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So I found this manga on a whim. Read it quick, like I would any Shoujo.

But as went down my list, and read more and more, I kept re-opening it to check over the small things.

Then a few updates just so happen to catch my eye, and I was taken in, absorbed into the beauty that is Last Game.

Shorty after, I bought the volumes, and now, everyday, I check to see if the scanlators have translated.

EVERY. DAY.

... **NO SPOILERS**
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Story:

I'm quite surprised when I say that the story is actually rather simple, as most Shoujo are, but this one seemed a bit unique, at least. Yanagi Hisato, stands at the paramount of society, high above those deemed beneath him in the social totem pole. He has the intellect, the athletic prowess, the drive; everything you'd need to be considered "Perfect".

But then she comes.

Kujou, a girl that eclipses him at everything: sports, tests, games; except that her place is perhaps the ground at which the social totem pole sits upon. She has no friends, and with her personality, it is definitely a possibility that she wouldn't ever.

Now, Yanagi isn't exactly fond of being merely "second place" at everything. The world doesn't seem to care - of course - a rich, beautiful, intelligent, romantic Yanagi is all they need. But Yanagi is different. His drive to succeed forces him to despise Kujou, and for a decade he follows her, through elementary school, middle school, high school, and college with the ultimate goal to make her fall for him, and then ruthlessly dump her.

Of course, that doesn't exactly work the way its intended. Their prolonged relationship eventually results in an unrequited love, and with how dense she is, its going to take a very long time until poor Yanagi finally gets to tell the lifeless Kujou how he feels.

Rating: 10.
tl;dr:
Romance. Comedy. College Students/Young Adult. Unrequited Love.

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Art:

The art was simply outstanding. It's simple, but Amano is just perfectly showing off here. His artistic prowess gives the feel of beauty just when its right, and throws enough chibi in to alleviate a lot of the seriousness.

All of the characters have distinct eye patterns and hair to easily distinguish them from one another while not seeming too unrealistic or ridiculous. Backgrounds, scene transitions and panel framing is excellent, a top-quality piece.

Rating: 10
tl;dr: You shouldn't have any issues with the Art. Hell, that shouldn't even be an issue with manga anyways.

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Characters:

Both Kujou and Yanagi adhere to the simple "Better but not best" paradigm in their own right; Yanagi is a perfect sweet talker, and knows girls like the back of his hand, while Kujou remains perfect at nearly everything BESIDES social interaction.

The only person on earth that Kujou can say she honestly cares for is her mother, as that is her ongoing source of inspiration of love. And despite having to remain "Spoiler Free" I will say that it's quite obvious that this eventually turns into Yanagi(C'mon its a Shoujo).

There are other side-characters that contribute to the feel of the story and allow motion of the main plot, but I wont reveal them for spoilers sake.

Rating: 10
tl;dr: Funny characters put into a horrible position of unrequited love with the densest romantic partner since the last intergalactic collision of Black Holes(although given the scale of the Universe that could be actually every second)

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Enjoyment:

If you don't like Special A, you probably wont like this manga. But if you are an avid fan of shoujo and you're looking for something to take up the next 2 hours of your time with restlessness and laughter, I HIGHLY recommend you find your favorite manga viewing site and give this bad boy a try.

I enjoyed it enough to write a review.

About an UNFINISHED manga.

Yeah.

Rating: 10
tl;dr: Read the last 3 lines. Yes.

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Overall:

Now, it doesn't come flawless. There are a few things here and there that are a bit weird, but in the end, you find yourself so immersed in it that they are ignored. If you have any last minute questions, feel free to PM me. I am very, very, interested in Last Game, and I have been for about 8 months now.

Rating: 10.
tl;dr: This could use an anime adaption.

"What the hell is Katura?"
Of course, that was my first reaction.
But then...
Wow...
Just wow...

At first, this anime really didn't catch my interest. It was plain and dry, like trying to shape out the dry clay; but as it went on, I found myself immersed in it. Like a sea of colors vibrantly expanding across an infinite of sky. Yes, even now, fifteen minutes after I finally saw the last episode, I am still numbed by its excellence.

**NO SPOILERS**
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...
Story:

In the beginning, the story seemed boring. Predictable. Like a boat streaming across still water. It was lifeless, and simple. I expected it to be like any other Anime with a swindle of a romance eclipsed by the ever flamboyant facade of a sport or activity.

But somewhere, as the series progressed, it seemed to evolve. It seamlessly grew to something more, something beyond the natural limits of a story. It wasn't plagued with typical conflicts or unrequited desires, it was like a light that slowly lit itself brighter and brighter, unblocked by the trends of literature and expectation. Barriers that innately shackled a series' potential seemed to fade away, and every climactic moment that the characters felt was somehow shared with the viewer. As if a crescendo of realization would slay you alongside them.

All in all, it was about the sport, Katura. And, you'd think: "Well, if its just about a sport its not like anything interesting can happen." But somehow, it was different. The sport was a sort of catalyst that helped the characters not only develop towards one another, but it opened the door for an entire world that we all seem to forget, as if blinded by the mundane trudge of life.

The competitive aspect of the game, which yearned for such a demand of stamina seemed to be later eclipsed by the "true" virtue hidden within the sport. Yes, what the beginner sees, and the masters forget: The poetry. Such an attribute slowly became the mortar that gave new meaning to each simple issue that arose during the characters' failures.

It was seamless as we learned with them, through their desperation and hardship; their envy and willpower. The goals kept increasing, and aspirations began to soar, capping only at what the characters truly wanted.

Rating: 10.
tl;dr:
Romance. Friendship. Deeper revelations. Aspiration oriented. Perseverance through strength. No text box storytelling. Failure.

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Art:

The art in this show was interesting. It had primarily bold lines, and definitely took some getting used to. But now that I finished it, I really couldn't imagine this anime any other way.

The thing is, since this show is so off on a tangent in the first place, it seemed necessary to break the norm.

However, I will say that there were moments when I wished that they wouldn't have. The fact of the matter is, the art does well for its purpose, but it seems like it was aimed at a particular niche. I guess it just comes down to personal preference, really.

Nonetheless, the art was still phenomenal. Everything down to lighting was near perfect, and facial expressions were particularly pronounced so as to invoke the true feelings of the characters. Bloom, Sparkles, Glitter, Comical Backdrops, and Chibi Moments; everything seemed in good shape.

Overall, it had a realistic feel. Which held tremors to the viewer considering the entire theme could be realistically translated into anything the viewer truly desired.

Rating: 9
tl;dr:
The art was different, but really you shouldn't have any complaints.

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Sound:

Ah. Sound.

This soundtrack is simply awe inspiring. Even now, as I write this review, I have OST 7 "Main Theme" on loop.

The music in this show was EXTREMELY good. It did very well to convey the emotions that were felt by the characters, and worked seamlessly with the art and choreography to invoke what the moments wished you to feel. To be honest, the music had a voice of its own. As if it was an entire character separate of the cast, watching the show with you, helping you along through the tears.

It sympathized with you when necessary, and laughed alongside you, guided you along the adventurous moments... It really couldn't have been any better.

Even if this show had 5 frames a second and 1980's art, I would still choke for air at how many times this musical score seems to steal your breath away.

If anything, I'll still be listening to this music many decades later. Thank you, Kousuke Yamashita.

If only I could rate this 20.

Rating: 10.
tl;dr:
Symphony. Commonly repeating motif. Varied orchestration. Light sounds mixed with heavy ensembles. Stellar composition.

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Characters:

While romance is an aspect of the story, it is merely a development feature. Note that the story is more so directed toward the love of friendship and the game itself than it is towards any romantic moments.

To start with, each character occupies a niche.

Ayase is a beauty, yet it is in vain. The moment she speaks, it is broken by her tomboyish image and personal drive. But its those very traits that reel you in. She is the joyous energy that keeps the group together, and despite her clear superiority in the game, genuinely cares for her friends, and helps aid them in their journey to pursue Karuta.

Taichi, Ayase's childhood friend, remains her loyal companion throughout the years. His mental forte is unmatched to most every player the game has ever known; even once reciting every card at random in the entire deck of 100, just because he could. His family is privileged, and he is pressured by his parents to keep at the highest tier in terms of sports and exams. His brains keep him on par with the purists that achieve their status merely due to athletic prowess. He acts as the groups motivator and leader, often amping everyone out of their slumps with "Just the right words" to turn them around.

Arata represents the reverse side to Taichi, being the poorer, lesser appreciated, segment to the story. As the story progresses, his darker past becomes realized, and he continues to become a shining beacon for Ayase.

There is a triangle romance between the three of them, but remember, the show does not articulate this enough for this show to be branded as a romance.

Of course, there are a great many other supporting characters that help aid Ayase on her journey to realize herself through Katura, each having a realistic and effective back story that warps the plot in one way or another.

Rating: 10
tl;dr:
The characters were diverse, which allowed for the story to be seen through a wide spectrum. Realistic. Believable. Nothing was over exaggerated.

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Enjoyment:

Did I find this show enjoyable?

Well, in a way I did.

I felt that it was really giving a perspective about achievement I had never really thought about.

To learn meant failure, to grow stronger meant to feel hardship and to overexert yourself to what phase out the illusions to what you truly desired.

At the end of each episode, with the crescendoing music resounding with each episodic climax, I felt the overwhelming desire to watch the next.

Rating: 10
tl;dr:
It was like a ten hour long movie that always kept you drooling for more.

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Overall:

I was stunned by the hype of this show that I nearly skipped over it. And let me tell you, I ALMOST did.

And simply for the thought once existing, I regret it.

If I had passed up this show, I really would have missed out on such a masterpiece. I am shamed of myself.

I honestly cant wait to jump into Chihayafuru Season 2.

Rating: 10
tl;dr:
It was beautiful to the core. Every aspect was heartwrenchingly flawless. If you have any last minute questions before watching this series, feel free to PM me.
I really don't think the world can afford to have people so many that haven't seen Chihayafuru.

Well, I don't normally go out of my way to write reviews.
But wow...
This show deserves it.

Within the first four minutes or so I thought this anime was going to be typical Harem or some annoying romance that attempts to sway you by overly cliche one-liners and pompous ass shots, but oh how was I wrong.

**NO SPOILERS**
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Story:
...
The story is unique in this anime because it does something that I really don't see very often in literature these days.

Its actually a generally sad story, but the reason its sad isn't because of stream that which guides the plot; i.e., war, death, dystopia, anarchy, evil tyrant, etc., but more so the realism that reflects in how the characters develop around one another.

This anime really sheds light on the unspoken feelings that revolve consistently in any given relationship; Jealousy, Envy, Heartbreak, etc, but the best of it is that its not delivered to us the way a typical Shoujo would; using extras, realization characters, stereotypical events (The beach, Vacationing) to push the relationship forth. In fact, the relationship is merely a catalyst for the primary conflict WITHIN the main character that is that he must breach the revelation that is his true aspirations and goals in his life.

Another great thing about this anime is that the story isn't ENTIRELY about the relationship. Its about friendship, and the coalition of people gathering together and forming bonds that help bring unite them. For lack of a better phrase, you essentially watch a family be created right before your very eyes.

And let me tell you, its truly heartwarming scene indeed.

Rating: 10.
tl;dr:
Friendship oriented. Romance is not the 100% primary story element. Realistic scenarios. Realistic characters. Self-Realization. Failure.

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Art:

It guess it goes without saying that the art in this show is phenomenal. Then again, it seems almost ridiculous to even have to mention this statistic nowadays. Being that this is a modern anime, the technology used to develop this piece of work couldn't be anything less than perfect.

From a cinematographic standpoint, it was perhaps twenty-five frames a second.

The scenes are well choreographed to invoke particular emotions or thoughts at a particular scene. The lighting was realistic and pleasant to watch, details fell down to a simple swaying tree to present that the wind was breezing by. Sakura petals streamed in the luminosity of their stellar backdrops. Clouds, buildings, shadows, toning, glitter, facial expressions - everything seemed to present itself beautifully.

Chibi moments are gloriously prepared and orchestrated in comic situations and were not overused.

Rating: 10.
tl;dr:
Its a modern anime. If you don't like the art, you need to see an optometrist.

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Sound:

When rating sound I always find it necessary to comment on the voice actors work. Of the array of characters, I was definitely satisfied with all of the voices portrayed. Even accents and slang was correctly articulated by the actors. No one seemed too annoying or too bitter. The characters were well delivered to the audience.

Secondly, the OST is an excellent mix of both tragically sad and joyously happy music, the orchestration reflecting the scenes and attitudes of the given characters. It was honestly well made, and I have little argument against them.

The various ending themes and opening themes were easily rememberable and had a gleaming feeling to it.

Rating: 10.
tl;dr:
Acoustic. Piano. Depressing yet Joyful. Excellent voice acting.

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Characters:

This anime has a bit of everything. The diversity of the characters gives a bit of something to love in everyone. You have your stereotypical nerd, the glossy white haired innocent, the childhood friend clinging to romance with the male lead, the overly eccentric genius girl and her loyal companion side kick. Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo certainly has a little bit of everything.

But what stunned me enough to give this a such a high rating was that the characters were surprisingly dynamic and realistic in how they acted, given their roles.

Perseverance through strength and friendship became the overwhelming theme of the story, and the characters somehow all coordinated around one another and aided each other in their quest to realize themselves and their futures.

The romance aspect is somewhat of a skewed triangle. While it is blatantly obvious that Shiina and Sorata are destined for one another, Aoyama still attempts at the boy, so as to give off the perspective of insecurity that she holds within herself. This helps her when she transitions to maturity, and once again reflects the overwhelming principle that friendship prevails.

Rating: 10
tl;dr:
Not too dramatized. Simple yet complex. Realistic. Love affairs. Friendship.

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Enjoyment:

Comments regarding enjoyment lie in the principle that this anime is not directed towards those that are eagerly looking for some Shoujo Romance, or some outstanding moral conclusion about life.

This anime is carefree, yet it breathes through the seemingly minor conflicts that arising during adolescence that truly impact the entity of our lives. It brushes upon realistic issues about growing up and realizing that the world is larger than yourself.

I honestly couldn't stop tuning in every Monday to watch this show. It had a pleasant mixture of comedy and seriousness that left me satisfied to the core.
Rating: 10
tl;dr:
It was a fun experience, and a proper message.

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Overall:

I would find it insulting to the author if I rating this anything less than a masterpiece. While there were things that seemed overly done and a bit exaggerated, a grand majority of this anime was flawless.

Its a shame that there are so little of these "oh so perfect" diamonds out there.

If you don't like this anime, I would honestly like you to PM me with your reasoning because you need to be enlightened.

Rating 10.
tl;dr:
Stellar anime
Great message. Great Art. Great soundtrack. Excellent Characters. Lasting appeal.