Anohana is a supernatural slice-of-life Anime that was released in 2011 by A-1 Pictures. This 11-episode series was a reunion of the lead production staff of the series Toradora! Which came in December 2010. Anohana’s plot is set in a city in the Saitama prefecture, Chichibu.
Anohana is the tear-fest Anime with many unanswered questions for the audience. Although this is a fantastical Anime it also gives many realistic references to human emotions traumas and relationships.
Not to mention, this Anime will teach you the true value of friendships via a heartwarming drama. I really adore the way this Anime makes us laugh briefly before making us sob uncontrollably in the end.
| Title | Anohana: The flower we saw that day |
| No. of Episodes | 11 |
| Genre | Drama, Supernatural |
| Produced by | A-1 Pictures |
| Premiered on | April 2011 |
What is Anohana?
Super Peace Busters, an artist collective comprised of director Tatsuyuki Nagai, screenwriter Mari Okada, and character designer Masayoshi Tanaka, developed the 2011 Japanese anime television series Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.
A-1 Pictures produced the anime, which aired on Fuji TV’s noitamina block between April and June 2011. Aniplex of America now holds the North American license.
Mari Okada’s novelization was serialized in Media Factory’s Da Vinci magazine from March to July 2011. Mitsu Izumi’s manga adaptation was published in the May 2012 issue of Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine. 5pb. produced a visual novel adaption for the PlayStation Portable in August 2012.
On August 31, 2013, an anime film sequel was released in Japanese theaters. On September 21, 2015, Fuji TV aired a live-action television drama film adaptation.
What is the premises of Anohana?
Anohana follows the story of six middle school friends who drift apart from each other due to the sudden accidental death of their friend Menma.
One of the friends and protagonist of the story, Jinta Yadomi is a recluse that plays video games all day long while bunking his classes.
One day, he encounters the ghost of Late Menma, who pesters him to fulfill her last wish which was long forgotten.
Jinta initially believes that he is simply experiencing summertime hallucinations since Menma passed away years ago, but he soon comes to believe that what he is actually seeing is the spirit of Menma.
Jinta and his friends again reunite with Menma as they work to lay her spirit to rest. Again experiencing guilt, pain, and melancholy while Helping themselves and Menma to move on to the heavens.
the plot implies Anohana is a sad story just, As its writer has been acknowledged for her artistic tearjerkers like Maquia.
Okada delicately weaves the sad twists and melodrama in such a way that the viewers find each tragedy and trauma like it’s their own.
Is it worth watching the Anohana movie?
If you enjoyed the series and are looking for a way to revisit the characters and story, then the movie might be worth watching.
On the other hand, if you haven’t seen the series and are considering watching the movie as a standalone experience, it might be best to watch the series first in order to fully appreciate the events and emotions depicted in the movie.
The movie provides a deeper perspective of the series’ final episodes. The essence of the series is what the movie gives. You would be better off reading the plot on Wiki, MAL, or any other similar website if you only want to get the essence.
You’ll also save time by doing that. However, the series provides something that the film does not which is connection.
The characters and the story will feel far more personal to you than they would in a movie. In the slice-of-life genre, this link is typically crucial. In comparison to the movie, the series also faces quickly enough to keep you interested.
Is Anohana a good Anime?
Anohana may have some fan service in the initial episodes but it gradually shifts to realism which is quite different from most Anime shows that we see.
Not realistic in a nonfantasy way—Anohana keeps its fantasy element throughout the series however the characters have a more humane reaction.
Unlike the norm, characters behave more like their live-action versions, with no exaggerated reactions with virtual cues or Tsundere punches.
The character designs are less idolized and the backgrounds are more relatable. It represents a change from the intense kawaii stylization that dominates much modern animation.
The production value of A-1 Pictures is superb, and the characterization in particular is outstanding.
The characters have a really authentic, everyday feel to them, which makes it simple to forget you’re watching a cartoon, which is kind of the idea of Anime in general, but Anohana accomplishes it exceptionally well.
Anohana shows the guilt every friend has for Menma’s death in some way. This show realistically portrays feelings of remorse, hurt, and pain.
Like in the group, Yukiatsu has become a snobby prick who mocks Menma’s appearance with hostility. But as the show goes forward his vulnerabilities resurface and it becomes clear that his past was the most tragic among the six characters. Even though he appeared all cheerful and condescending, he was alone.
Although the plot is not entirely unique there were many memorable moments. The first two-thirds of the story explores the character’s developments and complicated relationships with each other.
Despite being childhood buddies, a particular incident involving one of the members caused the group to split up but also brought about “peace” among them. But at a certain point, they had to break the ice and move on with the story.
The characters in this series went through so incredible growth that the series’ ending became so painfully heartbreaking.
The Anime’s execution conveyed a powerful and uplifting message about friendship, addressing loss, and, most importantly, moving on from the trauma.
Why watch Anohana?
Anohana is quite a philosophical Anime where each of the five friends deals with the loss of a loved one and how they dealt with it as children in their own unique ways.
It sheds some light on human behavior in the face of tragedy that is really plausible. And when they do ultimately accept the death, each one of them finds a different way to move on.
Give it a shot—it’s undoubtedly not for everyone but it differs from the typical Harem and Action Animes.
How long is Anohana Anime?
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is an 11-episode Anime series that aired in Japan in 2011. Each episode of the series is approximately 22-23 minutes in length, for a total runtime of around 4 hours and 45 minutes.
The series has also been released in other formats, such as a DVD box set and streaming on various platforms, which may have slightly different runtime lengths depending on the specific release.
In addition to the main series, there is also a 25-minute special episode that was included with the DVD and Blu-ray release of the series in Japan, which takes place after the events of the main series and provides additional closure for the characters.
Is Anohana on Netflix?
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, developed by the Super Peace Busters – an artistic collaborative comprised of director Tatsuyuki Nagai, screenwriter Mari Okada, and character designer Masayoshi Tanaka – was included on Netflix in June 2019.
Although Anohana debuted in 2011, it was a perfect choice for Netflix since it speaks to audiences all throughout the world, especially after such a tragic year.
Anohana is about a group of childhood friends who have grown apart when one of them sadly dies while they are young. Years later, they are all living separate lives, and the story begins when they are teenagers. Memna, the deceased girl, produces to haunt Jintan, the leader of their former friend group until her wish is accomplished.
Conclusion
- In conclusion, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is a heart-wrenching and emotionally powerful Anime series that explores themes of grief, guilt, and the power of friendship in a thoughtful and nuanced way, and its well-developed characters and compelling story will leave a lasting impression on viewers.
- With its beautiful animation, engaging characters, and powerful themes, Anohana is a must-see for fans of character-driven drama and emotional storytelling.