In-Depth Anime Review with Every Bite! © - Your Lie in April

Here we go again.

We're going to have a pretty strong/lengthy start here, so brace yourself for an extended ride.
I'd like to talk a little more in depth about an anime I checked out a few yesternights ago called
Your Lie in April.

Your Lie in April, written by Naoshi Arakawa, started as a manga serialized and published on Kodansha. Just googled Naoshi Arakawa hoping it'd be a hot chick but it's a dude with a bowl cut. Aw man.

"Arakawa master of heart string tugging and bowl cuts, also fervent dabbler in not being a chick."

Anywho, the anime was release early 2015, and I, as of now writing this I today on 2/21/2016 at 8:10 PM, am now just watching it. My only regret in life is not catching it sooner, but better late than never right? So I don't actually regret it all too much. Sorry. Tangents. 

Anywho, the show starts off with our less-than-excited hero Kousei Arima working on transcribing some music. The writers do a pretty good job of introducing the characters with a little exposition; his best friend Watari being a total pimp and the energetic childhood best friend. We don't meet our pushy, free-spirited heroine until later in the episode where she is seen blowing a on a piano pipe contraption. I can't be bothered to look it up, sorry. 

The story rest of the story is a light-hearted(well, some of it) romp through several arcs pertaining usually to a competition. The show's development contains multiple themes of death, grievances, as well as new beginnings and finding oneself through your passion and through relationships. A pretty damn good majority of the show's story managed to resonate with me. In the not-long-enough span of 22 episodes, I enjoyed laughing, as well as crying, with the characters as they go through a few turbulence on their journey; holding close with them some very human characteristics that were, in my opinion, realistic portrayals of the situation and how it can affect the individual physically as well as mentally. Feelings of joy, loneliness, loss, and fear of the unknown, were explored almost exhaustively through the 24 minute episodes; a somber tribute to life itself, the show is a reminder that good experiences, as well as the bad, can be beautiful struggles that mature the soul. How even the worst situation can shine a million times over if you just have people you care about. This shocked me and my shriveled, old heart. I'm embarrassed to say this, but I felt like I learned how it feels to love again. Not something I like to express everyday, but this showed compelled me to. Damn you show.

:)

The art was something that nagged at me. Coming from a manga, I'm glad they maintained the style of the original source. However, for an anime, this transition is not so solid and does not appeal to some people; by some people I mean me. I wish for an art style like this, big eyes and visible thin, lips, to stay in mangas. It just works for it. But I would hate it if they changed it so I'm having a lot of mixed feelings in the bag. The good of it, however, are the backgrounds. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. The colors were used vibrantly in the first couple of episodes. Rightly so, as it maintains the more lighter half of the events. Later on, colors will be used rather cliche-ly to represent the mood and even state of being of characters. Cliche is not always bad; however, later down the road it sort of choreographs events untold. I don't mind foreshadowing, but the show does a huge no-no and drops too much foreshadowing. Every other episode I was reminded which took away some of the impact of the ending for me.

"Picture to narrate my point"

Back to the positive. Something very opaque about an anime about music are the sounds. Let me tell you, this show definitely delivers status quo. From the exuberant, hopeful tune of the main song titled "Your Lie in April", to the more somber, but weirdly uplifting song "Again", to the wonderful opening songs done by wonderful people; objective one after I finished this show was the find the soundtrack. Of course, not all songs strike home, but the ones that do have such an impact aurally as well as visually; by visually I mean as you watch the anime, no you can't see music unless you have perfect pitch or are an x-men. I can recall several times in the show when I was just watching when suddenly I am a huge babby crying babby tears. The timing is just perfect. Fucking audio crew, showing emotion is for newborns please don't make me cry ever again. 

The show has some downs. A few cliches here and there at parts where I wasn't supposed to laugh made me laugh, as well as the sad attempts from Japanese voice actors singing in engrish made me chuckle a good bit. However, cuddled with a memorable narrative, realistic characters, and an amazing, impacting soundtrack easily lets me recommend this to anyone wanting a story with heart.

"Crying like a baby" out of 10.

As for my other portion of the week, I watched more Dagashi Kashi finally. It seems to release in two week intervals? Wtf. Sorta lame, but I already caught up on most of the manga so whatever. Sad part is that I can't read past chapter 35 cuz this shit is licensed. Lame.

I also watched How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend. It's entertaining. Really clever starting out the season with some fourth-wall breaking fan service; these kind of jokes pop up through out the season. The tropes are a strong point. It's about a guy having a visual novel event unfold before him in real life, and now he wants to make a game about it. Some really good waifus here, you should give it a three episode run and see for yourself.

Other than that, my week has been filled with homework and work. Nothing too exciting right now, other than filling my free time with Street Fighter V and ErgoProxy. I'll probs review ErgoProxy next. I preordered Disgaea on PC, and bought some DLC for Pillars of Eternity. Spent wayy too much money on that, but whatever. Should be good. I wanted to do an LP on Danganronpa, but the visual novel style might be too much for me to stay enthusiastic about. Anywho, let's rap this up. 

Goals: 

*Finished Your Lie in April

(x)Did not renew my drivers license on account of it going to expire in 2 years. wtf DPS.

*Finished next lesson's quiz

(x)Did not get to do a Let's Play this week; botched a recording session by recording in the wrong format :( Oh well, at least I learned. 

*Made a post, got in contact with a few people. 

(x)Did not go out for a run, I am simply lazy. Also really busy :(
*But hey! Apparently I'm eating healthier since I lost 16 pounds. Like what the fuck, that's not even healthy. I'll check again. OH I also bought a scale so booyah. 

(x)Did not apply for University of Virginia on account of needing some academic reccomendations- Actually, just did some snooping and I am not even close to finishing. Shit.

Next week(?): 

*Apply for University of Texas

*Release another Let's Play
*Do some marketing

*Look into some colleges
*Lose two pounds
*Go for a two runs

*Finish next quiz
*Watch some ErgoProxy

*Work through some of Yakuza 5
*Work on making english lyrics for Kirameki

And that's it. I won't be posting next week, SO DON'T LOOK FOR ME

I'm really disappointed with all the X's of last week, but I'll make up for it with a sterling next week performance. Alright homies, stay real. B-rye out.

As always, with much love.