Where do I even start with this anime. The title even gives off an exceedingly romantic, unrealistic atmosphere. If there was ever a competition for "The Most Generic Shoujo," Say 'I Love You' would take the cake.
Let's start off with a brief summarization. A reserved young girl who has no social connection whatsoever plays as the object of desire for the most popular, handsome boy in the school. They eventually establish an awkward relationship filled with uncomfortable dialogue and well, there you have it. There really isn't much else to say about this anime. It's simplistic, it doesn't try to break any boundaries, and it's so monotonous it will probably make you yawn and fall asleep. It executed what every romantic comedy anime out there has ever attempted to accomplish. I can guarantee that you have seen this same template numerous times before, and I can also promise that you have seen better.
Story - 4 / 10
The story is generic and monotonous. It does not bring anything new to the table that makes itself memorable, or leave a mark behind in history. You can summarize the story in one sentence, and the reader could predict everything that will ever happen in the anime. Is there any completely unexpected plot twist? Is there any cliffhanger that leaves you at the edge of your seat? Or maybe there is some sort of symbolism, or undertone that it is trying to portray. The answer is 'no' to all of your questions. The story is basically a silly, happy-go-lucky, simplistic romance that has been repeated too many times before with absolutely no depth whatsoever. The pacing also made me uncomfortable. First episode they meet, second they kiss, and third, they automatically become a boyfriend and girlfriend. It's immature and childish, and definitely does not represent the singular theme they have been emphasizing throughout this entire anime, which is indeed 'love.' The storyline was just another contribution to why I find Say 'I Love You' so bland.
Art - 5 / 10
The art is satisfactory. It doesn't do anything extraordinary, but it certainly isn't disgusting. The somewhat likable character design, and the brightening colors that were incorporated into the background scenery was what gave its' animation a semi-respectable score, and I am sorry to say, is the pinnacle of this anime's accomplishment. Other than the sparkle and the twinkle that they sprinkle and sugarcoat in every single shoujo anime, Say 'I Love You' does not outdo any other anime with its' art. To wrap it up, it does its' job, and with the wide variety of spectrum the animation studio ventures into when they bring this anime to life is a compliment I am reluctant to give, but I will just for the anime's mentionable work.
Sound - 4 / 10
The soundtrack of Say 'I Love You' is almost like a lullaby. It puts you into a slumber, and makes you wonder whether Say 'I Love You' is supposed to make you fall asleep or make you giggle and laugh over the chemistry experienced throughout adolescence. The opening theme is a heartwarming hymn, but certainly isn't anything special. It's calm, collected, but definitely doesn't introduce the romantic aspect of Say 'I Love You', but gives you a more wistfully composed orchestral piece. The quiet piano and violin strumming away in the background is soothing and gentle, but it just didn't break a barrier or kick down a wall for me. The ending theme is practically an identical twin to its' opening theme counterpart. The OST? More whimsical singing, making me picture it to be more of a children nursery rhyme than a love song. In conclusion, the sound? Nothing remarkable. But still bearable.
Character - 3 / 10
The characterization throughout Say 'I Love You' is most likely the worst part of this anime. The main female protagonist is timid, reserved Mei Tachibana. Her introduction actually somewhat drew me in-- an anti-social, pessimistic student who doesn't believe in establishing relationships with her classmates. This really hooked me-- I wanted to know more about her perspective on the everyday boundaries of school life, and her thoughts/opinions on social hierarchy, interactions, etc. I also really liked it when I noticed the courage she possessed when she gave the most popular boy at her school a roundhouse kick in the face! But then this bright, intelligent, and audacious young woman that I believed had such an interesting view on the world suddenly transformed into your ordinary tsundere character who would never respond to the male protagonist, Yamato Kurosawa's affection. Which brings me to my next point. Yamato Kurosawa has got to be one of my least favorite characters in Say 'I Love You." He is perfect, almost robotically so. Yamato Kurosawa, the academic all star, the athletic champion, the wealthy son of a successful family, and on top of all that he has a beautiful face and a social life. Which is what makes him so monotonous to observe as a character. I didn't like how there wasn't anything wrong with him. He is a human, not an alienish demigod who excels at everything he does. I also didn't like the sudden fluctuation between his interest in Mei. First he is all over her, his top priority, the one individual he wanted to see and spend his time with, and then all of a sudden, he almost forgets her. The process rinses and repeats like a cycle. Neither Mei Tachibana nor Yamato Kurosawa did their role as the main protagonist justice, not even decently so, which is why the score they have received is so long. It would have been even lower if Mei Tachibana's introduction wasn't so solid. This aspect of Say 'I Love You' was yet another factor that made this anime so disappointing.
Enjoyment - 3 / 10
Alright, I will admit it. I don't usually watch shoujo anime. Yes, I have seen a lot of excellent shoujo anime, and I have seen a lot of completely gagworthy shoujo anime. Say 'I Love You' to me is just a mediocre, soap opera fling. It is a decent anime to watch if you want to completely turn off your constructively critical brain, and just enjoy a romantic comedy. But that does not forgive the English bran muffin of a storyline, and the disastrous characterization. Say 'I Love You' has done everything that has already been done, and if not worse. I certainly did NOT enjoy this anime, and this is coming from a female adolescent, which I believe is Say 'I Love You' 's target demographic. It claims itself to be a romantic comedy slice-of-life. But I did find the relationship that Mei and Yamato shared to be romantic, but more awkward, prepubescent, and coming-of-age. The most that Mei and Yamato did was hold themselves in an uncomfortable embrace, or a sudden kiss here or there. In my opinion, an adolescent attraction is not what love is, and if you haven't noticed already from its' title, is what this anime is trying so hard to emphasize. It claims itself to possess comedy, and will promise laughter. But the jokes that were displayed only put a halfhearted smile on my face, because well, I can't put it anymore bluntly than it wasn't funny, and definitely didn't provide any entertainment for me as the audience. It does what it's supposed to with its' slice of life genre, which isn't all too interesting to witness anyway. You have your high school, identical uniforms, and handsome/beautiful boys and girls. Nothing ever happened, nothing ever happens, and nothing ever will happen. Say 'I Love You' just wasn't for me.
And with that, I give it an overall score of 4 / 10.
Sorry. :/
