So based on the synopsis, Sakurasou is a rom-com, high school slice of life anime - a genre that is pretty standard and generic, and one which I tend to avoid. As I was just looking for something light and easy to watch to pass time, I didn't have alot of expectations going into the show. However, by the end I was left pretty dumbstruck by what I've just watched. Sakurasou is really a case of "dont judge a book by its cover", it will definitely take you by surprise.
STORY: 8
The story in Sakurasou starts off fairly slow and generic, our main protagonist Sorata moves into a dorm full of problematic students, or the misfits of the school. He is initially set on moving out at the first opportunity, however as the story progresses we find that he eventually becomes attached to Sakurasou and its eccentric residents. However, the other much more interesting aspect of the story is on the ambitions and dreams of each character in the story, and how they struggle to achieve their own goals. Personally, this is a concept that's very relatable to me at different stages in life - whether its studying for grades, college applications or career aspirations. The show really manages to highlight the realities of life, where we're often met with failures before we find success, do we simply give up? or pick up the pieces and start again. The plot also plays around with the idea of people who are naturally talented vs those who have to try - and again this is a very interesting concept which adds alot of depth to the story of the anime. A number of reviews have commented on the (lack of) romance between the main characters, and I agree that this hasn't been very well executed. However, personally I didn't find that the romance was a very important element to the plot in Sakurasou and so I didn't really have any problems with it.
ART: 9
The art is another very strong aspect of Sakurasou. The anime is beautifully animated and utilisese a very bright palette of colours which I find very pleasing to watch. Most scenes, particularly the important scenes were very well executed and its evident that alot of attention was given to very small details. The character designs are also very well done.
SOUND: 8
The sound is generally well done, and both the OP/ED are good and complements the overall theme and genre of the anime.
CHARACTERS: 10
This is easily one of the most important aspect of Sakurasou, and what really sets it apart from the cliches that we find in other similar high school animes. The thing is, Sakurasou's characters are not particularly unique, in fact many of them can easily fall into the generic stereotypes that we find in many animes. However, each character was so well executed that together they really created a dynamic that was very unique to Sakurasou. In my opinion all the characters were pivotal to the main plot, and none of them really felt like extras to the show. All of the characters were very well developed, with their own unique backstories. Because of this I was able to connect deeply with the characters. I was able to relate to their motivations, and understand why they reacted in a certain way to various events. At times Sakurasou was also an emotional roller coaster. I experienced different emotions together with the characters as events in the anime unfold - happiness as they celebrated their success or sadness and anger when they were met with failure.
ENJOYMENT: 10
Sakurasou was a very enjoyable anime, one which I think many viewers can truly relate to. It successfully manages to play around with a seemingly generic high school setting to create a very enjoyable anime. An interesting and surprisingly deep story, an eccentric array of well developed characters which together create a very unique atmosphere for the show.
To sum up, Sakurasou is definitely a must watch for any slice of life and rom-com fans, but also for other viewers because its very unique and different from the cliches that are common in this genre.
