Golden Time

It makes me sad to see such negative reviews in the two review spots. This is definitely one of my favorite romantic anime out there. Yes, the whole amnesia plotline is rather wonky. Yes, the characters can be a bit overdramatic (although honestly, it's nothing I haven't seen in real life). But what really gets me is people claiming this show lacks depth. I firmly believe that this show has some of the most well-written characters I've ever seen. In fact, I think the people saying this show lacked depth just missed all the nuances (which, granted, were at times hard to see. But once ... you saw them you were blown-away.) Unlike most romance stories, where the plot is "will the characters end up together?", and then ends with a "yes!" and a happily ever after, Golden Time's plot is two people working through the relationship, and realizing that there isn't a happily ever after. I found that really refreshing. I'll admit, at times the plot is so character-driven and lacking of actual motion that it feels like nothing's happening. And when it comes to the actual plot with Banri, there are many episodes where the problem could easily be solved by Banri just talking to his friends. But on the other hand, when it comes to his relationship with Koko, when there's a communication issue, the two will usually have the conversation you wish they'd have. And as someone who focuses mainly on character writing when watching/reading something, the way the two of them were handled was really all I needed in this show.
The ending, I admit, was fairly disappointing. They crammed into one episode what they should have put into at least two. And when I first finished watching it, I felt like they hadn't answered the main questions at all. Particularly with Linda - but it was only after I'd sat and thought about it for a while (particularly with some symbolism through tennis shoes) that I understood their answer. Yet there were many other characters whose plotlines got vague symbolistic answers, and you just sort of had to accept that. And with Banri's whole amnesia thing... I found it a bit ridiculous, so I decided to interpret it as past self v present self, with the amnesia creating a more defined divide between the two. And then it made a bit more sense for me, as well as was more tolerable.
Oh, and a quick other note - the voice acting, especially on Horie Yui's part, was amazing. There were literally some scenes where I just thought "DANG that's good acting", as dumb as that sounds. The OD/ED were both forgettable, unfortunately. I actually skipped the 2nd OD most of the time because I couldn't stand it. And while the music isn't a big problem, having songs I can add to my anime playlist is always a big bonus. Also, the art, for an anime, is perfectly fine. The OD/ED both have some great scenes, but I always skipped them, so... From what I've seen of the manga, that has truly great art.
Overall, I'd say, if you're not willing to put in the mental work to really understand this show, don't bother. Not that it's a ton, but... basically, if you're looking for a light, fun show that you can watch while doing other stuff, Golden Time is not that show. But a lot of the answers you need to be satisfied, you have to come up with yourself. The hints and tools you need to get there are all provided for you in the show, but you have to keep an eye out for them. Otherwise this show can easily come off as two whiny, overdramatic college kids who cause their own problems.

"People would only wants the old me not the present me" - Tada Banri

Golden Time is something that tingles in my mind for a few days after i watched it. Back in the November, i was already put Golden Time in my plan to watch, since so many sites recommend that this anime is your-must-watch anime in winter season and so after it has finished aired, i watched it and i must say i have a really "golden time" when watching it.

As far as you can see, Golden Time is labeled with comedy and romance genre. The genre that we often said as the most ... generic in anime industry. JC is one of those production house that often adapting romance-comedy manga into anime, Bakuman and Ano natsu is one of their success romance comedy anime. But how about Golden time?

Golden Time is anime that must we consider where romance-comedy anime is not all about cliche and the endless loop "would they be date or not". There is so many things that makes golden time is a worth anime to watch. One of those is how the story goes. The plot moves smoothly and with the narration giving a sense that Banri is showing and telling the story, its really make us understanding what Banri are thinking.

Golden Time is like a puzzle, each episode provide us a single piece that if we're combining all of them would make the completed one and so this one. This basically because Golden Time focussing on how Tada Banri collected his lost memories and how his amnesia affecting the people surround him including his friends or lover. And so we would be presented so many flashbacks that would tell how he was in the past including how he have forgotten the life before amnesia.

As i said before, Golden time is like breaking the endless loop of “would they be date or not” . In this anime, we would see a progression of romance relationship. This is not merely they would lovey dovey all the time but we would see the struggle and obstacle between them which is nice and represents how life is not always easy and there would be always some obstacles that blocks our way.

Other things that makes golden time interesting is the comedy. The humor primarily comes from the interactions between his friends and minor characters, In this anime we would see a comedy that basically happen in our real life like how we get pranked by our seniors when just enrolled in university or jokes that can only be understand by our circles. Golden time is realistically represent this in their show which is makes watching golden time like watching our life itself.

The art in this anime is not too good neither bad. But this is suitable with the anime. The background is quite vivid and colorful. But sometimes the art is kinda messed up, like how they drawn characters sometimes the characters look so weird. JC seems like doesnt do their best in this anime, there is just so many times when the characters look bend in the other way but despite of that, it doesnt decreasing the pleasure from watching this anime.

The sound in this anime is amazing, first from the seiyuu parts we would find a few famous seiyuu like Yui Horie as Kaga Koko or Ai Kayano as Linda, of course the quality of them doesnt need to ask, they perfectly fit with their roles especially Yui Horie as Kaga Koko. Her sound really loveable and the phrases “oh, wow” is kinda attracting. But thats not just all, one thing to notice is how Furukawa Makoto for being Tada Banri as seiyuu. As a new comer, his quality isnt like the beginner at all. His angry or serious tone are really magnificent and really suitable with Tada Banri.

Not just the seiyuu parts, the soundtrack is also good. From the opening we have “Golden Time” by Yui Horie itself. The song is quite lovely and easily grasp people’s heart. There isnt any problem with their OP and ED songs, it had a really nice combination of OP/ED to start the series off which helped with that great first impression. they were particularly is suitable with the themes of love. Moving to BGM, Yukari Hashimoto is the one who responsible for this. Honestly, she is the best when it comes to romance music. His works in Toradora is enough to represent his quality and this time he also success in this anime. The BGM is really mixing well with each scenes.


The other thing that is noticeable from this show is the characters or the whole cast in this anime. The entire character and cast is so realistic and full of "normal people" that would we meet in our real life not some overly attached-girl, the little sister that have a thing for his big brother, a girl who is expressionless, or anything that anime provides us oftenly. More than that, In other words, the characters feel real and human. They are filled with multiple facets and glaring contradiction, just like all of us.

In the end, this anime is a good way to represent what a romance anime is. The realistic views is probably the most prominent in Golden time and i think this is how all anime should be especially when they bring ‘romance’ tags. Unrealistic romance makes the love story become cliche and good things golden time isnt like that. So, if you want a good romance with realistic, light-hearted comedy, Golden Time is probably one of the anime that you should watch.

Golden Time can be best summed up with two words: love hurts.

Of course, this could be an overstatement because love is supposed to bring joy and wonder. But what happens when the past comes back to haunt you? What happens when you’re caught in the middle of a love triangle where someone is bound to be hurt? It’s a tough world in where we live in and nothing should be taken for granted. Golden Time serves as a great example of an anime that explores relationships at a level dealing with the basic human nature and what it stands for based on love.

Golden Time is ... an anime based off the light novel and manga of the same name written by Yuyuko Takemiya. She is perhaps best known for her previous work, Toradora, which has garnished worldwide attention. The anime achieved success but now it’s Golden Time’s turn to shine.

One thing that sets apart this series from most romantic comedy is built by the foundation of the setting. Rather than a typical high school life, this series sets in college which presents itself as a more mature environment. After all, college is where people enter the stage of adolescence. It’s a stage in life where people create themselves, build their futures, and explore relationships at a level like they have never ever before. For Tada Banri, it’s a fresh new experience at a new law school in Tokyo. One problem already arises for Tada Banri from the beginning as he suffers a case of amnesia as result of a past event. Cases of characters suffering amnesia is nothing new in the anime industry. Series such as Tsubasa Chronicles, Eden of the East, and Pandora hearts adapts similar themes in which a main character has a case of amnesia but goes on a journey to discover themselves by digging through the past. What sets Golden Time apart or rather differently is the way of presenting it in the form of Tada Banri’s past. Flashbacks are shown in various episodes and becomes an internal conflict for him. These often resurfaces in cases of episodic flashes where he shouts something out unintentionally. It becomes part of a battle in his mind with a reactive way that makes the show memorable and eye catchy.

What might even be more eye catchy is perhaps our main female protagonist in the series – Koko Kaga. From minute one she enters the show is given the presence that she is a walking billboard of elegance. She is extremely popular among the male population with her mesmerizing appearance, fashion style, and atmosphere of luster dignity. However, there’s a fact known that Koko has little friends because people finds her hard to approach. This is unsurprising because people expects themselves to be way out of her league. That’s not an understatement either thanks to her flashy entrance. With flowers in hand and a daring smile, Koko surprises her childhood friend Mitsuo Yanagisawa as she literally followed him to the university. Apparently, there’s some odd circumstances between them as Mitsuo seemed to have promised to ‘marry’ her when they were kids. But of course, this is just an illusion because all of them were in the past and wasn’t realistic. This format of setting up Golden Time is cliched with the beautiful girl (Koko) meeting the typical college boy Tada Banri. However, if we take a closer look, there’s a special emphasis on our main characters.

Enter Linda. Serving as a character that played a critical role in Tada Banri’s past, she becomes a main figurehead in the story. As the story unravels itself, we quickly find out her importance in the series as well as why Tada Banri keeps getting strange episodic flashes when he blanks out. More importantly is the concept of love being dealt here. Love hurts. It really can be one of the world’s greatest treasures but also a pain that cannot be healed. For one thing, Tada Banri’s past wounds still exists in the form of those memories and Linda serves as a driving factor. Golden Time deals with these flashbacks and structures them in a profound way to explore relationships at a deeper level. Of course, we can’t leave out Koko in the story because she always tries to get what she wants. For Koko, she is like a textbook with no answers. Her personality is extremely difficult to read because she often changes them depending on circumstances and whom she is with. Golden Time ties together our main characters and doesn’t go off track with its main theme. While it doesn’t always present relationship in a healthy way or realistically, the show builds itself with great characters with everyone getting their spotlights.

As serious as some moments of Golden Time can seem to be, it also offers a great deal of comedy. This is usually reflected in the case of other characters such as Nijigen (a.k.a 2D-Kun) that serves as a comic relief throughout the show. Other characters such as Chinami Oka and Nana (based off a character of the same name from the anime/manga NANA) also makes their own spotlights. On a more fun scale, there is also the well-known Tea Party that serves as a primary example of how college is like – party, drinking, and sex. Other humorous moments includes the various cosplay, English dialogues, and responses of our classic Koko.

The series does suffer some problems though in terms of its introduction. The first episodes serves as built up. In fact, the introductory episode is not only cliched but seems forced with its presentation. Some parts of the main story itself can also be predictable especially with the duo of Koko and Tada Banri. Koko can also be a character that is hard to get used to with her multitude personalities. It’s at various circumstances that viewers may question themselves exactly what she wants. Linda herself also suffers characterization in the past because of her indecisive actions. There are some obvious hints thrown in that she might be in love with Tada Banri but in most cases dismisses it as ‘just friends’; an overused idea in romantic comedies. Furthermore, the show focuses perhaps too much on the main love triangle at levels that can seem obnoxious especially with Koko being a clingy girlfriend. Jealousy might be an overused word but she defines it at its best at various episode stages.

Animation wise, Golden Time maintains a balanced romantic comedy presentation with visuals that matches its style. JC Staff adapts the series so expect some familiarity with their past works. Most characters are decorated with simplicity except for Koko whom is known for her fashion style; thanks to her rich family backgrounds. Mitsuo also undergoes some physical changes that might catch the eyes of its audience later on. Background wise, there’s nothing earth shattering going on because mostly everything is focused on our main characters. Nana does stand out as a supporting character to keep an eye on though for her unique style of dressing up.

The soundtrack is consistent on most parts. Both the first OP and ED songs are sweet with a melody to convey the style of a romantic comedy. However, the first OP song does fall under the case of major foreshadowing. On the other hand, the second OP song of the latter half adopts a more hardcore techno beat that doesn’t match the mood as done previously. Background OST wise, the series presents it well to match its comedy, emotional, and dramatic moments. But on voice acting, there’s a mixed bag here. Koko’s voice mannerisms can be annoying to listen to because of her jealousy. She also tends to get angry when she sees something not fitting so expect some dramatic tones coming from her. Tada Banri’s voice also seems a bit monotone at times with his dialogues. Other times, some of the dialogues itself represents a more cheesy way of delivery. Nana is perhaps the most mature of the characters because of her actions that speakers louder than words.

Golden Time can be a tricky anime to adapt and takes patience to get used to. The introductory episodes might not feel so groundbreaking but the reward is worth it once you get them through. It’s important to pay attention to the characters and see their progressing moments as each episode unfolds itself with revelations, reactive dynamics, and characterization. There will be moments where the show will surprise and catch you off guard. Then there are moments that makes you rethink what just happened or if it’s the right way that’s presented. There’s no right answer when it comes to love because everyone is born differently. Romantic comedies such as Golden Time often tends to shy people’s heads away but this is definitely something to keep an eye on. Love can hurt but pain doesn’t just go away without taking chances. Golden Time offers that chance.

Golden Time Review:

How often have we seen anime set in high school? Yeah. A lot. But when it comes to anime set in college, there seems to be a huge gaping hole the industry has yet to leap into. In steps Golden Time, written by the same guy who made a little anime called Toradora!. With a unique setting, and a promising writer, does Golden Time deliver? Without a doubt, 100% yes. Golden Time is a wonderful slice of life drama that everyone needs to see.

Story - 8.1:
As stated earlier, Golden Time takes place in college, following our main protagonist Tada Banri and the roller ... coaster of drama that follows him. Now, the first few episodes give off much more of a comedy vibe than a dramatic one which may have turned a lot of people away from the show. But after Banri's past is revealed, and his relationship with Koko blossoms, the show kicks into full gear. Yes, in this anime, the main character actually ends up dating the girl (and quite early on at that). Many people might think this is a spoiler, but anyone with a pair of eyes can predict Banri x Koko after watching 30 seconds of the OP. Golden Time's fearlessness in quickly establishing a relationship, and following it for the majority of the show is what makes it so special. That and the fact that the two leads are fantastic characters (which we will get into later) make Golden Time a truly special show. Now, there are plenty of head-scratching plot devices that don't really do anything but confuse the viewer until they are resolved in the final episode. Add onto this the questionable decision making of some of our characters, the the story is far from perfect. But the boldness to follow a relationship for 20 episodes and execute it in a way that made you thoroughly care about it is just too much to give the story anything less than very high praise.

Art - 6.9:
Now here is unquestionably the biggest flaw in Golden Time. By no means is the overall art-style bad, but you can clearly tell that this show was not given the budget it deserved. Movements were often very blocky and unfluid, and just the overall level of detail was very lacking at times. However, this show did have plenty of moments (particularly in darker/nighttime set scenes) where the animation was very good and well lit. The college setting was realistically put together, and the varied locations were all unique. Another plus was just the shear amount of varied clothing that everyone wore throughout the show which is uncommon seeing as many anime like to dress their characters in the same outfit every, single, episode. Overall, the art was severely damaged by what seems to be a poor budget, but the artistic style overcame this for the most part.

Sound - 7.6:
Particularly in the more melancholy and dramatic moments, the soundtrack could be very good. There weren't really any memorable tracks, but they all set the tone perfectly. The OPs and EDs were all very catchy as well. As far as the voice acting goes, the VAs did a great job of showing a wide array of emotion, ranging from serious or sad, to downright nutcase happy or excited. The dialog in this show was greatly exaggerated, with characters spitting out some of the most goofiest lines, as well as some of the most cheesy love monologues. However, this was all part of Golden Time's charm, as it can have you laughing one moment, and then leave you teary eyed the next.

Characters - 8.2:
This is the controversial part of the show. MANY of the characters can come off as annoying primarily due to their decision making and dialog. However, when it comes down to it, Golden Time made its characters feel human. They weren't perfect, they made mistakes, and they learned from them. The biggest cases are with Banri and Koko, who are relatively clueless when it comes to relationships and make countless errors when it comes to keeping secrets from each other or not reading each other's feelings correctly. Koko is a character who gets a lot of crap, but I absolutely admire her for the amazing amount of development she went through. She went from a crazy selfish stalker who distanced herself from anyone not named Mistuo, to a caring person and great friend who tries to do what she thinks is best for the ones she cares for (even if she is wrong). She started out as the type of girl who wouldn't give her boyfriend any freedom and wouldn't trust them at all, into someone who gives the one she loves full freedom and trust. Many people hate Banri and Koko's relationship, but I have one question for many of these people "Have you ever even dated anyone before?" One of the reasons Koko x Banri was so enjoyable to watch was because their relationship felt real and relatable. Not a cute, problem-free, perfect relationship that a lot of anime (and tv in general fantasize about), but a REAL relationship with its ups, downs, awkward moments, and realistic details. The supporting cast was strong as well with highlight characters consisting of 2D-kun and Nana-senpai who did the most with their limited screen time. All in all, the characters may have caused much frustration for the viewer, but in the end that's what made them human and quite honestly so damn likeable.

Enjoyment - 8.2:
For the longest time, Golden Time was my favorite show from the fall season. Over time, Nagi no Asukara passed Golden Time on this list, but that was in no way Golden Time's fault. From start to finish, I had a wonderful time watching this show. It ranged from hilarious, to intense, to depressing, to rage inducing, producing a wider range of emotions from me than the vast majority of shows out there can do. The beautifully done final episode also left me completely satisfied with my experience. Golden Time knows how to keep the viewer entertained.

Overall - 7.80:
Rarely does a show come along that makes you care this much about the characters. All I wanted was for Banri and Koko to be happy together, and the struggles they went through while trying to achieve this kept me interested. While other shows play it safe and garner your interest by leaving who the main character will end up with a mystery, Golden Time makes it clear that Banri and Koko are together, and instead captivates us with the struggles they have in order to stay that way. While some plot devices and the relatively weak production value may leave a lot to be desired, the end result with Golden Time is a truly wonderful anime, and a must watch for all fans of drama.

The Verdict:
A wonderful drama filled ride that begs to be compared to Toradora! in terms of similarities and greatness

Pros:
+ Great character development in the main characters
+ College setting unique
+ Relationship actually happens
+ Drama Drama Drama

Cons:
- Animation is lackluster
- Plot devices can be questionable at times

If you liked Golden Time, watch...
Toradora
Clannad ~After Story~

7.80/10 - Superb

*if you are wondering why this got in the high 7 range instead of an 8, 9, or 10 from me after all that high praise, please refer to my review scale on my pofile

Golden Time is one of the best slice of life shows i've ever seen.

So, this review might be a little biased. I love slice of shows because they give you an escape from everyday life, and let you see other people's more entertaining everyday lives. While that might sound boring in context, there is usually a twist in the story that's supernatural/a character quirk/a character's dark past/an unrealistic setting/hell; possibly even a sister fetish (I'm looking at you "My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute") that keeps the story fresh and interesting. Golden Time is unlike a lot of slice of life shows ... because it doesn't really rely on any specific plot quirk to tell its story, with little-to-no fan service, realistic character designs (okay maybe not the one pink-haired chick), realistic drama that isn't overtly melodramatic, and just in general unique characters that feel like real humans and don't rely on character tropes.

The plot for the show was really character-driven, and didn't necessarily revolve around the romance, as these shows tend to do. I'd say its half about watching these characters grow and develop, and half about the romance between Koko and Banri, with a bit of comedy nicely inter-spliced in between. I loved the college setting as there aren't too many of those in anime, and it allowed for more mature characters than what you would see in a high school slice of life. The conflicts were also spread out evenly, with the viewer getting rewarded with stronger relationships or new revelations, only to be crushed when things go downhill again. The show is a roller coaster of emotions, but if you survive to the conclusion, it is immensely rewarding and everything you could have asked for since you started watching the series. My only real complaint about the plot was the supernatural aspect, which basically made Banri innocent for all his bad decisions. It would've been more interesting to see Banri genuinely make mistakes in his relationships, and then try to fix them.

Speaking of Banri, his amnesia and how he struggles with deciding who he wants to be makes for some great drama. He is also an extremely relatable character, and you genuinely feel sorry for him and the situation he's been put in. Koko, while hateable in the first few episodes of the series, also becomes relatable and you easily fall in love with her character after seeing that there is more to her than the pseudo-tsundere/overly-possessive person she appears to be in the first few episodes. Linda was damn near-perfect in the first few episodes, but you learn that the reason she appears that way is because we are seeing the story through Banri's eyes. Even she has her faults, and gets some great character development as well. Mitsuo, 2D-kun, Chinami, and Nana don't get as much development ,but thats okay because they have enough development to satisfy anyone whose interested in their characters, and I loved how Banri's relationships with them actually mattered and had an impact on the story.

The sound was great, with an opening and ending that are both beautifully animated that have you excited to watch a new episode, and sad to finish it. The animation was ON POINT! The studio that animated this probably didn't need to try too hard considering its a slice of life show, but man, everything about the animation was above average for its genre. The college setting itself, the portrayal of the seasons like winter, and summer, the cool aesthetic they'd have with the flashback scenes, and last, but not least, the character designs. I loved the character designs in this show. As a dressy gentleman myself, i'm a sucker for nice outfits on anime characters, and they nailed it here. With Koko's intricate dresses, Banri's and 2D's more laidback outfits, Mitsuo's preppy style, Linda's girl-next-door look, Nana's punk-rocker look, and Chinami's down-to-earth look with her denim overalls and whatnot, everyone really has their own aesthetic that matches their personality. It might not be a big deal for everyone, but it definetly made the show more enjoyable for me, as not a lot of detail goes into that in most slice of lives since they usually just have them in school uniforms.

You also get to see some cool stuff that high school slice of life shows shy away from - like casual conversation about sex, college parties, being put into awkward situations, the exploration of relationships, jealousy, commitment, selfishness and selflessness in relationships, dorm life, and friendships. I thought that it was a breathe of fresh air and I wish the realism of this show was incorporated into other slice of life shows. It gave off a pseudo-americanized feel because it didn't feel too censored or innocent, and the conversations were natural and relatable. If you're looking for a great slice of life that is a bit americanized with unique, relatable characters, interesting sub-plots, a college backdrop, great animation, edge-of-your-seat drama and natural comedic moments that aren't forced, this is the show for you. (P.S. if you're a high school senior and you watch this show, its going to make you even more excited to be in college!)

In depth review #6 - Golden Time

Oh man, this anime hit too close to home way to many times. The relationship problems these characters had was just so familiar that I just had to be amazed by this show. The thing that got me though was the whole clingy stalker persona Koko had in the beginning of the anime. All I could do was laugh. Golden Time is that unique anime in its genre that actually portrays REAL relationships. Usually romantic animes have their show setup like a whore house. There is always one guy and 5 girls and he chooses one of them the ... fuck at the end. Golden Time however throws that cliche bullshit out the window and paints a vivid picture of how fucking crazy real relationships can get. I'm pretty sure most people can relate to this anime to some degree but if you can't then you will just be confused about why these people are acting like maniacs.

Story: 7 (Good)
The story follows a kid named Banri who just started college in Tokyo. He would of had been a second year student at this point but he had to be hospitalized from a head injury. He fell off the side of a bridge and lost all of his memories prior to that point. His family, his friends, his girlfriends, and his childhood where all lost, so he decides to start anew and become a new person. However as the story progress Banri starts have an internal conflict with his past self and the new person he become in college with causes a lot of problems with his current relationships. The overall setup of the story is nothing special but the storytelling of the show is where Golden Time shines. The dialogue and the situations the main characters go through each episode is what makes this show. I wouldn't say Golden Times is episodic but at times it feels as though it is because there is always something different going on every episode. They don't dwell on problems for too long (except for the main psychological conflict) which i like. What really stood out was just the relationships ups and downs rather than the overarching story.

Animation: 9 (Great)
After watching Golden Time and other anime that came out this year, its clear that animation is getting better each year. Golden Times animation is sooo good. I used this phrase before in another review but the animation was so clean i could of ate off of it. The amount of animation in the setting alone was amazing. The city, inside of buildings, the school, and any setting the main characters were in had a considerable amount of detail in them. Even small things like water movement, barber poles, leaves, and even blinkers on cars were noticeable and moved naturally. The character designs were also on point. All you have to do is look at Koko and your mouth will drop. All you can say is that Mitsuo is an idiot for not wanting her because she..is..hot (even for animation)

Sound: 9 (Great)
The sound for this anime was also good. I listened to the OST after i watched the show and there was a couple of tracks i liked alone. However most of them were eclipsed by the opening/ending themes. With hat note, the songs in the themes where amazing. They grew on me even though its not really my style of music. I liked the songs in the first opening and the second ending the most. As for the sound in the show, they mostly used mood setting chords, and sound queues. They where subtle but where notable during memorable scenes. The sound queue i remember the most was the sound that Koko's breast made whenever they did a close up of them (yes I'm a pervert). It was a sound that reminded me of moving a sheet of hard plastic around lol.

As for the voice acting, i didn't expect it to be so good. The actor in the Japanese dub had a lot of talent and fit there characters very well. They also managed to used English in part of there speech which got me confused during certain scenes. All of this was insignificant compared to the emotional scenes however. As the characters started to yell and argue with each other you can feel the amount of emotion the actors had in there voices. It wasn't overpowering or unrealistic which i thought was amazing. Also during the sad scenes when someone would start crying, their voices sounded so realistic that you get completely captivated by the scene. The cast did an amazing job.

Characters: 8 (Very Good)
All of the main characters in this show had great synergy with each. This is mostly due to the fact that this show is so realistic but i thought that its worth mentioning. The relationships everyone had with each other was different for specific reasons. Everyone weren't just friends with each other because they knew each other like in other animes. There were ups an downs between all of them. As for character development, I thought it was well done for most of the characters. There was one character in particular that just pissed me off after a while but everyone else developed nicely as they had to face numerous situations. As for the character i was talking about earlier, it is the main character Banri. At first i though his development was great. He starts off as a clean slate and then gradually changes as time goes on. Towards episode 17, i thought Banri as a main character was at its all time high. He changed so much from the first episode. Then towards the end of the series he did a 180. I don't want to spoil anything because his change is caused by how the story is set up but he changed for the worst. He pulled a shinji from NGE out of nowhere which i just didn't like at all. That part could of had been executed better imo. As for Koko, i thought her development was the best throughout the series. At first she was just a crazy stalker then she turns into a character with so much depth and emotion. This only gets better towards the end while Banri development get worse. Linda developed in a similar way as well.

Enjoyment: 10 (Outstanding)
I loved this anime. It painted a realistic picture of how crazy real relationships can be at times which I appreciated a lot. Seeing something so familiar in anime pushed all the right buttons on me and made me laugh and smile whenever they came on. The blatant eavesdropping on my phone calls, blowing up my phone when I'm away leaving me with 65 unread messages, and the failed attempts at setting the mood made me burst out laughing during these scenes. Also the scenes that were actually meant for humor was well done and also made me laugh. The emotional scenes and the arguments almost turned on the waterworks but i managed to stay composed. There was just so much emotion in these parts that i found myself glued to the screen. I don't usually watch these type of anime but this one was worth it.

Score: 8.6/10 (Very Good) - Watch it Now

Alright, the series ended so why not make a review on how I think about the anime!

Story: This anime is about a guy call Banra experiencing a new life in college. He lost all his memories during his High school life because he got hit at the bridge and fell in the water. He lost his memories but from to time he start to remember. When he was in college he met many new friends and learn new things in life. He learn how painful it is and lonely it is when you lost your memories. It feels like you just reborn into another ... person not knowing your past life. He also learn friendship and love. The story is pretty stable and I think from time to time the story might get little bit confusing or maybe shaky.

Art: The art is pretty amazing, the texture is pretty great. It's pretty smooth, the art matches the genre.

Sound: The opening and the ending is pretty catchy. I like it a lot, it's pretty kawaii for a series like this! The ost does matches with scenes mostly when things get pretty serious.

Character: The character development is pretty stable also. From time to time the characters learn new things. They learn friendship and love over time. Sometimes you just have to let go of your feelings for someone and move on. From time to time Koko and Banri can be annoying but hey everything isn't perfect.

Enjoyment: 9/10 I enjoyed this series a lot. It fill with comedy and love. It teaches you that sometimes you have to let it go or you're just going to end up with nothing. Sometimes letting it go means that you're strong but sometime letting it go can also mean you're weak. I think this anime is a pretty decent anime but the ending wasn't the best ending. I think the ending is pretty predictable so thats why I gave this series 8/10

Based off the light novel was written by Yuyuko Takemiya (best known for the creator of Toradora!).

The series started in a private law school, the school freshman Tada Banri found himself lost, then he encounter another school freshman Yanagisawa Mitsuo. They found themselves appear in front of a woman bringing a bouquet of flower, named Kaga Kouko, Mitsuo's childhood friend. Kaga Kouko slapped a bouquet to Mitsuo's face. From there the series begins.

Golden Time offers us an incorporate romance-comedy. For a romance anime, Golden Time has unique settings that set up in a private school (not in the usual High School). Golden time has ... a well-thought plot that able to describe the true feelings of the story itself. Sometimes you can feel the light of this series, and sometimes it can bring you into a dense situation where there is nothing you can do but sit and watch. Golden Time has a medium pacing, which is fair enough. And there, we have a very typical conflict, the problem is not the typical fact, but the level plausibility of the conflict, various watchers maybe annoy by the conflict that inserted in this series, which can bring some soap opera in your brain + think this is a typical drama TV shows, which makes Golden Time have no originality in the conflict sides. And to make things worse, we have a less satisfy forced ending.

The animation of Golden Time done by J.C. Staff. The animation is clear, bright, and many good things. Although not the best, Golden Time animation is fair enough to control the feeling of the series.

As for the sound section, Golden Time has a fairly good sound settings, the seiyuu did a pretty good job in bringing such character to the screen. The 1st opening song "Golden Time" sung by Horie Yui is quite matched within the feeling of the series while the other songs are decent.

While the animation and the sound shine Golden Time perfectly, the character is another savior to cover the story.
One thing important we must remember in this series is "a well profound development". Golden Time successfully save himself, each character displayed to have their own role, making a reason to their presence. A very profound feelings within the main characters is able to balance the story up.

Golden Time brings us a real colorful of enjoyment, a see-saw feelings between bore or not. The series quite refreshing at the first, a bit dull in the middle, and ends with a lot of surprises and excitement. Golden Time is a weighted series, practically well recommended for the fans of a dark Romance-Comedy genre, and for those who seeks many surprises in their eyes.

"Le temps est d'or, nous devons le priser".

For those who don't know French. This phrase means "Time is golden, we must treasure it". I am also not very familiar with French but I picked that word out. I just hope my translation is all right.

There are some fall anime that are still airing in the winter season. I have decided to watch some of the 2-cour fall anime that are still airing like Golden Time, Kill la kill & Strike the Blood. Out of all the 2-cour anime that I have decided to watch, Golden Time was the best among them. Once again, JC ... Staff has stood their ground very well in this anime. This anime managed to captivate me from the start to the end.

My initial reaction:
Just another generic romance anime.

My reaction after seeing this anime:
:'( I feel for you. I really do.

By my reaction, you could tell I really loved this anime.

STORY (10):

The story follows Tada Banri who is a freshman at a private law school in Tokyo. Due to an accident after his graduation from high school, he lost his memories. Of course, he also meets his friends from there.

The story really took the time to develop characters and make them interesting for us to get to know them. The story makes use of comedy moments to make us laugh and feel better like for one example when Kaga Koko performs her exorcist movement, that was hilarious.

The story not only deals with funny moments but also the psychological trauma when it comes to relationships and betrayals. The story handled that part very well. In fact, I loved the way how the story goes. The story tells us that love doesn't come easy, it takes commitment and full certainty.

The story was like a mystery that you wouldn't know what to expect from this anime. The drama was very mature and subtle.

ART (8):

The animation is good, nothing spectacular about it.

SOUND (9):

I love all the songs that are sang by Yui Horie. The song is addictive and catchy. The 1st opening is the title of the anime itself and the 2nd opening is "The World's End". I actually loved the 2nd opening since it already grew onto me. The 1st ending is "Sweet, Sweet Cherry"; the 2nd ending is "Love me Temporarily".

These songs are full of romance radiating in the air. I can say "Love is in the air". We will reach together!

CHARACTER (9):

Every character has their unique traits.

Tada Banri is a normal guy but I started to feel sad for him as he tries to cope with situations even when he has his 'Ghost" form watching over him and especially when his memories are recovered. I also believed that he is trying to live the best he can.

Kaga Koko can be quite annoying at times but her character starts to grow into me and she is a very funny person. She also tries to understand and help Tada Banri in every possible way.

Linda's character grew onto me as she was introduced to her back story.

Some of the side characters like Mitsuo, 2D-kun & Oka are well developed, they never show me any annoying traits. However, for Oka, she annoyed me when she got angry at Tada Banri in episode 20 for no reason, but I could understand she has her reasons.

Nana looks like a rock star. She is also badass just like Revy from Black Lagoon & Makoto Kikuichi from Idolmaster. She is one of my favorite character. In fact, I did appreciate the fact that she is a helpful person even though she looks harsh on the outside.

Yeah, well, enough said. I loved their character development.

CONCLUSION (10):

Golden Time is a golden anime to me. I loved the characters, especially how they deal with the changing of mindset with some people. The characters are all trying to live the best they can. This anime also brings us a valuable lesson to learn that "Love Hurts" which means relationships can sometimes experience disaster and it takes a lot of courage and effort to maintain relationships. Just like in real life, life is not like a bed full of roses. Life is not always smooth sailing, sometimes we will experience pain and suffering in relationships. However, pain and suffering makes us understand and appreciate life better.

I enjoyed this anime a lot. I laughed, cried and truly feel for the characters. I really wished I could share more about this anime.

I give this anime a 10/10. I enjoyed it a lot. In fact, I couldn’t find anything wrong with this anime.

Normally when I rate a 10, it doesn't mean that this anime is perfect. It has some flaws as well like annoying characters and also plots that need to be explained in detail like for example the ending.

In fact, this anime managed to succeed in areas that some shows didn't, like for example character development. Amnesia & School Days, this is what you're missing.

Don’t worry if you didn’t enjoy this show or find the show predictable. I can understand where you come from.

For fans of melodrama and romance, I highly recommend this anime for you to watch. You will definitely have a good time.

Toradora!, still up to day, is the best romcom I have ever seen, I have even read the LN series to complete my experience, and what a ride that was!

I mentioned this because Golden Time, from the same author of Toradora!, Yuyuko Takemiya, has been called the spiritual sucessor of Toradora!, and until a certain degree I have to agree with this statement, Kouko is like a version of a more deredere future Taiga studying in a university, and even both are visually, a bit similiar. Also, one could also find other similarities between plot development and characters. The whole show gives at points, ... a vibe of Toradora!'s in university version... but is that as good?! I can say that is similiar but also it is different and it was something I liked to see.

Now focusing on Golden Time.

The story isn´t anything superb, it is very predictable, a bit cliche, and suffers from a pacing that sometimes, made me finding it boring at parts, especially in the middle of the story, and others seemed, somewhat rushed. That being said, it has its nuances, it is a romcom, you have those lovey-dovey lightly harming comedic moments, and drama!... And thought at first I absolutly loved the romantic aspect of it, but further into the story, IMO it got a bit more boring, like "same old story bro" kinda off, and the comedy is noting worth mentioning, putting it like this, other shows were better romcom's!
I still enjoyed the romance though, but the drama part gained much more relevancy, and in the end what I enjoyed the most, what was the focus of my attention was the dramatic experiences and questions I got from the story itself.
STORY: 8

J.C.Staff produced the anime like they did with Toradora!.
I m already accostumated to their works, again especially on the romcom segment, the nature of the series doesn't call for anything flashy, and despite of visually the animation not being top notch, the characters were well animated. For what was needed to be done in art departments, Staff achieved the goal, you understood the cast behavior and emotions well enough and Kouko is very moe!
It is the standart of what I came to expect seeing on a romantic comedy, not stunning, but enjoyable and charming when the situation calls for it.
ART: 8

OP's and END's may certainly fit into Golden Time's nature, but werent of my taste, I skipped most of the OP's and END's all the time. Of course you also have the sound taking part into the anime scenes... I dont remenber any of it, and I dont remenber hating it or seing it as inappropriate to the scenes it played at.
Soundwise, gets the job done, but it is forgetable.
SOUND: 7

Like I said I loved the dramatic parts of the anime, and most of those came from Tada Banri's past and how he deals and faces is life. Tada Banri lost his memories of his past experiences and loved ones before his accident, thus after he has to start from scratch, in a unknown world for him, he learns and again falls in love, now with Kouko, and makes great friendships in his new life at a university!
But when his past memories, "his past self", cames to resurface and torment him, he doesn't know what to do, he fells hopeless and confused! Throught the story "he has his share" of these situations happening and by the end of it, he is left in a fragile state, affraid that he may lose what he has, what he remenbers, to the other Banri. You also have other great characters like Kouko that at first can be a bit annoying by her strange behavior, but with time you come to know her nature better, thus making her much more enjoyable, 2D-kun and others also make the anime interesting.
This is a serious question I had never though of it before, but if you fall in love with someone, live a life, have "a world around you", and then lose everything you knew, awake a new person, and with that make a new start, then you fall in love again, gain new friendships... what will happen to these memories if the old ones may came back, will these be replaced by your olders you dont even remenber about??
Who do you truly love, how do you live, who are you?!?!
And that is something refreshing and sad done in a anime, to my knowledge never explored like this.
This is a reality that some people face in our world, but I was never aware that these problematic situations even existed, and this came to make me see how much important and precious our memories are, and how fragile they can be!! We never expected to forget some of the most important moments of ours lifes, but the possibility is there, and certainly is a terrefic one!
The enjoyment I got from Golden Time came from the cast, mainly with Banri traumatic past experience, and how he manages it throught his life, how it affects himself, his relationship with Kouko, and with his friends and past love... This is what I came to find charming and unique in Golden Time!
CHARACTER & ENJOYMENT : 9

Overall, at first I expected much more of Golden Time, the first 6-7 episodes were truly a joy... I started watching it and I just wanted more and more!! But afterwards, the story wasnt as enjoyable as the first's arcs of the story.
So yeah, I m a bit disappointed with the series, not only commenting on J.C. Staff, but also the original work. Both could have done something more.
I myself found Toradora! to be much better in everything, it was more enjoyable, well paced, emotional and satisfactory to watch! Golden Time drama isnt as good as the one of Toradora!(and Toradora! romcom is much higher level), but at least it is unique on its own, and comes with some serious real life problematic issues with great impact at one's lifes, that I had never even questioned its existence, but sadly there are people living like Tada Banri! It is sad, but it is reality.
Wrapping up Golden Time had much more potential, it came to be "out lived" be its predecessor. But still I had fun watching it, to Toradora! fans and romcom's in general, I reccomend it.
Yes, I m disappointed with it, but I wont ignore that overall I had fun with Golden Time, great cast, some great moments and a worthy conclusion.
It is at least worth watching!

OVERALL: 8
[(8+8+7+9+9)/5= 8.2]

i was never a fan of the shoujo/seinen genre...that was until i watched this anime.

although i started watching it by mistake(because i think the girl@koko in the poster is cute).it is one of the best anime series and a must see for any anime fan.

it is extremely funny without using any cheap gag. the characters itself are unique and the director manage to combine all the element and the characters personality and make it a really funny and interesting series.

to change someone like like me, who is a fan of bleach, naruto and full metal alchemist....into a huge fan of this genre is unthinkable. but ... after the first episode, i became addicted to it.

the characters are beautifully drawn and the voice actors/actress are perfect in making the series a masterpiece

it is extremely rare for an A rank series(in my book) to not have a villian...but this series prove me wrong. the closes charcter to resemble a villian here is the tada banri soul...well i don't really think it is a villian. but more of an individual character who wants something different.

koko character is so cute and sexy but has its own flaw and weakness making her lovable. even the side characters such as oka chan and nana sempai...managed to contribute a lot in the series.(oka chinami has the cutest scene-describing the breakdown of society if they fail to buy the belgian chocolate). koko father who has like 5 minutes of screen time also made that 5 minutes funny and memorable.

a great script combine with a great anime team plus talented cast made this series a gem.

i highly recommend this series even to the hardcore shonnen fan

and by the way, the ending song by yui horie. is one of the best ending song ever

I've seen several anime related to this theme, but among those I've seen I can guarantee that this is one of the best you'll find. The anime has a good story and has a closed ending, it has drama and comedy, where it will make you laugh a lot. Funny and interesting characters that will catch your attention. Many of my friends have never heard of this anime, I think it's underrated and should have more value, as it's a phenomenal anime. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a comedy and romance anime, you won't regret it at all.

Do you have a problem that is not over? Have a bad past to the point that it's the worst memory in the world? Frustrated and depressed because of your past, what else concerns your ex-lover? And you thought, "I wish I had amnesia so I forgot all about it !!" while listening to sad songs. Sure?? Re-think that desire, before you experience it and in the end regret it. Why? Because the amnesia is suffering, you know. He or they will definitely feel something missing in his or their life. Humans will never be complete without their past.

From this anime, we can see that ... Banri, who has amnesia, has a problem with her identity. He felt he was wrestling with the ghost in Tada Banri's body. Although in reality there may be no such thing as a ghostly past. But this anime is a polished story that can be enjoyed. So the creator of the story might make his past tangible and that form is the ghost of Banri. Or it could also be a story that might happen to people who have amnesia. Due to confusion about identity, maybe people with amnesia will often hallucinate to meet themselves in the past and assume that they are different figures who are fighting for positions in order to live in the world.

Amnesia Banri felt that Tada Banri had been split into two figures, and divided himself into past and present Banri. He who is amnesia or he is now trying to erase the existence of Banri in the past so he can calmly live life. But he realized his mistake, and tried to accept the past. Unfortunately, by not running away from the past that he did not fully remember, it made Banri feel he was at war with Banri in the past to get Tada Banri's body. When Banri accepts the past, it means that he accepts Banri's ghosts from the past as part of his life, therefore Banri's ghost sometimes takes over Tada Banri's body.

Everyone will also be confused with his own identity when he does not remember a single one about him and his life. These two Banri are both afraid of disappearing. Banri of the past wants to go back to Linda, while Banri of the present loves Kouko very much and doesn't want to make her alone and cry. In the end, Banri felt that he who would now disappear was replaced by Banri in the past. He knew that he would forget the people he knew now. He also felt frustrated and sad because he himself did not know who he was, and instead thought he was now a ghost who could disappear at any time and not be seen by anyone.

In my opinion, one of the messages from this anime is that we shouldn't run from the past because the past is part of our lives. It is also not wise if we try to erase our past, both bitter and sweet. Whatever our past, we still must be able to face and accept it. That way we won't be burdened to look into the future. Even though it is just an anime, there is still a possibility that the problem that occurs with Banri's character who is confused by his own identity can also be experienced by people who have amnesia. So, are you sure you want amnesia ?? If you have amnesia with a purpose, it is not impossible when you really have amnesia, you will forget your purpose and your desire for amnesia and you will suffer from losing all your memories.

Overall : 9/10

Golden Time.

This anime made me feel happy and sad, made me laugh and embarrassed and made me fall in love with the characters. Isn't that what a great anime is suppose to do?

With the premise of self conflict and aspiration for romance this anime gave me everything I needed. A compelling story and relate-able characters these are two aspects which are the foundation of a good anime. Character development is the fruit of a good romance anime and it is outstanding and you definitively see how much each character has grown since the first to last episode.

If you are looking for a roller-coaster ... ride of emotion accompanied by heartfelt romance and comedy then this is the anime for you!

I'm not one for romance type animes but this was a really good anime to watch. Once I started watching I couldn't stop. I'm just giving my own opinion although not many people may agree.
At first I thought the whole amnesia thing was a bit cliché but it went very well with the story and the characters. I couldn't stand the female lead at first. She was overbearingly obnoxious, demanding, immature, and didn't think about other people but herself. She was liked a spoiled rich brat! Ugh!! Still, throughout the entire show, she showed great character development. She changed and I got ... used to her. As for the main character, he did went through a lot and watching how he changed and overcame his situation made me literally tear up! It was nice to see that. It wasn't just him and the main girl who changed. His friends did too. They all, well, most of them experienced pain and overcame it somehow. I was shipping a certain two people together but they didn't end up together because she was acting nonchalantly stupid. *sigh* I felt bad for her in the end. I know how she felt though~
In any case, I would say this is a pretty good show. I would give it a try if you like romance. There are so much feels. :D

-Summary-

Story: 7
Art: 9
Sound: 8
Character: 10
Enjoyment: 8
Overall: 8

This show is a good and realistic romcom/drama with an amazing and enjoyable cast of characters. The realism is contradicted by the ghost haunting the main character and the contrived memory problems the main character deals with. These factors however do not ruin the show but do perhaps prevent it from being something great and classic. The art and character designs are beautiful and the sound gets the job done.
...
-Details-

Story: 7
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Themes: College Life, Memory Loss, Personal Identity, Coming of Age

This show has a continuous narrative, and the story is mostly about interpersonal relationships and romances. This is a show where the story goes beyond the point where the main guy asks the girl out; the story mostly explores the challenges that come along with dating and opening up to someone else and letting them learn everything about you: the good, bad, and ugly.
One thing that sets this show apart from other romcoms/dramas is its attempt at realism. While there is some reliance on typical anime romcom/drama tropes, the uniqueness and personality of the setting and characters is actually pretty refreshing. This anime takes place in college, not high school, and this difference actually shows, is significant, and does indeed give a different feel to the show than if it was a high school anime. The wildness and relative freedom of college life is captured well, whether that be in the adventures/dates of the main cast, or whenever they get pulled into the shenanigans of the crazy tea party club. This show is mostly about the romantic relationships between the main characters, and this seems to me to be much more realistic than other romance anime. Realism isn't necessarily a virtue in itself since many people, including myself, enjoy the wackiness and unrealistic feel of anime quite a bit. However, the upside of a realistic romance is that it isn't done as much since it's hard to write. In that respect this anime can be refreshing, especially for people who do actually value realism and want to see it more in anime.
I think the realism of this show comes across most in the character interactions and in the dialogue. What I love most about this series is that the love that develops between characters in this show makes sense and does not happen for no reason. The hero is legitimately attracted to the beauty and playful personality of the heroine, but he also does not mindlessly pursue her and is willing to give up the relationship if she is not willing to see him as more than just a friend she can be real with. He doesn't let himself get used and thus is a strong and pretty respectable male character. The heroine starts out with some emotional-dependency issues and is a little immature, but she grows in a realistic way. She goes through difficult times and sufferings, learning that people are not simply who she wants them to be. She learns to love people for who they are and learns how to get along with other people who have their own freedom and desires and learns that she can't just control people based on her plans. She gains a lot of self-confidence and matures into someone who can truly support and love another person. In this show we get to see this process of maturing and the suffering that can go along with it, which I think really adds to the realism. The dialogue between characters in these kind of situations makes sense and is not just rehearsed anime dialogue. I felt like these people were real and were having real life dialogue when they were trying to work through their problems and disagreements. What they said made sense; they were people and they tried to stick up for themselves and tried to communicate their own real thoughts to another real person. This was probably the strongest part of the show and its story.
The reason the story gets a 7 from me is because this attempt at realism is completely contradicted by the main plot device: the main character's amnesia. Amnesia and memory loss in itself is not unrealistic of course, but the way it's handled in this show is pretty unrealistic (it seemed to me at least; I don't know how regaining memory works so if this show actually does it right then feel free to contact me about this). I'm going to avoid end-of-show-spoilers so I unfortunately won't be able to get into the details of why I believe this to be true. I will say that the thrust of the plot later on in the show is whether or not the main male character will be able to live a stable life and have a stable romance despite the memory problems he has. There is this bizarre narrative choice taken in the show where the main character seems to be one person, and the person he was before losing his memory seems to be another person who has come back as a ghost to haunt the new person. At first I thought this was just a narrative choice and so I was fine with it, but then the ghost actually started to interact with the real world and curse the main character, like making it rain when they try to go to the beach. Furthermore, the main character seems to switch between these two personalities every now and then, and when he does so it seems to come at arbitrary times. I don't know if this is how memory works or not, but when he reverts to his pre-memory loss self, he loses all the memories he has made since then. This seemed pretty weird to me.
I can't give away the ending, but what I will say is that it did not make all of this memory stuff seem any more realistic than what I have just described, and is in fact probably even more fantastical. The main character's relationships with the supporting cast are also not very satisfying by the end.
In summary, there is a great amount of realism in this series in the characters, their interactions, and in the romance, but this is contradicted by the memory loss plot and the whole thing with the ghost haunting the main character. The realistic parts are very enjoyable and refreshing and make me want to give this show a higher score, but this incongruity with the memory and ghost stuff really hurts, and thus I think a 7 is appropriate for the story.

Art: 9
Studio: J. C. Staff

The art in this show is very good and consistent throughout. I never noticed any drop in quality and I don't remember there being in shift in art styles. The art is an attractive, modern anime style. The character designs are all quite appealing, especially the main female's design. The characters are fashionable and attractive. Backgrounds look pretty good; there is some CGI, but I think this is mostly used for cars and stuff like that. There was nothing jarring and frankly I think CGI for stuff like cars actually works pretty well. Overall I think the art worked well with the story; I give this category a 9 simply because nothing really blew me away or stood out as simply amazing. I don't think a more realistic art style (like in shows like Monster or Space Brothers) would have aided the realism since these are still college students. I find that realistic art styles makes the most sense in shows with a primarily adult cast. So again the art in this show is attractive and appropriate, but not groundbreaking.

Sound: 8

The sound/music in this show gets the job done but is nothing to write home about. The opening themes are quite good and appealing; the second opening theme is actually very unique and I like it a lot (it's not a typical j-pop song; frankly I don't know how I'd classify it, but it is good). I don't have any lingering memory of the OST apart from the opening and ending themes, so it doesn't contain anything that you'll like remember and listen to a bunch. The voice acting is very good though. Yui Horie as the female protagonist is probably the standout role; she does her very well and makes for an attractive tsundere voice. I had no problems with any other voices but I don't remember them too well either. So as far as sound goes in this show, there are a few memorable qualities; overall it gets the job done well but isn't too memorable either.

Character: 10

This is where the show really shines. All of the characters are very good, well-developed, and for the most part realistic and in that sense refreshing. The main character isn't just some average, shy, romantically-unaware bimbo. He has a pretty distinct personality and is quite aware of what is going on around him. He is level-headed enough to be able to help to main heroine grow and mature as a woman. He knows when she is just using him to make herself feel better and doesn't let her get away with it. He is patient and forgiving with her sometimes overbearing personality which makes him a pretty respectable guy. I've already talked about his memory issues in the story section; this is perhaps the most unrealistic and bizarre part of his character, but I would say this is more a problem with the writing than the character design. Honestly I think the inner struggles we get to see with him trying to figure out who he is now and who he used to be are pretty interesting. The ghost that haunts him--his "former" self--can come across as a whiny little brat that gets in the way of the current protagonists' life, but I consider him to be another character entirely. He is probably the weakest character in the show (and as a mentioned in the story section, I don't even understand why he is there at all).
The main heroine is an amazing character and practically makes this entire show. She starts off as a extremely overly attached girlfriend and is pretty immature as far as her relationships and plans for life are concerned. Early on she realizes this and starts to change as she is dumped by her old boyfriend and starts dating the protagonist. She learns how to be less emotionally dependent on her boyfriend and becomes her own person. She becomes a devoted partner--one who is not too overly attached. She is able to make decisions which are healthy for her and she is able to look out for herself. As much as she loves the hero, she is able to take a step back from the relationship when she is unsure whether or not his memories will settle; this is the healthy decision and shows how much she matures over the series.
The supporting cast is not nearly as vibrant as the main characters but they are still pretty unique and get some development. The hero's childhood friend gets plenty of screen-time and is quite well-developed, and she is very likable and responsible. The rest of the cast includes the other law students (including the main character's best friend and his love interest, who both get a good amount of screen time), various club members, and other students and teachers. There are enough characters in this show to really make the setting feel like a vibrant and busy college campus-town.

Enjoyment/Overall: 8

This is always a pretty subjective category. I think if you enjoy romantic comedies and dramas, this should suit you nicely. The ride is certainly enjoyable--I think the biggest hit-or-miss factor is the ending. Honestly I would have given this show a 9 had the ending been better, even with the strange stuff with the ghost haunting the main character. The ending is simply confusing and contrived. However, I would say that the ending does not utterly ruin this show. I still see my experience of watching this show as a positive one and I'm glad I did so. The ride is plenty enjoyable and the characters a still amazing despite the occasionally poor writing (mostly the ending and the ghost thing--otherwise the writing is actually very good).
This show is decently accessible given its realism; I think it's possible for a non-anime fan to enjoy this show and not find it weird. There is the occasional fan-service, but there is actually not much. The most I remember there being in the show is during the beach episode, but even that is not in your face with crazy camera angles. Overall I think there is about as much fanservice in show show as there is in average real life (if that makes sense).
I think the characters alone give this show some good re-watch value; however, if I were to re-watch it, the ending is not something I would look forward to. Despite that I would still very much enjoy the ride and the characters along the way.

This is my first time writing a review but actually I just want to record my opinion of this anime. If ever you find this helpful, then I'm glad.

I have seen many anime, and I mean "a lot" and those that gave me great entertainment whatever its genre are those anime that captivates me from beginning to end. And this anime is one of them.

There are anime that I liked to watch but its not really enchanting yet this work has pulled me in emotionally; just as DN (Death Note) pulled me in thrillingly, Golden Time captured my interest and focus from episode 1 up ... to the end.

The plot is great, it begins interestingly, develops intensely further up to episode 7 but it gets a little bit dragging in the middle (only because the ending needs that foundation I think) and gets intense again up to the end.

I almost cried, I was drawn into their world, and their feelings became my feelings it was though as if I can really relate to them; it was as if I also experienced what they've experienced. The opening song has added a lining to its atmosphere, the comedy was really funny and the romances are natural.

Last time I felt this excitement was when I watch Attack on Titan, I was like (even late night already) "1 moooorrree..." It's so fascinating.

Overall i give this 9/10
I love the ending, but I feel like it won't need another sequel. Its great in its ending. And also, I had a crush on Kaga Koko! hihihi

p.s. I only give 10/10 when I want another season ^____^

Ok, in any serialization, they childhood friend was often left either in the shadows or being rejected by the main character, I mean that for the most part was often the fate of the childhood friend. Here, we see the childhood friend, being placed in a whole prospective, this is the part where we see what happens next to the childhood friend after being dumped by the guy, and viola she finds someone for her. Ok, there there might have been a lot of ships, that has transpired in this anime over the course of its airing, however I cannot deny that this anime to ... be 24 episode long was simply too much since it was all about the relationship between Banri and Kouko and the challenges that their relationship has to go through. About the characters, well at first I do find Kouko very annoying as she represent every girl despite of how gorgeous and affluent she is that every guy wants to dump, because of the way she clings to the guy like glue, on the other hand Banri was this guy better suited for a kind of girl like Kouko, since he somewhat is a glutton for punishment, but I really can't fathom that he has another personality that who was often referred to as "Ghost Banri" who seems to have a liking for his former high school classmate Linda, frankly I find it hard to accept that a person who is still alive would be haunted by his own ghost, co'z usually a person who ha suffered amnesia would still be able to retain his current memory along with his past, but as they say' leave it to them Japs to come out with something unusual and make it usual. As for the other character's like Linda, Mitsuo and Chinami, well in any serialization them Japs always include a harem element, so in the case of these three the harem element was transferred to them, thought I would have preferred that Mitsuo would have gone for Chinami and Linda went for 2D. The support character's here tbh where the usual support group that would keep the protagonist on its toes, well that was expected, so at this point I have nothing more to say, how I rated each part of this anime, I'd say that I gave all of it a straight 7.

Story, Art, Sound, Character, Enjoyment and Overall: all a Good 7.

Adios.

Welcome to a straightforward review for those who are looking for short descriptions to help decide whether this anime is something you want to watch:

A pretty straightforward love drama/comedy with no plot twists.
If you're asking(why so?)the anime lays out the events for you as if you were watching the characters develop real time.If you ask me,this helped emphasize the drama.

If you hate female protagonists who are clingy and obsessive over their lover,you're going to have a 50/50 with the lead(加賀公子/Kaga Koko).
it never goes over the top as she herself understands this trait and tries to control it.

HOWEVER the big 50/50 here is the male protagonist ... himself.(多田万里/Tada Banri)
Half of the time he is the perfect lead role:Noble,friendly,firm with his decisions.
THE OTHER HALFHe turns to everything I hate about an anime MC.:whiny,weak,fixated.THE START OF THE ANIME BASICALLY REVEALS HIS DEFEAT on his first love conquest and his persona doesnt even try to accept it.
#Now like I said,he cannot control this,you will know why as you watch the anime,but it gets frustrating to watch#
I had to mention this trait,because it is PRETTY MUCH 80% OF THE PLOT.TRUST ME.
if he wasnt like this the anime would end in 10-12 eps.

support characters are archetypes.
dont even try to argue with it,it is what it is.
handsome guy,nerdy guy,strong willed childhood friend.their backstories arent too deep.
the plot revolves around 3 characters(a love triangle)so if thats your thing then this is the anime for you.
If you hate a love triangle anime with no strong supporting characters and a deeper plot to give a backbone then maybe you should skip this.

Ok, I'll start this review short. This anime might have been the greatest representation of having a girlfriend and college life ever. The story of this anime was somewhat a bit under average and not greatly supported well. However the art was great and the characters is something relatable. Right now, I'm going though college with my gf and some of those events did occur to me. While watching this anime,I physically cringed on how real they were. Shout out to the crazy tea club and the glow stick scene.

Overall my enjoyment was pretty high. This anime should be something to watch with your girlfriend ... if you want to give her the quick emotions and comfort move. This review might just be totally bias for my experiences. However, if you want a realistic type of anime, this one would be the one I'll recommend