Your Lie in April is an anime which shows how anime, as a storytelling technique can be so transformative.
Story 7/10
The story of Your Lie in April is no standout when it comes to drama. It executes on the typical clichés and, to be frank, this anime doesn't much to stand out storywise. The plot was not a particularly interesting one, and the repetitive use of the concert arc (which was executed the same god damned way every time) made a story that left me wishing that is was done better. However, I must say, the themes of this anime was transformative for me. As I
...
went through this series I found myself feeling so thoroughly satisfied seeing the intertwined themes of overcoming trauma and passion being explored in the story. Within these very themes, I found a greater understanding of life's purpose, and a drive to search for a passion.
Art 10/10
The art of this anime is one of it's defining characteristics. The explosion of colour in some scenes and the lack thereof in others set the tone of each scene and bolsters the melodrama. The elements of each frame are gorgeous from the small things like sakura petals to the larger things like the town backdrop. The quality of the art is comparable to that of Shinkai's works. The character designs were interesting and displayed the character's personality. The choice of having lips stuck me as weird at first, however, I grew to appreciate the intimate touch it gave to each character. The shot composition is masterful with its choice of close-ups, and wide-shots fitting each moment. The attention to detail on the instruments impresses me and the accuracy of the fingerings. This show really does justice to the piano and violin. There's some 3-D work done on the instruments, and although I'm usually not one to enjoy 3-D, it used it to a surreal effect and it was an interesting touch I didn't dislike. The pastel freeze frames were employed and an incredibly artful manner which I was impressed with. This show also has some comedic scenes which change to an art style which reflect that for the most part I liked it, however at times I found that it jarred me out of the moment.
Sound 9/10
The music for this show does not disappoint for a show about music. The 2 OPs and EDs were done exceptionally well, especially Hikaru Nara by Goose House. The OSTs were great at setting the tone for the scenes and the tracks Watashi no Uso and Again are gold. However, I wished there a melancholy OST exclusively for the letter scene or at least a more exaggerated performance of Watashi no Uso. I wish there was a song I could listen to invoke all the emotions of that scene, something to the effect of Secret Base from Anohana. The music played as part of the concerts were breathtaking when paired with the art, although I personally am not a big fan of the more complicated classical pieces. The complicated harmonies are not something I can truly appreciate, and the display of technical skill in those songs is respectable, but not enjoyable.
Character 8/10
This show establishes the characters of Kaori and Kousei extremely well. As we're shown their situations, their motivations, and fears we can really understand them. I'm no piano prodigy, I've never been abused like Kousei was, I've never felt the same passion these characters have, but I find myself emphasising with them. I also liked that despite Kousei had an edgy backstory, he had a very human personality and could be lighthearted when the story called for it. Far too often, characters who have an edgy backstory fall into the trap of having their character centred around the fact that they are edgy. Kaori, oh Kaori. She's at first a character who is so extra on the surface but as her situation was realised, I found myself realising what the value of life was. From the day I finished the anime 2 years ago, I started to live my life to the fullest, to do what I always wanted to do, to go off in search of a passion. Then we have Tsubaki who seems like the average sports girl, but as the show goes on we find her character to be far more sophisticated, she adds an incredibly interesting dynamic between the characters. However, apart from these characters, I felt the other characters like Watari and Emi had so much room for character development. I really wished they were more developed because if I cared about them more this story would be so much more interesting. The VA performances for this show are also exceptional. This was crucial for the emotional scenes, as the displays of raw emotions paired with the beautiful OST created some of the most beautiful scenes of this genre.
Overall Enjoyment 10/10
Despite the pitfalls, this show has with the story, the way it developed this story in such a way I found myself being able to overlook all that. This show is truly a masterpiece, a beautiful one. This anime explored my emotional spectrum, making me grin ear to ear, then breaking me down to a shaking, weeping, little kid. So thank you Naoshi Arakawa and A-1, you struck a chord in my heart.😭
Apr 19, 2019
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
(Anime)
add
Your Lie in April is an anime which shows how anime, as a storytelling technique can be so transformative.
Story 7/10 The story of Your Lie in April is no standout when it comes to drama. It executes on the typical clichés and, to be frank, this anime doesn't much to stand out storywise. The plot was not a particularly interesting one, and the repetitive use of the concert arc (which was executed the same god damned way every time) made a story that left me wishing that is was done better. However, I must say, the themes of this anime was transformative for me. As I ... |
