Hachimitsu to Clover II

Ah, Umino Chika's masterpiece, Honey and Clover. I first saw this more or less two years ago, initially thinking it was just some generic romance anime. Needless to say, I suddenly fell in love with it from the moment in season one, episode two, near the ending, when Takemoto was carrying Morita on his back. Cue. The piano stopped. And right after that, he said, "It hurts". From that point on, I knew I was watching a different kind of anime. I guess remembering that random scene from an episode proves that it had an impact.

Season one ended gracefully, you could accept it as "ending" ... and it can have a sequel as well. Either way, we've got a lot of questions left, like what happened to Mayama, Rika and Yamada, or is Shinobu really that much of an idiot that he couldn't fight for Hagu, as well as what would be Hagu's answer after "I'm glad you're back". I was literally jumping with joy when they decided to make another season. Everything was concluded at Honey and Clover II.

These kinds of anime is the reason why I still love the medium animation.

Color pastel-type work at its finest. They're at an art school, after all, so the art should be top-notch. JC Staff is enough said; almost anything they make delivers, and delivers well. I love how they abused the blurry, almost-dreamy look of the show. Some may find it a bit "girly", but, well, it fits the opus. It stays loyal to the manga's designs too.

One of the BEST parts of watching Honey and Clover is listening to its wonderful, wonderful music. "Dramatic" and "Waltz" got us in season one, the piano renditions of the songs were especially amazing. Now we've got "Fugainaya" and "Split", which are really blessings to the human ear. I may be wrong, but almost every episode has a different insert song with it, which was brilliantly scored to match the scene it goes with. I especially liked the song at episode nine and the song playing on the last scene. Epic.

The factor that propels Honey and Clover to its fame is its characters, and the story that they individually have, interconnected with each other. It's a story about growing up, maturity, and coming-of-age (jobs, decisions, etc) after all. Maybe it's my age, but I find its story stunningly touching and awe-inspiring. Before Honey and Clover, I thought most modern works lost the magic of storytelling. Characters were easy enough to identify with. Themes of unrequited love, talents, ties, lifelong goals, finding oneself, hardships and trials; they're all there, wonderfully packaged.

Takemoto's still the unsure, melancholic character that he was at season one but you could see he's grown up a little and learned more about how life goes. He's the banner of H&C, he represents adolescence. Morita lost most of his eccentricity and we get to see the deeper side of him, as well as the people he's closest to. Yamada, well, is Yamada, still with her unrequited love, but of course, with a twist at season two. We get to see more of Rika, Professor Hanamoto, and Mayama. But, definitely, Hagu's part on the succeeding story is probably the biggest plot point of Honey and Clover II.

What really makes this a modern gem is the way it was presented; it was music, characters, and story weaving in and out of each other in perfect harmony. At times I really find myself asking why is aging this bittersweet. Honey and Clover II is the right way to end the nostalgic series, and if you want to watch something that isn't flooded with moe, giant breasts or extreme harem, and instead want to see something of a mature slice-of-life anime, see this.

One thing's for sure. It did have meaning.

12 episodes were not enough. I at least need 24 episodes of Honey and Clover goodness for my fill. Honey and Clover was just easy and fun to watch, and it was the same for the second season.

As for the drawing style, main plot and voice acting, not much has changed so I’ll only focus on the things that have changed.

The main plot hasn’t changed – it’s still a “coming of age” story for all of the characters, but for this season, the focus has shifted from Takemoto and Yamada’s individual stories to Hagu and Morita. Sure we still get to see the Takemoto’s struggles ... with his youth and Yamada’s sad love story, but this time, we learn more about Hagu and her strong passion for what she does and what Morita has been doing up until now. Plus there have been some developments with Mayama’s relationship with Rika as well – and for a hardcore Rika hater/Yamada-Mayama fan like me, that’s kinda tough to watch.

Even though I’m glad at how it ended, I still can’t help but shed a few tears because of their parting. I wish that they could stay together and have fun forever (kind of like how I feel now since I’m graduating) but that’s how life goes – you meet new people and in the process you lose some people. I also found myself tearing up more during this season. There were just so many things that are kind of sad and bittersweet.

Generally there weren’t any changes as to drawing style, but Hagu definitely looks prettier. Back in the first season, I didn’t think she was cute or pretty until the last few episodes. Her look during the last few episodes was carried over to the new season and was made even better. CG was still used, most notable in the opening theme sequence, and was complimentary in some scenes as well.

They used some music from the first season, but I think that was only in the first 2 episodes. There was also a variety of insert songs for this season as well, which really complimented the scenes. The opening song and ending song for this season were similar to the opening and ending song of the first season, probably because they were performed by the same artists but I have to say, I like the first season’s themes better.

I’m so sad that I won’t have any more Honey and Clover now. I finally found the meaning to the line “Good things must come to an end”, and I found another favorite to add to my list.

Title: Honey and Clover II

Anime: Honey and Clover II was once again produced by JC Staff (famous for their work on Revolutionary Girl Utena and Excel Saga), and directed by Tatsuyuki Nagain (famous for his work on My-HiME and iDOLM@STER XENOGLOSSIA) this time around. It aired on Japanese TV from June 29th to September 14th, 2006. It has yet to be licensed Stateside.

Story: Honey and Clover II picks up where Honey and Clover left off, and finishes up the remaining manga material.

I like this follow-up. It answers questions it left unanswered last season, and resolves all the relationships that were left hanging ... at the end of last season. And there are some absolutely heart-breaking scenes in here.

Something just seems to be missing here, though. I just can't really put my finger on it. I think it has something to do with the mood -- it seems less centered around the realism than it was last season. Not that it's not realistic, because it still is, but... I don't know how to explain it.

It's good and all, but it's just not the same as it was last season. Probably comes with the director change.

Art: Just as beautiful as it was last season, though it seems that they used brighter colors than they did last season than some of the more muted colors that they tended to use.

Music: There's another piano version of either the OP or ED that plays a lot and is really beautiful. Background music is about the same as last season.

The insert music is still done by the same artists, from what I can hear, and still appropriately fitting.

The OP is still done by the same wailing banshee lady, but the animation for it is pretty neat again. The ED's not all that remarkable, again, but I can live with it.

Seiyuu: All the same actors as last season, except for the twelfth and final episode, where Kenji Nojima replaces Hiroshi Kamiya as Takemoto's VA, due to an accident that the latter had that rendered him unable to record the episode; Nojima does a pretty good job of staying as close to Kamiya's performance as possible, but you can tell that it's not Kamiya. Good performances though, as always.

Length: Twelve episodes was the perfect length to take care of everything they left untouched last season, I think. Any longer, and it would've started to drag a bit.

Overall: A good follow-up to last season, but it's just not the same. If you want to find out how everything eventually resolves, then definitely watch it. Just be aware that it might not be quite the same impact as the first season made on you.

Story: 9/10
Art: 9/10
Music: 9/10
Seiyuu: 9/10
Length: 9/10

Overall: 45/50 (90%, B+)

A sequel is often a lackadaisical attempt to cash in on its predecessor’s success. As such, most spin offs end up being mediocre or straight out terrible. There is however, a small handful that takes the foundation its progenitor has laid out and adds another, more polished layer on top. Honey and Clover II may be a sequel, but it is by no means inferior. In fact, with the characters firmly established, the show plays out the resolutions to much of the initial conflicts, creating a product that is actually superior to the original.

Production values are once again solid with beautiful animation, heartfelt music and ... creative cinematography. However, these are merely the uppermost icing on this exquisite cake. The Honey and Clover franchise has always focused on its characters, shoving plot to the wayside, and directly making connections with the audience.

No words can truly do the complex feelings portrayed in this anime justice; the flood of raw emotions that is unleashed simply cannot be adequately expressed. The cast is so diverse, so dynamically human that it is hard not to like. I will personally testify that Honey and Clover II has some of the most believable and relatable characters I have ever seen. Anime, live action or otherwise, you will be hard pressed to find anything more authentic.

The conflicts the characters face ring with a sharp, down to earth tone that is hopeful yet poignant. The cast has already put down their cards in the original Honey and Clover so, in this sequel, the other players begin to respond. The characters absolutely blossom or silently whither depending on their loved ones’ acceptance or rejection. However, these individuals hold in their hearts the fact that tomorrow is another day full of harsh tribulations and renewed hope. You will laugh with these characters; you will cry with these characters; you will feel emotions you never thought possible through anime. Rarely have I seen an anime so viscerally portray life.

If Honey and Clover was the dramatic herald to first love, Honey and Clover II is surely the emotional fallout. The characters are dealt a cruel hand as they become hung up on a one sided love. None of the feelings the cast undergoes is shallow or facetious. They are confronted with the harsh reality of rejection and the harrowing continuation of life. If you want a genuinely heartfelt drama, Honey and Clover II more than fits the bill. It is, without a doubt, one of the best you can find.

I will be spoiling pretty much this entire show so be warned.

You know this is not the review I wanted to write. After finishing and loving the first season of honey and clover, I wanted nothing than to watch, and write a review of why Umino Chika did the unthinkable again, and managed to keep the spectacular quality of last season, and her other work, 3-gatsu no lion. Unfortunately, this is not the review I will be writing right now, I will try to portray my honest impression of this season, and how it managed to be an interesting disappointment.

On the positive side, this series ... definitely had some strong aspects. The relation between rika and Mayama actually works quite well, forming the stronger emotional aspect of this season. It is kind of easy to understand why both characters start to get so attached to one another, and how both develop as people, because of the other. Mayama starts dropping the appearances of maturity he so eagerly displayed in the first season, managing to defeat the fear of looking juvenile in the eyes of the older woman he deeply loved, to actually taking action, doing what she needs the most despite how pathetic he may look when doing that. Rika’s case is even more apparent, her terrifying past made her unable to move on with her life, stuck in an endless cycle of regrets and sad memories, and even getting her apart from her friends and family. It is through seeing how much someone like Mayama really cares for her, and through confronting some memories of her past, with his encouragement, that she finally manages to take the decision to start facing forward, and trying to live her life again. If only the other characters in this show had this good of resolution you would not see me giving a single complaint of this series.

I would still argue the best aspect in this show is how enjoyable it still manages to be. Acts like Nomiya support and endless wisdom, acting like such a bro, will always be very endearing in my eyes. The same can be said of Miyawako cheerful and playful attitude. And really just the characters in this show can just be so loveable and adorable at times, I cannot get enough of them, no matter how clustered unauthentic and even baffling this series becomes with the drama and subplots, the mere idea of seeing this characters I love on screen, is just enough for me to still get some satisfaction, out of it.

It is probably better for me to explain why the character’s work much better in the first season and not as much here though. What always strikes me about the character writing in the first season of the show, was not how complex or well developed the characters were (even though I would argue some them really were), but how the series finds the perfect balance between idealization and realism. These characters were never what I would call realistic representations of people living this period in life, they are noisier cheerful, and way more optimistic than anyone I know this age. But there is also this important aspect of realism to them, they always had some sort of character flaw and the issues they face tell so much about our own issues, their search for meaning, their fear of rejection, their difficult to let go of their past and actually make progress in life, to the point anyone watching it could relate to these characters in some way. This is what always made me see watching this show as a magic time, the characters were never bogged down by excessive realism, which would make them unpleasant, like per say something like 13 reasons why, but they were never so idealized, I could not relate to them, and see them just as some idealized fantasy for escapism. This show in its first season managed this balance perfectly, I could get happy and consider those adorable characters a special group of friends I loved, with all the amusing comedy and interactions between them, while still getting my needed dose of character drama, pathos. Half of what made every emotion feel so genuine and well presented in my eyes, was that this style of character writing really was perfect for the turmoil of emotions, this show wants to portray. This season changes that a little, by choosing to have a bigger focus on drama, the realism becoming more relevant than the idealism. Dropping that balance, for the realistic spectrum of things, did not add much to the show, only made it lose the magic, the endlessly sentimental tone I loved about the first season.

Perhaps the most egregious aspect is how it handles the resolution for morita’s character though. Throughout the first season, the most well established and important quality he had was his emotionally distant approach to his friends, since he could not let go of an issue with his past and really be with them. How do they handled said particular character conflict here? Just make he not really care for the issue he was facing, it only being really important for his fucking brother. Yes, the biggest character flaw morita had, was just the fact he was trying to please his brother with some fucking plan he was coming up, without really caring about it. This is fucking brilliant. Actually scrape what I said above, what they did with hanamoto was way worse. They took one of the most adorable relationship in this entire series, which was previously compared as exactly like the one between a little brother and sister, and made it so, he now has some weirdly romantic infatuation with Hagu and is fighting for her with guys half his age. People who thought that rei and hinata to get in a relationship was weird, should come and see this bullshit. Also it is sad to see how takemoto has absolutely nothing to do or importance in here. As much as I love the man (which I really do) his participation in this story ended with his development last season, and his rejection by Hagu. Actually I would argue this whole I want to find meaning in a never happening love conflict, is a character regress with the answer he got from last season. His impact in other characters and the way they solve their issues is also almost nonexistent. Hagu’s character arc probably has the best closure in this. Her resolve to actually let go of love to achieve her goals, and be able to assert her will, even though she knows this might be selfish on her part is great. The way she underwent and manages to overcome the fear and stress of losing the only thing she was really good at, and capable of doing, with the help of the connection of those around her and with determination and self-discipline, is awe inspiring to say the least. Outside of Hagu I cannot think of a character who truly had good closure. When I was praising how Honey and clover handled the theme, of the difficult of changing yourself, I did it, because I believed by the end of the characters would still develop and solve their issues. This is a story after all, just conditioning a good closure to a theme is simply not worth it. I kept thinking, well the character development is obviously not coming in this early stage of the story, because of the themes it was trying to portray, but surely by the end of it every main character will have achieved solid catharsis and development. Only Hagu, and Takemoto early in the story got that. Yamada being the worst offender in all of this, which had the capacity to spent 37 episodes building a character arc that ends in the exact same place by the finale of the show. So great work again Umino Chika?

This season this does adds something considerable in terms of themes. Although briefly touched upon in the other season, the theme of talent takes the upstage in this one. The Morita backstory, and Kaoru entire participation in this show have as primary importance to tackle this theme, having several parallels throughout the story. Talent is in no way correlated with happiness in this world, both talented and untalented people suffer a like. The untalented had to solve with the difficult find meaning in their lives, their actions are in no way unique and can easily be replaced by someone else, never being able to compare or compete. They are torn with envy of those who are really capable. The talented also suffer a lot as well, both because of the resentment of those who lack their capacity, as well as with the guilty whenever they feel they are not using the ability they have, which other people would die to have. So far so good, talent as a theme may be overused in fiction, but this series is actually exploring it a little differently. What it never did was to actually solve any of the conflicts such duality brought. How did the characters solve the difficult feelings it come with this disparity in capacities and with their own limitations, and abilities? Actually they did not, they just moved on with their lives with the help of their friends I think? Because that was how Kaoru did it btw. There is the whole talk to your brother and try tell him, how you feel, try to make him understand you, speech by Hagu, but we never see this understanding between these opposites happening in the series or if that ever happened. Is Takemoto hard work supposed to show even the untalented can make meaningful things putting effort into it? In the end I am at a loss at thinking if this got any resolution, so I got nothing here

If you payed attention, in all I wrote above the idea of this being a lacking resolution is a constant one. This season did not need to do much for me to really like it, I do love this series special just for being a fun time if these characters. All I really needed out of this season was an okay conclusion to most of what was being built previously, while still maintaining the previous charm. Unfortunately, this failed both as a conclusion and both in maintaining the familiar charm, I love about this work. Perhaps I should call the whole thing a failure and score it low. Which I am not going to do, even if I cannot in good mind call this a success from Umino Chika, I still find her writing and works far more entertaining and interesting to think about than a lot of people successes.

okay...this took me a long time~~

* If u haven't watched the first season yet, i feel sorry for u *

Umino Chica's masterpiece,Honey and clover is a slice of life revolving around the life of 5 college students, revolving around their lives, as each search for their respective four leaf clovers.

STORY- The second season starts off right where the 1st ends, as our 5 main characters try their best ... to find that elusive happiness. The second season has more melodramatic aspects, the comedy got considerably toned down from the 1st season. Season 2 deals more with the emotional fallout, as they are cruelly pushed to the realm of unrequited love.

CHARACTERS- Honey and clover has always given preference to the well fleshed out characters than the plot. Takemoto's coming of age, Hagu's determination,Yamada's unwavering love for Mayama...everything has been beautfully potrayed. Also.S2 gives the spotlight to Morita's past, rather than just using him as comedic relief (as was in S1). Also we see the resolution of Mayama/ Rika/ Yamada arc. All in all,HnC has a set of the believable characters you will ever find in any form of entertainment.

ART- visually pleasing,use of soft water colour palette gives it almost a dreamlike effect.

SOUND- Op is innovative as usual, ending is one of my personal favs. The use of songs of Spitz, Suga Shikao, in the episodes proves successful yet again.

All in all, HnC is a perfect example of an anime where u do not need overly complicated plot to make it amazing, all u need is the perfect harmony of music, feelings and really believable characters. Its quite sad to see its not as popular as other slice of life anime like Clannad, Toradora, as it is simply the best slice of life anime u can ever find. Save your moeblobs, generic shounens, harems, and go watch Honey and clover...for it surely will have some meaning, and will continue to revolve forever in your heart as your bittersweet memory.

*This will serve as my review for both seasons 1 and 2.


What is love? What is adulthood? What is the true meaning of life?

Those are the questions Honey and Clover tries to explore, and in my humble opinion, it definitely succeeded.

At first glance, Honey and Clover seems like your average slice-of-life series with a little bit of romance and comedy. However, what starts out as a light-hearted story of a group of art students living and interacting with each other turns into a full blown romantic drama. And, at the heart of that drama, lies a poignant look at what it really means to grow ... up.

Honey and Clover follows these young protagonists as they find love, suffer tragedies, and gain wisdom. Along the way, they discover many little insights about life that most people will also find at some point. Although the series starts out slow, and dare I say, a little bit boring, the characters soon endear themselves to the audience, so that when they laugh, we laugh, and when they cry, we cry along with them.

The animation is very simple, in light pastel colors that fit the series well. The soundtrack was very beautiful and enhanced both the comedic and touching scenes, and the voice acting was top-notch. Everything that wasn't the story and characters only helped, not hindered, the story and characters.

But what really captured me most about this show was that the characters seemed so...human. They were selfish and stupid at times, but they made realistic mistakes. They were reflections of ourselves, and our own insecurities.

Many people will complain that Honey and Clover had an unsatisfying ending; that certain characters didn't get what they deserved; that other characters should have gotten more. However, I though the ending was perfect, as it portrayed how real life often works. Not everyone has a happy ending in the classic sense, and not every issue is resolved, but people still manage to find joy in what they do have.

In the end, Honey and Clover became one of my favorite series because of this. Never before have I watched or read anything in which I've been able to relate to the characters so well. I was struck by the simple humanity of this show, and I have a feeling most other people who watched this show were as well.

My first time writing a review, I stumble upon this anime while searching old anime since I thought that, most current anime are mostly fanservice.

Excluding the actual story, it have a totally (even though not direct) Life Lesson specially for those who are currently in a existencialism (did I spell that right?) crisis.
Since it is a sequel I was actualy expecting something more like Season 1 but I was wrong and totally shocked me.

Story 10/10
It's ok to judge me since I started watching anime at about 2010 so I was already used to action animes and fantasy genre, though I've watched a few normal one ... but this is currently one of the most wonderful story I have known this date.

Art 9/10
I can't actually put it into words but, I think it's pretty smooth or something near that word.

Sound 9/10
Honestly, most of the male voiced song that I heard this past few years was alright, thought not really that much touching, except for this, even though I can't understand the language, without reading the subs it sounded wonderful to the ears and heart.

Enjoyment 10/10
There where even moments that I started to punch the wall while watching and my mother taught I was fighting with somebody.

Overall 10/10
Must watch anime for all

This review is for both of the seasons of Honey & Clover.

Overall, I think that this story is a masterpiece. I don't like "slice-of-life" genre AT ALL, but this story certainly captured me... even though I thought I would hate it.

The characters are not cardboard at all. They come to life, they have their own problems & in the end, it seems like there isn't just one "main character", but there are many. Their personal lives really suck you in. Every character develops into a new person it seems by the end of the series.

The drama is good, but ... it seems to take several episodes sometimes for one character to get over a certain problem. This was probably the only thing that bothered me.

The animation is pretty good. Sometimes backgrounds can seem generic & overused, but other times, the animation can take your breath away.

If you're looking for romance, an anime with a reality check, sadness, happiness & definitely a lot of comedy, this anime is for you & is definitely worth a shot!

Why is love so bittersweet?

Love, friendship, and jealousy: a simple love story that focuses on the growth and development of an individual from adolescence to adulthood. That is Honey and Clover in a nutshell. Honey and Clover revolves around the daily lives of five college students whose lives are changed when love gets in the way of their affairs. The story starts off, rather slow, with spontaneous comedic outbursts and a nonexistent plot. It is at this point where I wanted to drop it; however, once the fourth episode come around, the themes of this show become much more apparent, and toward the thirteenth episode ... of the first season, the comedy starts to fade, eventually taking a backseat in season two.

Honey and Clover truly is a slice of life show. It depicts the many hardships every person goes through as they grow up--lighthearted, funny, sentimental moments we want to treasure in our hearts forever, and the bitterness of unrequited love, jealousy, and betrayal, that we try so hard to forget. These conflicts give a sharp, yet pragmatic tone that resonates deep in the viewers' hearts.

In today's industry, shows usually rely on useless plot devices to move along the story. This is not the case in Honey and Clover. During each episode, the writer effortlessly tells a tale that is loosely held together by the romance each character wants in their lives. We see each character grapple with love, dreams, and friendship. We see their internal struggles presented to us through raw emotion, which in turn invokes nostalgic memories from the viewer of their childhood days when things were considered brighter and more colorful. The characters in Honey and Clover in one word can be best described as diverse. Honey and Clover decided to do away with the common character archetypes and instead deliver a cast that is realistically simple and relatable.

The music and animation productions in this show is top notch, which is to be expected for a show that revolves around the arts. My favorite soundtracks from this show included a few of the insert songs found through the course of the show, Yamanai Ame, and the opening and ending tracks from both seasons.

If you are looking for a down-to-earth slice of life show, look no further. Honey and Clover is one of the best shows in its genre. It is a show that brilliantly captures human emotion and adversity. It is, without a doubt, one of the best you will ever find.

Honey and Clover. My all time favorite romance anime. At first, I thought this series is not gonna be different from all chick-flick romance series.... even though I've had enough of those, I decided to gave H&C a try. And I never regretted the day when I watched the first episode.

Not gonna talk about the first season though; but this second season is definitely more serious than the first. There were lots of character developments, as well as their romance. I loved the first season, but this one is definitely the best. The art is beautiful; the sounds are amazing as well, the BGMs really ... fit the situations. I really enjoy watching this series, laughing over the comedy and as well weep over the dramatic scenes. I love how every characters are made-- they're so original, unique in their own way. The story has developed quite nicely also, even though the comedies might be reduced in order to finish the story quickly. But I don't mind that. These 12 episodes were really worth it. Even though they had different love stories, for example like Hagu-Shinobu-Takemoto's, and Yamada-Mayama-Rika's, but they finished all of the stories beautifully. Equally. I love every story of them.

I'm not gonna spoil anything anyway, but I love the realistic ending. It's not that typical girl meets boy, conflicts, then happy ending, no, we've had enough of those series right. But this story is different. H&C is special.. because it talks not just about romance but also about life. About how we search for our identities, our true self. And the ending was really fabulous. It proved that love is needed in life, but sometimes we have things even more important to carry on. It proved that sometimes we need to let go, need to go on with our own lives, but still we don't forget the 'love' that we once had.

I'm serious... this is like, one the best series I've ever seen, and I'm not gonna forget every bits of it.

Overall
A direct sequel to the first season, and a good way to finish the story. This season takes more of a serious approach, and most of the comedy elements from the first are gone.

All in all, a really beautiful, but somewhat fractured, story which leaves you with some interesting philosophical questions to think about.

Animation
Looks very much like the first season. That is, very good.

Sound
Voice acting is good, just like season 1. The best part is that Hagu doesn't sound as annoying anymore.
...
I didn't really like the music of Honey & Clover, and that still stands in this season. Well produced and all, but it just didn't get me hooked.

Story
To be honest there isn't really a story, in a standard western dramaturgical point of view, in Honey & Clover. It's hard to explain, but it's more like a flow that comes naturally induced by the characters. It's very unpredictable and you forget that there must be a script beneath it all, that's how natural it feels.

Hartwarming and clever, I love how H&C makes me feel.

Character
In absence of an actual story, the characters do a wonderful job of making Honey & Clover "just happen". They all move in and out of each other's substories and create a brilliant and very believable web.

Value
Will probably watch again, together with the first season.

What's life without those little details and subtle hints which always seem to bring people to the point where they have to second guess themselves? Probably a lot more boring. If you enjoy subtle hints and little details than Honey and Clover is for you, though I recommend you watch it from season 1 to fully understand all those subtle hints and little details.

Honey and Clover II continues the story where it left off and as you can predict from a sequel, it continues the lives of the protagonists and it intends to wrap up all of the plot lines from season 1 and introduce ... a few new ones.

The story is excellent, though the 1st season is much more humorous, the 2nd season makes a point by giving off a more mellow feel. However it is correct in doing so, it's like a parallel to people's lives. After college or university, people usually become much more mellow due to the fact that in those years alone, people go through a lot and hence they mature; as a student, a person, a friend, etc. It doesn't necessarily mean they''re unhappy or anything, its just the fact that most people change the way they see life. A theme that is quite evident in Honey and Clover, more in the 2nd season that the first.

Sound and art are both excellent, it would be somewhat ironic if the art style wasn't any good considering the fact that the protagonists are or were all art students. The DUB version is also quite good, giving off good emotion and avoiding sounding flat or boring. However, some parts of dialogue are lost in the DUB version due to English translation and the translators wanting to avoid awkward sentence structure, so please keep that in mind when choosing DUB or SUB. The soundtrack is nice and quite enjoyable, they play at the right time and the songs feel right for the situation. No complaints here.

Characters are quite dynamic, a lot of contrasts between two characters. An example would be the mellowness of one character compared to his friend, the eccentric. They both are quite loveable in their own right and developed well in the story along with the rest of the cast.

Only flaws I would complain about would be the fact that some plot points grew stale and predictable. Plus some of the supporting cast are quite stale and somewhat annoying at times. Biggest gripe is the ending.

I enjoyed it very much, up to the point that I felt emotional and grew attached to some of the characters. Art style is one of the best I've seen and the soundtrack is something I keep coming back to for some reason.

Professionally I give this anime a 9 due to its excellence in story, art and character development. However personally I give it an 8, because I had a few gripes with the ending and some supporting characters. Hope you enjoy this anime!

There are enough 10/10 reviews on MAL regarding Hachimitsu to Clover (HC), so this is
just another one of them. HC can be summarized into reality. It attempts to join the concept of reality, first love, use-to-bes, sacrifice etc and apply these elements onto our casts and their daily lives. This is a slice-of-life anime, this is a romance anime but do not expect fluffy, happy go lucky theme but it is not dark, it is just rough.

The story is a 10. Good writing, good pacing and how the viewers feelings are evoke. You feel sad for the characters and you feel happy. You ... drift with the story which makes it truly outstanding.

The art in its time is definitely good. There are no irritating aspects of the art of the scenes nor the characters. The tears, smiles and feelings of the cast were beautifully presented. The art is outstanding.

The sound was good. It is immersive but I never felt that it move me. Sure, it was at the right place at the right time but it is not the right one. But it did not lack, it was very good.

Here comes the fastball. The characters. The last 36 episodes (if I am not wrong) was filled with how the characters have developed. There is no definite point but you can see clear growth through the trials and tribunals each of the characters receive. There are only 5 people in the main cast but side characters whom are thrown into the fray receive development that is on par. Aside from the width, the depth of development is truly remarkable. The growth of young girl to a mature woman. The overcoming of love. The realization of self worth. The journey towards the future. The psychological process and thoughts were presented expertly and without these characters or if they were developed any bit smaller, I would not have enjoyed it. It is outstanding.

What I hold dear in any anime is the enjoyment that I derived from it. An anime that can leave one's emotions all over the place is enjoyable. Therefore on the whole, Hachitmitsu to Clover is an outstanding anime. Try it.

This show's great. I don't often watch something this meaningful. Since Honey and Clover's story spans long time periods, sometimes it feels that you're not sampling enough of its character's daily lives to fully appreciate them. In exchange for this, you witness so much growth that you gain an understanding of their lives as well as their personalities. After all, this show is, at it's core, about the chronology of life, and the meaning of time that can seem wasted. It's also a show with unique character; an understated artstyle, the use of soft colours, the frequent use of insert songs, and its brash, exaggerated ... humour. For the sentimental viewer I can not recommend it more.

NOTE, SPOILERS BELOW:

This is when the series finally ties down it's themes with each of the characters:

Takemoto: the poor, average-skilled artist accepting a love that never existed and cherishing it, letting it push him to follow another passion. The wheel of his bicycle is the wheel of the memory of him and his friends searching for a four leaf clover. This memory is the vehicle that pushes him forward.

Mayama: Finally consummates his love with Rika and she accepts him. He finds his place with her, her protector, friend, occasional lover, but is still left in that gray area. He's ok with that.

Ayu (Yamada): She learns ... to accept that she loves Mayama, but he doesn't love her. Eventually she opens herself up to letting another love her, someone she grows to love.

Hagu: The boxes, waiting to be opened...this analogy really spoke to me. As a creative person myself, I feel a similar way. I only have so much energy and time on Earth to open these ideas and see them through. She chooses Sensei, not out of love for him in a romantic level, but as someone she knows will help push and help her open as many boxes as possible. She loves Morita, but she knows that the best possible combination is her and Sensei which lets Morita to pursue his dream working for Peter Lucas.

Morita: the talented artist with no work ethic finally ends his mysterious arc with his brother and recapturing their father's company. But to him it's more about being there for his brother. Morita reminds me of the artist that wants to love but lacks the practical skills to sustain such a relationship with one such as Hagu. Although they're both incredibly talented, they would make a bad match since what they excel in artistry, they lack in practical, day to day matters. He's super rich but that doesn't change his character. In a way he reminds me of the artist David Choe, who knowing this disadvantage, surrounds himself with nuts and bolts people (for Morita it's his brother).

Sensei Hanamoto: this character has the arc with Rika and Harada and I get why Rika cries when he finally gets out of school - he was stuck in the past. The other sensei tells him: by saving Hagu, he is saving himself. It's true. It's just troubling to me that the older Sensei would fall in love with his cousin who he's known as a baby and looks like an adolescent. I appreciated that the animators made Hagu look more mature in this season.

Other thoughts: I'm glad that Takemoto and Morita, polar opposites of each other, are able to find their own path and still respect each other at the end.

Issues:
- Sensei sacrificing everything for Hagu is a common anime trope. This idea that one must give up everything to save another is troubling and can be damaging. I did appreciate how they tempered this towards the end with the Sensei saying he can take care of himself, that this is his choice. Maybe its a cultural concept I have yet to grasp fully, though I understand in part due to being an Asian-American.

Overall:
Thank you for reading thus far. As you can tell, this series gave me a lot of feelings and thoughts. Having just graduated myself, I'm in a similar boat and feel disenchanted with going back into the work force. Series like these remind me to cherish the friendships and memories I have made and give me hope that things will work out. Takemoto is my spirit animal and Morita my creative demon and I'm so glad that an online date told me about this series.

"Honey and Clover" is about how even if things don't work out with the fairy tale ending (guy gets the dream girl, vice versa), it's ok. All one can do is do their best and time will flow in the direction that it will. Though things may not turn out the way you wanted, the memories and relationships you've created make you who you are and as you learn to cherish them, you learn to cherish yourself.

The first series didn't end so much as just stop, leaving everything kind of drifting and unresolved (part of the subtle beauty of this series). I knew that the second series was going to tie things up somewhat, but I really didn't expect it to end how it did. The second series wasn't as funny as the first and is only half as long, but if you enjoyed the first series and care about the characters and want to find out what happens to them, then you must watch the second.

Honey and Clover, I can say that this is one of the best anime I have watched. It started and ended very well it's like a masterpiece that is close to perfection.

Recommended for graduating students normally but my say is the story is recommended as well for people who have graduated 10 years after. It's nostalgic and explains reality as well.

We'll all have our Honey and Clover moments and watching this, you will realize what yours is.

It's a good eye opener.

Best anime ever-- as it connects to my own life, -thoughts, and understanding on a deep personal level. This show is not just entertainment, this show is life-- all of it's shortcomings and bittersweet moment put together in a few hours worth of drawings and words. While watching I constantly thought about 2 of my favorite novels... "Norwegian Wood" and "Kokoro" this story takes moments and psychologies(or thoughts) from each of these famous novels and makes them enjoyable. This Anime was brilliant as there was lots of deep thought and heavy moments that questioned our lives and life in general, and they also did a ... good showing this with indications and symbolism like the four-leaf clovers and the metal shrine patterns; But they were able to make this show as great as it was because of it's lightness and it's naturally comedic moments. This is why i'm able to say that even if I watch 1000 more animes in my lifetime this anime will never be topped. The Plot is ingenious and the art-style and voice actors really made this anime as great is it could possibly be.

I think Hachimitsu to Clover is a masterpiece. It is one of the best series I have seen. That is why, although other reviewers have already covered a lot of what I want to say while this is also my first review, I cannot let the chance slide to share my feelings about this series.

Hachimitsu to Clover feels, to me, like a slice-of-life in its purest form. No aggressive action scenes, exaggerated body shapes and too many unrealistic situations, but a story about live, its happy moments and its drawbacks presented in a realistic way. I like how the main characters each have a ... theme of life, while at the same time these times are also interwoven into their interactions and events in life, and also in the overlaying themes. It makes the series feel coherent.

The strongest point in the series is the recognition of the story. Events in life like unrequited love, heartbreak, and the eventual break up of the group of friends after school life is over are events of daily life and very recognizable for me personally. Not only the sad aspects speak to me, but the happy moments also make me feel good. It is inevitable in anime that some aspects are kind of exaggerated, but I think Hachimitsu to Clover is the anime which portrayed life and its events in a way so realistically.

I especially recognize myself in the main character and narrator, Takemoto. To expand on this a little more, with minor spoilers ahead, especially his main theme is recognizable. He is not sure what path he wants to take in life and what he wants to become. For me, being in a similar situation in this part of life, it is, in a way, comforting to see this theme come back in media like this. It reassures me that I am not the only one with the problem, and that taking major choices in life is difficult. A fictional character in a fictional work does not solve your problems, but it is soothing to watch this very fictional character struggle and taking one step at a time, slowly solving his struggles in his own way.

One thing I also like is the lack of technology. This is probably more romanticism than really wanting to live in a similar situation, but to me, the lack of the media and its social responsibilities of today is a development I do not really like, although it has it advantages and I am a user of it myself. Since this series, published just over a decade ago, is already from a different era in terms of media, there is clearly a difference in technology in comparison to today's situation. I like to look at that. Spending face-to-face time with your friends, not look on your phone constantly, having time to rest, think and learn quietly, it is a warm situation to look at. Of course, living in a similar situation would be impossible to me, as child of the current era. Nevertheless, I look at it in a romantic way.

One aspect I also find quite strong in this series is the music. I like how, one time per episode, a song slowly comes in from the background and perfectly fits the scene. These songs mainly seem to be from the band Spitz, and this series surely has made me a fan of their work. While I try to avoid spoilers, I want to give one example. I still remember that in the first episode, the song "Hachimitsu" sang by Spitz popped up, while, after one of the main characters was introduced, another main character made her do some crazy stuff and others were arguing and later watching the event. A simple event but in combination with the music, a happy sight to look at.

Does that mean that this series is perfect? No, of course not. This type of anime is not for everyone. It is slow, without much action and without much exaggeration, Furthermore, the art style is also not one that everyone likes. For me, it is also a series I could not watch at a fast pace. It took me months to finish the first season, and over a month to finish the second. That is partly because I recognized the series as a masterpiece. I wanted to be in the mood for an episode of this realistic series before I watched an episode. Otherwise, one episode, with its slowness and lack of exaggeration is really long.

All in all, for me personally. Hachimitsu to Clover is one of the series I have seen. It speaks to me in a way no series ever has. It was like looking to life from the perspective of a giant telescope. Seeing moments of joy, seeing moments of sadness, seeing how live works, it is a series which made me think. For me, this embodies the pinnacle of anime. Next to series I just enjoy, a I really enjoy series which make me think. There is so much more to say about this series, but there are just some points I really liked about the series. Together with other, unmentioned points, led to an extraordinary story.

I hope this will not be my last review of this series, and with that I mean that I hope for a (short) epilogue. That is just for my own satisfaction, but in reality, the ending of this series, both of the first and the second season, fit the nature of the series perfectly. In that sense, I should be happy that I had the privilege to enjoy this second season, as the first season also had a - for this series - satisfying ending. That is it for this review. Thanks for bearing with me.