So this review is for Kimi Ni Todoke (the anime not the manga.) which falls under the shoujo, romance, slice of life, comedy categories.
For the most part Kimi Ni Todoke followed the manga pretty closely. I'm really happy about that since I love the manga and I hate when it gets converted into anime and they suddenly veer off track. With where the show ended it seems like they were setting up for what I hope will be a Season 2. If not they left some major loose ends!
The story follows a high school girl named Sawako Kuronuma who struggles with being "heard" by her fellow classmates. Because of her gloomy appearance she gains the nickname "Sadako" and rumors float around about her being able to channel spirits and such. This leaves her with having no friends and most of her classmates won't approach her.
That is until the most popular guy in her grade, Kazehaya, starts talking to her. Suddenly Sawako finds herself in situations she doesn't know how to handle.
And so the love story begins....
Okay, I know. That sounds really cliche (and lame), and if I'm being honest, it is cliche'. The entire story is so adorable you might start puking rainbows. There are a lot of things that happen that are so predictable that it's almost painful, but there's something about this story that is really enjoyable.
One of the things I enjoy most about this series is the characters. Sawako in particular is a breath of fresh air. When I start a shojo series I'm usually expecting a headstrong female lead with strange quirks that come with the territory. Sawako is the complete opposite of most female leads. She's actually very weak and lets people push her around. Her goal is to be accepted by her classmates so she does anything to please them. She's also really naive and old fashioned. I really enjoy watching her character develop even if I find myself getting impatient with her.
The other characters are also really enjoyable. Ayane and Chizu's friendship with Sawako is fun to watch, and the growing love interest between Kazehaya and Sawako is always charming. One character to watch in particular would be Coach Pin. He really stands out to me and he's always good for a laugh.
Both the animation and the art in this series is lovely. Sometimes you'll see some awkward stuff (like a hand that seems too large) but I think that happens with every series. I really really like the way things are colored. It's simple and clean, and I like that.
Oh, and I have to give props to everyone having real hair colors. I'm glad I haven't seen a random blue haired fellow pop-up anywhere. That's nice for a change.
I'm not sure what makes this series stand out. I think part of the reason is that it's very easy to relate to. Sawako's situation isn't that strange, and in most cases, everyone has been in her shoe's before. Whether it's feeling alienated from a group of people, or just being uncomfortable and not knowing how to handle a situation.
On the romantic level of the story, Kazehaya and Sawako will drive you insane. This story progresses slowly. Sometimes the characters spend whole episodes dancing around each other and it's enough to make you want to scream. I don't really think anyone is that naive, but it's not enough to make you stop watching.
So if you're looking for an action-packed thriller with awesome weapons and crazy enemies... then this isn't for you. Kimi Ni Todoke is a slow progressing story that tugs at your heart-strings and makes you turn into a puddle of mush. If you like fluff, romance, shojo, slice of life, and general adorable-ness, give it a shot!
I'd give it 4/5 stars.
Till next time.
