This was the most emotionally impactful show I've watched in the past year. That is a really bold statement when you include shows like Golden Time and 5 cm/s (and others of their ilk) in the list of things I've seen in the past year. If I rated this show on it's emotional impact alone, I would give it a 10/10. This show had me thinking about it for days after I finished watching it.
The story and characters seem to be somewhat typical for an anime of this genre on the surface, but as the show progresses the depth of the story and characters becomes very apparent. This isn't a show that spoon feeds you plot points through dialogue though. You are expected to pay attention and take note of the characters' non-verbal cues as well in order to understand the depth of what is happening. I actually had to re-watch a couple episodes because I took a break mid-way through the series and forgot a few important details (that were very quick in terms of the screen time) that really impacted the end of the story.
Art/Sound are well produced and typical of a major anime studio. Nothing particularly special stands out about the art. It is very average for this genre. However, many people will mention the music--and the songs are well sung and somewhat catchy--but this isn't an anime about music. Music is more of plot device that brings the characters together and helps to drive their initial interactions.
That said, I felt the music choices were appropriate and helped amp up the emotions to 11. One quick note I have to sneak in is I really enjoyed that the sound director knew when SILENCE was actually the most effective tool. It was extremely powerful every time the music cut. I was happy to see a sound director who didn't create an overly dramatic scene with maudlin music and instead let the actions and atmospheric sounds create their own drama.
I have minor complaints regarding the characters and the plot, but I don't feel they are significant enough that they should discourage or encourage someone to watch the show. Ultimately, this is a story of consummate love and the strife that often follows it. Many things that the characters do will be loved by some and hated by others. I try to analyze the characters from their point of view and decide for myself what I felt was appropriate or not, so I'll allow any potential viewers to do the same.
Ultimately, those small flaws and the average art bring the series down to an 9/10 for me. Even so, I can't express how much I enjoyed this series. It is insanely close to being a 10/10, but I simply don't believe the animation quality and the other minor flaws allow me to give it full marks.
This is a must watch for any fan of anime.
