The emotion and reviews of the movie version of "Anohana": Rediscovering unknown beauty

The moving and miraculous story of "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day"

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

August 31, 2013 - January 1, 2013

■Distribution company

Aniplex

■Frequencies

99 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original work: Super Peace Busters

■ Director

・Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai

■ Production

・Animation Production: A-1 Pictures

■Works

©ANOHANA PROJECT

■ Story

One day, she suddenly appeared. Six friends who were always together. At that time, I thought I could do anything. I thought there was nothing to be scared of. But it happened. Words said casually. I never meant to hurt them. I could just apologize tomorrow. Or so I thought. But... that tomorrow never came... Six friends who closed their hearts and separated after a childhood accident. One summer day, she who died in an accident appears in front of them. However, she did not remember the reason for her return. They gathered again to find the reason, and the time that had stopped started to move little by little. Why did she come back? It was the miracle of one summer that she wished for - if you look forward, you will surely meet.

■Explanation

A slightly mysterious, moving story of one summer that captured the hearts of 3 million people. This film, which depicts the conflicts of six boys and girls, captured the hearts of all who watched it, and its moving message spread instantly across generations and genders, giving birth to the "Anohana" phenomenon. Why is it so loved? Why does it capture our hearts so much? This film depicts important things that we have forgotten. And now, in the summer of 2013, that moving experience is back in theaters.

■Cast

・Shukumi Jinta/Irino Miyu・Homma Meiko/Kayano Ai・Anjō Naruko/Tomatsu Haruka・Matsuyuki Shu/Sakurai Takahiro・Tsurumi Chiriko/Hayami Saori・Hisakawa Tetsudo/Kondo Takayuki・Shukumi Atsushi:Ogata Mitsuru・Jinta (childhood)/Tamura Mutsumi・Shu (childhood)/Seto Masami・Tetsudo (childhood)/Toyosaki Aki

■ Main staff

・Original story/Super Peace Busters・Director/Tatsuyuki Nagai・Screenplay/Mari Okada・Character design, chief animation director/Masayoshi Tanaka・Direction/Shinobu Yoshioka・Art director/Tsutomu Ishigaki・Art/Takayoshi Fukushima・Prop design: Yukie Hiyasui・Color design/Kazuko Nakajima・Editing/Shigeru Nishiyama・CG, director of photography/Hiroyuki Moriyama・Sound director/Jin Aketagawa・Music/REMEDIOS
・Animation Production: A-1 Pictures
Produced by: "Anohana" Production Committee Distributed by: Aniplex

■ Main Characters

・Jinta Yadumi
He is the leader of the Super Peace Busters, a group of childhood friends. His nickname is Jintan. On "that day," he was unable to express his feelings to Meiko honestly and said something heartless to her, which led to her death in an accident, leaving him with a deep emotional wound. This affected him and he became a bit of a recluse after entering high school, but one day, Meiko suddenly appeared, looking all grown up. He was reunited with his other childhood friends and, by facing "that day," he slowly began to regain the person he was when he was the center of the group.
・Meiko Honma (Menma)
One summer day, a girl appears before Jinta. Her nickname is Menma. Her appearance gives her a fragile impression, but her personality is cheerful and innocent, and she is like a mascot for the Super Peace Busters. In fact, she died in an accident when she was young, but she appeared as an adult. She appears to grant a "wish", but Meiko herself does not remember what the wish was, so the childhood friends reunite and work hard to grant the wish.
・Anjō Naruko
She attends the same high school as Jinta. Her nickname is Anaru. She has changed from her childhood days when she used to wear big glasses, and now dresses like a gal, influenced by friends she made at high school, but she seems to have calmed down a bit recently. She has always regretted the fact that "that day," when she spoke a word to confirm Jinta's feelings for her, which led to Meiko's death. By facing "that day," she has begun to look at her regrets and feelings for Jinta in a positive way.
・Hisakawa Railway (Poppo)
He didn't go to high school, but lives in the Super Peace Busters' secret base, working part-time to save money and wandering the world. His nickname is Poppo. When he was little, he was small and looked like everyone's little brother. Now he has grown into a fine young man. He has an innocent and friendly personality, and when he met Jinta again, he believed that "Meiko has appeared as an adult," and took action to make Meiko's wish come true. He witnessed the moment of Meiko's accident, and he was so scared that he couldn't save her, and he has always felt guilty. He is currently aiming to pass the high school equivalency exam.
・Matsuyuki Collection (Yukiatsu)
He attends a different high school than Jinta and Naruko. His nickname is Yukiatsu. On "that day" in his childhood, he confessed his feelings to Meiko, but they did not reach her. Then, she died that day, and he was unable to process his feelings that would never reach her, and was trapped by a sense of guilt. As a result, he tried to find peace of mind by dressing up as Meiko and identifying with her, but he ended up exposing himself to his childhood friends, and this became the catalyst for him to return from his trapped feelings.
・Tsurumi Chiriko
An honor student who attends the same high school as Shu. Nicknamed Tsuruko. She is the most calm of her childhood friends, and notices Naruko's actions, who is easily influenced by others, and Shu's actions, who cannot forget Meiko. She has secretly had feelings for Shu since she was a child, but has tried to watch over and support Shu's feelings for Meiko. After reuniting with her childhood friend, she tries to free Shu's heart. She often carried a sketchbook with her as a child, and she is still good at drawing.

■ Related works

We still don't know the name of the flower we saw that day.

■ Theme songs and music

・Theme song ・Circle game ・Lyrics by Galileo Galilei
・Composer: Galileo Galilei
・Arrangement- Galileo Galilei, POP ETC
・Song: Galileo Galilei
・Song 1
・secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~ (10 years after Ver.)
Lyrics by Norihiko Machida Composition by Norihiko Machida Arrangement by Toku Singers by Meiko Honma (Ai Kayano), Naruko Anjō (Haruka Tomatsu), and Chiriko Tsurumi (Saori Hayami)
・Songs in the film 2
・I Left You
・Lyrics by REMEDIOS
・Composition: REMEDIOS
・Arrangement: Kazuhito Fujiki
・Song: REMEDIOS

The appeal and evaluation of "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day"

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is a moving anime film released in 2013, based on an original story. It was directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai, written by Mari Okada, character designed and supervised by Masayoshi Tanaka, and animated by A-1 Pictures. The film tells the story of miracles, friendship, and growth that occur during the summer.

The story centers on the members of the Super Peace Busters, a group of six childhood friends. After the death of their friend, Honma Meiko (Menma), who died in an accident when they were children, the group shuts itself off and drifts apart. However, one summer day, Menma appears again, all grown up, and the group reunites to make her wish come true. In the process, the group faces the trauma of their past and grows as they go along.

The appeal of this work lies above all in its moving storyline and the deep humanity of its characters. In particular, the relationship between the protagonist Jintan Yadomi and Menma strongly attracts the hearts of viewers. Jintan becomes a recluse after Menma's death, but is shown to rise again when she reappears. Additionally, Menma's innocent personality and the mystery of her wish add depth to the story.

The other characters are also unique in their own way, and it is moving to see them grow as they face past trauma and guilt. Despite her gyaru-like appearance, Anjō Naruko leaves an impression by trying to live positively while facing past regrets. Poppo feels guilty for witnessing Menma's accident, but acts to make her wish come true. Matsuyuki Shu harbors feelings for Menma, but closes himself off after her death and seeks peace of mind by cross-dressing. Tsurumi Chiriko harbors feelings for Shu, but acts to free him. The growth of these characters and the rebirth of their friendship deeply moves the viewer.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The theme song "Circle Game" is performed by Galileo Galilei, and the in-game song "secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~ (10 years after Ver.)" is sung by Honma Meiko (Kayano Ai), Anjō Naruko (Tomatsu Haruka), and Tsurumi Chiriko (Hayami Saori), further deepening the emotion of the story. In addition, the in-game song "I Left You" by REMEDIOS also plays an important role in livening up the atmosphere of the story.

The film is said to have touched the hearts of 3 million people and was so popular that it spawned the "Anohana" phenomenon. The reason for this is that it depicts important things that have been forgotten. The importance of friendship, growth, and coming to terms with past trauma resonates deeply with viewers. In the summer of 2013, the film was released in theaters again, where it was loved by many.

Recommended points for "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day"

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

1. A moving story

Anohana: The Movie tells a moving story of friendship and growth. In particular, the scene where childhood friends come together to make Menma's wish come true is very appealing to viewers. The characters' growth as they face the trauma of the past resonates with many people.

2. Deep character portrayals

The characters in this work each have their own unique personality and deep humanity. Jintan, Menma, Anaru, Poppo, Yukiatsu, and Tsuruko's past traumas and growth process are carefully depicted, deeply moving the viewer. In particular, Menma's innocent personality and the mystery of her wish add depth to the story.

3. Beautiful Music

The theme song "Circle Game" by Galileo Galilei and the in-game song "secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~ (10 years after Ver.)" by Ai Kayano, Haruka Tomatsu, and Saori Hayami further deepen the emotion of the story. In addition, the in-game song "I Left You" by REMEDIOS also plays an important role in livening up the atmosphere of the story. These songs will resonate deeply in the hearts of viewers.

4. Beautiful images

Director Tatsuyuki Nagai's beautiful cinematography is another attraction of this work. The summer scenery and the expressions of the characters are carefully drawn, and the visual beauty enhances the moving story. In particular, the visual beauty of the scene where Menma reappears and the childhood friends are reunited strongly draws the viewer's heart.

5. Universal Themes

This work depicts the importance of friendship, growth, and facing past trauma. These themes resonate with many people across generations and genders. In particular, the characters' growth as they face past trauma deeply moves viewers.

Conclusion

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is a film with a moving story, deep character portrayals, beautiful music and visuals, and universal themes. The film is said to have captured the hearts of 3 million people and was so popular that it created the Anohana phenomenon. The reason for this is that it depicts important things that have been forgotten. The importance of friendship, growth, and facing past trauma resonates deeply in the hearts of viewers. In the summer of 2013, the film was shown in theaters again and was loved by many people. If you haven't seen this film yet, you should definitely give it a watch. I'm sure it will move you deeply too.