Characters/Story:
Nishimi Kaoru is the Main Character, He has recently moved schools, Having moved numerous times he has become a reclusive type of person, A guy who looks like a typical "Geek" back in 1966, and feels this school will be the same as the others, where he struggles to makes friends and just makes up the numbers.
Kawabuchi Sentarou a Tall/Strong/Stupid/Thug like behavior, Basically the polar opposite of Nishimi. They somehow make this Friendship work, Music brings them together and gives them this special bond. Nishimi plays Piano and Sentarou plays Drums, Ritsuko's Father owns a record shop and allows them to go the basement to jam together and play their instruments.
Mukae Ritsuko is the Female Key Character, She is a Normal good looking girl, Who is childhood friends with Sentarou, She has a soft spot for him, Maybe feels sorry for him in a way. But is helpful type of person and creates a nice three-way friendship.
From this the 3 of them go through School, They have their up's and down's like most school/drama's, It will have romance themes connected to both guys, All subtly put and neither genre or theme is pushed too much.
Art/Sound:
Art - Is really nice, Not the best I've ever seen, but still amazing and does set the tone for the period this as set it, Characters don't look to Josei or feminine, at times and especially with the eyes, Its not too overpowering it will put of people who cannot stand that Art style.
Sound - Characters sounds like there characters styles are, and the music does make this feel like its set in the 1960's. Also the scenes where its them "Jamming"
Overall:
Sakamichi no Apollon is a superb series, And one i simply cannot recommend highly enough, if you like any Josei's or any School Life and Romantic series, this is right up your ally.
I was not sure to put this as an 8 or a 9 after the ending, many people have issues with how series end, and i have that gripe, And issue you can get from a 12 Ep series is it feeling rushed, This wasn't the case for Sakamichi no Apollon until the LAST Episode, For me they didn't not conclude it the way i liked, they have an "Element" in the Story at the end, and Element i cannot stand in TV/Movies, This creates the "Rushed" ending for me, didn't give it enough time and felt that they had to "Quickly Wrap it up"
I love this series, but the rushed last episode didn't not end as strong as i hoped, As mentioned earlier, i was unsure giving this an 8 or 9, but i went with 9, its simply that good and an Anime series you have to watch if you like a School/Drama/Romance/Music & (Not that K'ON Crap) This series does it how it should be done.
