Ano hi mita hana no namae o bokutachi wa mada shiranai.

Not very often does a show captivate me as emotionally as Anohana does. Such a simplistic story yet has complex relationships and characters. The story focuses on the lives of five childhood friends who grow apart after the death of one of the group's members, Menmna, who suddenly appears as an apparition to the groups leader Jintan after her tragic death several years back. Menma tells Jintan, the only person who can see or touch her, that she is there to have her wish granted by him and the other members of the group. What that wish is remains a mystery throughout the show. What really shines in this series is the depth & dimensions of each character portrayed, as well as their contribution and connection to the story. So much emotion and passion comes from each actors role and makes for such a passionate and heart wrenching experience. This show will suck you in and give you a feeling of connection to the world and this small group of friends as they reunite and deal with the conflicting emotions that have been bottled up inside after the death of their long lost friend.

The second anime I watched from A-1 pictures. Truly one of the most depressing yet uplifting story. The premise was not really new, but there was still unique elements to it. The first 2/3 of the plot was the complexed development of the 6 main characters and their relationships. Although they were childhood friends, certain event to one of the member drove the group apart, yet created a "peace" between them. Throughout the story, they all had to break this "peace" and move on with their lives. Because of the great developments of these characters, the ending of this series became tear-jerkingly painful. The anime, with its execution, sent a powerful and hopeful message about friendship, confronting personal trauma, and most importantly, moving on from the trauma. Absolutely beautiful animation and characters. 9.5/10.

Emotional; Nostalgic; Well-Animated; Slow Paced; Inspiring

I legitimately was not super into this for the first few episodes, but somehow I found myself caught up in the characters, their interpersonal interactions and their story. I really love a story that makes me cry, and this one for sure exceeded

Summary Review at the bottom for those who can't be bothered reading an chunk of words.

This anime has to be one of the best I have watched in a very very long time.

It was just so well executed, so beautiful, and needless to say, it was the saddest thing I have ever encountered.

Although it contained light humor, which blended everything perfectly, when it comes down to it, this show is so raw and it really pulls at the heart strings. Every single person has experienced a loss of some kind, and I think this anime is just spot on when it addresses the aftermath, the passage of time and human relations- therefore I feel every single watcher can relate to it.

Even though there were only 11 episodes, I felt that the story was not rushed. Every episode had meaning behind it. I got to know (and love) each and every one of the main characters. And I cried my heart out at the end.

This anime is a must-watch, even for people who have stone hearts and state that they will never cry watching a TV show. It was just impeccable! The animation was terrific! The story was incredible!

I thought I'd sit down, watch the first few episodes, and go to bed. But this anime hooked me in. Although the first few episodes contained M rated jokes, which may put some people off, they were still hardly noticeable in the big picture- and they were realistic too. I don't know any teenagers who don't make jokes like the ones in this show.

I found myself laughing along with the characters, and even mimicking their sobbing towards the end- the voice acting was truly magnificent.

This anime has taken 1st place on my list. I will be re watching this series. I will cry over the episodes again. I cannot recommend this any more, or shower it with higher praise!

Summary:

Story- 10/10 Captivating, enthralling and believable in every way shape and form!

Execution- 9/10 Everything smoothly fit together, the writers really thought about how they were going to link ideas, and when and where.

'Feel' Factor- 10/10 I know of no one who has not sobbed, or laughed, or done both at the same time watching this.

Voice acting- 9/10- Believable and full of emotion.

Animation 9/10- Clean style. Range of pallets used, in particular softer ones which make for a very enjoyable watch. Movements are realistic.

I had just finished watching Clannad: After Story, and stumbled upon a comment about this very anime. When I read the synopsis, I was instantly hooked, & the excitement that I had begun with this anime, lasted all the way to the end. I recommend this for all anime watchers. It is not a show of much action, but more so on the emotional side. The characters are very much relatable, if not, very realistic, indeed. It is a quick 13 episodes that will make you feel queasy and content at the end of it all. This anime is up there, not one of my most favourites, but definitely close up there. So if you're looking for something to quickly finish & stay satisfied throughout it all, I suggest you to give it a go, & watch it. You will not regret it one bit!