Hachimitsu to Clover

...yourself... unable to leave everything behind...

Story (9.5): This anime is one of a few that have a great equilibrium between lighthearted laughs and a very deep and thuoghtful atmosphere. It's not just a drama, but a real approach to life, to it's questions, it's fear, it's pains and confusions. From the youth uncertainities of your own path and reasons to be, to the deeper ghosts of life like, attachments and fears that keep you from walking, learning the true meaning of love and facing an imperfect world. The only reason I didn't give it a 10, I'll admit is personal; at some point only one ... of the character's story took too much importance, leaving me wanting to have more from the others.

Art (9): The art is very original and different from the stereotype, which is nice, althought, in the attempt to make Hagu extremely "kawai", she looked to me a bit Candy Candyish..., considering their good humor, I wouldn't doubt that's what they were trying to achieve. I specially loved how well the facial expressions conveyed each character's temperament and emotions.

Sound (10): Ahh, it's been a while since i've enjoyed an ending so much, both endings have just the perfect lyrics and feeling. And, hear this, you get to have an amazing plus because there are many episodes that include well thought songs to go with important moments, it reminded me of Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora's style. I actually looked up for the OST, sad enough, the OST doesn't include all this songs D: (random comment, I know).

Character (10): What I enjoy the most about slice-of-life, is the way characters really tend to be from flesh and bones, and H&C really achieved this well, we not only have a nice variety of characters, but each one of them has a very unique personality and ghost to deal with, you really get to feel empathy, at least with one of them. Even Morita-san, that could have simply be the random guy in other animes, was perfectly well executed, as the socially awkward loner, that loves deeply, but deals with the world in the most quirk of ways, I'll admit, I was just waiting to finish this anime to add him to my favorite characters list, there should be more free spirits in anime like him.

Enjoyment (10): If it took me a while to finish it, it was only because I restrained myself to watch it all at once, because I didn't wanted it to end. So, this is one of those stories that you'll laugh, cry, get angry and happy with the characters.

Overall (10): If you like to think about life itself, this anime is for you, if you like a nice slice-of-life, or enjoy to have a mixture between drama and comedy/randomness, you really should check it out, this anime really leaves you thinking after each episode is done and perhaps, lets you experience that fuzzy warm feeling inside, when you discover something new or that perhaps, you had fogotten. If you're looking simply to sit back and relax though, well, H&C might not be the right anime for that mood, as it gets pretty tense and serious at some episodes.

"A six-tatami room with no bath, ten minutes walk from the college. Built twenty-five years ago, rent 38,000 yen. The walls are thin and hardly soundproof. All residents are students. The morning sun is bright since it faces east.-Takemoto Yuta.”

Low profile Yuuta Takemoto is undoubtedly just an ordinary architecture student with inferiority complex that runs away from home after his mother married a man who’s totally opposite of his late beloved father. He decided to live in an old creaky apartment where he met his two friends Takumi Mayama and Shinobu Morita who are also belong to the architecture department in their school.

Takemoto and ... HaguWhen she met the cute, lovely and talented Hagumi Hanamoto whose in fact a niece of their teacher, he knew that it was love at first sight. But it seems pretty hard for him to convey his feelings towards her because he found out that his mysterious, money-loving and hyper-active friend Morita has also an eye for Hagu-chan.Ayumi and Mayama.

On the other hand, Ayumi Yamada, whose expertise in pottery is truly incomparable, has a long time feelings for our timid and serious-type Takumi Mayama who loves a different, weak and lonesome buttered woman older than him. To add knots on all love triangles this story have, a resident womanizer from Mayama’s work named Nomiya was showing an interest on Yamada which makes Mayama a little bit insecured and over-protective onto her. Is it jealousy?

Follow the different lives of these five art students with their dignified teacher as they strive to reach their dreams and learn the shining shimmering lessons of their youthful lives unveiling their true feelings while sorting out their own love triangles.

Honey and Clover is a simple classic tale which has proven to us that you don’t need to have flashy and high-tech illustrations and elements to bring a nice and self-relating story that’ll captures everyone’s heart and mind.

Remember the time when Honey and Clover sucked ? Neither do i ! This is easiest one of my favorite series of all time.

This review is about the two series (Honey and Clover I & II) and it's one of those stories where you get an overdrama around things, everything that could go wrong happens and enloved people never get reciprocal feelings. But at the same time there is lots of commedy, as people tend to laugh at their disgrace and others. It is not one of that shows that will bore you, it's rewatch value is very high, the plot has lots of ... twists, character development is superb, it is not just your cheap romance you're used to have ! It is that deep ! And it takes you to many situations where you can trace a parallel in your life, identify yourself with characters and/or situations , think about life itself and so on...

Sometimes you can get mad by characters decisions , but as the plot develops you'll understand/accept their decisions and by the end...you'll notice that there really wasn't any other better way to reach that result...it's just like in real life... there're no such things as fairy tales... you can't really force someone that you love, to love you, if that person loves someone else... it's hopeless no matter how hard you try, because when people love, people get blind, and it is no use for you to try to dismiss that spell. That people alone has to open its own eyes and realize the painfull truth.

Honey and Clover has a priceless charm as it is more dramatic than romantic and it is full of commedy, but as i stated before, it is not boring, it keeps your attention in an interesting way full of plot twists and surprises... and the grand finale... i bet it will make you love this series forever.

This is by far the best anime series I have ever watched. While I may not be a seasoned anime viewer, I haven't found one I liked more. I think this anime could appeal to male or female. It had a very good story line. Parts of it had me crying my eyes out and other parts I was laughing my butt off. I didn't really care for the opening song, but the ending songs by Suneohair... I loved. If you are looking for an anime about life, love, friendship, and good times--I highly recommend Honey & Clover.

An anime that in my opinion, college students can relate to.

Struggling to pay for the things you need, trying to meet deadlines, letting your friends be your refuge and strength, and finding what you want to do with your life.

Though many would disagree, I liked the art of the anime. It kind of had a realistic touch which reflected the story rather well, which I find to be important in an anime. It also had its comical art of snooze bubbles and little souls escaping from the mouth which gave the artwork character.

I can still sit here and play the song in my head when ... something funny is about to happen in the anime. It kind of makes me giggle sitting here thinking about it. Once the tune starts up, you know you're going to be laughing in the matter of seconds

The characters were pretty well rounded. There were many characters to relate to, a workaholic, crazy characters, characters graduating from college, even characters struggling to find their identity. Because of these characters I have been able to say I'm not alone, true, they aren't real, but things could always be worse and some times I take their thoughts and approaches on life and work off of that. So this series is very easy to relate to.

Overall a very enjoyable anime, VERY funny when Morita-senpai is in the picture. Very realistic in the way people think and strive to make it in this world.

Firstly:

If you like captivating plot or some sort of action genres this anime is not for you, you might really dislike it,..

But if you like warm feeling, that only few masterpieces can give I recommend you to watch this.
******************
You might ask why 10? Many of those who saw it, might think that it lacks plot twist or tension.At first I rated Hachimistu 8. The reason why I changed it to 10/10 is:

This anime is real. It differs from many others, because it does not feel fake.Its about real world, feeling are real, characters lives are real.

After watching Honey to Clover I watched other mainstream ... series and everything looked so fake and surreal. So I realised that I had to change the rating.

The adults in this anime controversially are a little bit childish(while in all series usually teens have the mind of 25 years old) at first it might put you off, but later you will realise, that many of us adults still behave like silly kids.

This anime has to be one of the best slice of life animes I've ever seen. It does not have a fancy story or overly complex characters, but still, it charms you in a way I cant properly explain.
The story basically revolves around the typical love polygon we usually see in those types of anime, its characters not deeply developed and their background remaining mysterious until the end. Pretty plain, uh? No. The development of the story, the relations between its characters and the narrations, oh the narrations, almost all the times poetical, all of these factors contributing to an impressive experience watching an ... anime that had not caught my attention until reading some reviews. This anime is about youth, about college, about doubts on the future in a moment of our lives when we are usually lost and thinking about what are we going to do with our lives: our adolescence. I would definitely recommend this to anyone between the ages of 17 to 25, the story will surely touch your heart in an interesting way. This is a must!

H and C rates high in my anime rankings. It showcased a grand production, from the art, music, character, story and most of all... the talks.

In H and C, the talks are not just random mumble jumble between characters.. It served as a bridge connecting the characters and provided an emotional atmosphere that pervades and certainly is the hallmark of this anime.

The characters are certainly memorable.. with their own quirks which I found cute and some troubling. Each has his/her own uniqueness stamped and is edible throughout the show.

One thing that always comes to mind when I think of Honey and Clover is the conversation ... between Mayama and Yamada. Mayama was taking Ayu home and she was quite drunk.. she then said..

“Mayama…suki….daisuki….Mayama!!!..suki!….Daisuki!!!…Mayama! Suki!…(Okay)… Daisuki!…(Arigato)”

Bitter-sweet. It was certainly bitter-sweet.

I can easily tell you that Honey and Clover is and will remain my most favorite anime of all time.

Story
Honey and Clover's story is so simple. It's a story about some friends who are attending the same art college....and pretty much what they go through in their everyday college student lives. At first glance, oh it's bland. Where's the action? Where's the crazy plot twists? Where's the fan service?? Where's the blatant mushy romance?!?!?
*cough* I see why this anime is a tad underrated.*cough*
This anime is SUBTLE, SO subtle, in its storytelling. It doesn't lay everything out for you in plain writing. It unfolds ... gradually, maturing slowly. It gives you hints--glimpses, snippets, of a character's true feelings, strivings, yearnings-- a glimmer of what's really there underneath the plots' seemingly simplistic surface. The development of the story is pretty unique as well. This story is essentially about love. Painful love. Giddy love. Unrequited love. Life changing love. But mostly about the care and devotion that we feel towards our friends. And so the plot isn't developed with unexpected happenings or crazy tragedy or predictable romance. It's developed as the relationships between the characters develop. Which is incredible.What I LOVE about the story is that it isn't plastered with those cheap devices one finds in a lot of anime to keep the viewers' attention (fanservice, cutesy romance, melodrama, fast plot with zillions of littles arcs).
It is SO honest with the story it's trying to tell. So genuine. So straight forward yet deeply moving and suggestive of things so much bigger than what it shows you. In the end, you're left breathless.
It's just...so beautiful.

Art
The art matches the tone and style of this series PERFECTLY. It's muted and pastelly and soft and seems to glow a bit. It might seem boring to some. It isn't jam-packed with CGI and bold colors and crisp backgrounds. But it's beautiful all the same. I loved the unique sugary softness of the character designs especially.

Sound
The music for this series was another home run. Like the art (and everything else) it fit the series perfectly. I also really liked the opening and ending songs :)

Character
The characters of Honey and Clover are what make this anime a masterpiece. Like any story, character development is key. What I liked so much about this anime was how realistic the characters were. The emotions they feel and they way they react to the situations they go through were just so believable. I could relate to so much of it. And as the anime progresses and you get to see more and more of who these characters are, you grow to understand the way they feel and why they act they way they do....you get to see what makes them tick is a way. Watching the characters of this series grow and develop and mature and relate to one another, the connections they build, and the love that they share, is an incredible experience.

Enjoyment/Overall:
Honey and Clover, to me, is an incredible anime because it's unique, the character development is... incredible, it's very touching and heart warming...but mostly because it's so sincere with the story it's trying to tell. It sticks to the integrity of the storytelling and its central themes of love and friendship in a way that's so genuine and lovely and passionate...I don't see how it couldn't be my favorite anime.

I'm truly glad that I decided to continue to watch this even though I was a little bit offput by the animation style as well as how little Hagu was.

It made me feel more confident in doing what I really wanted to do regardless of the possible consequences and judgment I might receive. The story covers pretty much all of the characters that we see in the first episode, too, so I was happy about that. Who would have thought? I sure didn't.

I don't think this anime will be appreciated to its full potential by young teenagers--instead, maybe those that are about to ... no longer be teenagers or people like me that recently became a part of the working society after graduating university. It covered all the issues I'm currently troubled by, so it felt like I was even being given knowledge I do not deserve to know yet.

There IS drama, but it isn't pointless like how it is usually in modern soap operas. Each and every plot for that certain event will always have "something to teach you" in a way like it did for me.

As a Mongolian, I also really appreciated the unexpected mention of Mongolia in the anime.

//The opening and ending songs were so good that I couldn't skip it, too.

Honey and Clover is a very unique anime and I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy watching a ''different'' plot . Overall, the storyline is very detailed and includes many emotional scenes . It's extremely different from your typical moe anime with a fairy tale ending . It's realistic ; it shows the effects of actual human relationships that don't end the way we all hope . I ended up dropping the series because it didn't go how I wanted it to , and the protagonist(s) sometimes annoyed me . However it is a perfect fit for those who love to ponder and ... go beyond the norm . It is absolutely worth the watch .

-Story: 9
Well, this anime is about the life of a group of young people who all have a passion for Art and try not only to win the heart of the people they love but also to "find" themselves. Very realistic and meaningful, I have to say, because they cannot get what they want although they've tried really hard, which I think is right in our life, but still, they don't give up and learn even more about love and life. Life is not always pink, we all have to face a lot of difficult challenges and sometimes we have to give ... up our love and farewell is inevitable, which makes me kinda sad, after all. (Some sayings are extremely beautiful <3 <3)

-Art: 10
Even though the way that the artists draw their characters can't be called exquisite or flawless down to the smallest detail, it works perfectly in this kind of anime. I'm totally love the background, from the cherry blossom is falling or the moment the Takemoto is in love with Hagu at first sight, everything is amazing and wonderful (I'm not lying). I think since the plot is simple (not wars, no robot, no magic,...), the colors they use, therefore, is, too.

-Sound: 10
To be honest, most of the songs in this series are in my MP3. The soundtrack suits well. Every song seems quite classic ( no rock n roll, guys ) and the lyrics are totally full of meaning and match with the situations. Some of them have no lyrics, which to me is even more beautiful, make me get emotional very fast. The director really knows how to make us cry. Thanks a lot!

-Character: 10 (wow, this is going to take a lot of time and there will be spoilers T_T, I'm sorry)

First is Takemoto (my favorite one). He is a freshmen (as I remember) and according to me. he is the most normal person in this anime. He's in love with Hagu at first sight (I've already mentioned that :) ) and though he knows that Hagu doesn't feel the same way, he still loves and tries his best to help her whenever he can. His childhood doesn't have as many beautiful memories as other when his dad died and later he've had a stepfather but still he doesn't give a grudge to him because he knows that this guy truly loves his mom ( Therefore I think he's mature and realistic). Takemoto cares for every one and he's also a brave man when going on a journey to find himself, alone.

Next is Hagu. Even though she studies at university but she looks like a primary student. She's small, has long blond hair, big and gorgeous eyes and a very innocent mind. She's a far relative of Shuuji but the two have got along very well since Hagu was just a secondary student so they're like father and daughter :). Hagu has a big big big passion for painting and sculpture and in her mind, it seems to be the only thing that keeps her living, of course her works can be called " Masterpiece". She's warm-hearted and shy in the beginning but gradually when she's used to the people in the city, we can also see that Hagu is easy to cry and sometimes acts very childish ( when she see Yamada's body). She's in love with Morita (when she saw his work, I guess) and doesn't realize it and in the end, this chibi girl surprises us somehow...

Moritaaaaaa. He's definitely the craziest of all the characters. He's talented, for sure, but never serious about his studies so he's studied at university for nearly 8 years and makes a record about this (su-ge-na). He's very "naughty" and always find ways to tease his friend or sometimes gives his senseis a heart attack. He's good at making money and smart. His brother gives a grudge to someone because this guy harmed their father but Morita seems not to really care about that and forgives him somehow (as I remember). He's like such a crazy man but he understands his friends' feeling and is willing to give them a hand or some advice. so we can see he's a good guy, after all. Oh way and yeah, he falls for Hagu, by the way.

Yamada is the next person. She's the daughter of a wine shop owner. She's good at making pottery and usually praised by old-senseis. She can fight, too (I meaning kicking, punching,... I just can't find the word, sorry) and this girl is absolutely a beautiful girl. She really really loves Mayama but she's scared to show her feeling and a lot time, we see her crying because she knows that Mayama loves someone else ( kinda strong in the outside but weak in the inside)

Finally is Mayama. This young man is a good man too. He cares for everyone, hard-working, blah blah blah, and acts... quite mature, I guess. He puts love in the first place and always devotes himself for "her". He knows how Yamada feels about him and tries to reject her (because he doesn't want to hurt her) but I can't remember if he does this or not.

- Enjoyment: 10
Watching these guys living their lives simply brings me joy and sadness, I truly put myself in this anime. And for those whose favorite kind of anime is slice of life, you've got to watch this.


And there is one more thing: I'm still an Enlish learner so of course there're mistakes somewhere about grammar and this review may not give you what you want to know and it's not good, for sure. BUT anyway, THANKS FOR READING :))))))

I think the best part in any story is bringing the reader with you on a journey. And I think Honey and Clover delivered that really well.

I love how it's a slow yet sturdy journey. Like there's no need to rush the scenes, the progress of the characters growth -- especially the progress of forgetting someone you love or rushing into new love. I mean it's alright to be still hang up on some shitty guy you love -- that's life. It's okay to feel lost a lot of times because hey there's no manual in life -- cuz that's reality. But there's a beauty ... in it all, and I love how the pace of the story connects every thing.

The author definitely brought each character into life. You could really relate to each one of them. You feel their struggle, their happiness and sadness -- the whole journey. You'll appreciate a lot of things when watching this anime, like for me -- art.

One of the best things or main point for me in the story was when the main character felt lost. Even I understood what he's going through, what he had to do. And I wished I had his courage.

You'll also learn a lot of quotes and life lessons in the story. And it's really a beautiful way to tell a reader that "Hey, I'm here for you" indirectly.

Overall, a 10/10 masterpiece.

Overall
Not really what I had expected. Kind of a love drama with some comedy, but instead of focussing on the love and relationships, it explores human thoughts and behaviour that stands in the way of those things. And I like that twist on this classic thteme.

This anime makes you reflect about your own life, which it an impressive feat. But the story itself is fractured and pretty hard to keep track of. It probably should have been compressed into 13 episodes. There is not THAT much going on.

Cute, funny and philosophical on a first-person level. Not bad at all.

The OVA's episode 25 and 26 ("F" ... & "L") are just four irrelevant comedy scetches, and not really worth watching if you have a life.

Animation
Looking pretty neat. Great character design yadda yadda. I think I have said this about like 90% of the animes I've watched. But still, neat.

Sound
The opening and ending themes are not my cup of tea, and the background music is very, veery repetetive. The voice acting is good, though, but as usual in anime there is one voice you just can't stand (Hagu in this case).

Story
There are several storylines going on at the same time, and it gets hard to keep track of them all. Often it just feels very fractured, when the directors try to jam as much stuff into each episode as possible. But still the story moves at a very slow pace. And do we get closure? Not really. It all moves on in the 2nd season though.

Character
The main cast is a diverse lot, and most are involved in at least one love triangle and a couple of other plotlines. Not many of these get very evolved, and I guess you could say character development on a linear time scale is pretty nonexistant. But you still get to know most of the cast pretty deep somehow. And they are all brilliant!

I really wanted to like H&C. It's widely spoken of as a classic and a must-see for those who like romantic animes. It focuses around 5 college students who I found mostly likable and realistic, but i couldn't stand the portrayal of one of the characters - Hagumi.

She's this 10-year-old looking kid who babbles incoherently, cries easily, hides behind her friends when there's strangers (and she's supposed to be 18). And a big part of the show is how others deal with their attraction towards her, and how she deals with her own romantic feelings.

It's just asking me to believe too much. This girl ... is supposed to be sexually mature and desirable? She acts like a ten year old but somehow knows the concept of love?

It just feels too much like lolicon. I have to drop it.

Based on both seasons of H&C

This anime is definitely NOT for everyone. I was drawn to this anime simply because of the overwhelming craze/awards/hype it was getting. A friend told me this anime had a girl in it that went beyond the Lolita look and was fancied by the male characters in the series and even though they where all 18+ of age it made him (and me at times) feel awkward.

At the end of the day I (unfortunately) have to agree with the majourity and say this is a very good anime show overall.

Animation

Animation was decent, character animation was different than casual anime ... with face shapes and stuff but the scenery was drawn beautifully, one of the major strong points of this anime. Ending scene was nice as well especially in the first season.

Sound

Another shining point for the anime, Opening for 1st season was a bit Up-tempo but nice. Character voices were perfect, everyone seemed to fit well even if it was annoying at times (Hagu). Generally the sound just fit very well with the flow of things.

Story

This is the difficult part. I said earlier this anime isn’t for everyone that’s because with these “Real Life” type stories it comes down to what part of real life us the viewers want to see. Now this is definitely a drama/romance anime but I personally wouldn’t class this as girly because it wasn’t girly at all. Yes I will say there is a soap-opera feel which can annoy at times but it is balanced out quite well never going too “sunset beach” if you will. Every character had their own personal issues as well as love problems which mixed well with their college life, work and ambitions. The most surprising part of this story is that it is spanned over a number of years so you see just how fast or slow life can change around you. In retrospect looking at this as a story it is well written and very realistic but some people might find this slow paced and eventless….well sometimes life can seem that way I guess.

Character

Characters are excellent. When I first watched this anime I was really pessimistic in thinking all these other reviewers where just being too nice or something. By the time I got half way through season one I noticed that the characters where quite mature and interesting. I felt a “School Rumble” type vibe from some of the characters especially Morita. These characters make the story what it is and I must say while some might annoy you with their problems (Ayumi) others will gain your respect (Takemoto).

Enjoyment

Uhm I felt a higher sense of intrigue then enjoyment foe this title.
I did enjoy this anime to a point and im glad I watched it overall as it reminded me of the main reason I love anime, which is to enjoy a great story that will get me thinking. So i guess I can understand now why this got such high praise.

Value

Value is probably the lowest point. Although this anime is a great story in itself I do admit I found it hard to watch most of the time. Maybe it’s because after a certain point I was more focused on some characters rather than others or maybe at times the love issues annoyed me. Either way, now I’ve watched it I can say it was a good story overall about people and the lives and choices they made but watching it again would definitely not happen.

In a way it just like real life once its gone there’s no going back.

Planet Tyro Rating: First Class

Planettyro.com

This review is for the both shows.

Hachimitsu to Clover or Honey and Clover is at least for me, the anime that gets closest to the reality. Literally there will be here one character that you will identify with .. personally i think i'm like the main character of this show .. and this is why this show can be so interesting.

I mean .. in the normal romance we see the main characters getting in love and everything seems so easy, so unreal .. that doesn´t make them bad, but you know .. it does not fit with the reality.

This show in the ... other hand, represents pretty well those things. The action feels real, everything runs so natural, so smooth and at the same time it is inspiring.

BUT... there is a huge fucking problem ... it's boring as hell. Yeah .. i took 2 weeks to watch 36 episodes..

Story: 8/10. It is just a slice life, but as i said, it looks so natural that i can´t give less than 8/10. The pace is kinda slow, since the evolution of the characters takes a while even though the actual time in the anime moves pretty fast, the entire action if i'm not in mistake takes 4 years, instead of the classical 1 year. But this is a josei, so it's more like a comedy/romance for adults. I felt while i was watching this show, that some of the themes talked about there were just to complicated for me, because i'm just 17 years old and i didn´t even started my life yet, so if you are in the same position, get ready because some parts may be confusing(i mean we can´t understand well what is going on, or i'm just dumb..) I believe, for those who seek mature themes, this is the ONE !

Art: 6/10. WHAT A PAIN ! The characters look extremely bad... like really bad. Usually i always find a character that draws my attention.. like Akame in Akame Ga Kill .. here i did not find such thing. The characters look rough and their own design for me, it´s not well made. I've seen a lot better from older animes. So there is no excuse.

Although the background saves the day, it is not detailed, but when it comes to represent the feelings of the characters, or to make a nice mood, does it extremely well.

Sound: 8/10. The openings are okay. What really calls my attention is the musics that they use in the episodes .. yes musics not OST(OST for who doesn´t know, is the music to fill the silence..) here we actually have like endings in the middle of the shows .. some of them are brilliant, makes the end of the scene much more better.

Character: 9/10. One thing my friends .. DEPTH .. like the depth of the ocean , it goes even further. I mean, there are 5 main characters here. Each one gets a nice development, and we get to know everything about them. Usually i only see this kind of thing in 2 characters at top.. here there are 5. But the payment is extremely high, i will explain later on.

Back to the characters, like i said at the beginning, i almost grant you that you will find one character that fits with your personality.. all of them are great characters and it's nice seeing their "evolution" throughout the show.

The supportive characters also get a nice development.. the one that works with our main character at his job? Well she gets development .. technically, everyone that gets with one of our main characters has some kind of development... really impressive seeing how far this anime goes in terms of development.

Enjoyment: 7/10. The first season is really slow because of the development. I mean the development is good but at the same time it makes the anime really boring at some times.. the rest is nice. The romance is good, it sounds natural you know .. and that is really a important thing. The drama is also great so as the inspiring lessons about life that this anime gives to us.

Overall : For the first season: 6.5/10. For the second season : 8/10. For who likes romances, give this one a try. For who likes romances, but only those cute romances like toradora or so .. well this one is not the right for you. I would say that while toradora is too childish, this one is too mature so it may not be of your satisfaction.

“I realized why I was lost. It’s not because I didn’t have a map… It was because I didn’t have a destination.”
-Yuuta Takemoto

Gosh, I don’t know what to say. Honey and Clover is a gem of a masterpiece! I watched it way back 6 years ago but when I re-watched it, this anime gave me many important things in life. I've read the manga, seen the live-action movie and TV Drama, and re-watched the anime but still, it hits me in the heart. It is written by Chica Umino, known for 3-gatsu no Lion and if haven't watched it, you might miss a ... hidden gem of a masterpiece. It is a tale of friendship, love, pain, family, and self-discovery.

(LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!)

Story: 9/10 - The main premise of the story is about Yuuta Takemoto, your typical poor college boy who lived in an old apartment with his senpais, Morita and Mayama. He doesn’t have any plans for his future, as well as his studies in architecture in Tokyo Bidai. His whole life changed when Hagu Hanamoto comes into the picture. He falls in love with Hagu at first sight but Morita and Hagu seem to like each other so Yuuta becomes confused with his feelings for her He felt that his love for Hagu is unrequited. Along with Ayumi Yamada, whose in love with Mayama, they will experience pain and hardships in life and adulthood. The premise seemed like a typical romance story but what hooked me was the real intention of the story to the viewers. Every episode is talked about the struggles of college life, as it seems that is facing the future is uncertain and mysterious and it sometimes, it scares us a lot. The pain of each person is also told in the story and how should we take another step to have the courage to face it. The passion that every person has been working on will make you think, "Is this the thing that I do want to do most?" The story is also heartwarming that gives SoL feels that will make you fall in love with the show, as it's a charismatic feature of a josei anime. The story is a bittersweet ride, for all the fans who love watching SoL Romantic Dramedies anime.

Art: 10/10 - This show was released in 2005 but the art is so gorgeous. It's like a watercolor animation but uniquely and beautifully. The scenes on sakura trees and the old dormitory gave life and it's suitable for the atmosphere of the story. This style fits the subject matter like a glove, and gives the show a soft, comforting feeling, like coming back to a warm home after being out in the cold all day. Every pallet and art in every scene are like amazing paintings in the exhibit.

Sound: 10/10 - The soundtrack is so beautiful! It gave me dramatic and romantic feels, as well as the feels of each scenario. The sounds will be in my heart and mind for some time because they gave me hope to understand the meaning of living and the pain of life. The OP was so weird but the ED made it up for me. The OST is full of emotional songs that capture moments in time. These songs will sound objectively good on first listen, but as the show goes on, they come to life.

Characters: 9/10 - I love Yuuta because he was one of the best character-driven in the story. His monologues can be so inspiring, as he was too scared to face the uncertain future of his adulthood. His bicycle journey across Japan inspires me A LOT! as he wants to move forward, just like I want to. The other characters in the story especially Ayumi, as she holds an unrequited love for Mayama are amazingly portrayed by the seiyuus. Each character is relatable, and you will almost certainly see parts of yourself in this cast. This is what makes Honey and Clover shine: this show is relatable unlike any other that I've personally watched. The humorous moments are funny, and the emotional moments can hit like a truck; few shows can take you from a hearty laugh to the verge of tears as quickly as this one. The characters gave me fuzzy, warmth, pain, and many more feel to me, as I've watched them struggle throughout every episode.

Enjoyment and Overall: 10/10 - As you can probably tell by now, this show is very special to me. It shaped my perspective on certain things during my younger years, and now, as a grown man, I still find value every time I come back to spend time with these characters. After some rewatches, maybe I'm being biased, but I truly believe this show is one of the better anime ever made, and it is undoubtedly my personal favorite of all time. It encapsulates everything that made me fall in love with anime, to begin with. Give it your time, and I don't believe you will regret it.

You know how a scenery, a song, or even a smell can be so nostalgic that it takes you to those carefree and happy days which you reminiscence when you are going through some hard times? Well this anime, at least to me, was that scenery, that song, and that smell.

I watched this anime when I was in Uni back in 2009. At that time I didn't think too much of it, just another slice of life anime. But something compelled me to watch it again and boy am I glad I did. After a few jobs and that one relationship this show really ... feels completely different. I can really see the suitableness and nuance of being a young adult. You know, the time in your life when you come to a grinding stop after years of school because you always "knew" that you had to get a good education or years of living someone else's dreams and ambitions, what commonly is known as a quarter life crisis. This show, simultaneously makes you rethink the choices you have made in life and gives you hope for the future. Because no one is perfect and you don't always get what you want or what you think is fair in life. Maybe I am reading to much into the story or I am forcing my own experience on the narrative. Whatever it is, this show reminded me that you have to continue with life and enjoy everything that it throws at you.

The ending theme 'Waltz' will always have a place in my heart as the song that reminds me of this beautiful anime and that not all mistakes are bad.

Now, it's been a while since I watched this series, so my review may be a little superficial, but one thing is certain; This is the only series I actively will try not to ever, ever watch again. And the reason for that is simple: I loved it so very much.

The characters; Everything from backstories, to personalities, relationships, even to their names and how all the names together make up a certain "name aesthetic", made me feel so connected to them. I wanted to cheer for them, I wanted to understand them even more and I wanted to reach out to them.

And then there is ... the gorgeous artstyle that's soft and light-hearted, yet able to invoke very real and saddened emotions when the situation allowed it.

The story was paced in a way that I never got bored, and I constantly wanted to know how various conflicts were going to be solved.

The impression I have of this anime the first time I watched it is so pleasing and positive that I don't want to ruin it by watching it a second time. I really recommend this series for slice of life and drama-lovers. You won't regret it.