As a reviewer, I am biased by the fact that the first 2 anime I watched were Code Geass and Clannad/Clannad AS. Since then I've watched over 50 anime including the top 20 romance anime as listed on myanimelist. I tell you this, to help you to decide how I rate my anime, since such a process is as you'd expect a subjective opinion.
In terms of pure emotion or 'feels' my top 3 anime would be Clannad AS, Code Geass then Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso. Sakurasou would still easily fit into the top 10 and particularly towards the end of the series, it becomes far more drama than comedy, as good shows do. I was spoilt in the sense of expecting all series to move me as much as my first 2 anime, but it is actually a huge struggle to find series that can touch and move you. I am pleased to say that this show can hold it's head high knowing that it has almost reached those heights of immersion and emotion.
So what makes this show special?
The story itself is based on the idea of an artistic genius who is however so gifted in art that she is unable to manage in any other sphere, be it, taking care of herself or understanding her emotions. She is thrown into the mix of sakurasou - which is a dorm for misfits who do not fit into the regular student dorms for whatever reason, whether it is because they keep pets (Sorata), too poor to afford it (Nanami), a geek shut in (Ryuunosoke), an anime genius (Misaki) and a playboy (Jin). Although it starts out with a bit too much fanservice for my liking, this quickly settles down as the story plays out and is not really a distraction later on.
The wide variety of character tropes means that there is something for everyone. At the heart of the show, there are 2 main themes - friendship and the balance between talent and hard work. One of the interesting things about the show is the focus on failure. Most shows just have characters succeeding at everything they try. Here we have characters experiencing defeat after defeat and we can watch them grow and mature as they deal with it. This opportunity to watch the characters grow and change is perhaps the best part of the series as there is nothing more annoying than characters who don't learn a thing over a series of 20+ episodes (one of the reasons I disliked My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU - which is also highly rated and may suit some).
The character designs are fabulous and the colours and artwork/animation is top notch, which is a given, since the genius in the show Mashiro is a painter. I also particularly enjoyed the soundtrack, including the openings and endings, which are mostly sung by the cast. Suffice to say that those 2 elements enhanced the experience and did not in any way distract from the show.
Summary:
A top grade rom com slice of life drama.
If you enjoyed, Clannad AS or am looking for an anime that can give you the 'feels'/emotional involvement - be sure to check this one out.
You will laugh, cry and grow to love the characters in this story. I know I did!
