"I met the girl under full-bloomed cherry blossom, and my fate has begun to change ..."
Story - 9
The anime starts off quite slowly, but i guarantee if you're patient with this anime, you WILL be rewarded. The story may seem a little over-the-top melodramatic and slow-paced at times, but the meaning and message it conveys is beautiful. Look past the moments of awkwardly placed slap-stick comedy and cheesy dialogue and what you'll see is a simple story that hopes to do nothing but leave the viewer a better person at the end of it.
Using the vessel of music to carry it along, the story
...
unfolds through the colourful dynamics between the characters, especially between Kousei and Kaori. Shigatsu cherishes the small moments the characters share with each other and despite some exaggeration, shows great insight into what it means to be human. Our simple desires, our fears, the people we love and care for, the people we influence and the people who influence us - these are all themes illustrated beautifully in this musical story. While it may seem predictable at times, you will still find yourself entranced and deeply connected with each of the characters. Sometimes the dialogue and monologues alone was enough to induce tears from me. It's written quite poetically at times ... "you exist inside spring", a meaning which would manifest to be perhaps more than just figurative. From beginning to end, the story ties together beautifully and finishes with satisfying closure.
Art - 9
The mangaka has done a superb job herself, but the animation studios have really brought the work to life. The vibrant colours we don't get to see in the manga are beautifully presented in the anime. Subtle changes such as the desaturation of Kaori's lip and hair colours as her condition deteriorates, and the fluid and detailed animation of the piano and violin being played just goes to show how much attention to detail and effort the animation studios have put in to really nail this beautiful work of art on the big screen. I'm thoroughly impressed to say the least (especially in the last episode!) There are some times where the animation seems a little choppy and rushed but the quality is definitely up there in the important scenes.
Sound - 10
The soundtrack is amazing. Just pure emotions. This is the first time I've cried so hard listening to music since Clannad. The music just matches the scenes perfectly. When the chorus of "My Truth" played at the end of episode 11, I had goosebumps. The voice actors, especially for Kaori, are crazy talented and have really brought the characters to life. For a musically themed story, sound was probably the number one thing missing from the manga. However, the classical pieces have been magically brought to life in the anime, and although I've always been a fan of classical music, this anime has made me love it even more. I downloaded the soundtrack and listened it to on public transport once, and I'm almost embarrassed to admit, that was the first time I've ever come close to crying in public. Needless to say, I was a trainwreck during the last episode. Violins have never sounded so beautifully sad. I really wish I could play violin now, but I'll settle for piano when playing music covers of the soundtrack. The solo performances of classical pieces was also magical - clean, crisp and vibrant. I subjected myself to an onslaught of classical music after some episodes. Blessed we humans are to be able to experience the wonders of music!
Character - 8
Sure some of the character's reactions and dialogue may seem a little unrealistic or beyond their years, but If you're watching anime expecting to find absolutely realistic characters, you've chosen the wrong medium. Things such as Kousei's inability to hear the notes may not be entirely realistic but it certainly highlights the importance of his mother to him and the sheer trauma he went through. The maturity of the main characters might seem a few years older than they really are, but this is actually quite natural to me. Though Kousei's only 14, he's already been had to deal with ptsd. Considering he had to deal with tragedy at such a young age, it seems only natural that his cognitive age is higher than his numeric age, especially because he's also an extremely talented musician. His development throughout the series is magical and portrayed beautifully through his dynamics with Kaori, who is the main reason for his development. Admittedly, he may have seemed a little too mature at times, but it was still somewhat justified.
Kaori is a bright, vibrant and carefree girl with a musical style that matches her personality. At times, she also seems too mature for her age, but she really is just a normal middle school girl. We learn that despite her youthfully exuberant facade, she is just as fragile and weak as you'd expect anyone in her position to be. She really shows how wonderful humans can be while still suffering so much. Her eponymous lie reflects her seemingly selfish yet innocent desire to chase after what and who she really wants from life - a sneaky yet deceptively beautiful lie that gave us a roller coaster of a story. She and Kousei are who this anime's really about, and the main characters live up to their roles.
Side characters in the anime weren't that great but were necessary to the story. Watari was portrayed as being very shallow and didn't really develop as a character at all. I saw him as more of a necessary character that conveniently had all the character traits of that necessary character. However, he did show some instances of sharp wisdom and maturity here and there. I do believe the mangaka deliberately made it so his character wasn't explored greatly for purposes revealed in the last episode (it's not explicitly shown why, just my hunch). On a side note: I did like how he was used in a subtle way to encourage female readers to not go for players!
Tsubaki was fleshed out a lot more than Watari and was a character whose cognitive age was a more or less the same as her numeric age - basically she thought and acted her age. She displayed the mixed emotions and angst we all felt as teenagers. Though I didn't like her character that much, it's still very easy to empathise with her throughout the series and she did get her moments. The other characters seemed to simply play a role in Kousei's development, though their backstories are introduced and explained.
Enjoyment - 10
I love music. I love classical music. I love anime. I love anime that isn't about fan service, has depth, has a meaningful plot and a positive message. I love stories that have a positive impact on attitudes towards life and people. Shigatsu has all of these things. No contest: 10/10 enjoyment.
Overall - 10
I simply cannot give this anime enough praise. Put simply, it's a masterpiece. It'll be a while before something of this calibre appears again. Thank you so much to the mangaka for your hard work and for creating this beautiful series, and thank you to the animation studios who have diligently brought this to life. Sure it's a little too melodramatic here and there, sure the slapstick comedy isn't always necessary and sure some characters aren't perfect, but that didn't stop it from resonating with me intensely. Ultimately, I finished the anime as a changed person - a mentally healthier and more appreciative person. Such is a feat only masterpieces are capable of, and for that I am forever grateful. I admit this anime isn't perfect, but really, so isn't any other anime, or anything else that exists for that matter. We take what we want away from what we experience, and that includes anime. Shigatsu has an abundance of positive things for us all to take, so let's take it! Watch this anime and I guarantee you'll come out the other end a better person.
On another note, I am ecstatic to see this ranked 15 now! I first wrote a review for this when it was ranked 54 and predicted it would reach at least top 20 on MAL. I'm so glad this masterpiece is getting the attention and praise it deserves. MAL doesn't lie! This anime should be a must-watch on anyones list. Here's to it reaching even greater heights on top anime!
"Spring is coming again ..."
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Mar 21, 2015
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
(Anime)
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"I met the girl under full-bloomed cherry blossom, and my fate has begun to change ..."
Story - 9 The anime starts off quite slowly, but i guarantee if you're patient with this anime, you WILL be rewarded. The story may seem a little over-the-top melodramatic and slow-paced at times, but the meaning and message it conveys is beautiful. Look past the moments of awkwardly placed slap-stick comedy and cheesy dialogue and what you'll see is a simple story that hopes to do nothing but leave the viewer a better person at the end of it. Using the vessel of music to carry it along, the story ... |
