiet and reserved individual who, through meeting Kazehaya, gains two close friends, a rival, a lover, and her Zashiki Warashi (a spirit which brings luck) status among her classmates.
This show focuses on the various interactions between the characters and the outcome and does it masterfully. As aforementioned, they wanted to show what other shows normally avoid, which is the feelings we all have deep down inside.
The show speaks of inner sincerity, not the hard outer shells one has, and Sawako, with little experience of socializing, is a prime example of someone who exhibits pure innocence and sincerity.
Just look at her speech, albeit a little over the top and effusively grateful, she has in herself courage to stand up and speak for herself, and for others. And she really tries to do her best at that, as she kept struggling all the time to keep up with the norms of her peers.
This sense of trust and mutual affection can even stretch to the supporting cast, and this goes to show that no matter what kind of person you are, down at the core we pretty much are the same.

Another thing is, we see ourselves in Sawako that's a fact. No matter who you are and how you came to know what life is, you can always relate and see Sawako living through a similar situation as you did, because what they focus here is a general field of life's good and bad stuffs.
But as we watch this show, we can't help but feel that familiar warmth we know or used to know so well before. It's like, hey, I remember doing that or having that experience. And some of you will get a sense of relief or assurance that you are not so alone in this world, and what happened to you happens to others. For one thing Sawako here has been through the trials, got her first times, her first crush, her first real friends, her first sleepover and late night parties.

If you give your compassion knowing Sawako's tears, if you share your delight with her cheers, if you are envious for all those treasures being heaped upon her, or just shed tears with no particular reason, by all means continue to do so and let your emotions to be in sync with her. I'll be frank, I did cry while watching the show.


This is a show that requires patience, you need to entrust your time into its care, and what you receive in return is a wonderful experience you will remember for some time to come. You will be transported to another world, as simple and little as it is, and there you can feel at ease, and forget your worries, soaking in the subtle bits of details the show has to offer. Well maybe that's a bit exaggerated, but it's what I feel at least.


Overall, this is a show that is not quite the ordinary shoujo romance anime as some might expect. I think it's safe to say that the enjoyability of this anime varies according to each person. It has none of the mushy romance stuff, so no lip contact. You can even learn something from this show and recall some sweet memories from before. To put it simply, Kimi ni Todoke is an animated storybook narrated by Kuronuma Sawako, where we see and hear the story of her social transformation, a little girl stepping into society with a will to change for the better, and that has made all the difference.

It really is a special show, a show that reaches out to you. read more

I couldn't help but share my thoughts on this wonderful show with others =)

At first glance, it may seem like a typical shoujo, boy-meets-girl kind of series. That's what I thought when I first read the synopsis, so I was kind of reluctant to watch it. But now...am I glad I did!

Story: 9/10

While not the most exciting or original plot line, it's simplicity charms me. It has a rather slow flow, but it doesn't bore, rather it helps emphasize the special moments that Sawako experiences in her school life. The process of growing up, feeling love for the first time, making friends, and even enemies are all so amazingly portrayed through this show.

Character: 10/10

Seriously, I've never liked a female lead this much before. Sawako is just too cute. She's innocent to the point of being humorous, but she's not stupid or weak. Quite the contrary actually (I was pleasantly surprised by how she interacted with Kurumi). She's always being positive, always trying to help others, and always being true to herself. You can't help but be moved by her. For the male lead, you've got the 100% refreshing Kazehaya who is actually not your typical male lead. At first glance, he's Mr.Perfect who everyone admires, but after a while you learn that he's just like any other guy. He gets flustered, nervous, angry and embarrassed like all of us do. And in my opinion, that just makes him more endearingly cute and charming.
Also, this show's supporting characters are some of the best I've seen in shoujo anime! They really define the true meaning of friendship :) Heck, even the antagonist is pretty awesome.

Art: 9/10

The artwork might not be considered the best out there, but it does the story justice (and then some). It's bright, simple and cute. There were certain times when I would think "wow, the colours look amazing here" (you gotta pay attention to sunset scenes!). They also did a good job with the characters, I think they purposely made them look plain so that it helps contrast times when they stand out (like when Sawako smiles!). So overall, they did a lovely job.

Sound: 9/10

I love the opening song and I think it fits the series perfectly. Can't say much about the background music though because I haven't paid much attention to it...too busy enjoying the dialogue =)

Enjoyment: 10/10

I wish I can give this a higher rating than 10. I was pretty much smiling like an idiot throughout the first few episodes. The interaction between Sawako and Kazehaya are too cute for words, I felt much warm and fuzzy feelings when watching them. It makes me wish I could go back in time to experience high school romance like they did. But then again...who can find someone like Kazehaya.

Anyways, this show has really grown on me. I will definitely keep watching and rooting for Sawako. If this review or the ratings hasn't helped convince you to watch it, please seriously reconsider. Don't pass this up!

read more

this is more of a comparison than a review, as i couldnt say all that i needed to in the recommendations. i apologize, but it's still kinda like a review!

the story is generic, as you can find many more animes with similar plots and storylines. however, the way it's told is what makes it stand out or not. i've made recommendations for this anime, comparing them to sukitte ii na yo and tonari no kaibutsu-kun as i saw many parallel and contrasting features between KNT and those two animes.

in terms of animation design, it reflected animation seen in sukitte and tonari. although in general it was more similar to the former, but had more comical aspects to it.

the plot of KNT more likely resembled that of tonari because it was a lot more lighthearted and funny in comparison to sukitte. the plot in all three animes however, follow a similar storyline. none of the male and female leads get their romantic relationship rolling until towards the end. all three animes had female leads confused and questioning their feelings toward the male leads.

the animes had similar character set ups. outcast females that gain friends through being open with the male leads. all females had a small group of girlfriends with the addition of close male friends from the male side.

overall, i find these animes enjoyable to watch, despite potential repetitive aspects. KNT is a good mix of both sukitte and tonari, i would say its more funny than either of them though.

what strikes me as different about this anime though, is that there's a second season. i havent watched it yet but plan on doing so soon. i think a second season will allow for the romantic relationship to develop further than these typical animes. with sukitte and tonari, the series ends just has the leads are confronting their feelings. so im interested to see how far KNT will take that. read more

Whatever you do, don't be put off by Kimi ni Todoke's unassuming summary. The premise of this wonderful anime starts off very simply and it starts off that way too. However, this anime is so unbelievably authentic and distinct in how it portrays the feelings and personalities of the main characters.

I found myself liking and relating to each and every character in this series, Sawako and Kazehaya especially. In a romance series like this one, the story is 100% reliant upon the characterization. It works because each character's personality comes out so earnestly throughout the series. We get to watch their interactions with each other and the emotions and actions that arise as a result.

The character of Sawako (the titular Sadako) really is a diamond in the rough. At the beginning there is not a single person who understands and sympathizes with her internal struggles. She is alone and devoid of friends thanks in part to her creepy facade. It is Kazehaya and his non-judgmental character who initiates the first tidbits of change into Sawako's life, and he does this with nothing more than his trademark sparkling smile. From that point on, Sawako makes her first (and best) friends in Chizuru and Ayane, finds a love rival in Kurumi, and witnesses many of Kazahaya's 'firsts'.

With the progression of the series, Sawako comes to realize that life's struggles should never be confronted alone and that with just a few good friends by your side, the world becomes a much brighter and happier place. This realization obliterates the mystique and obscurity surrounding her and she emerges as the beautiful gem that she is, much to Kazehaya's chagrin.

I never once got bored with Kimi ni Todoke's relatively slow pacing and overall lack of angst and drama. Many romance series are similarly paced after all, so for those who are romance veterans, boredom should not be an issue in the least. Sawako's meek nature and nervousness in most situations culminates in quite a few comedic moments. Chizuru too, with her tomboy antics, is another source or laughter. Though the supporting cast fall into generic archetypes, it is their interactions with Sawako, who does not fall into any known archetypes, that make this series so enjoyable.

The art of Kimi ni Todoke suits the show perfectly. Its sparse style and colors lend beauty to the scenery and characters during those moments when it reaches an emotional climax, such as when Kazehaya smiles. The background music serves the same purpose and serves it well, though the aren't exactly memorable. The OP and ED themes are, however. Personally, OP and ED themes take a bit of acclimation on my part for them to grow on me (I don't skip OPs and EDs EVAR). Kimi ni Todoke's OP hooked me almost instantly, a feat that is not achieved often. Once I adjusted to the vocals of the ED's performer, it also became a well-loved contribution to the series.

The only thing I can really find fault with Kimi ni Todoke is its ending. If the second season wasn't in the works, it would be totally inexcusable, but since the first episode is airing TOMORROW (so stoked), I was able to overlook it.

On to the second season! read more

"We've been together all day, so it feels a little lonely to say goodbye..." - Episode 17
That's how I felt when I watched the Kimi ni Todoke series over the weekend.

Some slight spoilers ahead.
This is my first review, and this anime was one of the first romance ones I have watched.

I heard this anime from my friends. All of them dropped it right at the beginning saying things such as "It's boring", "It sucks", etc. It didn't look bad at all so I wanted to see why they would call it bad.
EDIT (4/5/13): One of my friends decided to give it a chance, he regretted dropping it.

Story: People will just think of this as your typical shoujo romance, I think it's more than that. Being a Romance anime, Comedy plays a huge role in this series, and that's what makes it enjoyable. Sawako seems like one of those people that you would avoid in class. The way she acts and looks have caused many things to go around the school such as her being able to see ghosts, looking like the girl from The Ring, and many other things. The average person would avoid her, right? However, when she accidentally bumps into Kazehaya, that's when things take off. The whole series mostly shows the friendship bond between Sawako, Ayane, and Chizuru. Being a Romance anime, of course there will be many scenes showing the development between Sawako and Kazehaya. Overall, the story is an 8/10 and I will explain why in the character section.

Character: Sawako from the start is a really lovable character, and all the characters in general were really funny. The development between the 3 girls (Sawako, Ayane, and Chizuru) were really high, and same with Kazehaya and his friends. Every interaction that Sawako has with almost every character is unique and funny in a way. Toward the end, the development between Sawako and Kazehaya really could have improved. I mean this is a romance anime about those two, but I think that's why they have the second season. I think they focused a bit on side stories and such a bit too much at the end. My rating for Character is a 9/10.

Sound: I fell in love with the OP as soon as I heard it. The ED was nice as well. As for the background music, it fit in really well with everything. 9 out of 10.

Art: The art looked really nice all around. Same with the characters and the chibi are really cute. 9/10

Enjoyment: This series overall was very enjoyable. I watched it in one sitting, and I rewatched it the same way as well. It can really take a lot of your time over the weekend, but in the good way. 10/10.

Overall, I give this anime a 9 out of 10. It is one of the best Romance and Comedy I have seen (the other that can in my opinion beat this is Clannad: After Story, but that's it's own tier), and most entertaining. Every episode of this series is enjoyable and you'll be able to really relate and love the characters. While it is enjoyable, some may not like it's ending.

I have watched both seasons, and I can say that it was a really enjoyable experience. I'm currently reading the on-going manga; hopes to another season? But for my final words, this series is a must-watch for comedy and romance lovers like you and me.
Overall Rating: 9 read more

Well, here we are... just before the last episode releases. Now, I can pretty much guess what's going to happen from this point on, but I could still be surprised. I still felt inclined to tell all of you what I thought about this show and why I'm still watching it and (somewhat) eagerly awaiting the final episode.

There are times where you begin to watch an anime and you know deep down in your gut that you could never finish consuming such crap. Other times, you can't wait to see the next episode, wondering what's going to happen next. For me, Kimi ni Todoke falls somewhere between those two extremes, only closer to the latter. There are quite a few things that make this anime really shine above all the other slice-of-life school romance animes out there... that mainly being the characters.

From the get-go, you immediately fall in love with Sawako, not Sadako, and Kazehaya. These two characters are the main focus of the story and are detailed enough that you feel like you know them personally. Each character (including the sides, Ayane, Chizuru, Ryuu, heck, even Pin, are all given enough screen time to really feel like they belong in the story. Names aside, what I am trying to say is that the character development is done extremely well and gives you just enough detail but doesn't bore you to death with each character's complete background and past.

One other thing that stood out to me was the story itself. Imagine an extremely shy girl (Sawako) whose name is extremely close to the girl from The Ring (Sadako), also looks somewhat like the girl from The Ring, and whose personality isn't exactly saving her from the Sadako label. Now, set into motion the events that could possibly change this girls life as all her good qualities are brought to light by meeting a male character who can see past all the rumors and falsities of that Sadako label. (C'mon, it's obvious from day 1 that Kazehaya has fallen for Sawako, and shortly after, vice versa) Ok, so the story sounds cheesy as hell and lame too. And, for the most part, it is. But, it's told in such a manner that you feel sucked into the events and a part of everything. As each character is developed more, relationships and interrelations fleshed out, you find yourself wanting more... addicted to the charming qualities of this anime.

Now, there are a few minor weak points I noticed, those of which I can't really describe in detail without spoiling the story. What I can say, is that there are times I felt as if this anime dragged on relentlessly, beating the same hum-drum monotony into my brain. "Oh come on! Just say it already!" were words often heard out of my mouth in several of the middle episodes. It's obvious to you as the viewer, but of course, the characters are oblivious and clueless. Which, I suppose adds to the charm and humor of the story, but for 25 episodes? Really? I think this story could have been told successfully in 12. Maybe a little rushed, not giving you that in-depth connection with a character...

Still, would I recommend this anime to a friend? Absolutely. Would that friend slap me across the face? ...depends upon which friend I recommend this to.
Be prepared for a story that is light-hearted, feel-good, and overall, fun to watch. read more

Kimi ni Todoke, one of the most famous shojos lately. I don't understand the cause of the high score on this, but let's go to what matters.

Kuronuma Sawako, a student with a sweet and adorable look... not for her classmates. She gained the nickname Sadako (from the cursed girl of the "The Ring" movies) thanks to the way everyone sees her, besides her antisocial style and the difficulty of making friends. Only until she mets Kazehaya (her big romance partner of the show), Ryuu (Kazehaya's friend) and her new friends, Ayane and Chizuru. They then try to show everyone the real Sawako: sweet and shy.

The art is great, the color choice is good and that makes it nice to watch. Perfect for a shojo/school comedy (the OP and ED are extremely beautiful). What to say about the sound... the voices are great and all of them fits perfectly in their respectives characters, as expected of the nice dub make it by the japanese.

Some characters are side-shows, like Sawako, Ayane and Chizuru, the powerful trio that steals the scene. The various situations they go through are real funny, like trying to "fix" Sawako or even interacting with all the supporting characters, the three girls are the strong point of the show.

If you want a romance anime, I recommend looking for another one, but if you want a SAPPY romance anime + school comedy, you can try Kimi ni Todoke. Don't expect a single kiss here and even less an end, since Kimi ni Todoke don't have it, just like a lot of animes that continues on the manga version.

Kimi ni Todoke is a good show to start if you want to follow with the manga after, but if you don't, it is not. If you don't have the patience, just start with the manga and simply skip the anime like if it doesn't even exist. read more

Do you recall the time where you did not fit in at a new school and had no friends at all? Did you recall the time where you made your true and real friend? Did you remember the time you fell in love or like someone?

Well, Kimi Ni Todoke is all of the above. It doesn't really have a storyline but it is still a very, very good romance anime. I loved it very much. If you experienced all of the above + watched Kimi Ni Todoke and not like it - you must be insane.

Okay, that's quite rude, isn't it? But then - Kimi Ni Todoke is more of a "slice of life" movie + "girl" yes, definitely a girl romance anime but this doesn't mean it can't be enjoyed by males!

It shows the life of Kuronuma Sawako who is trying her best to make friends but finds it hard because of a rumor started in the school about her having the same resemblance to Sadako's "The Ring" + her being a witch and all...

Plus, it doesn't help that she's shy and acts weirdly each time someone tries to talk to her. But thanks to a boy...a very friendly and popular boy who is well liked by everyone - Kazehaya, who said "Hi" to her...and maybe, just maybe, her life would be different - for once.

Well, that's just my "lame" plot but yeah...I tried my best. hehe.

Story: 10/10

I loved the story a lot. I'm not sure if it's original or not since I'm kinda sick of all those "Lots of guys fall in love with this girl" thing or "Dumb girl falls in love with ridiculously handsome boy and tries her best" plot so to me, this plot was refreshingly new and different.

Many people may dislike it because of the slow-pacing of the romance but for someone like me - I really really dislike slow paced movies - especially fillers episodes, they get on my nerves - really, but this series - wow oh wow...each episode makes me CRAVE FOR MORE!!

It's slow but it shows us how the romance between Kazehaya and Kuronuma slowly bloomed...it's so sweet it makes me squeal with glee just to see them acting awkwardly in front of each other. Because, like I said, it's more of a "slice of life" romance anime and tells us how a girl falls in love and make friends for the first time. It's definitely a refreshing concept.

Kuronuma making friends for the first time and making a new rival - it is so interesting to watch because it's not new to us but it's new - to her. To watch it from her view is superb interesting cause we all know how it feels to make a new rival or a new true friend.

Whilst I watch this, I thought of the first time I liked someone and the first time, I found my true friends...it was so memorable and being able to "be in" Kuronuma's point of view made it even cooler.

Art: 9/10

At first, I didn't like the characters design which is why I never thought of watching it till I heard about all the good reviews about it so I decided to give it a try - and heck, I'm glad I did! Because sometimes, I hear good reviews about a particular movie and they end up disappointing me so I'm really glad Kimi Ni Todoke didn't!

How wrong I am. The characters looked more like "real" people and they aren't TOO hot to begin with. I'm so scared of hot bishies because seriously, people have a knack for drawing beautiful male characters and that would make me lose control. Ha ha. ha. Just kidding but yeah. They look real and it's neat. :)

The background was oh-so-pretty and detailed. Yes. Detailed. It isn't some scribble form of buildings/doodles but instead, I get to see detailed background. The bubbles add a nice and soft romantic touch to it as well.

Animation was um...alright. It wasn't that great because sometimes, it looks a little fake but oh well, with such a great story to boot, who cares about the little animation fault? :D

Sound: 10/10

I love love love love love the sound that I downloaded both the OP and the ED song. Very, very nice :) Plus, the songs have nice meanings - go google them and you will see what I mean! Of course I didn't forget about the background music! That's what made the music more "enjoyable"! I could say that...the background music was appropriate - when it's sad - sad music comes up and so on...

The OP and ED song was the one that gave me a huge impact - background music was ok although I didn't take notice of it much. When I don't take notice of a background music, it's either

1) It' fits the mood perfectly so I have no questions about it

2) Not much of a huge impact for me to remember it

Moving on to character :)

10/10

Sawako's demure personality is so lovable. She's so pure and so...innocent and is friendly with almost everyone. It's so sad that she appears so scary outside when she's trying to interact with someone just because she doesn't know how to. But inside, she's just a normal girl like everyone else. It's cute how she experiences new things and you know - her chibi "OMG" self appears each time she experiences something new. Very cute.

Kazehaya is really oh wow different from male leads. He's not incredibly smart but he's very popular. To me, he looks quite average and is different from all those male leads - hot, handsome, smart, the Mr "I'm perfect and you know it - be jealous, bitches" HAHAHAHA. Ok, I'm exaggerating but yeah, you got my point. He's pretty much shy and has some flaws as well.

It's interesting to see how shy he gets + blushes whenever Kuronuma stares at him for too long.

The supporting characters definitely gets a THUMB UP as well! I loved Ayane and Chizu - could you believe they actually became Sawako's close friends? Best friends maybe? :) I never expected them to be Sawako's best friends at first because of their personalities but they did :") And they were so nice as well.

Chizuru - very cute and boyish! She's the highlight of the supporting characters - to me. She cries at the littlest things and is so tomboy-ish that it's cute. But inside, she's girly.

The supporting cast are not just "stand-by" or "fillers" if you get what I mean. They are here for a purpose and they are here to make a difference in Kuronuma's life and they DID.

Watch it and you will know why. Supporting characters = the BOMB.

Oh. And as much as I hate Arai sensei, I must admit, he makes the series more interesting *evil laughter* watch it and you will know what I mean >:)

Enjoyment: 9/10

It was very very enjoyable from the first episode up till the very end. But towards the end, I must admit - it does get a little boring. Character developments were there - Kuronuma changes to a more friendly behaviour and she's more open to new things and experiences so many new things in life but the romance between her and Kazehaya was disappointing.

The pace remained the same and there weren't any development in their romance. It was the same from the middle....which is why I rated it a 9 out of 10.

And to be honest, I think the Chizuru arc was just a filler story...but it is indeed an interesting filler story :) I laughed + cried a little when I watched it. It's sweet but what does it do for the couple? Nothing, right? So that's why I find it the filler a little useless but oh well..

I did love the series a lot and constantly smile till my cheeks hurts + "AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW" like crazy and blush as well because let's face it girls, we've all been there - done it.

Overall: I rate it a 10/10.

It doesn't mean that just cause I rate it a 10/10 - it has to be perfect.

It's just thoroughly enjoyable to me and it's one of the best romance anime I have ever watched. Very sweet and slow but still very enjoyable.

If you want a series that reminds you of your old high-school days (I just graduated T_T i miss high school now) + makes you go "awwwwwwwwwww" + blush + feel your "firsts" experiences, then this series is definitely for you.

Likewise, I'd encourage everyone to watch it. It was a pleasant experience for me. I'm now on Season 2. Cheers :)

Thanks for reading ^_^ read more

After getting a recommendation to watch this anime from a few people, I planned on it. From the default picture, it just looks like a regular anime. Nothing special, right? But it is. You find out parts of yourself you've never found before in this anime. I would have never thought I would fall in love with something so simplistic as this. I'll have to say I judged a book by it's cover. Before you try to throw this anime away, watch one episode first.

Story? 10/10.
At first, Kuronuma is outsider in the school. Everyone thinks she can see ghosts and summon spirits, but she's just an ordinary girl. She means a boy named Kazehaya, and he changes her life completely. It may sound regular, but it's totally different from what you're thinking. She never smiles at all, and she's never had real friends, but it was fate that they met.

Art? 10/10.
This is one of the things that drew me away from the anime at first. I looked at the default picture and went, "Ew, this totally isn't kawaii," since it's different from what I usually watch. As the story progressed, I fell more and more in love with this type of art. I suggest that everyone give it a try. It's similar to One Piece.

Sound? 10/10.
I absolutely loved the ending song for Kimi ni Todoke. It's the best in an anime I've seen probably. The lyrics fit the song perfectly, as well as the sound. I enjoyed listening to the ending every time the anime ended.

Character? 9/10.
The only reason this doesn't have a 10, is because I simply didn't like the misunderstandings that floated around in the story. It pissed me off quite a bit as well when Kanami did what she did, but you'll have to watch and see. Conflicts make the story grow, right?

Enjoyment? 9/10.
I really enjoyed this anime. It made me laugh, cry, smile, and fall in love with all of the characters. Anime like this deserve an award. Slice of Life is my favorite genre of anime, and things like this is why. You'll surely fall in love with this anime.

Overall? 10/10.
I'm not over exaggerating when I say this anime was on the verge of being perfect. Other people might love the conflicts and misunderstandings, but it ruined the mood for me. That being said, the heart felt parts were the best. Everyone who's watched this anime knows how it feels to be Kuronuma, and how it feels to be hurt. They also know the want to be loved and have friends. It's a great feeling when you're happy, and this is exactly the anime that gives you happiness. read more

Here's a review on Kimi ni Todoke from a male who enjoys a good romance.

Kimi ni Todoke is based off a manga of the same name and is for the most part incredibly light-hearted, and there are a few scenes that really get to your core and make you feel some powerful emotions. The aforementioned is the number one reason why I liked this anime, the second would be Sawako.

The story is told in almost first person perspective by Kuronuma Sawako, a girl who although lacking friends, isn't lonely. Throughout the story she makes many friends that help her realize what it means to have companionship.

Kuronuma Sawako as the lead character is an incredibly unorthodox and brilliant idea and the best parts of the anime all come from her. She is as already mentioned, the narrator most of the time and most events are explained through her point of view (that is until the story later stems onto side characters). What the writer, Shiina Karuho, has done would be that he wrote a beautiful girl who breaks the current dates standards of moe~moe~kyunnn and TITTY MONSTER. Not only is Sawako naturally goregous, Sawako is a naturally beautiful girl on the inside too - she's helpful and compassionate and truly cares about her friends and family. Sawako is just likable! Sawako at first is incredibly shy and can only try to make friends from afar because of her scary looks. She doesn't directly approach people and ask for their friendship because she really isn't all that confident in herself. One of my favorite parts about her throughout the story is that she is a character that really grows over time but at the same time keeps all the parts that symbolize her - such as the creepiness and the friendliness. One of the traits that Sawako has that I think is often overlooked would be one much like Kamina's ability to transform others into heroes. Instead of heroes though, she transforms the people around her into more of a community and you could say that her niceness rubs off onto other people. The only thing that she doesn't have going for her is that shes often too ditsy for her own good, due to the fact that she hasn't had a huge amount of human contact before in her life, so sadly a lot of the jokes of the series are at her expense.

The other characters are where I had to mark down the series. Sure they all have very different traits and characteristics that add variety to the show, but a lot of the characters are one joke characters that try to become full-fledged leads (Chizuru). Chizuru is a tomboy, and doesn't get any deeper than that, even with five or so episodes that revolve around her (that I would like to say is the least redeeming part of the series). But the main male lead, Kazehaya, does absolutely nothing and has almost no personality at all. In fact most of Kazehaya's traits that are positive are only spoken of by Sawako and Ume. He is the definition of "pretty boy" and solely exists to be the love object for Sawako. Yes I know characters don't always need to be really impressive to be good, but I was waiting for Kazehaya to do something that gave him some character! He was just a mary-sue who was liked by all in the end and doesn't progress any further than that. Ayane is a would be interesting character that barely develops further than "a nice person but looks like a skank" and plot around her even develops at one point later in the series, but is completely over-shadowed by Chizuru and Ryu's "relationship". Pin is a downright awful character who I'm pretty sure was just inserted to make everyone else look good. He's the one-dimensional teacher that thinks he's a stud (seriously) and it's frustrating to see him on-screen. Other characters like Ume, Joe (although cliched, I found him very funny) and Sawako's parents are really good too though and always supply a hardy laugh or a sad smile. Actually, I think Sawako's dad has more character development than Chizuru does.

Although having many different faces and varied personalities the actual story struggles with excessive drama. Now drama and romance are nearly inseparable, and having lots of it isn't a problem. The problem is when people go out of their way to make things seems more dramatic, which happens a lot in Kimi ni Todoke. Unnecessary and unclear events happen that could be easily solved with a bit of common sense but the unhappy occurrences drag on for three or more episodes. Let me rant for a bit; What I'm referring to exactly would be the Rumor arc that circulated around episode four, right from the get-go might I add, in which Sawako hears some gossip that she is getting Ayane and Chizuru, her two new friends, to back her up and that Sawako is saying nasty things about them behind their back. Sawako suddenly decides to distance herself from the two, complicating the matter. This problem can easily be solved by approaching the two and telling them the rumors are false, but instead the arc which has no real impact on the overall story continues on and eventually the dramatic scenes become so outrageous that the friends get into a fight and have to wallop some people spreading the rumors. I understand that the arc was used to subtly introduce Ume and to show that Sawako has made real friends but the show which is comedic and light most of the time didn't need to suddenly get dark.

To summarize, the romantic comedic feel is sometimes interrupted by suddenly depressing and unnecessary bouts of drama. The rest of the story is very fun though and I know it's hard to sound positive after that last paragraph but the mashed up bits of drama doesn't take a whole lot away from the story and I still advise you to watch.

The art of Kimi ni Todoke can really be defined in one phrase: Sparkles and Bubbles. Well, if you have already seen this anime you should know what I'm talking about, the iconic 'close up on the characters face, big smile, pink or other bright colored background, and then a lot of bubbles/sparkles pop up on the side'. I think every time this happened, regardless of the character who did it, I smiled. All the characters are very expressive, and you can easily hear a conversation going on between characters just by what their faces look like alone. Unlike other anime these facial expressions enhance the atmosphere of what the scene is trying to convey be it dramatic, romantic, or comedic. Oh, and you know when some characters are farther away from others and then the foreground characters look normal and the ones farther away look like they have seven eyes? Yeah, that NEVER happens in Kimi ni Todoke. Each character looks as detailed far away as up close and you can tell a lot of time and effort was put into doing so. The chibi's that appear throughout the series are a lot of fun too! They're all so so cute you can't help but to be amused. The opening animation is very silly and colorful and definitely reflects the anime well, while the ending is very serene and the uses mainly yellows and pinks that make it feel like you're reading an old picture book.

The sound of the OP matches the animation, fun and upbeat, but I didn't find it incredibly memorable. The ED on the other hand was really great and personally, I think it was one of the best endings of Fall '09. The melancholic tone hits you at the end of each episode, which is good because most episodes end bitter-sweet and the art matches the noise very well. The character voices were made up of five distinct voice actors - Daisuke Namikawa, Mamiko Noto, Yuuichi Namakura, Miyuki Sawashiro, and Hirano Aya (who all played main characters) but all the other voices weren't anything extraordinary and can easily be overlooked.

Kimi ni Todoke is at times, one of the best shoujo I've ever seen, and then at times falls victim to the troupes of today's romance. Kimi ni Todoke is a fantastic anime that had everything going for it, except that it didn't scope in on what it wanted to do. For the first fifteen episodes it focused on Sawako, and it was great! The revelation of a girl who doesn't know shes in love slowly becomes more apparent and right when you think something important is about to happen the story skips to a mid-season filler re-caping the first fifteen episodes and then takes a new route onto Chizuru's love life, who up until this point in the story, was just a comic-relief character. Luckily though, the story moves back to Sawako in the last few episodes but I didn't feel it made up for the six episodes of nothingness that just conspired. It's not that I didn't like the character or didn't want Chizuru and Ryu to be in the spotlight, it's just that the timing didn't really work and when their story was over, nothing had changed and six episodes of a great anime had been wasted.

In summary, Kimi ni Todoke is a must-see for all, even if you don't like romances. The wonderful moments that take place throughout the series will be setting an example for romance anime to come for the next ten years. There are moments that made me feel like I wanted to jump up and shout for joy, but there were a fair amount of moments that made me disappointed. Kimi ni Todoke is a very good shoujo romance, but it doesn't really have a full line-up for anything ground-breaking. I recommend giving it a try, and if you aren't hooked by the end of episode two then this series might not be for you. If you liked other anime Prodcution I.G. has made, such as Honey and Clover and Nodame Cantabile, then this anime is right up your alley. read more

Kimi Ni Todoke is one of the most optimistic and beautiful shows that I’ve ever seen. Watching it again only made it clearer how much other shows simply do not compare. The story’s about a teenage girl named Sawako Kuronuma who, because of her scary-looking appearance, is doomed to be an outsider. But one day she meets a boy, Shota Kazehaya. And it’s thanks to this boy, and the spark that he provides in her life, that she is able to muster up the courage to try and make changes to her life. The show is then less about the love story, and more about Sawako’s growing world, growing self-confidence, growing capacity to interact with the people around her, and how this manifests itself throughout the show (relationships, friendships, her self-esteem, and even the way she’s drawn). Sawako’s personality is ultimately what gives the show its unique aesthetic and worldview.

Sawako has remained alone throughout most of her school years. There are constant rumors and misunderstandings about her. Some say she’s cursed, some day she does black magic; all anyone can agree on is that she’s kind of creepy. It doesn’t help that any time Sawako tries to force a smile, it looks like she’s just killed her husband and drowned her children – it’s scary. But Sawako remains a bastion of positivity and optimism. She always helps out, volunteers, and does things for others, never expecting anything in return. She notices how Kazehaya always seems to be around people, talking, laughing, the center of attention; she admires that. Soon enough, he’s making an effort to include her in the dynamic of the rest of the class (going so far as to sit next to her when everyone else refuses to).

It’s because of this initial effort from Kazehaya that Sawako starts making more chances. She puts herself out there, hoping for the best. Soon enough she makes two friends, Yano and Chizu. But, even still, her self-confidence and her knowledge about these matters is so poor that she isn’t even sure that she qualifies as being a friend to them. Part of Sawako’s problem is that she’s become so accustomed to being alone that she doesn’t even recognize the importance of her own feelings. She knows of things, but has never experienced them. This is why she doesn’t even know if she qualifies as being a friend, or later why she doesn’t even understand that her feelings for Kazehaya are romantic (a shoujo standby, but given psychological depth here).

As Sawako begins to make friends, the central conflict becomes internal. It is no longer about her classmates or friends accepting her, but rather about Sawako thinking enough of herself to see herself as an equal to her peers. Most of the time she believes that she should put her wants and desires on hold to let other people get what they want. That’s why she volunteers or all the jobs that people don’t want at school – she’s completely selfless in an almost self-denigrating way. She casts herself down in order to bring up others – in order for her to aspire to become like them. Part of the growth o Sawako’s character is finding out the ways in which all the people she admires and wants to be like are all flawed in their own ways.

Even after acknowledging her feelings of love and friendship and seeing what she’s on equal ground with everyone else, she still has moments when she reduces herself again. I’d like to discuss Sawako’s “chibi” moments. I’m aware of the long history of these in anime; however, in Kimi ni Todoke, they serve an explicit thematic purpose. Sawako’s “chibi” moments are an expression of her current standing within the situation. If she feels awed by a situation or if she can’t understand it, she’ll go into that mode; her height is changed, her facial features become simplified, etc. She makes herself sub-human, even; unable to comprehend the situation she finds herself in. This is because she assumes she’s not equipped or on the same level as the people around her. It’s an issue of self-esteem. But these situations become fewer and farther in between. Part of the show’s strength is seeing Sawako rise to meet the challenge in situations that are important (notice that she does not go “chibi” in these confrontations).

There’s a formal elegance to the construction of Kimi ni Todoke that still baffles me. It is a balance that seems perfectly realized. It always seems to know exactly when to leave our mundane world behind and replace it with colors, sparkles, floral patterns – it taps into Sawako’s psyche even, and the animation is derived from her emotion. How else does one explain the pinks, the greens, the effervescence, the transcendence, the almost utopian ever-optimistic sensibility that seemingly is able to only come from being able to intensely identify with this teenage girl’s feelings?

Kimi ni Todoke believes in a world where people are good and darkness is there only to allow for opportunities to grow; it is a thoroughly uplifting vision. Through Sawako, we experience the world not as it is, but how it should be.

Note: I should mention that this write-up focuses more on the first season than anything else. The first season concerns itself more with the growth of Sawako’s inner strength and confidence, and the tentative steps she takes to have a life that she can be happy with. The second season, on the other hand, tries to resolve the romance between Kazehaya and her. As such, it’s beyond the scope of what I was focusing on in this essay. However, the second series is quite worthwhile, just necessarily different.

copied/pasted from my blog: thenextthingwordpress.wordpress.com read more