Aku no Hana

It is sad (if unsurprising) that this little gem is getting mixed reviews.

Ultimately, I find this show beautiful, exhilarating, funny and tragic at the same time. So I'm finding it difficult to answer the amorphous mass of misguided criticism that this is receiving.

I wrote in my first review that this is a show about puberty. As such I found it furiously amusing. It is also a show about existentialism. Existentialism, however, needn't be philosophy. It could be…

(spoilers, any?)

...a red haired girl with glasses, screaming, howling, devoured by an insatiable urge to project her fantasies onto the dull frame of a quiet, provincial town.

Now, if you ... don't see how this connects with existentialism, or why, or think that 'being a deviant' is a shallow, relative concept (relative to what? as if social norms weren't choke-full with universals), suit yourself.

On the whole, anime is a very codified genre. It is subculture, not anarchy: so, if you haven't got it yet, I'll spell it out for you: Aku no Hana is atypical.

Some label this 'psychological horror'. Well, yes and no. It does have more than a fair share of cringe moments but not the kind of psychological horror found in Lovecraft or Poe. The emphatic, heavy, atmospheric effects of Aku no Hana partake more of psychological tragi-comedy than psychological horror.
The witty, original soundtrack provides good support for this.

The plot follows like a music score. Full of understatements maybe, but nothing illogical.

One reviewer wrote "I apologize this wasn't moe enough for you". So much for rotoscoping. The effect is jarring at first, but I'll still encourage you to give it another try. I found that it grew on me as the show progressed, as it manages to capture emotions in a creative, uniquely original way.

I'll have a hard time convincing a purist anime audience that this is a masterpiece. So I'll just say this: if the screenshots don't put you off watch the first 5 minutes of ep 1. Thanks.

This anime is unlike anything you have seen or will be likely to ever see. It's definitely weird and really far out there, but at the same time it's extremely realistic. I would categorize this as a psychological slice of life anime. Pretty weird combination, but this anime is something truly unique. I will go ahead and say this now, alot of people that watch this will probably drop it and say that it sucks, I can't really blame you for that. This anime isn't meant to be watched by everyone, it appeals to a certain, specific audience that doesn't have many people in it. ... Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but don't talk about something you know nothing about.

Story- The story and characters are what make this anime. The basis of the story isn't anything spectacular, anyone could come up with the idea of someone with social issues that's a pervert and he has to deal with that while dealing with two different girls. What makes the story in aku no hana unique though it what it does with that basis and how it manipulates that basis and makes it into something that is truly unique. It sounds like a typical harem anime, but it's definitely not. It fits the description of psychological alot better. The story is a very slow burning one, the entire anime takes place in just under two months or so, there are 5 and 10 minute scenes of people just walking down the road, but it's alot more than that. It's slow burning, but very well paced.
You don't ever feel like you're missing out on any information or that anything is being skipped, everything seems to just fall in place. It might be a little extreme or weird at certain points in the story, but that's what it's about. It's about someone that is weird, someone that is a social outcast, it's about his journey to becoming a normal person, or so that's how it seems. For an anime with such a simple theme it has quite a few twists and turns and I was always wondering what was going to happen next. It honestly surprised me because I thought it would be straightforward and rather boring. It's a fantastic story, my only complaint about it would be that it does have a semi-cliffhanger to it, but it's implied at the end that there is going to be a second season, or "Part 2".

Art- The art for this anime is a tricky one. On one hand it's a very unique and interesting art style that I personally love, on the other hand there are some parts where they're talking and the lip syncing isn't exactly right, or they're talking and they have no face. This might have been something intentional, but I don't really like it. It's still a very unique art style though, some people will love it, and some will hate it.

Sound- For me the sound was tricky aswell. I liked the intro songs themselves, but they feel out of place for the tone of the anime. It brought me out of that immersion everytime it played and wasn't really fitted for the anime in my opinion. The ending songs were amazing though. It's a very creepy and fitting song for the anime, one of the best ending songs i've ever heard in fact. As for the ambient sounds and noises they are spot on aswell. It gives the anime a very creepy undertone and really adds to the mood.

Character- The characters and story are the best things about aku no hana. There are 3 main characters, all of which are really well designed. Kasuga considers himself someone that is unique and almost looks down upon other people for not understand what he understands. In a way he is a bit arrogant. He is also a social outcast, he only has a few friends, which they don't seem that close to begin with, but everything changes when he's caught sniffing a girls gym uniform. The girls uniform he was sniffing is saekis.
She's another main character. She's a bit of your stereotypical popular girl, except that she's never had a boyfriend and is also unique in her own ways. The last and final main character is nanako. She is the one that catches kasuga sniffing saekis gym clothes. She's a pervert and outcast, she also causes alot of trouble around school. She's in the same boat as kasuga. She's extremely weird, but her side of the story goes alot deeper beyond just being weird. They all have great interactions with each other, whether it be good or bad. I personally think that they are all fantastically designed characters.

Enjoyment- They enjoyment part is something that's tough. Personally I really enjoyed it. I was enthralled by the story and atmosphere of it all, I was always wanting to know what was going to happen next. At the same time I can easily see a ton of people not enjoying it, or even finishing it. It's something that you will just have to try and see if you like, hopefully my review helps you decide whether or not it's something that you will enjoy or not.

Overall- Overall I think this is a spectacular anime. Just because alot of people don't like it doesn't mean that it's a bad anime and vice versa. Fundamentally it is a very well designed anime that I don't think deserves to be this low on the rankings. It's understandable why it is this low, it still doesn't deserve it though. If you're someone that enjoys very artistic animes or just artistic stuff in general I can recommend this to you. If you're anyone else I can't recommend this to you. It's a tough anime to write about simply because of the way it is, but I think it's something worth writing and talking about, it's a fantastic anime.

Aku No Hana

Something so painful shouldn't be enjoyable...

Story: (7)

Centered around Kasuga Takao, a boy who reads books, he likes this girl at school Saeki Nanako. One day she leaves behind her gym clothes, Takao takes them without a moments thought, the following day the rumour around school is a "pervert" stole Saeki Nanako gym clothes, Takao is nervous because if she finds out he stole them, the goal he wants to be loved by will hate him. But if he destroys the clothes no one will know? well he thinks that until another girl in his class Nakamura Sawa saw him.

Overall, the Story is good, ... My slight issue is that after this initial plot it doesn't really evolve much and simply relies on the relationship(s) between the character(s) to pull Aku No Hana to the end.

Art: (6)

Backdrops in this series are really nice i have to say that first because the next is a very debatable topic, one that doesn't house a right answer, one that is subjective and thus creates issues.

The style behind Aku No Hana is done via "rotoscoping" This method pretty much is drawing over a real life film. The problem is there is far too many times it feels rather patchy and not that great, For example the distancing till when someone has features, Some key scenes lack any facial features which simply shouldn't happen. secondly at points when the characters are running or quick movement the animations feel laggy which felt sloppy.

Last negative is that the Art Style as it's being drawn or animated over Real Life people they carry the proportions of that, issue with doing this is characters are more rounded and look "Fatter" this can be rather worrying if you're fan of the manga because key characters don't look right, For example one of the main characters Saeki looks fatter and less attractive than what she does in the manga.

Overall, The art will usually be something you love or loathe, for me it's in the middle, i can understand the "Strange" vibe it gave the series but i simply don't think it was worth the risk.

Sound: (8)

Always a tough category to mark, The OP/ED Are good enough i'm paticually a fan of the outro to ED they use for every episode, really fit the strange and crazy vibe this series has. The voices are really suiting to who they represent, Saeki having a delicate, cute voice and Nakamura having a harsh and scratchy tone.

Character (8)

Nakamura Sawa - She is the driving force the catalyst for this series, An Incredibly strange individual who during the course of the series just intensifies her behavior, My overall view is she is looking for someone like her, completely odd, crazy, a deviant. She believes Takao is one, the way she manipulates and blackmails him is tough to watch, but what makes her the person you tend to fear at points rather than love.

Kasuga Takao - His character development is huge, As many people say "Never trust the quiet ones" and this quite resides in Takao, At first shy and what you can see from their on out is how his relationship (s) change and shape him, maybe some may say releases a side of him no one has seen, one he has kept hidden until the right person/people come along who he trusts to show it to.

Saeki Nanako - Her development is good too watch too, Takao puts her up on this peddle-stall and the side he see's is the ever loving/caring side who she truly is, But during the series you see that demeanor change slightly, she bares the stresses and strains a grown up relationship can create, it effects her and this is shown rather well during the later parts of the series.

Overall, the development of the characters is what makes this series progress, after the initial story not much happens and the characters have to drag Aku No Hana to the finishing line of 13 Episodes.

Kasuga Takao and Saeki Nanako arc nearer the end really didn't make any sense and brought this section's ratings down a bit.

Enjoyment (2) During (8) After

Why have i given 2 scores? Well Aku No Hana is one of the most intense, strange series i have watched this resorted in many nervous episodes where it was at times painful to view what was happening, I've not had that feeling where i really didn't enjoy it while watching because of how tense and tough to watch it was, but after it's done and i had time to reflect that's when you see the great side to the show.

So what i've done is - the during and after to get the final score of 6, It's tough viewing don't get me wrong but it's rather enjoyable is a strange way as well.

Overall

Aku No Hana as my header described as "Something so painful shouldn't be enjoyable" this term sums up this show perfectly, Each episode was incredibly tough to view, Tense,Nervous,Fear were a handful of feelings i felt during the season, But on the flip side it was enjoyable, Kinda of like how Horror films are scary and we hate being scared, but for something to be able to MAKE us scared we appreciate the series/film for that. Aku no Hana is the same for me.

As mentioned in the story, it does feel like it lacked a direction, the pacing at times were slow to show off the rotoscoping scenes which in my eyes were a mixed bag. The character development was great but on the other hand what happened between them didn't make sense in many places and even frustrated me (How Takao treats Saeki) really annoyed me, and all these negatives i have said during the review does leave a sour taste in my mouth over Aku No Hana..... It's something i know annoyed me, made it sometimes tough to even view, but i appreciated the series, It's far from being perfect but it's good in my eyes and worth your time watching.

The end hints at "End Of Season One" so that would suggest there will be a S2, I Hope this is the case because i feel the series needs it with how it finished S1.

After some thought I decided to do a short spoiler free review of Aku no Hana because I really do not want people to dismiss this anime!
It's a great and twisted psychological anime. The realism and the tension that is constantly in the atmosphere of this anime is brilliant. The painful awkwardness of the character Kasuga and the weird behaviour of Nakamura I really liked. Their very different behaviours were a good combination along with the other main character Saeki who gives off what is seemingly a normal and innocent vibe.

Yes, there are scenes that are a few minutes long which could be cut down ... and reduced to only a few seconds long but they would just not have the same effect if they were not real time. It would ruin the strange and tense atmosphere of the anime. It is an anime set in everyday run down, miserable looking town with a very eerie feeling about it. The slowness is a really important part of the setting. However, I admit the slow pacing can be somewhat frustrating at times. It wasn't too bad though. I'm the kind of person who is really fussy when it comes to pacing and it's always one of my biggest complaints about any anime but if someone like me was fine with it then you should be too.

The rotoscope animation is actually perfect and aids the psychological element of the anime. It makes it a little more life like in appearance and also much different in appearance compared to the typical anime which Aku no Hana certainly is not. Without the rotoscope the anime wouldn't be the same at all. Those who refuse to watch it because of the 'ugly' animation are childish. You are really missing out on a unique and intriguing anime by rejecting Aku no Hana due to its appearance.

The music used is also very different to the average anime soundtrack. It is really quirky and odd like everything else within this anime. Don't be expecting the typical J-pop/rock artist/band kind of songs for the OP and ED. The ED in particular is great but probably not something you would have on you iPod. I loved Aku no Hana's soundtrack though because it adds to the overall eerie feeling the anime gives off.

I don't want to spoil anything but I must warn you that this anime can be a little disturbing. Some may find it too weird. It is a psychological anime though! I know Aku no Hana may be an acquired taste but if you are sick of the normal slice of life school romance then check out the great but twisted Aku no Hana.

However, if you watch this anime then prepare for an ending that does not resolve anything. The final episode just gives us a glimpse of what is to come to persuade you to go and read the manga. I myself have started to read the manga (the manga is great!) because this anime has left me intrigued. I think it is a real shame that it will most likely never get a second season due to its lack of popularity though.

I would recommend Aku no Hana to those who fancy something a little bit different!

I originally laughed at the screenshots (Nakamura's derp face and the manly looking girl!) like many others but a week after episode 1 aired I started watching. I expected to hate it but I didn't. I admit it took several episodes to get into but after that I really looked forward to watching it every week. It's definitely one of those anime you should at least check out an episode or two at some point. It taught me not to judge an anime by its animation style immediately. Sometimes it takes a while to warm to something new! 8/10

So… finally after a long time I watched an ongoing anime. It’s directed
by Hiroshi Nagahama (creator of Mushishi and Detroit Metal City). I had high
expectations from this series. With 2 episodes yet to be released online, I don’t
think I have been let down. What I say hereafter will be based only on the
first 11 episodes.


Animation and art: The animation is like real life humans traced
in 2D. When they are in a distance it’s just the rough outline, no eyes, no
nose, no mouth… just the outline of the figure. The backgrounds are really
... gorgeous, the landscapes too.


Soundtrack: The series has very little background music, mostly
melancholic piano pieces. In many scenes there is no music at all, just plain
silence and it adds to the eeriness of the atmosphere… something that you will appreciate
if you like the series. The opening theme was a regular one, okay and good at
its best. But the ending theme is discordant. It’s more like a recitation than
a song. It is bound to catch your attention.


Characters: Only three characters develop over the series. Takao,
the male protagonist, is first seen as a shy character. He literally worships
Saeki, the class idol, as his angel. As the series progresses he is manipulated
by Nakamura, the class outcast, after she witnesses Takao stealing Saeki’s gym
clothes. For the first 11 episodes that I watched, Saeki came across as a good
hearted individual who reciprocates Takao’s feelings. Saeki doesn’t seem to be
that weak at heart as the series develops. Takao switched over from a shy
character and bloomed into the “evil flower”. He doesn’t think he belongs to
the same world as the rest of the ignorant people in the town. The class
vandalism, his awakening to his inner self after being manipulated by Nakamura…
it all makes sense somehow. It’s different from being bullied in a way. (At one
point of time I thought he’d get raped by a girl but that didn’t happen). His
preferences and feelings change over time. But the character that made the
deepest impression was Nakamura. The way she blackmails Takao, forces him into
facing his “deviant” (though the Japanese audio said “Hentai”) self is quite
remarkable. After a long time in an anime I found a character that I thought
was screwed up in the head like crazy and I would give the world to stay away
from her and her mind games. She is one of a kind. What interested me in her
was her persistence and her saying “Take me beyond that hill”. With 2 more
episodes to go I am really keeping my fingers crossed to witness how to
character development finally turns out.


Overall, I like the series. It is seriously absolutely wonderfully
slow paced. It goes deep down into psychology and its aspects of romance. There
are no demons other than the ones in your heart; there is no action, no guns,
no bombs… just a battle raging between your mask and your soul. There will be a
lot of people who will hate this series, maybe, but there will be a lot of people
who will extremely love it. But I don’t think it will be a series worth
ignoring. Give the first episode a try and decide for yourself. On my part, I
will be waiting for the last two episodes of the series. I think it has to
offer yet more.

(The same review can be found on my blogs over the net).

Flowers of Evil seems to stand outside anime, looking at it suspiciously, as it does its own thing. To be fair, it does exist within the same universe; this isn’t some avant-garde work that has nothing in common with it. But what’s refreshing about this series is how it takes the stock elements of a school series and then constantly corrupts them, makes them perverse. If Flowers of Evil doesn’t qualify as an all-out attack on the institution of the school anime, it’s simply because it’s still a part of that genre. Whereas before the emotions of characters have been normal, cute ones about growing ... up and first loves; now, everything that bubbles to the surface is nasty and dark. Instead of celebrating the “mono no aware” of youth or whatever, it sets out to corrupt that image through the subversion of school anime archetypes and its aesthetic daring (in its pacing and animation).


The story as done in another manner could seem like the beginning of a fun ecchi adventure. Kasuga has a crush on Saeki. One day he feels overwhelmed by his feelings and steals her gym uniform. However, Nakamura, a supremely anti-social classmate, catches him, and they enter into a contract together so his secret won’t be revealed. Taken at face level, that plot description could head into many directions, and be approached/portrayed in many different ways. What’s important is that this is a stock situation that can be molded into basically anything. This is a School Anime Template.


In Flowers of Evil, we get a clinic on genre deconstruction. All the elements that you’re familiar with, that you might latch on to, are either missing or deployed in a way that pushes them out of our comfort zones. You’re used to fun sidekicks who liven up the more dramatic moments? Our hero’s “best friend” is a non-entity who constantly annoys, picks on, or ignores Kasuga. You’re used to the most popular girl being basically perfect and somehow still having a crush on loser protagonist? Our hero’s “dream girl” is subjected to the madonna-whore complex, and reveals all her worst insecurities and comes out as pathetic as everyone else. You want slice of life trademarks such as the empty classroom after school, the walk home, roll call? Every single one of those is treated mundanely and shown in their utter banality (the 1st episode is basically all about this). You want crushes, some drama, something cute that goes down easy? Look somewhere else.

While that deconstruction is admirable and interesting, Flowers of Evil’s status as a masterpiece resides in its aesthetics. After a ton of rotoscope jokes, what we are left with is the work itself. Why is the aesthetic so essential to the effects of Flowers of Evil? I believe it’s another attempt by the creators to take what is cliché and obvious and de-familiarize it. You’ve seen shows with these same plot elements, but you haven’t seen it done this way. I believe that as anime fans, we’ve become used to certain things out of series, not only tonally, but also aesthetically. So, when something comes along that upends all the rules and conventions that we’re used to, it feels strange.

Flowers of Evil’s pacing is undeniably slow when compared to other Spring 2013 shows. However, I think most of the artistic forebears of this show aren’t to be found in anime, but, rather, Japanese live-action films such as Harmful Insect, All About Lily Chou-Chou or Nobody Knows. These are works that can be both understated and yet ferocious. Chou-Chou in particular is both incredibly serious and yet intensely poetic and often dreamlike, which are adjectives that can apply to Flowers of Evil as well. Time and time again the show will return to basic setups and images throughout the series, like they’re some kind of refrain, as it takes a break from the main narrative action. They often highlight the decaying nature of the town where the protagonists live in, and that seems to mirror the moral state of the characters. But, even then, I don’t feel this is an impossibly slow show – every episode is filled with incident, drama, even small bits of humor. Even the ostensible “slow” parts are not meant to be taken at face value, they’re valuable artistic choices. The slow walk home at the start of episode 8 is just as much of a bravura moment as the classroom freakout of episode 7. It’s beautiful and hypnotic in a way that most anime wouldn’t even dare. But it’s an absolutely essential moment: both characters need that space, that silence, to register what they’ve done. What I hope comes across is that the deliberate pacing isn’t there because the studio somehow failed to make it entertaining; it’s a valid choice for a certain mood and tone.

In a sea of homogenous anime, Flowers of Evil was always going to stand out. Like a sore thumb, it’s a reminder that just because it’s anime, it doesn’t have to be cute or moe or whatever else is popular right now. But it isn’t ugly. This is ultimately my biggest problem with the reception that this show has gotten. Not once did I find the rotoscoping to be ugly or dull or unimaginative. Aesthetically, this show is actually quite restrained. Its animation is mostly committed to capturing the mundane banality of the character’s life – empty city streets, darkened rooms, ambiguous facial expressions. The series’ genius is that it saves its stylistic coups; episode 7’s classroom freakout is so powerful because it comes as a release after episode after episode of restraint.

It’s possible that Flowers of Evil doesn’t add up to much in the final analysis. Is there a point to all this angst and creepiness outside of the subversion that I’ve outlined? It’s hard to tell. There are certain thematic strands that are explored throughout, but that might be a topic for another post. What’s certain is that a series like this in the current 2013 anime climate is an anomaly and its effects are powerful and singular enough to merit close analysis (not rash dismissal). Love it or hate it, Flowers of Evil has a way of getting under your skin.

copied/pasted from my blog: www.thenextthingblog.wordpress.com

Aku no Hana was the first anime i watched that really made me want to write a review. Why? Thats what im going to try to explain in these 5 categories below.
After the 5 main points there will be a SPOILER zone where i will share some thoughts.

1. Story

Aku no Hana takes place in a post-industrial japanese town. The main character is a bookworm and especially loves the book "Flowers of Evil". He has advanced vocalulary and is in love with a girl from his class - Saeki, to whom he refers to as his muse. One day after school, he impulsively grabs Saeki's ... gym clothes and runs off, thinking that no-one saw him. However, Nakamura - a quiet careless girl from his class sees him and starts to make plans on how to make the best out of this situation.

2. Art

This is the point where most people will have split opinions. Firstly i want to say that the landscape and backgrounds are AMAZING. Never before have i paused an anime so many times just to look at every frame. The shadows and all the detail are breathtaking. Huge kudos to whoever drew all this. However this also means that many frames are frozen, with only the characters moving - i like it since it doesnt give a 3D-feel about the whole thing.
The characters are very originally drawn. The anime is almost completely unsexualized and all character faces and proportions are in realistic standards.

3. Sound

I didn't really see any unique sound qualities, just the usual grasshopper chirping. Some scenes in particular have very powerful sound because of the given situation.

4. Character

This point is pretty hard to go into without spoiling so im going to keep it short and continue on further down. The three main characters Kasuga, Saeki and Nakamura have different personalities. Saeki and Nakamura are contrary to eachother. Saeki is a hardworking student while Nakamura doesnt care about school and is very unpleasant to everyone. Kasuga can be seen as a little of both, and a huge chunk of the story is about that he has to make his mind up about his personality.

5. Enjoyment

I loved this anime. It's definetely in my top 3. Of course this varies for each viewer but that is my opinion.

------------SPOILERS-------------

I can definetely relate to the characters feelings. Growing up in an post-industrial town, knowing very little about the world outside of it. Just looking at the half-run-down industrial landscape is enough to make one feel depressed.
The main character, Kasuga, doesn't know what he wants. He goes to school just as everyone else and has a few friends, but from reading western litterature he understands that there is something bigger outside of his town. He is in love with a girl from his class, the top student Saeki who seems as lively social girl with a great life.
After getting confronted by Nakamura about the gym clothes that Kasuga stole, she begins to influence him and lets his desires out. This is possible due to Kasuga's timid nature with Nakamura being the one in charge. This is where Kasuga starts getting torn between two choices. Either going with Saeko and living a proper life, or going with Nakamura where he doesnt really know what to expect.
After going on a date with Saeki, we see a turn in the story. It turns out that Saeki is also in love with Kasuga. Now the only thing that stands between them are the dirty secrets that Kasuga holds from Saeki - and Nakamura since she is a part of them. What Kasuga fails to understand is that love is a strange thing, and that Saeki is willing to accept him despite everything he has done.
With Saeki and Kasuga sharing their timid nature, none of them go chasing after eachother leaving Kasuga for Nakamuras infkuences. She makes him go crazy and let all of his feelings out and eventually cultivates the idea they both share - getting out of their town.

One day they decide to set off, with their sight on the hill-chain encircling their town. When they finally understand how poorly prepared they were. Saeki, who is chasing after Kasuga eventually finds them and the 3 of them have an argument with Kasuga in the middle. Here Kasuga gets his final chance to decide who he wants to go with, either with Nakamura or Saeki. Things start to become too much for Kasuga and he breaks down, unable to choose.
After a while the police comes and picks them up, i think that in the car Kasuga finally understands that what stands in front of him is not a choice anymore. He simply cannot poison Saeki with his foul nature.

The ending really puts a cherry on the top of this masterpiece. Kasuga finally understands the reality of his situation, and with confidence he chases after Nakumura after which he suggests that they find the other side of the hill together, but inside of their own town. This shows great character development from Kasuga's side and even though Nakamura doesnt take his words that well it doesnt matter, because he now feels what Saeki felt for him earlier - love.

Aku no Hana seems to be one of the most controvertial ones, that ever got published. First of all, the anime takes action in a world that we can easily put ourselves in, it's just realistic. Unlike all the other school-type animes. Everything is kept real, even characters and their purely natural development as the situation in the anime progresses. Even though not having a very imaginative or interesting plot, the presentation of it will keep you going through it (what makes the plot unpredictable)
Whole series is focues around Kasuga Takao - boy who loves reading books, even those from outside Japan, especially Les Fleurs ... du Mal. Basically Baudelaire was a exiled poet, his poetry was about sins and how people cant resist doing wrong things. He claims he is better than other people for reading that.
His character is a mindless puppet, he's not even half intereting when you look at it, and then he develops, in a quite opposite way where he was at first (he does that with help of the other main character Nakamura Sawa)
- And lastly we meet another important character Saeki, a person that Takao shows attraction for, and is the main problem in the anime.

VIBE:
First of all, I wouldnt recommend this anime to everybody, it's a rather different experience. If you dont enjoy unattractive characters or slow progress with the plot, then well better don't watch it, you will sleep more. Second of all, what I reckon is (but I guess some people might not agree with it) that people not familiar with japanese culture and how social and sexual life works there wont be able to enjoy, just because of lack of knowledge about it, main problem is a problem that only japanese culture has in store and only they will suffer from such situations.
BUT LETS GET INTO IT
The atmosphere in this anime is different, as you can clearly see from the animation way of going, and the whole art style. Here we will enjoy minimalistic dialogues (mostly even monologues, thoughts) with none or tiny amout of music. This anime will purely stand on sound effects of the background they are at, which makes you wanna listen to it closely.
What this anime basically makes is a atmosphere of mystery and an atmosphere of thoughtfulness, yes thats the word. Problem, even though being a quite simple and common one in the japanese standards is greatly presented (as I said before this series is about presentation not plot itself)
But basically it's slow and gives you time to think about the whole situation, or just giving you time to put youself in their place.

ART STYLE:
Well let me repeat myself, it's different. The background drawing is basically static, while all the characters and things they touch are "active". Not only that, the artstyle on the very characters is unique, they look like theyve been rendered into the anime. Overall the whole anime is drawn pretty nicely, and I personally like the artstyle. Allthough when you look at their faces, they seem to be missing their noses.

MUSIC/VOICEACTING:
Well as mentioned earlier, music part is small in this one. I don't really like the opening, BUT the ending is superb it is creepy and always starts before the credits in great moments what builds more tension.
But let's focus more on voiceacting, coz this is what's important. Voice acting gives more to realism in this case. You can hear that actors are chosen wisely every and single one of them (even for those characters that are secondary). They surely made the effort to make what's the best from these few senteces talked through the anime.

STORYLINE:
Personally I liked the storyline, as I was saying the plot is understandable for those with knowledge of japanese culture. It's not very interesting, but the presentation of it is cool. Also the development of main characters is great, how they change and develop into an entirely different person, which is still logical and makes sense from the beggining till the end.

Conclusion:
In conclusion Im just gonna that this anime is one of the best in it's year. Its unique, different and controvertial. Therfore I can't recommend that to everybody and Im sure that most people won't enjoy it. Therefore for those who are fans of slow and more realistic atmospehere, well go on. Give it a shot.

Video Review: https://youtu.be/avdQngBeHPM

Aku no hana


Ok, aku no hana is one of my 1st anime that really shocked me because of the art. i mean it is not that grand, maybe you know, big eyes, cute face etc. But as many people disliked this anime, i found it really interesting.I don't really care about the features of the characters, but it is not the art of the anime that inspired me to watch it. But it was the "Intensity" and "spaz" that you can feel in the plot. the story was awesome even though i never finished it, and you'll never know, you will be hooked in to ... this masterpiece, then in time, you will like it.

1st point is the concept of it. It was truly original. Very good points, very good events...

2nd point is the art. For my opinion, the model of the characters was from their seiyuu, which is great. The art was truly unique, and undeniably misunderstood by people.

last point was the story. 1st episode i was like "the art is umm..." 2nd episode was like "ok, the i get the story, but still, why the art?" 3rd, 4th, 5th, i dont really mind the art. the story was cool, rad, awesome, and very..umm... balanced...

In conclusion,
Story, awesome, i got easily hooked, i will try to finish it. Tips, if u want to watch this, PLEASE, go for the story. You will never know what's next to expect from good animes like these. Aku no Hana, awesome anime...

Taking its name from a poetry book by Charles Baudelaire (“Les Fleurs du Mal” in French), Aku no Hana is a lush psychological journey chronicling the mishaps of reserved middle schooler Kasuga Takao, (who carries the namesake book close to his heart), as he deals with his embarrassing decision to steal the gym clothes of love interest Saeki Nanako. Things get slightly more complicated (okay, *insanely* more complicated) when the news of said act reaches outcast (and sociopath in the making) Nakamura Sawa, who uses her newfound knowledge as blackmail.

While the events described may sound like the premise for an over-the-top sitcom, ... the show promptly establishes itself as anything but a laughing matter. In fact, for a story of petty preteen drama, Aku no Hana is quick to present itself as one of the darkest and tensest series in its genre. In fact, one could almost argue that the creators took the most anxious moments and scenarios that middle school life can provide, and made a TV show out of it. That being said, I certainly would not have given it a perfect score had this show been as lacking in charm as it sounds. In fact, it is the execution of this premise, characterizable by its subtlety and its delicate channeling of human emotions, that has made this my favorite anime I have watched thus far.

Here’s the catch (and your litmus test regarding whether this show is right for you): Think of the last time someone was telling you about a book, a movie or a TV show, and warned you that you were missing out on the show if you only focused on the literal plot points, and paid no mind to the thoughts and motivations behind each character’s actions. If you decided to approach Aku no Hana in such a mode, you’d be doing yourself a greater disservice than just neglecting the true fruit of the show – in fact, you wouldn’t even be watching the show. Period. While the physical events for any given episode are few and far between, the unspoken thoughts of each of the characters move at a mile a minute. It’s the mastery of this cinematic technique that, more than anything, puts the show in a class of its own.

Of course, far more components of the show exist that drive home the point that it isn’t for the masses. The animation style is an almost century-old technique involving hand-drawing images over live footage, better known as “rotoscoping”. It’s a style that flawlessly captures and supplements the show’s slow and plodding ambience – but as anime watchers well know, it’s a controversial choice, and has seldom, if ever, been used before in the anime world. Fans of American film director Richard Linklater (of School of Rock fame) might be familiar with it in films such as Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly (but fear not, Aku no Hana’s use of rotoscoping isn’t nearly as chaotic). On a separate note, the soundtrack, while far from unlistenable on the whole, has yielded some songs that are definitely tough on the ears.

If you’re the type to bite your nails at moments of nervousness or suspense, this definitely won’t be your cup of tea. If you’re looking for something that offers more traditional anime themes, such as fast-paced action or dazzling sex objects, this show will probably not be up your alley. But if you’re a worry-wart like me, you’d be surprised – you might even be delighted – to see how much Aku no Hana can take the tension you’ve held inside on a daily basis, and reproduce it on screen. Ironically enough, I would argue that in such a way the show produces a uniquely effective method of assuaging daily stress.

First off….what the hell did I just watch?

Story: 8/10

The most messed up thing I’ve ever seen. I mean the plot was brilliant and so creepy that it can end up being a real life situation. It’s plots like these that I wonder if the writer or creator of this had some sort of dark past or a similar experience when they were growing up. It’s depressing, it’s dark, it’s absolutely an inspirational plot. For a writer like me, and a literature student, I can go very, VERY deep into this plot that I can end up writing a three to five page essay. But ... I won’t do that. I can say that this story held some psychological aspect of betrayal, depression, OCD, Post-traumatic stress, and other mental issues these characters do carry. This story really dwelled deep into real life situations. The book that was mentioned: Flowers of Evil is a gateway or symbol of the whole story. Like The Nameless Monster was in Naoki’s Monster. It symbolized forbidden thoughts, lost childhood, and of course, Death.

Art: 8/10

It seems as though it was probably originally filmed in the outside world, then animated over the layer. It’s very realistic. The background is too detailed to be a normal drawing, but otherwise beautiful. The characters…not so much. If the background can hold that much detail, so can the characters. Meaning the design should be clear from far away the same it is close up. I don’t want to see a no face character far away. It’s sloppy, lazy, and just plain creepy. Come on guys, you can do so much better than that!

Sound: 7/10

No…just no. The opening song will change btw. It’ll seem kind of off at first but will soon slowly start sounding like a normal person and not a screaming kid. The closing song…just plain no. I got chills when I heard it and went straight to the next episode. It really did set the dark tone of the theme of the anime though so I do give them credit for coming up with a great and scary song.

The voices are subbed and I doubt will be dubbed. Now as someone who doesn’t watch subbed very often I loved this. I really do hope they don’t dub it because it can ruin the voice of the characters and the mood of the story itself. It’s so realistic that English speaking characters will just throw it all away.

Character: 8/10

This is where the whole anime comes together. The characters in this were not only so realistic, you can find them just walking in your town, they were showing a side of an anime character that is rare to find. No, there is no death; there is only death of the mind almost. With a perverted school boy obsessed with the girl of his dreams and a stalker blackmailer who will do anything to make the school boy pervert’s life a living hell, you got the best OTP ever. Just kidding. But the Stalker, Sawa Nakamura, does have some personal issues that we do learn about. The same goes for Takao Kasuga, the school boy pervert. These two characters might seem just plain stupid and probably very hateful…trust me, I’m not a fan of them, but the way they were represented and characterized, man they are a pure masterpiece.

Enjoyment/Overall: 7/10

This was a weird anime, not going to lie. I hope they make a second season to tie up some loose ends. The character’s situations and they conflict in the plot was so real it was scary. It makes you think: can this happen, is this happening right now; do I know anybody that is in this situation? It can give you complete chills thinking about it. Keep in mind guys; this is not about black flowers with eyes that can kill you. Those flowers really just represent the theme of the story. Someone is always watching….and you can never get away with anything without a price.

I give this a 77% on the evil flower scale.

Aku no Hana is one of those anime's that make you actually take the time to think about what is happening. The anime itself isn't very well known but it really does have a overall feeling of the balance between good and evil to it. The art/graphics were not the best and more than likely a huge turn down to most viewers but once you are able to look past it you realize it actually is quite amusing. I personally chuckled every time a characters facial features were a bit sloppy especially the elusive gender bend character with the face and voice of ... a male but hair and social status of a female. The character development was just amazing, I personally enjoyed learning all the characters individual quirks. The story itself has a deep meaning and to really understand it you kind of have to put yourself in the anime. The story line goes above and beyond some guy stealing his crushes clothes, where from there it turns into a mystery, romance, and slight comedy ( if you have the right sense of humor). I also enjoyed how the book itself played a huge part in the story as well a times it almost seemed as if the book was a character on it's own. Once you start watching I can almost guarantee that you will binge watch, but maybe not. I believe that people whom have great imagination and also those who see the beauty in life will personally be touched. Overall I highly recommend this anime so why not give it a try?

Aku no Hana is what could be said barely an anime. It is delivered for us in an anime form, in anime ways. But what we get isn't what most of us are waiting for in this medium. Rather than your general anime, where we get a stereotyped story that makes it easy for us to classify it - The action filled shonen; the humoristic harem or school club - the bittersweet, funny ecchi comedic-romance - we are presented with a story wich wants to send us more than enjoyment, but also a message. Doing so, it can't fit in any ... common anime theme we may quickly think of, and it develops in it's own personal way, and I've got to say, this is were anime, and all kinds of art, really shine for me.

I can but laught of that description they came about of this anime - not because it was lame, but because of how it could be miss interpreted by many people. It, firstly, signals a comedy-harem setting, letting down most of watchers who were expecting that. Actually, 90% of audience dropped just because of the realistic art style, and maybe for good, as it's art style isn't the only part of the anime incompatible with standard anime expectations.

I will try the most I can to not spoil anything, while trying to transmit my feelings and toughts about this anime to those who watched it.
I will starting saying that this anime has high philosofical and psychological impact to those who watch it open mindedly, and enjoy learning a thing or two with a story. The characters have very strong caracterization towards what the diretor planned them to be. Nothing about their personality helps in comic relief, or anything that would serve to any other purpose away from telling the story and proving it's point. And I think they work very well with the plot. I might even say that they ARE the plot.
We can tell that the diretor really couldn't care less about what we might think of his storytelling. While the story and characters are very deep, It will hardly make you smile even once, you won't want to be any of the characters - you will probably get upset about how they act- but it's just part of the point of this tale.

By now, I will assume that the second season will be aired, for it seems obvious that the part two is already fully animated and ready to be presented.

This anime shows us a deep, ugly truth about kasuga and the others, and also about all of us. It also shows psychological aspects that amuse me. The way they act, their toughts, and the development of the plot alog with the subtle messages is what made it enjoyable to me. As the foruns and my anime experience shows me, these points may not be very atractive to most anime watchers, so I cannot recommend this to most people, even qw I think of Aku no Hana as a great work of art and a great story that might teach you some importante stuff.

We like to think how safe we are inside of ourselves, how we are "normal". Yet we delve hiding into worlds that doesn't exist, trying to feel what we can't in real life, and yes, I'm telling this directly to most of you anime watchers, who just can't apreciate and learn form a story that tells us about problems we might have inside. - I might even go further and say that this is the main reason a lot of people dislike Aku no Hana - They want shows that give them characters they feel good pretending to be.

Well, away from the bashing, watch Aku no Hana if you're like me, who loves an original story that makes you think, and in this case, might even give you a minor life lesson. I must add that I have not read the manga and I won't read it ever, I will just wait for season two. For my score, I will give it 9 out of 10, as the anime pacing really was a bit, just a bit exagerated. We could have gotten more in one season.

Aku no Hana in truth is the plant that grew in the “other side” and is the source of madness for all the characters.it is a giant eye in the shape of flowers that watch over them all and with their madness it remains open.it also questions the conformist life style and shows it’s ups and downs.
AnH is based on a manga by Oshimi, Shuuzou or at least the story is based on it but the studio that adapted it decided to mix it with a reality style animation (rotoscope or w/e) and the result was an unholy mix...not just because they tried to make ... it look real though it is because mixing anime world with reality is not an easy thing to do and they tried to make the characters and other things real as well in a bad way.sadly Aku no hana anime failed but at least it tried but as a result what could have been an 8/10 turned into this.

Aku no hana is a different read from the usual things around.we all like unexpected things in the stories and the Aku no Hana tries to be unexpected.but we need a reason or motivation to like them.simply caring for mad characters that harm others is...a waste of time.although it can be considered a good thing when we have time to waste….sadly it seems that I am mostly going to talk about negative things about this anime but that doesn't mean it doesn’t have good points.for example it makes you yearn for more to see what happens next cause it is unusual and Aku no hana is good at presenting the story so it helps a lot and also the opening songs are interesting but the negative points were the things that drove me to write a review since it didn't do justice to the manga.

in reality Aku no hana manga is about a boy that turns into a freak for the sake of a girl and it was about the madness that sorrounds them and took the shape of a flower.the story itself is simple.it is about mistakes and misunderstandings of teenagers about the events of their life.although not sure that is what the mangaka wanted it to be but in reality that is what this anime is.the main focus is characters take on the events of the story.Takao is in love (or so he thought) with a girl name Nanako and by pure accident one day he finds her gym cloths in the class and without thinking he is forced to take them with himself.while what he did was wrong it wasn't the greatest sin of all times and he could just laugh about it when he grew up but since he was a teenager he was more pure and it was enough to make him feel very bad about himself.although since middle schoolers in Aku no hana have thinking patterns and psychologies of adults one cannot simply accept that whenever they make a wrong call it is becuz they are middle schoolers but sadly many anime these days have this loophole.although the anime is yet to reach deeper parts of the story where characters express their thoughts more so maybe its too harsh to judge the anime for that yet.Nakamura is another character in the story that tries to be weird.although in the manga she doesn't need to "try" but in anime perphaps because of it’s style she just doesn't fit.she saw what Takao did and use that chance to tame him into a man he wants him to be.Nakamura hates everyone and thinks that life is boring and she doesn't want to be normal and boring.while she could be a good character she is too extreme and that makes her annoying at some points specially in the anime.in the end even Takao wants to be like her and that explains why he never resist her abuses to an extent.but what both characters didn't realize again maybe becuz they were too young was that if they think everyone else is normal and boring then no one is or maybe those things that are deemed normal like love/hate and marriage are bound to meanings of life and many people values them and while they didn’t need to accept it they have to respect it!

but one thing that takao got right about himself was that he is empty.that is why he was easily changed by Nakamura even though probably he had a talent for being a perv too.also sadly the only normal person in the story is Ai, Nanako’s friend and others are just too extreme.Nanako thinks that what Takao did is completely alright while Takao thinks that he did the greatest sin and Nakamura things everyone is trash and sadly there is no middle ground and no one else tries to teach them that.and like many other animes their parents are just useless.(or maybe becuz they were useless that the kids turn out like that).although I am not saying that main characters should be more logical to be acceptable,I am saying that no one is completely logical in the story…the irony that the anime decided to make aku no hana more real while it is not fit for one.not just becuz their parents aren't real enough as characters but becuz characters like Nakamura can't easily get adapted anywhere besides anime world.not that it is impossible but it is a hard work.one good thing about the anime is that the viewers are yet to see Nanako turn 180 completely since even if you fake your personality for a long time it will become a part of you no matter what and while changing yourself Is not impossible it can’t be done so quickly and a kid can’t be that complex in the first place...as you get close to the ending the anime gives you “school days” vibe a little although those that alrdy did read the manga knows that it won't go that way at least for now.

another thing is that there are a lot of wasted times in some episodes.characters walking for minutes or just stay silent for minutes...it just makes you wait more and by the end you just get a recap episode and some random shots from future chapters of manga and the anime just needed to adapt one more chapter for better ending but they decided to waste time with recaps and long walking scenes...(even though they were probably bound to limited budgets they could use it better).let us hope that they really do make another season with higher quality.

although in the end AnH's manga wasn't a masterpiece itself so the anime at best could get an 8/10,now it is 6.5/10 and I rounded up to 7 in hopes of a better next season if there is going to be one.

When I first saw this I really didn't think much of the artwork and I bet that probably turned a lot of people off, TRUST ME, don't walk away from it. It will grow on you, like it did for me. In the end the art work really complements the story telling and mood of the anime. It kind of provides a sort of surrealism to the whole think. It seems real, but really isn't, kind of feel.

Kasuga, the main character, lives in a pretty boring town. He wakes up goes to school, reads books, etc and dreams about his "muse" Saeki. That's all ... he does, but Nakamura, the deviant, has other plans for him. Kasuga like I said is a pretty boring guy, until he does something that draws the attention of Nakamura. Nakamura is pretty much a deviant. She hates the town she lives in, hates her life and is bored out of it. So she needs some amusement and "freedom", so she tries to turn Kasuga into something that he isn't so sure about. Saeki plays the love interest of Kasuga. She's smart, pretty and very well liked by everyone. By the end of the anime, that boring feeling in the beginning turns into something else; it pretty much turns into despair and darkness.

The way this anime is directed is incredible. They provide us with such a dark mood at times, you even get depressed watching the characters do their things. It definitely is not an anime for kids. A lot of adult and dark themes are explored. From sex, perversion, etc. The characters while not many are enough to garner your attention. Before you know it the episode is over and it didn't even seem like the 20+ minutes passed by. Heck even the ending music is creepy, but delivers a message of what the anime is pretty much about. "The Flowers of Evil." Definitely recommend it. Ignore your first intuition to dump it because of the artwork. You won't be disappointed. Trust me! 9/10.

Rarely have i seen a series that left me so emotionally shaken. This manga is not for Kids or people who seek lighthearted stories. If you are in this kind of mood or immature, just run away from this.

What i often praise about the art of Manga and Anime is the easiness that these artists have in creating new stories and new unlimited emotional concepts. There are no barriers standing like the ones mainstream content suffers in the western world.

This anime is psychologically terrifying. It's a masochist spectacle than bring depravity in your face. Characters are running themselves into the ground at an astonishing speed ... in a way you find hard to understand.

Among all this repugnant mess of kids destroying themselves for no apparent reason, you'll find yourself drowning in their struggle and you'll feel hooked on these lives like never before.

And by the end of it all, it's nothing but another love story. A staggeringly different one from all the other you have seen before. Something really new and that leaves you with an impact lingering in your mind for weeks.

Finally, about the art. Good lord. Some of the most gorgeous backgrounds ever made in anime story and a weird way to present the characters. First, you find it strange and unappealing. They chose to actually FILM the characters and then to transfer an manga like animated version of it into the series.

The mix between vibrant and realistic backgrounds and these cartoon like characters will more than probably put you of... for a couple of minutes!.

Thing is, the expressions captured by real live actors are unbeatable. The way that it helps the narrative is astonishing and it perfectly fits the need of real emotion on the characters once that we are talking about a story that will rip your guts inside out.

This was one of the greatest anime i ever saw.

Aku No Hana is a study of three early adolescents enduring puberty and trying to discover themselves, whether they want to or not. There are three principal characters.

The first of the three is the protagonist, Kasuga Takaro an introverted and widely read third year middle school student. He lives at home with both parents. His mother is a typical housewife, usually cooking dinner. Kasuga’s father is also a bookworm and passes along reading suggestions including the eponymous “Aku no Hana,” a collection of poems by the mid-Nineteenth Century French author, Baudelaire.

The book, “Aku no Hana” has a profound ... effect on Kasuga, although he confesses that he doesn’t understand the text completely. While there are no direct quotes from the work, the anime suggests that “Aku no Hana” has an existential quality, one that has a greatly affect young readers who are dealing with self-identity.

The quest for self-identity develops in a depressing setting. Kasuga describes his isolated town as “rust, gaming parlors, and weeds.” It is surrounded by mountains which act as both a natural and figurative “fence” to be crossed. Striking down barriers and fences is the mission of the second principal character, Nakaumra Sawa, another introverted and troubled classmate of Kasuga’s. She defies authority and the “system,” showing blatant disrespect to her teachers and refusal to participate in exams, turning in blank pieces of paper. She is very intelligent and insightful with a strong judge of character, but is greatly troubled. Her search for a kindred spirit leads her to Kasuga.
The third character is the class star, straight A student, popular, bright, brilliant and beautiful Nanako Saeki. Kasuga is smitten and while his male classmates make fun of his attraction to Saeki, fate twists a triangle of angst and attraction that bring all three together.

Kasuga, while going home realizes that he has left a book in his desk. He returns to an empty classroom, gets the book, but notices Saeki’s used gym clothes that have fallen out of her locker. He sniffs the gym clothes and in a moment of indiscretion, steals the clothes. Kasuga believes that he is alone, but Nakamura has seen him.
Kasuga encounters Nakamura on a bike path. They talk, and she climbs on to the back of his bike, saying, take me to the other side of that mountain pointing to a distant hill. She has discovered another “hentai” such as she describes herself. She threatens to expose him as a pervert if he doesn’t do what she asks.

In the following days in class, Nakamura is falsely accused of stealing lunch money. Kasuga defends her, saying that she did not, and that the accusations are groundless. Saeki is impressed with Kasuga’s courage to stand up for what’s right. Later they meet and Saeki discovers that there is a lot more to Kasuga than what first impressions tell. They date and begin a romantic relationship.
Thus the triangle is formed. Kasuga has moments of courage, but more often than not, his cowardly side wins out and he runs away. Saeki is hurt by his actions, but as the story unfolds, she begins to understand that she has no real identity. Everything she has done, study, cram school, piano lessons, etc .have all been imposed by her parents and teachers.

Nakamura continues to have a profound effect on Kasuga as well as Saeki. She says that she is determined to break down the walls that they have built around themselves. Three young teenagers, each with character defects placed in an isolated setting and being influenced by Baudelaire’s esoteric poetry sets the tree on a path to disaster.

I was drawn into the story and followed it intently, not being sure where things would lead, but having a strong hunch.

You will have to watch the remainder of the anime to see how things turn out. There’s a lot more in store for the three.

Aku no Hana is an incredibly realistic, quite dark and mostly overlooked anime that deserves more recognition in my opinion. With its striking, spectacular and original art style and very realistic characters, I find it deserving of a 10/10 score, even if some might only appreciate it for how completely different it is from other anime.

(This is technically a spoiler-free review, but it's not really that spoiling the plot would be an issue, as the plot is almost not the focus of the anime, but it's more the premise; so take into consideration that I would like to comment on things that are original ... and fascinating about this anime, but I can't, because it would detract from the series' subtleties for you)

Story: 9/10

Aku no Hana seems to get a lot of harsh criticism from fans of the manga due to the way the anime cuts off partway through the story with the implication that there will be a second season. In reading the manga, I have found that the anime is really something of a separate entity, and has taken on a life of its own. I don't think it's necessary to appreciate the manga to appreciate this anime - in fact, I think the anime takes a much more mature and realistic approach the the story. Others seem to dislike it for its slow pace and the fact that it does not provide immediate gratification. However, I feel that these factors work to create an incredibly realistic story that ends up being very intense, dark and forboding without resorting to obvious symbolism.
This anime does not treat you like you're stupid. In watching it, I felt like I wasn't being told a story - instead, I felt like I was bearing witness to a chunk of time, watching the events unfold without needing an upfront explanation. There was no need to watch characters have conversations about the premise for me to understand what led to the events shown in the story.
It's not really possible to accurately summarize this story. The plot this anime follows is not the most outstanding aspect of it - instead, the story is just a vessel for the characters and the atmosphere, and I feel it is very rare to see this in anime.

Art: 10/10

The art in this anime is absolutely breathtaking. The characters are set against frankly stunning backgrounds that remind me of the art in Ghost in the Shell. The repeated images of certain places on Kasuga's route to school showing a somewhat run-down, quiet town beautifully depict the dreary and somewhat oppressive atmosphere of the anime, and really add something to the story.
As for the character art, I have never seen another anime done in rotoscope, and I think it made for an incredible experience. The way it captured the realism in the characters' movements and expressions was truly a unique experience, and definitely gave me a feel for the individuality of each character in a way the art in the manga didn't. The episode in which the art really took my breath away was #7. Just watch it. I can't say anything to spoil it because it truly gave me goosebumps.

Sound: 10/10

The soundtrack was very subtle, but was in perfect sync with the atmosphere at all times. In episode 7, the soundtrack really stood out alongside the art.

Character: 10/10

Aku no Hana is a slow-burn, very convincingly realistic anime that centers around the 'descent into madness', so to speak, of the lead character Kasuga. It's difficult to explain how realistic the characters and their development over the short period of time really is without giving anything away, however, I will say that I was genuinely taken aback by how realistic the characters, especially Kasuga and Nakamura, turned out to be for me. There is no perfect character in this anime - nobody you can really wholeheartedly love or hate - which is something that makes Aku no Hana so realistic, and, once again, gives the viewer the feeling of simply watching a chunk of time rather than being fed a story.

Enjoyment: 7/10

The reason this is not a 10/10 is because of the lack of immediate gratification provided by this series. It's an anime it is necessary to almost push through to get to the payoff, but that is because of its realism - there aren't incredibly suspenseful cliffhangers like there would be in a horror or action anime. It's about the internal conflict within Kasuga, and for this reason it's not the kind of series one binge-watches out of sheer addiction to a rollercoaster ride of a story.

Overall: 10/10

If you enjoy anime that delves into concepts of psychology, good, evil, identity and emptiness, alongside outstanding art/animation, fascinating characters and a highly realistic portrayal of them, this is the anime for you.

I was skeptical of even going into this anime after being introduced to it by a friend. Just as a had originally thought, I had to force myself through most of it until the last few episodes.

Characters: The anime just does not seem to do a great job of placing the main characters into their respective age group as defined by the anime. Which left me with a subjective view of the characters from the very beginning. The only attribute that fit Nakamura and Kasuga from their age-group was childishness. The way they acted about their situations was interesting, complex, and childish at the ... same time. They will at times leave you confused and struggling to understand them but try not to put too much thought into it. (Kasuga kind of pisses me off but, hey, nothing I can do about his character development.)

Story: The story in itself can hold your interest but it feels like a lot of meaningless emphasis was put on the boredom of the town. I understand the fact that it was meant to be that way, but it only required a minute or two of that emphasis at most per episode to get that point across. This was the one and only real quirk I had with the story.

Animation/Sound: The animation is unique to this anime, but it takes time to get used to, so you can't go into this one with the mindset of how an anime is supposed to look. It requires a clean slate or you'll just disappoint yourself and probably miss some of it's worth due to over-thinking it. Just as the visuals of the town show, the music is to match, again emphasis on the boredom of the town not needed to get the point across.


Overall: The story and characters themselves were the saving grace of this series. The ending was interesting but I don't believe there is going to be another season to the series. Earned a 7 (barely as it took me more than half the series to settle in and not have to force myself through it) for uniqueness, as well as an interesting concept and character development.

I love that Aku no Hana attempts to create something different, raw, and real. Whether it succeeds or not is up to each individual, but in my personal opinion this anime is a masterful work of art.

I am a big fan of experimental art styles and I think the art is striking in an unconventional way. It doesn’t look like a stereotypical anime where the characters are moeblobs and have eyes that take up half of their face. The rotoscoping captures the awkward nuances of being a living, breathing human being. The characters look and act human. The art perfectly fits a show that ... is about the uncomfortable and ugly aspects of the world.

Aku no Hana is very moody and atmospheric; there are sometimes long stretches of moments without dialogue. The show does an excellent job of capturing the mundane and cyclical nature of everyday life as well as Kasuga’s feelings of alienation and claustrophobia. He is terrified of being ordinary and deludes himself into feeing like he’s above everyone else by reading “sophisticated” books and conjuring grandiose, romanticized delusions.

Aku no Hana, much like Baudelaire’s works that the show is named after, evokes the artificial and paradoxical aspects of life. Ensnared in a mire of failure, sin, agony, and moral degradation, with one hand outstretched towards grace and elevation, and the other towards the animalistic and wretched depths. The suffocation of the spirit and the attempt to rise above the sin, decay, and hypocrisy of the world.