Year in Review: The Best of 2011

Happy New Year~

Checklist: [x] Top 5 Anime | [x] Top 5 Anime Songs | [ ] Top 5 THE iDOLM@STER Songs

Suggestions on what I other things I should rank are welcome!

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Review

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 11

;__;

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5/5)

An amazing ending to an amazing anime. Lots of tears in this episode but that is to be expected. I was surprised that a dramatic story like this could be told brilliantly in only 11 episodes. Definitely one of the best shows of Spring 2011. I don't want to leave any spoilers in this short paragraph so all I can say is: prepare yourself a box of tissues if you are the emotional type because this episode will get to you very quickly. Hope you enjoy this finale as much as I did.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 10

Only point of criticism for this episode: the fireworks looked lame

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5/5)

I'm amazed. What more can I say? This episode was overflowing with drama which kept me at the edge of my seat at all times. The 20 minutes felt like 5 minutes to me as everything seemed to fly by so quickly. The relationships of the characters have been cleared up even more with Jinta liking Menma and Tsuruko liking Yukiatsu now confirmed. In terms of the story, the fireworks launching scene was extremely dramatic as Jinta struggled to fight against his selfish desire to not let Menma go to heaven. At the end of the launch, when Menma's voice could still be heard, I knew that, the next episode will be that I don't want to miss.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 9

Yukiatsu looks like a pervert here

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (3/5)

With only two more episodes to go, I'm starting to have my doubts about whether Ano Hana can finish strongly. There have been far too many times where an anime starts out really good but ends up very bad. With Ano Hana being one of the better drama series I have seen so far, I'm hoping that the ending will blow me away, or at least be unique so I will remember it. As for this episode, I was kind of disappointed. Firstly, I dislike the Yukiatsu x Anaru pairing so the scene where they are alone together made me sigh. Personally, I prefer the Jinta x Anaru and Yukiatsu x Tsuruko pairings. Secondly, because Menma is so happy now, it can be argued that their problems are now solved. Now, I'm not saying that I want Menma to be sad but seeing her so filled with joy while the others are wallowing in their own self-guilt makes it a bit awkward. Anyhow, the ending scene made up for the lackluster episode. The trauma of Menma's death evoked fear in Jinta; fear of seeing the same thing he saw when he was younger. Because he already lost her once, he doesn't want to lose her again. However, this ending makes the series lean more towards Anaru not getting paired up with Jinta. Even with the series now winding down, the ending is still open-ended. Hopefully there will be some answers in the next episode.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 8

Took you long enough to reveal your existence, Menma

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5/5)

Things just got real. With Menma finally showing her existence to the others, the next few episodes should play out nicely in terms of tension and drama. If only she had done this earlier... But then again, the rest of the story would be have to be stretched to cover the excess number of episodes. I guess that having this episode near the end was a good way to allow tension to be built up through the first seven episodes and have the last few episodes (assuming that this is a single-season anime) deliver the drama that many people have been waiting patiently for. As for me, I am curious to see what Menma will do after this. Instead of trying to guess what will happen, I prefer to sit back and wait for the next episode, allowing me to avoid disappointment if I had thought about an outcome that I desired.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai

Pugs are awesome, just saying

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

Well, that diary sure was disappointing. However, Menma's mother made up for it as she is proving that she will be a vital part of the next episode or two. I totally did not expect for her to be significant to the plot in any way but I guess this kind of plot twist is what keeps viewers interested. I, for one, can say that I am very curious to know how Menma's mother will be involved in all this. Her reason for not allowing Menma's friends to do something for Menma is still a mystery. At the end, her face and voice could have easily caused many viewers to label her as yandere. As the story unfolds, will Menma's mother be on the good or bad side?

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 6

What answers lie in the pages of this book?

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (3/5)

A generally uneventful episode with small bits of character development. Main parts of the episode are Jinta's interaction with Anaru and their trip to Menma's house (with Poppo). Hoping that this is just a build-up to future episodes and that they will be more entertaining than this. However, Ano Hana has delivered well so far and a bad episode here and there won't affect my opinion that much. With that being said, I'm still expecting better episodes than this one, with more drama and plot twists that make viewers keep guessing. With an interesting story that was executed extremely well, the question now is can Ano Hana finish off what it started?

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 5

The "Rejection" Hairclip

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

More of the group's past is revealed with the focus on Yukiatsu this time. His obsession of Menma is revealed to have existed far before her death. So now the relationships within the group have gotten even more complicated. But that is to be expected from an excellent drama anime like Ano Hana. The emotional pain that Menma is experiencing due to not being able to talk with anybody else besides Jinta is very sad to see. I don't really know how to put it in words but the ending of this episode was quite depressing. However, what I don't really understand is why Menma doesn't show the others a sign of her existence by writing her name on a paper in front of them or moving objects around. Hopefully, my question will be answered soon.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 4

I think Tsuruko has no future in the field of visual arts

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

I knew it! Yukiatsu was trolling Jinta all along. On top of that, it appears he is a psychopathic crossdresser. Things are starting to get interesting now as Yukiatsu is no longer seen as the tough, cool guy he used to be. Instead, he is now labelled as a Menma-obsessed freak in my books, even though he acted like he didn't care Menma. On the other hand, it must be really, really embarrassing for him to be seen like this by the others. I wonder what he is going to say to the other four in the next episode. It should be some good drama.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 3

Troll Alert!

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

*sigh*, was a cliffhanger really the right thing to have for such a dramatic anime? Now I can't wait for next week to be here. There are so many different possible outcomes that I have read/thought of regarding what Yukiatsu said at the end of the episode. Personally, I think he's trolling Jinta by saying he can see Menma too. I'll just have to wait one whole week to see if I'm right or wrong.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 2

Current Group Members: 3/5

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

A good mix of dramatic and comedic moments made this an awesome episode. The group is slowly getting reformed with the addition of Poppo and Anaru. The only two left are Yukiatsu and Tsuroko. I have a feeling those two won't be so willing to relive the days of their childhood. Lots of Pokemon references in this episode too.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Episode 1

The "Super Peace Busters"

Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (3/5)

Depressing episode is depressing. This episode was sad in so many ways that I'm not sure I want to continue watching it. The story starts out with the main character, Jinta, playing games on a hot summer day. It is obvious that he is a hikikomori. While he is playing his game, a girl comes out of nowhere and starts talking to him. She later reveals herself as Menma (Honma Meiko), one of Jinta's childhood friends. After passing out from the heat and regaining consciousness, the doorbell rings and Jintan tries restraining Menma from opening it. The person at the door turned out to be Anaru (Anjo, Naruko). What got me suspicious was that she couldn't see Menma. After that moment, I realized that Jinta was the only one who could see Menma. What I didn't know was why. The reason why Anaru came was to give Jinta his homework. As a hikikomori, Jinta obviously doesn't want to do any work. What Menma didn't understand at that time is that everyone changed over the years the six of them were apart. Anaru had become interested in fashion like most teenage girls.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai - Preview

And the winner of the longest anime name of the season goes to Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (shortened to AnoHana). Another slice-of-life anime added to the ones I am currently watching, AnoHana is probably similar to Hanasaku Iroha. The story of six childhood friends reuniting after several years sounds very interesting. All the characters look unique and interesting. I hope that this anime won't disappoint. Looking forward to watching it.

Spring 2011

Below is the list of shows I plan to watch for the Spring 2011 season (subject to change)