Well here we are my 100th review.
It has been long and emotional road of great and awful animes but somehow I made it to 100 reviews. I personally wouldn't made it so far without your helpful and constructive feedback that you have given me over the years.
Naturally I decided to do something special to make this occasion and So I decided up a anime that I truly loved and that anime in question is 3 Gatsu no Lion or March Comes in like a Lion in English. First aired in 2016 the series has gained a strong following over the years for it's strong characterisation, masterfully handling of serious topics and fantastic art-style.
I previously watched the series when it was airing and I loved it. When Aniplex announced and released the English dub for season 2 I decided to re-watch the series in it's dubbed form and I love it even more to a point where I ultimately decided to write a review for both seasons. It was that amazing. More about the Aniplex's Dub later but first let's talk about the plot and characters and why I adored it so much.
The story follows a shogi prodigy named Rei who lives by himself. Despite living along Rei is far from a stable individual as suffering from numerous issues such as social anxiety, depression and loneliness that prevents him from connect to anyone due to his tragic past.
He soon the Kawamoto family a trio of sisters and their grandfather who run a traditional Japanese pastry shop. They too have dealt with pain and loss. Now Rei must learn to socialise with other people and understate his triumphs and failures as human being in order to defeat his social anxiety and depression.
Saying that the story of March comes in like a lion is outstanding wouldn't give this series any justice. This is easily the best put together anime I've ever seen from this decade.
Where do I honestly begin maybe with the first episode. This is easily the best first episode I've ever seen in anime because not only it does an outstanding job at establishing Rei as a character by diving in social anxiety mindset. The first episode also does a fantastic job at establishing it's own tone to the viewers. The first 10 minutes of episode 1 has a melancholic feels that showcases the darker side of the series while the most of the second half of the series shows the more lighter side of the series where everything is all happy and bubbly. Normally this tonal combination would totally back fire but it didn't because March Comes in like a Lion understands tonal shifts.
Out of the anime I've seen March Comes in like a Lion is one of few series that is able to hand it's tonal shifts.
The biggest problem I had with Your Lie in April outside of the hamfisted executed themes and monologues was the tonal shifts that series had the worst tonal shifts I've seen in my life because not that series were executed incredibly poorly as it pop out of nowhere (mostly thanks to Tsubaki) but it actually did more harm to an already problematic series. Episode 1 of that series was prime example of that issue.
March Comes in like a Lion doesn't do any of that. It know's how it's dark and light tone well and it's know how to switch between theses two without feeling awkward or out of place. The tonal balance of March Comes in like a lion helps the comedy and drama flow better and speaking of drama let's talk about it.
March Comes in Like a Lion is heart a drama. From the first minute of episode 1 season 1 to the last minute of episode 22 of season 2 we see the well crafted drama play out as it greatly affects every single character in the show.
The drama also allows us to dive into the characters motivations and ideals for various characters and shows for a tremendous job of it. This is main reason why March Comes in Like a Lion is not a shogi sports anime. Sure the series has a lot shogi matches to a point where they were frequent tournaments that are filled with competitors who want to win however the show completely destroys the generic I want to be the shogi player like no one ever was as the show does a brilliant job at exploring the competitors true motivations of winning.
Rei is a competitive shogi player that has to win various tournaments if want to support himself in life. He's not doing it for recognition, he's not doing it to be the best shogi player in the world he's doing it as a career to support himself, or he will be homeless.
That not all March Comes in like a lion has to offer. The series is also a beautiful coming of age tale. In season 1 we see Rei as a depressed anti-social individual who is trying to live his life as a professional shogi player. However, thanks to Akari and the Kawamoto he starts to open up to people more to a point where he starts to help people with their problems in season 2 which I will talk about in a bit.
When the show is not being a heavy character drama show becomes an engaging and grounded that is filled with fascinating character chemistry and interactions that only strengths the already strong characterisation of the series.
Season one of March Comes in like a Lion is a masterpiece on its own right that can win various anime awards inducing anime of the year. Season two on the other hand takes the already masterful season 1 and takes it to another level. The majority of Season two is focused on the topic of bullying and how bullying can affect others.
Needless to say, this topic was masterfully executed thanks to not only having some of the best writing to ever exist in this medium but it's also the subject with respect and care. Watching this bullying arc is like watching an actual human being getting bulled in front of your eyes. It was portrayed beautifully thanks to the brilliant direction and writing.
Season 2 of March Comes in like a Lion is without the best anime squeal I have seen from this medium as it took everything that was brilliant in season one and expended to new heights. My praise of season two doesn't end there. The rest of the arcs in season two were also fantastic.
They may not be as emotional compared to the bully arc but they are still strong arcs in the own rights. My favourite arc of season 2 not counting the bully arc is the Old Gen vs New Gen Shogi championship arc aka Sakutarou vs Shimada.
Despite being the only arc of the series that focusing primarily on it's supporting characters which was a nice change of pace for the series it is a very a fantastic written arc that communicate the theme and topics of sacrifice, retirement, generation, and passing to torch.
The visual imagery also enhances the mood and atmosphere of the match as this is not just an another typical championship shogi match. It is a match that would change two individuals as people especially on Sakutarou's end who despite surviving as a shogi kishou all those years had to see his peers die over the years just to get to that spot that he's currently at.
March Comes in like a lion is not a just story it is a tale of ambition, passion, love and emotion that highlights the best and worst aspects of life in a more grounded way and for that reason alone as many others things I said before March Comes in like a lion is one of the best stories I've ever encountered in any medium.
The characters in March Comes Like a Lion can be best described as real human beings.
At first glance Rei may appear to be another typical self insert tragic character that you have seen before however the series immediately throws that exception out the window. From Rei's emotional out bursts, unpredictable thinking to trying his very best to improve his social life towards others Rei is the embodiment of a flawed who's trying to improve his life before the world crashed down on him.
His character development over the course of the series is historically amazing as he goes from an anti-social lone wolf who just wanted to play shogi just, so he can live to a more social and friendly person. Sure he still plays shogi just so he can live but thanks to character development we Rei go out of his way to help people in need. The best example of this is with the bully arc in season 2. Rei could have easily ignored Hinata's bullying issues by just ignoring them and continue playing he's shogi matches just, so he can live. Rei fortunately not only helps Hinata with her bullying problems he a sacrifice a decent amount of shogi time he's only source of income.
Yes, it does hurt having a reduced income just to help a friend but Hinata and her family helped him defeat the darkness of depression in season 1 and that was a good trade off.
This is my favourite aspect of March Comes in Like a Lion.
Character development that is left intact across seasons.
I have seen many anime from this decade where character development were not left intact across seasons/ story arcs. Certain shows will either repeat character arcs due the authors using a wonderful plot device that is called amnesia or even worst characters contradicting their development after they were developed in previous seasons/story arcs.
March Comes in like a Lion doesn't do any of that. It perfectly develops its characters and that development stay intact across seasons allowing for more character development in future arcs.
A perfect example of intact character development is shown with the second protagonist of the series Hinata.
Hinata is the second of the three sister's of the Kawamoto family.
In season 1 she's assisted Akari overcome Rei's depression and social anxiety in season 1. She becomes the primary protagonist in season 2 with the Bully and graduation middle school arcs and man she was a beautifully written character. The way she developed over the course of the bully arc was not only splendid site on to see visual storytelling perspective but it so relatable to the eye.
Despite being the victim of bullying she never gave her strong will to the bullies as she is reminded determined to shut down the bullies even it may hurt her mentally in the process.
Add up her bubbly and determined and you got yourself a wonderfully crafted character that highlights the best and worst of life from a child's perspective.
Finally we have the final main character of the series Akari.
Akari is a fantastic character if I ever saw one. Akari is the guardian angel for because it wasn't for her then Rei still be on path of darkness and social anxiety. She was the only one that fully broke Rei dark shell. Yes Hinata and Momo assisted Akari into breaking Rei dark shell but Akari not only drag Rei out of he's dark shell into the light but she also only character that understood him of what he was coming from.
Just like a person taking a orphan homeless kid into they home who has been mentally and physically damaged from they former orphanage. That's not all to Akari as character. In season 2 bully Arc we the viewer start to see signs of Akari being a broken individual.
Despite being the mother substitute for Hinata and Momo she has faces has own struggles that affaced her as a person. In episode 5 Someji made a strong statement of Hinata's bullying situation which he said ''There is nothing wrong of helping a friend in need''. That statement affected her as mother figure because compare to him she doesn't have the strong will to deal with theses things due to pressure.
As the arc progressed Akira starts trying to be a strong mother figure who doesn't let pressure talk over her mentally.
Her character development in the bully arc is showcased at the climax of the bully arc with Taiga's mum. The way she conflict to her showcases how much she has grown as a person On top of her incredible character development across the season's she's a very nice and caring person who tries her hardest to people in need hand that's the reason why she's my second favourite character in the series.
The supporting characters are just as great and complex as the main characters. They all that have they quirks and personal struggles that plays off with the show core themes. Some personal favourite characters include Shimada, Harunobu, Touji and Takashi.
Overall the characters in March Comes in like a Lion are just as fantastic as the plot.
Studio Shaft is known to have fantastic production values that add more detail and flare in they and March Comes in Like a Lion is no different. The artistic direction and the use of sharp/soft colour palette really brought the world of March Comes in Like a Lion to life.
This is only enhanced with the gorgeous animation that is filled with emotion and atmosphere. Naturally this is a shaft production so you can expect their signature pops of colour and head tilts. It may be random but unlike all other shows from Studio Shaft they don't abuse it all that much. Add this up the show's fantastic visuals storytelling that only strengths the show core themes of depression, emotion, bullying and sacrifice and you got yourself a beautiful series that is style and substance. Great job Shaft.
March Comes in Like A Lion visual presentation is only made better by the wonderfully composed soundtrack done by the very talented Yukari Hashimoto.
Melancholic and soft tracks perfectly set the mood and tone of the series. The emotional tracks that played in the series only strengthen the narrative and presentations as when there is an emotional moment the tracks rises up just to amply the emotional moments in the series.
This is thanks to the March Comes in Like Lion fantastic sound direction. It knows when to play various tracks at the right moments and it knows how to fade in and fade out the tracks at any given time.
All the opening and ending themes were incredible as not only the songs are great it has a lot of symbolism that accurately captures the show's themes.
When I heard, that Aniplex Of America was going to dub both seasons of March Comes in Like A Lion I was very excited how the show was going to fare in it's a dub. Needless to say, the dub of March Comes in Like a Lion didn't disappoint me one as this is one the best dub I heard for Aniplex it also, in my opinion, surpasses the already amazing original Japanese audio.
Despite many of the English Actors not having previous roles, they managed to bring out A game as every single dub actor did a tremendous job with the roles that they were given. The best performances in the dub were the rising stars Kayli Mills as Hinata and Khoi Dao as Rei. Overall if you are looking for a great dub that is on par with the original Japanese audio I strongly recommended the dub.
March Comes in Like a Lion is a series that impacted me of not only how I view anime as a medium but it also impacted me as a human being. It is a series that soul-crushing broke my heart but the same rebuild it with it's wonderful characters that represent the highs and lows of humanity and life. The beautifully crafted story arcs that have a purpose, masterfully written characters that were well written, the fantastic production values that was only made better with the beautiful melancholic soundtrack.
March Comes in Like a Lion is not just an anime it's a masterfully created human and thematic study that would make any cry and because of these reasons March Comes in Like a Lion is not only the best anime I have seen from this decade but it's also one of the favourite things ever.
Yes, there were others anime from this decade that I called masterpieces in the past however they all palls in comparison to the beautiful piece that is March Comes in Like Lion which is a true masterpiece of an anime that changed my life forever.
Thank you Studio Shaft for making this masterpiece a reality.
