Sakamichi no Apollon captures the setting of 1966 Japan well from the classroom to the clothes the characters wear to the style of music that is played. The backdrop for the story is great and unique as it is very rare to ever see an anime based on 60s Japan and jazz. However, while the setting may be unique, the story itself isn't. The romance is cilched with the usual misunderstandings, melodrama and love triangles. This detracts from the quality of the show as the romance becomes the focus of the plot. Nevertheless, Sakamichi no Apollon portrays the tension and emotion involved with love triangles well.
The best part of the show is the jazz and music. With Yoko Kanno in charge of the soundtrack, it is expected that it will be high quality and she delivers in every way. Not only is the score great to amplify the emotion and tension in scenes, it also delivers when the characters are playing jazz together. This is what holds the show together. The scenes where the characters are in the basement playing their instruments not only entertains due to the high quality of the music, but gives a great insight to the characters as their emotions are connected to the music they play. It is here where we see the bonds between the characters grow and it is through music that the characters heal their wounds. The opening theme is excellent and sets the tone well while the ending theme seemed a bit out of place.
The art style is also a high point of the show. With a slightly older style of character design, the art style helps immerse the viewer into the 60s. The animation is fluid, especially during the music playing scenes as the anime is very accurate in showing each note played by the characters. There is also no fan service at all which for me is a bonus.
The downfall for Sakamichi no Apollon is the protagonist, Kaoru. In the early episodes where there was more comedy, it was more enjoyable to watch as Kaoru's internal struggles are countered by the antics of Sentaro. However once the anime changes focus to the romance, there is far less comedy making Kaoru difficult to watch. In most scenes he can be rude, selfish or melodramatic, and with no comedy to counter it, the audience isn't left with much to enjoy when he is on screen. The other characters are much more well rounded and entertaining. Their growth is more visible and their flaws were realistic. Perhaps this may be simply because their inner thoughts are rarely verbalised, unlike Kaoru who is usually repeating the same thoughts of self doubt and pain.
While this may seem like a negative review of Sakamichi no Apollon, it shouldn't be taken that way as there is a lot to enjoy. There are no filler episodes, the story is concise and the music is wonderful. The ending is perhaps a bit rushed, but that seems to be a case of there only being 12 episodes. Nevertheless, this anime is easily accessible for anyone, anime fan or not. The series may not be the most memorable, but it is worth a watch, even just to experience the nostalgic feeling of change during high school.
