Anyway, let me preface this by saying that I am still relatively new to anime. I watched Death Note about 5 years ago and that was it, it was only until December last year, when I started watching Bakemonogatari that I bought a Crunchyroll subscription, and since I've been watching different shows everyday. However, this is the first romance series I've watched.
Story; The thing this show does very well is how long it can draw out it's story. For the first half of the show, very little happens episode to episode but it gives you JUST enough to want to watch the next episode. The second half is a little more fast-paced and it contrasts really well with the first. Even though there is a main story, the side stories draw just as much attention, and all contribute really well to the main plot, however you can tell side-plots from main-plot as clear as day. The story progresses from a straight up romance series to something quite dark and dramatic near the end. It doesn't feel like an extremely natural progression in how each revelation plays but nowhere near bad enough to put you off watching. I gave this section an 8/10, because while the story was realistic and well paced, it lacked a little bit of shine to make it feel truly natural.
Art; The art direction is quite different in this show, compared to the other series I have watched, however it works well alongside the story. One thing the animators did spectacularly in this show was the environment, some of the settings in this show are absolutely sublime, real eye-candy, and the same could be said for some of the characters. Nanaka especially, her array of emotions throughout this series are executed astoundingly beside her art, the first time she smiles, you smile. When she cries near the middle of the series it broke my heart, and her broodiness is actually done pretty well too (especially when it's very easy to make a broody character extremely annoying). Sana, on the other hand, has to be one of the most bland characters (art-wise), I've seen, which is a shame because I do like his character. Obviously having a blandly animated protagonist is quite damaging, hence the 7/10.
Sound: I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for a good opening theme tune, both inside and outside of anime. The opening theme for this series is brilliant, it's an electro-rock/pop song and the opening animation matches the song fantastically, it's catchy as hell, it makes you wanna tap along, and with all the characters playing along on stage it really does set the stage for each episode.
The credit song however isn't as memorable, not bad, just a little boring. The music throughout the show blends in to the scene, and sometimes I'd not even notice there was music playing because it blended so well. However there was one particular piece in this show that kept getting repeated, again, and again, and again. I know this is standard for a lot of shows but they really overdid it with this piece, and a lot of the times it felt unnecessary.
Character wise, the voice acting is pretty good. Not spectacular, but executed well-enough. Once again, Nanaka stands out here above the rest, while on the other hand Aoi's voice grates on you for the most part, however, you do kind of get used to it, and it does shine every so often. 9/10.
Character: For me, this should be the one that matters most in a show like this, and they don't disappoint. At first, the characters seem kind of bland and one-dimensional, but quickly develop some very complex and very well fleshed-out backgrounds. This is where my earlier point about the show being slightly slow-paced comes into play, things happen awfully slowly at times in this show but when there is a revelation, it really lends itself to the characters, and helps you sympathise with them. Sana, for the most part wanted to make me pull my hair out with how much of an idiot he is. The twins however are two of the most interesting characters in the show and bounce off of each other really well, their conclusion in the story is tragic but sweet. Nanaka as well, while the slowest developing character in the show, explodes at points. Aoi doesn't really develop throughout the show at all, however she is an excellent addition to the story regardless because she feels like a glue between the group. Asami turns out to be more interesting than you first think, and although her revelation is quick, she is an interesting character throughout the whole show, starting as something of an enigma. 9/10 because I fell in love with Nanaka, and could easily see myself as a part of their friends circle.
Enjoyment: This show doesn't grab you. It doesn't demand your interest. It reels you in slowly until the end, and throws you back into the sea every so often just to make you wanna come back for more. I'm watching ERASED right now too and as an example, that show literally holds you at the collar demanding to be watched. I really enjoyed Myself ; Yourself, but a couple of bits feel like blatant filler, I wouldn't worry though because the killer parts make up for it.
Where this show shines is how you can enjoy it naturally, I didn't feel compelled to keep my eyes on the screen the whole time but it's easy to know what's going on in a scene (sometimes even before it happens). 8/10
Overall: As my first romance anime I probably couldn't have picked a more ideal show, because if it was perfect I'd hold every other show up to it, but it isn't perfect. It has flaws and they're quite obvious, but it's a tight story with some excellent characters and development. I'll definitely give this show another spin sometime.
8/10.
