12-sai.: Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki 2nd Season

The second series to a mostly ignored first season of a show which was once an OVA. Yes, this franchise has been around for a few years, but also neglected massively, and I can see why.

I have not watched the OVA, so I can only base this review on the first season's experience as well as this series.

Story - 6/10

Not anything great story wise, just a love story of 4 12 year olds falling in love for the first time, with the bad guidance of the females' friend Marin and to the hatred of Kokoa, who is in love with Takao, and would do anything ... for him as a rich smart ass. Not winning any awards story wise, but it's good enough.

Art - 7/10

Once again, nothing mind blowing, but in some places, such as in close ups, this show's animation is actually pretty decent for an extremely low budget production, and much better than I remember S1's art to be.

Sound - 5/10

Obviously the budget cuts have to be somewhere, and sound is what was chosen. The intro song is as annoyingly catchy as S1's and serves the purpose very very well, however in any sort of climax in the show, the same 30 odd second song is played. At first, the song is good. It has a nice harmony of voices which co incides with the scene well, but this is played every god damn episode. This isn't the only repeated song either, there's a selection of a few songs that are just played multiple times per episode EVERY episode and it's just annoying.

FUN FACT: the singer for the OP of 12-sai S2 (Machico) is also the singer for KonoSuba S1 and 2's OPs.

The VAs aren't amazing, but they're believable enough, and offer a distinct character and sound association to each character, so I guess they serve their purpose.

Character - 7/10

This is the main focus of the show - the characters. The main 4 characters (Ayase and Takao, Yui and Kazuma) have very standout personalities, and the show's writers do a good job of making sure that the viewer understands each character and how they feel towards their respective partners.

However, then there's the main side characters: Kokoa, Inaba, Marin and Ayumu. I'll go through these in order, you'll see why.

Kokoa is annoying ass bitch whose only goal in life is to destroy Ayase's relationship with Takao. Good idea, right? Spruce up the show? I would agree, if the bitch level weren't detestable level. There's a fine line between writing a bitch character and a character who you literally want to strangle. Think I'm exaggerating? I'm really not. At times, in both S1 and 2 of this show, she makes the show almost unwatchable.

Inaba is sort of the half intrusive and half non intrusive popular guy at Yui's prep school. He has a crush on Yui, even though he's popular. Even though he's a cock, he's still likeable. THis is a direct contrast to Kokoa, as this guy has a purpose in the show.

Marin is, to me, the friendly version of Kokoa. She's friends with Yui and Ayase, but she's just so god damn annoying. She bases all of her advice on her slut of a sister, and like Kokoa, she can make the show near unwatchable at times.

And Ayumu is a nice bloke, that's it really.

And then there's the other boys in the class who I forget the names of who are actually genuinely hilarious at times with their obsession with quoting the partners' best quotes. These guys are a fantastic addition to the show.

Enjoyment - 7.5 (8)/10

Amongst all of the ups and downs, this show is really enjoyable to me. I enjoyed both S1 and S2, even with all of their huge flaws. Would I recommend it? No. There's loads of better shows. But I still really enjoy this show, and for a low budget, throwaway show, it's pretty good.

Overall 7/10.

With all the popular romance being set in high school. Like, Ao Haru ride, ReLife, I always love you and etc. Is glad we get to see some younger approach for the viewers to felt their first love all over again as WE ALL FELT THAT BEFORE. If you are looking a romances anime that will reminds you of your first love. Then I got 1 for you it will make you feel warm, cozy and felt heart warning as you remember your first love. Here I'm bringing a review from the spring and fall season of 2016, 12 sai chicchan na mune no tokimeki ... or easier to say in English Age 12 a little heart pounding.

Now we that long intro done let's start the review.
Warning: This review will covered both season

Story: The story featured Ayase Hanabi a 12 year old as with that age she's no longer consider a kid and at the same time not an adult yet with her beloved crush Takao Yuuto and her long childhood friend Aoi Yui and her crush Hiyama Kazuma as they found love with whatever bullshit their classmate pull up their ass. One thing nice about this show is PRETTY MUCH RELATABLE TO EVERYBODY and the show does play it out well. We all got tease for having the sign of love when we are kids and no kids want to admit that. However getting tease a lot bring out a lot frustration to the guys so...They just announce it as they can't stand seeing their girls struggle anymore from the bullies (That's kinda bold).

Art/ Animation: The anime is done by studio OLM. Which are in charge for Youkai watch, LBX, Pokemon and beyblade. So... I am not surprise they decide to take on this project. Well the art style is also a gigantic tone shift once you found out they also berserk (not the 2016 version). Is cute, adorable, Bubbly and charming with the out struck background to portrait the characters emotion to the animation being just amazing and pretty cute which is shown in the 2 season.

Music: OP 1 show how bright and cheerful as it could be as we all felt that sort of emotion in real life and in the show. Take note on the beginning on the song
"I have just woken in spring and have a new breath of sweet sensation. Then I realize the kindness in your heart". As this part of the song is protracting our couple love in the first few episode as they are not sure whether to go out with them or not. While op 2 show the couples struggle as they are lost and they don't know what to do at a situation like this. Aoi is trap in a love triangle as she have to choose 1 guy as her girlfriend. Will she choose Hiyama or will she Ayumu?? While for Hanabi is realizing that she have to tell her family that she has a boyfriend while being worried that she is going to loose him in that progress. The OST is the same as the out struck animation style to portrait the couples emotion for both season.

Characters: Let's start with my least favorite character and move slowly to my favorite character of the series Hamana Cocoa, bitch he hates you that's the no reason for you to trick Hanabi as your sole call "crush" will crush you at the end if you keep doing that. She happens to be the one character that didn't get enough character development as at the end of the series. She's still a bitch. I know she's meant to be the bitchy character that ALMOST every school anime should have but out of all the school bitches that I have saw she has to be the worst. Not to mention she have the other student to gang up on Hanabi to get her revenge. Next, Eiko and his gang. The newspaper reporter as they stalk on them getting some scope and report it to school magazine. Why are they above Cocoa?? At least they got the brain on when to put in the school magazine or not. If they did put it they got a lot of explanation to do to Hiyama, Takao and Tsutsumi. Ogura Marin, She's meant to be a lecture on giving tips to find love and solve the situation for the characters which is pretty interesting to have a character like this in a romances anime for once. Once her lecture start I have to keep reminding myself that this anime is for little kids so her lecture won't be ignoring. Ayase Hanabi, I got mix feeling with her. At one point I love her characteristic and some point question her mind. I know getting a boyfriend is hard and all maybe hard but still...Takao Yuuto, he's kind and strong heart guy at his best to protect Hanabi and his friend at the same time brave enough to introduce himself to Hanabi brother. Hiyama Kazuma, although he try. I know he try his best to Yui happy and all but his still has a lot (I mean a lot) to learn about girls feeling and try not to hurt their feeling. Mikami Inaba, The playboy of the series at same with Hanabi I like his characteristic especially when Hiyama scolded Yui for hanging out with him while finding her strap. He takes more care to Yui than Hiyama (Although Hiyama is trying his best). Aoi Yui, a strong/ smart /kind person that grow so much since episode 1 which became more than that once her fight with Hanabi and the meet up with Inaba also the argument with the argument with Hiyama. Lastly, Tsutsumi Ayumu. BEST BOY!!! Tsutsumi is probably one of the best character in the show. What started out as a cold king when he was in kindergarten slowly gain feeling for Hanabi as he regret not having her when they were a lot younger. He grew feeling to Hanabi as well as challenge Takao for her. Why is he so high on my list while Cocoa is at the bottom?? Well... He knows when to stop and he slowly grew feeling with another girl in a different school. He know buzz out from it while at the same time showing some caring feeling to Hanabi but not in a relationship way.

Enjoyment: 12 Sai has is high while it's low but despite the characters part is still an enjoyable series... Now if I have to nip-pick it would be WHERE'S THE KISS?? We got a kiss with Takao and Hanabi but not with Hiyama and Yui... WHAT THE HELL... I WANT MY KISS!!! SEASON 3 (If they will ever made one) MUST HAVE THE KISS!!!!! IT WAS SO CLOSE IN EPISODE 9!!! WHY DIDN'T WE GET IT ;_;

Recommendation: Overall a great series despite some split up here and there. My recommendation is a watch it.

Other recommendation include Momokuri but with less drama center it. Next it would be another kids/ romance anime that is pretty similar to 12 sai but with the involvement of puberty, Naisho no Tsubomi.

12-Sai.: Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki 2nd Season continues off from its prequel. It is about 6th graders growing up and learning 'bout love and are trying to understand what "adulthood" is about. Firstly, the plot sucks. The drama has been always shit and the good moments are too short (mine is like last few episodes).

Main plot consists of:
1. Introduction and pairing partners,
2. Dates.

That's it. The others are just fillers with side characters, and almost every side-character is annoying. You can just see episodes that pair the students at the start and then skip to the last episode, and you'll see the main plot. The other ... episodes are a bit useless because they are used to clarify that this anime is about kids growing up and knowing about love, and it doesn't really connect with other episodes.

Animation is fine, it's colorful and looks alright on most cases. Occasionally, animation quality drops and few scenes reused backgrounds from previous ones.

There are also scenes that you'll really be familiar with if you watch all the episodes, and here are some examples:
1. Running around like idiots
2. Date in mall
3. Heroines trying their best
4. Boys being assholes
5. Heroines wondering about adulthood
6. Cringy dramatic moments
etc.

Opening song and ending song are nice to hear, but nothing stands out or memorable. The voice acting is mediocre, but lines for the side characters made it more displeasing.

My enjoyment is mixed. Few episodes are actually enjoyable, but most of it are pure cringe.

Overall, the cringe makes it meaningful for a bad series like this one. Is it better than the first season? Yes, of course. Do I recommend you to watch it? If you like to cringe and waste time with random animes, I'd do so.