True Tears

Shinichirou Nakagami was living the life other boys from his grade could only dream of—staying under the same roof as prodigal student Hiromi Yuasa. However, the bright and cheerful Hiromi has been depressed and cold at home ever since her mother passed away. While he is the subject of the ignorant jealousy of his peers, rumors begin to spread when Shinichirou meets Noe Isurugi—a girl known for cursing classmates, curses which always end up becoming reality.

Noe curses Shinichirou as well, but two pits are created when you curse someone, and her curse on Shinichirou comes back to bite her in the form of a raccoon to her beloved chicken, Raigomaru. Despite this, she does not shed a single tear; Noe had had her tears stolen. For Noe to be able to cry again, she would need the tears of another, and Shinichirou knows a person whose tears he wants to take away.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit

Background

While technically based on a visual novel with the same name, True Tears has an almost entirely anime-original story. The anime is set in Jouhana, Toyama (where P.A. Works Studio is located) and locations from throughout Toyama Prefecture are used as models for the anime.

Episode Videos

Edit

Related Anime

Spin-off:	True Tears: Mini Chara 4-koma Gekijou
Sequel:	True Tears Epilogue
Other:	True Tears: Raigomaru to Jibeta no Monogatari
Character:	Utopia
Summary:	True Tears Recap

Takahashi, Rieko
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Horikawa, Kenji

Producer

Saitou, Shigeru

Producer

Nagatani, Takayuki

Producer

Tsuji, Mitsuhito

Producer

Edit

Opening Theme

"Reflectia (リフレクティア)" by eufonius (eps 1-12)

Edit

Ending Theme

	1: "Sekai no Namida (セカイノナミダ)" by Aira Yuki (eps 1-12)
	2: "Reflectia (リフレクティア)" by eufonius (eps 13)

Reviews

Mar 3, 2024

OhsnapitsDavid

Recommended

I don't know why I haven't made a review yet, but this anime after all this time might just be a masterpiece. A hidden gem. An artwork to be studied for it's creative inner philosophies.

But, I know most don't see the same way. Most might say this anime is shallow, convoluted, and just plain ol' dumb. I get it. Personally, I've seen this anime a couple of times, and frankly, some places did a better job at the poetic translations than others. It's bizarre. Normally, translations just focus on dialogue, but with TRUE TEARS, the literal dialogue is poetry at times. And I can see ... how some viewers don't receive the full picture when the characters talk about tears or chickens, especially on dub. Most people's first watch is just observing average kids in a boring school life. Not the message being sent.

But this anime is amazing. It reminds me a real-life drama, but in anime. The Art, eye candy. The lore /story setting, it takes place in modern japan, you can smell the wood furniture. The music, absolutely a banger ost soundtrack on it's own. The characters, honestly ordinary but most people are in real life.

The reason I say this anime might just be a masterpiece is because of the story's theme that spans 13 episodes centering around the ideals of being your honest true self, and the constant struggle most undergo by being true to themselves when they are pushed onto a situation. The main character litterally represents someone that has an honest heart, speaks her mind, and isn't afraid to express herself. Something, which is hard to maintain and easy to taint with a mixture of bad attitude, half intentions, lies, fear, and so forth.

This anime has an excellent pace in terms of making every scene relevant to the plot, and in it's worst it can seem "too" clunky put together.

This is a delight of a 13 episode run that centers around the main characters and their everyday lives. No big anime plot, no huge plot twist, just basic romance, insecurities, consequences, and character resolutions. In fact, I would say the main character, though many find bland and annoying, goes through the biggest change from the first episode.

In fact, if this is your first time watch you might even get an impression that Noe was meant to be the main girl. But if you carefully rewatch this anime, it was never about Noe. Noe is simply the drive that reveals the flaws in the characters. The plot is about what Noe teaches, not who Noe should be with. The poetry about the dilemmas faced are always revealed if you listen to the story and not just the cute pictures. Which is why I love True Tears. A 13 twist turner of a series that is here to highlight the human authenticity within us.

The main character's attitude change throughout this anime is one of the reasons I love TRUE TEARS. But you're just going to have to watch for yourself, hopefully with a decent dialogue sub, and maybe see where I'm coming from here.

Plus, the OVA is very short, but it helps tie in any lingering questions post story.

10/10 this anime speaks to the soul.

Open

Gift

Jan 12, 2021

Bear_Jesus

Mixed Feelings

Well now lets get this roller coaster of a storyline going now shall we.

I gave this show an over all score of 6 due to the very last episode. This review will have some spoilers for those who haven't seen it. If you don't want spoilers then continue on To another review.

Storyline was ok. You got 5 storylines wrapped into one and they all connect together. We got our main male char shinichiro who loves the main female char Hiromi who just happens to live in the same house hold due to issues that caused her to live there. The mother tells a lie ... to keep them apart saying that they are siblings cause shinis father supposidily had an affair which later was a big fat lie about them being siblings. The other main female leads are noe and akio. Aiko is the childhood friend of Shini who she also loves as well....and noe has mental issues cause her grannie died when she was young and magically took her ability to cry with her. Shocker. She needs some counceling.
Due to a white lie Hiromi says to a friend, shin-boy feels its up to him to hook Hiromi up with Noes brother. #6 on the basketball team. Crap goes sideways and shini has to go out with Noe if her brother would date Hiromi. That was the deal. Now Noe who already has mental issues is now thrown to the wolves sort of speak. This little point size little girl who loves chickens and wants to see them take flight, is now thrown into a love triangle with shini-boy, Hiromi and Aiko. Shini-boys best bud loves Aiko so now its a cluster crap of hell going haywire.
This goes on for a few episodes and after those few episodes I had to stop watching and let my brain process this spaghetti noodle storyline and try to pick it apart and figure which was which....man my brain hurts.
Lets continue.
Stuff happens and stuff starts to clear up and the air is starting to calm down. No wait...oh crap. Its gone sideways again. Noes own brother loves her more then you know. Trys to kiss her on the lips and bow we got incest story trying to make an apperance.. Now Noe is at the top of A tree and jumps thinking shes a magical chicken. Breaks a leg. All cause if what Hiromi said to her earlier on at a festival.
Now when you reach the last episode ya figure well its over now. Crap has settled down. Now its the final episode. Time to calm things down. Clear up the air. Smooth out the wrinkles and be done. NOPE. Last friggin min of the episode you see sweet little Noe standing on a concrete barrier next to the sea. Sun is shining. Its winter. What could go wrong. Well lets put this image in your head so you can think about it. Shes smiling and then a gust of wind starts to blow her to the end of the barrier where theres concrete wave breakers and a ice cold sea. The wind blows harder and picks her up as a huge wave smashes the barrier as shes in the air next to the wave breakers. Episode ends. Like what in the hell happened. Was she smiling cause she was going to die and be with her grannie? Was she happy cause now she hasn't got to deal with this love triangle anymore. What happened? Too many questions need answering after that episode. So basically your scratching your head at the ending and wondering if she lived or died. Did she have a total mental breakdown and let herself get taken by the wind? Don't know. Storys over with.

Art was ok. The images were well done but the some what 3dish parts with people walking was done a bit poorly compared to the rest of the scenery.

Music was very good. Played will with the 5 or 6 storylines going on and when you heard the music you knew something was going to happen and maybe finally get to the end of the charades and finally stop yourself from having a stroke.

Overall its a 6 for me. That last episode really ticked me off. There was no closer for Noe basically. The main girl amongst the rest and she gets crapped on and talked about in the story. Even Shini-boy draws a picture book for her about a magical chicken who flies.....which she LOVES chicken and then rips it up in front of her as if like ...here ya go. Sike.

Open

Gift

Mar 22, 2022

another_kevin

Not Recommended

This was such a frustrating watch for me. I could barely get through it. I'm writing this just to warn others not to waste their time.

I'm not going to hash through the story or character details here, since plenty of others have already done that. Instead, I'll just give my overall impressions of True Tears.

Romance is my favorite anime genre, and I've watched dozens of them. I cry incredibly easily, both at happy events and sad ones. I did not cry once during the 13 episodes of this series. This is because I didn't care a bit ...

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

cry someone's eyes out

by radiendra

50 Entries · 115 Restacks

Bittersweet Romance That Tug At Your Heartstrings

by metalrain_15

43 Entries · 34 Restacks

In Name Only

by Ionliosite2

44 Entries · 44 Restacks

More recommendations

Recommendations

View All

More news

Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for October

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for October Week 1: October 3 - 9 Anime Releases Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen - Mirai-hen Comp...read more

Oct 2, 2017 12:07 PM by Sakana-san | Discuss (6 comments)

North American Anime & Manga Releases for August

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for August Week 1: August 2 - 8 Anime Releases Abenobashi Mahou☆Shoutengai Complete Collection Gundam Build Fi...read more

Aug 1, 2016 9:00 AM by Sakana-san | Discuss (14 comments)

More discussions

Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: True Tears Episode 13 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) kurotsuki - Mar 29, 2008	494 replies	by blinddig »» Mar 7, 8:03 PM
Poll: True Tears Episode 4 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) gioss - Jan 26, 2008	103 replies	by miruhii »» Aug 10, 2023 7:50 PM
Poll: True Tears Episode 3 Discussion ( 1 2 ) radiantfire - Jan 20, 2008	94 replies	by miruhii »» Aug 10, 2023 6:59 PM
Poll: True Tears Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 ) radiantfire - Jan 12, 2008	83 replies	by miruhii »» Aug 10, 2023 5:50 PM
Poll: True Tears Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 ) radiantfire - Jan 5, 2008	95 replies	by miruhii »» Aug 10, 2023 5:08 PM

Recent Featured Articles

9 Anime's Greatest Directors: Writer's Picks

If you ask the general public to name anyone associated with anime, they’re almost certain to name a certain director – Miyazaki Hayao. But for anime fans themselves, the director is a crucial component of anime success that’s too often overlooked.

by GuardianEnzo

97,684 views

Recommendation Collection Analysis Director

Anime's Greatest Love Stories: A Baker's Dozen Romance Series

As a genre, romance has been one of the few constants in anime history - fashions and styles may change, but love stories always find their way onto the schedule. But finding a great one is a lot harder than you'd think.

by GuardianEnzo

271,870 views

Spoiler

Recommendation Collection Kawaii Love

True Tears

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Episode Videos

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Related Anime

Characters & Voice Actors

Yuasa, Hiromi

Isurugi, Noe

Nakagami, Shinichirou

Andou, Aiko

Isurugi, Jun

Nobuse, Miyokichi

Nakagami, Munehiro

Kurobe, Tomoyo

Takaoka, Rumi

Nakagami, Shiori

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

Interest Stacks

Recommendations

Recent News

Recent Forum Discussion

Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

True Tears

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Episode Videos

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Related Anime

Characters & Voice Actors

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

Interest Stacks

Recommendations

Recent News

Recent Forum Discussion

Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-