Many people have different tastes when it comes to a certain obsession - games, people, foods and etc.
Kneeling on a tatami mat for a long period of time, and moving your hands fast as if there′s no tomorrow, encouraging one′s self to win in a match like no other. That′s how a game called “Karuta” works.
- A girl named Chihaya, began to like Karuta, when one of her classmates taught her how to play it. And that is where it all begin, well, not likely yet. A lot of things happened after that and before that. It′ll be much of a spoiler to summarize the story around here.
The story of Chihayafuru (or Chihaya Full) is circling around a Japanese game, which they call Karuta. The game is composed of a cards that has a verses of poems written on them. Our main heroine, Ayase Chihaya, is currently aiming to win and be entitle as the “Queen”.
Chihayafuru′s story is can be compared and matched up to our real life. There really isn′t anything unique in the story, but the story can pretty much emphasize a lot of things throughout the whole series. I barely have seen an anime that has a theme of a Japanese game; like Karuta. For me, it′s quite a new pace for me.
Chihayafuru′s story also has a lot of lessons. They teach us lessons that no other can compare, teaching us how to move forward, to never give up, and fight ′till the end. Friendship and cooperation is one of the things that makes a group shine. And the Karuta club has it; it was a bit hard for Chihaya to recruit members, including one of her former rival when she was young.
But that didn′t stop Chihaya, she was still persistent and eager, to the extent that the person would easily give up (he also got a bit annoyed: if you know who I′m talking about here.)
Chihayafuru, as I said, teaches us lessons, not only lessons, but also hardships that one might bump on to. Even if there are hardships and challenges, never give up. Chihayafuru shows that, no matter how impossible your dream is, you′ll be able to obtain it if you try and never give up.
- Chihafuru′s art is not that simple, and also not that unique, let′s say that the level is in the “middle”. Chihayafuru′s art has some flaws in it, but it′s not that annoying and not that big of a deal. The only thing that has it′s flaws, are the characters eyes.
I consider and take them as odd ones. Don′t know why, but the first time I watched it, the eyes caught my attention. I guess it′s because of the lashes that sticks over their eyes.
The backgrounds and settings are great and doesn′t catch that much of an attention; what I mean is, sometimes, some anime has backgrounds that catches more attention than the characters on it. And some of their settings is like not well-drawn.
I would rate Chihayafuru′s art great!
- Chihayafuru′s opening songs, ending songs and also the background musics, are all in all very good, why? I consider the ending theme a little sad; I guess that′s what made me rate the sound 8. It has a little sad and melancholic feeling in to it. I know that the songs theme might be because of hardships and challenges. It greatly fits. Still, the ending theme is great and i kind of liked it.
The opening song, on the other hand, is great. Honestly, I really liked the opening song, it had a nice and happy feeling in it. And the singer′s voice is also great; this is just me: but I guess the opening song′s theme is about their friendship, and bonding times; considering them friends and clubmates.
- Chihayafuru has some characters which has a different kinds of personalities in them; tomboyish, persistent, food lover, smart one and a bit of everything mixed to fit in one character. Every character has it′s personality that most likely, what makes them shine. None of the characters is annoying, but you might think of Chihaya as annoying, because she cries a lot; but that′s part of her personality, she becomes persistent and strong-willed after all the hardships, challenges, and loses she had.
I′d say they made quite a mixed nuts in here. The characters who were young in the earlier year in the story, had quite a change. They made the boy-looking one into a beauty, the whatnot one into a bishounen (that′s what I consider him).
I think you′ll like the characters a lot, not just because they′re part of story or whatever, but because they′re the ones who teaches us the everything and anything. And that no obstacle can stop them.
- I′m glad that I picked up Chihayafuru. I got quite hooked in the plot and/or storyline. It was quite unique for me; that a simple game, can make you happy, what′s more? It′s the reason and also your goal of your dream. I hope Chihayafuru can make you strong, even if it′s just an anime. It′s partly like a true story. Encouraging us to reach and fulfill our dream.
To be honest, I′m really not into game-themed anime. But the story made me hooked, and makes me want to finish it earlier.
Any kinds of obstacles are nothing but a piece of cake, that′s what Chihayafuru′s story is about (also about Karuta and their dreams together.) :D
