Your Lie in April just may be the best anime series I have ever seen. I've watched between 30-40 different anime, which is nothing compared to many other people, but I am quite convinced that Your Lie in April will be difficult to top.
The character growth in this series is phenomenal. I've seen so many characters be totally bland throughout an entire series, but this bunch of characters develops the whole way through. Though Kousei is introduced as the usual middle school kid with issues, he takes quite a turn, and it brought a smile to my face. I can say the same for the rest of the characters as well. Kaori is such a cheerful and bubbly character, but as the series progresses, we learn that she has her own problems that will eventually impact everyone who knew her.
You'll find the animation to be very pleasing. A bright and colorful palette was chosen for this series, which couldn't be more perfect since much of the series focuses on spring. If you love sakura trees, you'll find plenty of them in this series. They set a stunning background for much of the anime, as well as the bright blue skies. The animation is very smooth and several of the characters move with a grace that is just plain beautiful.
There is much more to the story than meets the eye. Kousei may be the primary focus, but the anime doesn't forget to mention what Kousei's friends are going through. They aren't completely overshadowed by the main character, unlike some other series I have seen that left me dying for more information about the side characters (Looking at you, Kokoro Connect). However, I would have liked just a little more background on some of the minor characters.
Everything in the series was put together perfectly from beginning to end. When I go back and rewatch some episodes, I notice a lot of subtle foreshadowing that I never noticed before. The foreshadowing isn't only in the episodes, but in the very opening of the series as well. If you have watched Your Lie in April already, I encourage you to check out "What's in an OP? - Your Lie in April" by Mother's Basement on YouTube. He covers all of the subtle hints he gathered while watching the opening by going through each part of the opening itself. It may seem like a few things are out of place while watching it, but if you go back and pick up on the subtle hints, you'll see what I mean.
Lastly, the music in YLIA is beautiful. Everything from the background music to the musical numbers of the musicians is so astonishingly pleasing. All music was introduced at appropriate times. If you're a piano or violin fan, I'm sure you'll love it.
I don't want to spoil anything about the anime, but believe me when I say it's incredible, and very underrated. Now, I do understand that this anime will not be for everyone, and some argue that the story is all over the place, and that it isn't as up to par as they would have liked. I do see where they're coming from, but this is just my personal preference: I loved it, and I hope you'll love it too. Thanks for reading!
