Thanks to Anaru’s weird eyelashes, everyone was able to stop crying and picked themselves up.

Anaru: Oh, I just realized something.

Yukiatsu: Yeah, we’re calling each other by nickname again.

Tsuruko: Sure.

Again they laugh at each other. Then, Jintan begins his story.

Jintan: Just as Yukiatsu said.

Yukiatsu: Yes?

Jintan: I may have been happy that I could only see Menma.

Yukiatsu: Jintan…

Jintan: But, Menma wasn’t.

Anaru: What do you mean?

Jintan: To tell the truth, I wanted her not to leave myself. But, her thought was different. She said she wanted to talk to everyone again, not only me, so she had to leave so that she could get reincarnated in order to talk to us again.

His story is so heartbreaking for all.

Yukiatsu: Let’s make sure her wish comes true! With Menma and using her diary, let’s try it again!

Anaru: You’re telling me! Without Menma, our discussion won’t help anything! Because…

Tsuruko: Because, with all six of us, we are the Super Peace Busters, right?

Poppo: You’ve got it!

Anaru: Hey, that’s what I just wanted to say!

Then Yukiatsu walks up to Jintan and hugs his shoulders.

Jintan: W… what?

Yukiatsu: We’re counting on you, our captain!

He’s finally admitted Jintan being their leader again and everyone smiles at Jintan.

Jintan: Su… sure! I’ll take her soon! You guys are waiting at the nest, OK?

He hurries to his house.

Jintan: ( Listen Menma, it took a very, very long time but we’re finally getting to move ahead. We’ll make sure your wish comes true, then we shall be proud to send you off this time… )

He runs into the living room.

Jintan: Menma!

But what he found there is Menma lying on the floor weakly.

Menma: Welcome… back…

Jintan: Men… ma?

( to be continued )

At Jintan’s home, Menma is by herself in the living room.

Menma: Ready or not? I’m not yet…

She’s mumbling some phrases kids use during playing hide and seek in Japan.

Then Jintan’s father comes home getting into the living room.

Atsushi(Jintan’s father): I’m home! Sorry, I’m a bit late! Oh, Jinta’s not here?

Since the light is on, he thought Jintan was supposed to be at home – Of course he can’t see Menma.

Atsushi: Hmm… he’s still working? He may have forgotten to turn the lights off.

Menma: Ah, Jintan’s Dad…

He goes to the next room sitting in front of the house altar and begins talking to his wife’s picture.

Atsushi: I’m back now, Toko(his wife’s name). Today I just saw Jinta getting together with his friends of the Super Peace Busters. He’s getting more outgoing recently, you know? Now, I’m taking a bath.

He leaves the room. Menma starts mumbling a song again.

Menma: Wanna know what Jintan’s up to these days…

In the meantime, Jintan and others are still at the shrine and some of them are still crying. Then suddenly,

Anaru: I’ll give her my apology!

Others: What?

Anaru: I won’t care about Jintan any more! I need to apologize to Menma first, then…

But Jintan notices something strange with her.

Jintan: Wait, Anaru…

Anaru: What’s the matter!

Jintan: Well… you’ve got your eyelashes double…

Anaru: Oh, jeez! These fake eyelashes…!

She’s been crying so hard her fake eyelashes are almost coming off from her eyes. She looks so weird Yukiatsu who was just crying can’t help giggling now.

Anaru: Hey, Yukiatsu!

Tsuruko: Actually, I’ve been wondering you look different with your eyes than before, Anaru.

Anaru: Don’t say that, Tsuruko!

Poppo: I don’t think you need such a volume of hair, Anaru.

Yukiatsu: You look all right just as you are, Anaru.

Anaru: Oh, thanks guys! But don’t call me Anaru!

She’s being pretty upset, though no one is crying any more.

( to be continued )

Tsuruko is going on her confession.

Tsuruko: You’ve been the best support for Yukiatsu now and then. I really hated it, so, on that day, I told on Menma that you and Yukiatsu were planning to make sure how Jintan thought of her in front of us!

She finally gives away a secret between she and Menma, which is quite a surprise to the others.

Jintan: She did knew about that?!

Yukiatsu: Then, how come she didn’t say anything?!

Tsuruko: She just said…

She’s thinking back on that old day.

**********

Little Menma: Hmm… What should I do?

Little Tsuruko: Are you kidding?! You know, he and she did called Jintan to come, too, even though you’d asked us to keep it from him as secret! They’re so mean! Let’s go and tell them off!

Little Menma: But I love all of us, not only Jintan…

She answers Tusurko making a bit confused smile on her face.

**********

Back to now.

Tusurko: Then, I got to understand I’d never win her, after all… It took a long, very long time until I got to be the best support for Yukiatsu, which I was just feeling happy about… However he’s still got someone in his side…

Yukiatsu: Oh, Tsuruko…

Tsuruko: With sending Menma back, Jintan starting to see you, then I thought I could be again… I’m so mean…

Yukiatsu: I guess it’s been impossible for us all along that we let her go and rest in peace having such a feeling.

Poppo: What’s wrong with that…

He’s been in quiet but suddenly opens his mouth.

Yukiatsu: What…?

Poppo: Whatever feelings you’ve got, it won’t be as bad as doing nothing!

He speaks loudly not as his usual.

Anaru: What’s up, Poppo?

Poppo: I must make her wish come true, must send her back rest in peace, otherwise she will… never forgive me!!

He stands up and starts crying.

Jintan: Poppo…

Poppo: On that day, I was actually seeing her drowning… (in the river)

They all get surprised since it’s the first time they’ve heard about it from Poppo.

Poppo: I was so scared I wanted to escape from this place, but I couldn’t. Strangely, I kept coming back here and even started to live in our nest! I thought if I go to far places, different countries without going high school, I could be changed! But, I ended up coming back to our nest each time… So…

He’s broken down to the ground wailing.

Poppo: Please you guys let Menma go back rest in peace! I know I’m being so selfish! We may not be able to help her go rest in peace with such feelings, however I can never forget the moment that Menma was drowning and being flowed away!

With his all confession, all of them can’t help feel very sorry. Two girls starts crying again and even Yukiatsu can’t stop shedding his tears.

Jintan: ( Now, it wasn’t only me, but all of us who brought each own interest in sending Menma back. We weren’t being honest to her wish… So sorry, Menma… )

( to be continued )

(photo credit goes to Mikatan’s excellent blog)

I passed over this Menma when Mikatan first previewed her, partially because I’m not too fond of most swimsuit clad girls. I’m more into ribbons, dress ruffles, and layered clothing.

Taking a second look at her the other day though, and comparing her to other Menma figures; I felt like Max Factory’s really stood out (along with Alter’s, which I’ll fangirl about tomorrow).

Random Reasons for Purchase:

• The knees and forehead on Sentinel’s Menma don’t appeal to me.
• The face on Kotobukiya’s Menma looks weird to me.
• The light blue nail polish on her toes.
• The cute innertube, decorated with the sayings from Jinta’s various shirts.

Jintan arrives at the shrine in a few minutes, where he finds all guys are already there in the midnight.

Jintan: Oh, what’s this all about…?

Yukiatsu: Menma didn’t leave. What do you think of it?

Jintan: Well…

Suddenly Tsuruko opens her mouth.

Tsuruko: Her wish may not have been about the rocket?

Anaru: That’s not right. The reason why Menma didn’t leave was never because of our mistaking her wish for something else.

Jintan: Oh, yes?

She’s talking on, looking so sad.

Anaru: Listen guys, were you thinking about Menma seriously at that time? Did you really hope her wish would come true? For me, I actually didn’t. I just cared about myself! I didn’t like seeing Jintan pursuing Menma any longer, so I wanted her to just leave, not for her wish but for my own sake… The god must have known that, so…

She covers her face with hands.

Yukiatsu: That makes two of us. You know, I love Menma. No matter how long time has passed since then, to my own surprise I still love her as much as I used to!

Tsuruko is a bit shocked at his confession.

Yukiatsu: So, I couldn’t stand for the situation that only Yadomi was able to see Menma…

At the same time, Menma wakes up in the living room.

Menma: Where’s Jintan…?

She tries to stand up putting her right arm on the table but it doesn’t hold enough strength to support herself any more. She realizes she’s almost losing the energy for existing this world.

**********

Back to the shrine, Yukiatsu is going on his confession.

Yukiatsu: I couldn’t accept that Menma owned only by Yadomi! So, I thought I might as well get rid of Menma by making her wish come true!

Tsuruko: That’s bullshit!

Yukiatsu: I know I am!

Anaru: But you, too, Tsuruko!

Tsuruko: Huh?

Anaru: It’s time you got more honest to yourself! You must have got something to talk to Yukiatsu, right?!

Tsuruko suddenly runs up to Anaru. They’re about to fight.

Jintan: Oh, slow down!

Yukiatsu: Hey, Tsurumi?!

Tsuruko: Both you and Yukiatsu were up to making sure how Jintan thought of Menma on that day, and you both just did the same thing the other day!

Jintan: Gosh…

Anaru: You right! I really know I’ve just been jealous of Menma all along, but that makes two of us!

Tsuruko: I’m not the same!

Anaru: Yes, you are! You just wanted Menma to go away because you love Yukiatsu and you’re jealous of Menma!

Yukiatsu: Talking about what?

To hear that, Yukiatsu gets a bit confused.

Tsuruko: I’m saying I’m not!

She pushes Anaru away.

Tsuruko: I’ve never gotten jealous of her since… I understood I couldn’t win her any way!

Anaru: What do you mean?

Tsuruko: I’m different from you. I wouldn’t dream of anything not likely to happen! As I said to you before, even if Menma went away, it’s you who would take over her place! And it’s also you, Anaru who I’ve been jealous of since we were little! I’ve just been content with being as substitution of you…

She goes on crying.

( to be continued )

In MAL, this translates to “this anime is amazing 10/10 roflmao~”

By the time this post is published, I will be boarding the plane to Chicago via Narita Airport. Plane trips are tiring so I’m not going to get sleep. And if I do sleep, I assume I will still have nightmares over the Shinning Terribad posts scheduled for this week. These 10/10 reviews are so awful it must be seen.

Since all of these animes share a rating of 10/10 and are terirbad, expect concussions.

#1: Honma, Meiko death to emotional

Username: chojidog
Subject: AnoHana
Episodes seen: 11 of 11 episodes seen
Found on: MyAnimeList

ok

If a review starts with the word, “Ok”, hide.

Ano Hi no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai is one of the best animes i watched i really enjoy it because it uplifting what true friendships should be like.

i finding this sentence to actually be two sentences.also he writes like this and only capitalizes the title.ill explain why its capitalized later.anyway this annoys me.

“AnoHana is one of the best anime I’ve ever watched. I really enjoyed it because it’s uplifting and it shows what true friendships should be like.”

the story is about a group of childhood friends that was once close but after one of their friend death the group members when their different ways.

This review deaths me. Went is he going to actually use proper grammar?

Before I talk about the following sentences, I have watched this show. The following “paragraph” is so confusing it took me a while to get what he is saying. As someone who has read the worst passages in review history, I can safely say this is one of worse ones:

ten years has passed and the spirit of the death friend named Honma, Meiko came back to one of her friend house but she dont remember why she here so Yadomi, Jinta is the only one who can see her so he vow to help find out why she here and while helping Meiko he slowly get all their old childhood friends back together to help grant Honma Meiko wish to come true so she can rest in peace.

Those strange commas come from MyAnimeList’s character list. Yes, the reviewer copied the names and forgot to take out the commas. Because I use proper grammar, I had a tough time reading. Even if I ignore the grammar mistakes and run-on sentences, the commas are so distracting it made the writing unbearable. Content is digested at a snail’s pace.

I can’t believe what I was reading. You have to be so stupid to do this.

“Ten years has passed when all of a sudden, Honma Meiko has returned as a ghost and she has no idea why she’s back. Yadomi Jinta is the only one who can see her and vows to help her while he tries to be friends with his old buddies again.”

i cry so much because it to emotional but it great

i sniffle this great sentence.

Suggested Improvements:

• Never start with the word, “Ok.” It’s not okay.
• If you copy stuff from MAL, at least know what the hell you’re copying.
• Go to school.

#2: The relevance of the story in our life

Username: dai-iane-otaku
Subject: Angel Beats!
Episodes seen: 13 of 13 episodes seen
Found on: MyAnimeList

It was a great anime.

Never start with a conclusive statement like that as an intro; it makes your reader quickly uninterested. It’s like saying the punchline before the joke even starts.

The relevance of the story in our life is really amazing.

OH BOY WE GOT A PHILOSOPHER

While Watching it!! I really cried a lot! I don’t know why? but I felt the sadness inside the story..

Grammar raped = graped. I’m eating grapes right now.

The last sentence (?) does not even end in an ellipsis — just two random periods.

and I do re-watch it again T.T

I don’t understand why this sentence exists ;_;

The songs was awesome.

“were”. Also, “songs” should be replaced with “insert songs” or if you include the OP/ED, “music”.

How can this short review fail so much?

*PERSONAL IMPLICATION*

What.

*WHAT A HEADER*

I realized that all of us have only one life.

Holy shit, she’s right! How can we not figure this one out? She’s the Immanuel Kant of the 21st century!

It is still worth it whatever things you faced in the past.

This sentence is so confusing and nonsensical it must be a complex sentence with complex ideas.

Our life is something that nobody can have, our own experiences, memories, and people we met is irreplaceable no one can erase them in us;

Jun Maeda, hire this reviewer as your writer! SubaHibi and Forest will lose to this philosopher.

no none can get it because it is the best gift we ever had.

Yes, no none will replace your philosophical, complex writing.

When I am watching this anime, I can’t stop crying, I can’t stop thinking how precious my life is it.

Let us ignore the fact that it’s supposed to be past tense and that a semicolon should replace the second comma: it is a work of art — no, this is philosophy! … At its finest! This intentional grape is telling us how important life is. To rectify a simple mistake that may confuse people is a demonic mistake.

Let her enlighten us with more messages like the following sentence:

I just need to accept everything that happens.

She has accepted the determinist philosophy! This comes out from nowhere! It’s as poignant as a wise saying from a fortune cookie. Mind I remind you that she is writing a philosophy derived from complete nonsense? If one reads her philosophy again, one will remark that these sentences mean nothing. They are, as one may call it, ‘fluff’. Useless fluff. Isn’t that what the whole branch of metaphysics is about?

Oh, let me read your last sentence. How does it end — oh, how does it end?

I hope that Angel Beats will have its new season.

Applaud! Applaud!

Suggested Improvements:

• Fuse your “personal implication” into your review. That’s how you write a review.
• Don’t try to write about existentialist philosophy on Angel Beats! if you have not read any prominent existentialist philosophers’ writing. It makes you look baka~

#3: ***

Username: yujizzsakai
Subject: Angel Beats!
Episodes seen: 12 of 12 episodes seen
Found on: MyAnimeList

Other Notes: I love the username. Saying it aloud is like a lovely song by Choro Club’s.

dont listen to what the others are saying they dont know what the *** their talking about this anime is

*** yes, especially this reviewer. Not even a single description of the anime, just recommendations.

amazing and wonderful im an anime fan and never going to disrespect it.

*** is this ***

this anime is perfect for ecchi/romance drama lover’s
perfect anime if ur going to get into watching anime

The ***? You made a *** paradox. What you stated is simply this: newbies are ecchi/romance drama lovers. This is because you separated into two *** sentences and it didn’t help that you write the *** word, “perfect”. *** terrible writing.

This short review is ***.

Suggested Improvements:

• *** this. I have no suggestions.

#4 and #5: Petition This: Double Feature

Username: ilovehetalia
Subject: Rosario + Vampire and Rosario + Vampire Capu2
Episodes seen: 13 of 13 episodes seen (both)
Found on: MyAnimeList

Other Notes: These two reviews are so similar we might as well talk about it both.

Rosario + Vampire

This is my favorite anime i love it sooo much!

Yay, nobody cares~

If you are also a fan of this anime you will know that there are only two seasons. I want a third season!

Main content of review. Seriously.

If you also want a third season, go to this website to sign a petition for Capu3!

What.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/rosario-vampire-capu3.html

Amazing review. Its sequel better raise the stakes.

Rosario + Vampire Capu2

This was the best season of the series!

I call for the season of Winter to pour down some snow onto this reviewer.

I love this anime it is my favorite!

Because this matters.

I want there to be a Capu3! If you also want Capu3 then sign this petition for Capu3!

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/rosario-vampire-capu3.html

Please make this reviewer’s dream come true.

Suggested Improvements:

• Petitions go to a forum.

#6: This review is special.

Username: Dylan-kun
Subject: Clannad: After Story
Episodes seen: 24 of 24 episodes seen
Found on: MyAnimeList

Other Notes: I have not watched the Clannad series because people keep telling me to. It’s annoying. I intentionally chose an After Story review to make my point.

This anime doesn’t even need a review.

So true.

All I can say about this anime is I don’t understand how anyone can give it less than a 10.

All I can say about this review is that I don’t understand how three other people besides himself voted this review helpful.

It is so perfect in every way.

This non-existant review ignores explanations like a boss.

Clannad changed my life and how I saw people.

It blinded you? Oh dear.

I could list millions of amazing things about this anime but I don’t have to.

Thank goodness, I wouldn’t want to read that!

Clannad speaks vibrantly for itself and needs no help in doing so.

Unlike this review~

Clannad is the greatest masterpiece that I have ever had the privilege to behold.

So there are other masterpieces?

Notice how he doesn’t use After Story, the sequel. The word, “Clannad”, is used to refer the first season of the show. This is confusing because it can be interpreted as:

a) the first season
b) second season
c) the visual novel
d) both seasons
e) both seasons and the visual novel

I think he’s referring it to the second season, but who the hell knows.

It takes you to the edge and back

What a terrible driver.

No disappointments.

This review disappoints me though.

Even its OVA takes the viewer on a wonderful journey of “what-ifs”.

What if Nagisa lives, sees this review, and dies in utter shock from this terribad review?

… I hate Clannad fans for ruining the end. I have not watched this show because of people like him~

Clannad is nothing short of perfection.

Suggested Improvements:

• Explain everything you like. Seriously.
• Reading shallow reviews like this is not fun for me.
• Except for people who enjoy reading this sadomasochistic activity of mine.

#7: Moe

Username: Yellowknife
Subject: K-On!
Episodes seen: 24 of 24 episodes seen
Found on: MyAnimeList

This show is so Moe,

Oh dear, we have a Weeaboo capitalizer.

one can relate to most of the characters,

An independent clause needs a sentence.

Simple story the songs are pretty good too.

The three quotes so far form the first sentence of this review. And this fragment is broken English as well.

This is sad.

Makes me regret not joining a band in High School.

Capitalizing high school –

Suggested Improvements:

• Don’t Capitalize Random Shit

#8: most disgtingly beatiful story

Username: Benniman
Subject: Clannad: After Story
Episodes seen: 23 of 24 episodes seen
Found on: MyAnimeList

They say not to write spoilers in a review, so I will not.

I KNOW YOU WANT TO SAY, “NAGISA DIES”
SO I DID IT FOR YOU
GARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Clannad, Afterstory, or the previous series…

… I don’t understand this sentence. And “Afterstory” is not a word.

I can’t understand anyone not having emotions watching this, it toys with your heart…

Isaac Amisov, meet your maker. According to the review: before watching After Story, we had no emotions; after watching it, we have developed emotions. Yet, it — referring to After Story, I assume — toys with our newly formed heart. Amazing.

This sentence makes no sense.

I did not love this story, I cried most of the time.

A 10/10 rating sounds reasonable.

It touched me.

After Story is a pedophile. Please arrest it.

It is the most disgtingly beatiful story I have ever seen.

What a disgustingly beautiful sentence.

I had my first daughter adopted since I could not take care of her, this story tore me apart limb to limb.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is the sentence fixed in proper grammar:

“My first daughter is adopted. However, since I could not take care of her, this story tore me apart limb to limb.”

Higurashi might be less gorier than this.

A must watch….if i go any more in detail i will give spoilers.

NAGISA DIES

PLEASE WATCH THIS STORY!, Cry, scream,

Cry, scream: reasonable forms of expression against this bloody stupid sentence.

Mock this story and i will be in your face…

Reading this sentence makes me horny. In fact, it made me remember this CG from Ougon Musou Kyoku Cross:

It really does fit the sentence, desho?

don’t have anything nice to say then shut up.

Hello reviewer, my name is Trollkastel, intellectual rapist.

This is my message in a bottle:

“Fuck Clannad fanboys; fuck After Story fangirls; fuck every type of fanboys and fangirls out there in the world. You are all horrible people, destroying every fun normal human beings can have in a work. I can’t watch a work without recalling your obnoxious smiles and memes.

Except me. I can control myself.

The difference between me and you is simple: I don’t force people to watch my favorite works. I simply recommend them when the time feels right. Fans who try to recommend people an anime tend to fail because they are too forceful. Nobody likes opinions shoved down their throats. Aren’t adverts annoying?

So to these people who still do this:

Why don’t you just give up and die already?

Simply by placing Umineko trollface pictures, this level of trolling is reasonable for Trollkastel.

What do you think of this, everyone?”

Suggested Improvements:

• I, Trollkastel, have duct tape!
• Let me duct tape you to your seat!
• Never review ever again!
• ahaha.wav

The original title is “Ano Natsu Ni Saku Hana”.

Jintan: ( Menma wasn’t gone, even though the rocket had been shot… )

All of them never expected it’d happen, however Satoshi who still doesn’t know Menma has been back to them is really moved by the rocket.

Satoshi: Thank you for inviting me to here. It was so great.

Jintan: Ah, you’re welcome.

Satoshi: And, thanks a lot for everything you’ve done for my sister, too.

Menma: Oh, Sa-Kun…

She’s really moved by his brother’s words, while Jintan and others are feeling a bit awkward. Ironically, it’s none of them but only Satoshi who really thought much of Menma from the bottom of his heart.

Then, a car horn sounds from somewhere. Satoshi turns around and gets happy to see his parents waiting for him in the car pulled over.

Satoshi: Oh! Well, I’ve got to go…

Jintan: All right. See you next time.

He runs off to the car and talks to his parents.

Satoshi: I didn’t expect you’d come to pick me up!

Not only Satoshi, but also Menma didn’t expect their parents would come to see the rocket. Her mother, Irene, bows to them making a smile on her face.

Menma: Daddy, Ma’am…

Looking at her parents and brother being tied, now she’s got sure her family should be doing great in the future.

Yukiatsu: Now, should we be off, too?

Jintan: All right.

But the words Satoshi said to them “For Menma” remains long in his mind.

Eventually each of them gets back their own home. Now Jintan and Menma are relaxed in the living room as usual.

Menma: It was a shame, wasn’t it? Maybe there was another wish I had.

Jintan: Yeah…

While Menma looks as lively as usual, Jintan looks pretty opposite to her.

Menma: But I’m a bit glad to be able to continue watching a TV show called Dodo-Suko again! I’ve been into it these days! Do you know Dodo-Suko, Jintan?

By the way, I guess the Dodo-Suko is a kind of performance done by a comedian named Tanoshingo at the time.

But Jintan is thinking to himself about the reason why Menma wasn’t gone.

Jintan: ( Not just because we took her wish wrong, it may be… )

After taking a bath Jintan gets back to the living room, where he finds Menma nodding off at the table.

Jintan: Hey, you should go and sleep upstairs.

But Menma is too sleepy to answer him. Suddenly, his cellphone starts to ring.

Jintan: Hello. Oh, Yukiatsu. Yeah, Menma? She’s sleeping there.

Yukiatsu: OK. Can you come here right away without being noticed by her?

Jintan: Hmm…?

( to be continued )

When it’s getting dark, the rocket has been finally completed. The last step left is carrying it up to Yagura (= a launching pad). They all take up the rocket on their shoulders and walk up the slope slowly with each determination in their mind.

Anaru: ( It should be the best way for us to go… )

She takes a glance at Tsuruko, who pretends not to see Anaru.

Tsuruko: ( Our interests pretty goes with Menma’s wish, after all. )

Poppo: ( I’ll send her back and rest in peace by all means…! )

Jintan: ( But… I could hold her back in time… )

Menma is walking first cheerfully.

Yukiatsu: Hey, Yadomi. It should make her so glad, shouldn’t it?

Jintan: Um, yes…

Yukiatsu: ( I’ll never let you hold her back…! )

He knows Jintan is still in two minds about Menma. He gives pressure Jintan so that he wouldn’t do that.

They’ve completed the rocket for Menma after such a long time and hard work, and now they seem to get strongly united, however their each thought may not be as pure as it’s supposed to be for this moment.

Eventually they’ve reached the launching pad. As he’s running out of time, Jintan is torn between two choices more and more – Sending back Menma to rest in peace or holding her back in this world.

Jintan: ( I could still make it in time for now, but… )

He’s reminded of what Menma said to him last night – She wanted to rest in peace again. He’s supposed to make her wish come true, not his own one.

Poppo and Satoshi crime up on the top of the launching pad, where they’re pulling rope fixed to the rocket so that it gets to stand straight in the launching pad.

Menma: Sa-Kun, you’ve got great strength!

She’s proud to look up her brother working with Poppo from the ground. On the other hand, Jintan and Yukiatsu is helping the rocket stand up below the launching pad.

Yukiatsu: Are you all right, Yadomi?

But Jintan doesn’t answer anything.

In the end the rocket is set right in Yagura. Now all they have to do is just lighting the fuse.

Yukiatsu: Now, it’s time to shot.

Yamasan: You’ve done good job!

Poppo: Um, haven’t you guys left anything to say to her?

Yukiatsu: Here’s her brother, too, you know…

Poppo: Oh, I’ve got it. Even if there’s no reply…

He suddenly shouts into the air to give his last message Menma.

Poppo: AHHH!! It’s been the greatest time! Thanks a lot for everything!

Satoshi: What’s that?

While her brother is a bit surprised at Poppo, Menma is pretty moved by his message.

Jintan: Hey! It’s your turn, Jintan!

Jintan: Oh…

He and Menma looks at each other for a few moments, but he doesn’t think of anything to say to her. Menma understands his this feeling and just smiles at him.

Yamasan: Let’s get it started now. It might bother everyone in the neighborhood if it got too late at night.

Jintan: Ah, well, I see..

Poppo: Jintan…?

He feels somewhat strange about Jintan, while Yukiatsu seems to know why Jintan is being in that way now.

All of them are staying away from the launching pad and standing in a line looking up at the rocket. Only Yamasan has been left near the rocket to light the fuse. But even at the very last moment, Jintan is still in two minds.

Jintan: ( What should I do! I… I could make it in time… I could…! )

With her eyes closed, Menma looks like she’s praying quietly.

And… just as Yamasan lights the fuse, Jintan finally shouts!

Jintan: W… Wait…!

But it was too late. The fire runs up through the fuse at horrible speed, and the next moment the rocket starts to soar up into the sky.

Jintan: Oh, it’s… gone up…

The rocket soars up very, very high. Everyone is just watching it going up. There has  actually been Menma’s parents a bit away from there and they’re also watching it in the car.

The rocket explodes at the highest point and scatters various colors of smoke in the sky that looks like a very beautiful flower. However it’s too painful for Jintan to look at it. But suddenly…

Menma: Awesome! A big bloom in the sky!

As Jintan turns around, Menma is still standing there.

Jintan: H… Hey?

Because he looks so surprised at something the others wonders why.

Menma: Oh… Hmm…?

Even Menma doesn’t know why she hasn’t left this world yet. With their expectation before, she should have gone away right after the rocket being launched.

Jintan: Men…ma?

Yukiatsu: Hey, she’s still… she’s still there?!

Satoshi: What did he say?!

While Yukiatsu keeps asking him harshly, Jintan is just apologizing to Menma in his mind.

Jintan: ( Sorry, Menma but… I actually got relieved seeing you still there, not going off… )

Menma: Oops!

She seems to be feeling a bit awkward about still remaining there.

The day has come. In the early morning, Jintan is watching Menma still sleeping in the bed. He remembers that Menma said she had to go back and rest in peace so that she could talk to all her friends again by reincarnation.

Jintan: Aren’t you satisfied with only me…?

He strokes her head gently, then stands up and leaves the room.

Meanwhile Menma is dreaming about Jintan’s mother, who’s lying on the hospital bed.

Toko(Jintan’s mother): Do you know what’s reincarnation, Menma?

Menma: Reincarnation?

Toko. Yes. Even if people die, after then they could be born again as a new baby, though it could be a baby of cats or even flowers, not of men. So, you don’t need to worry about me at all.

She’s telling her story so that Menma won’t be worried about her health too much.

Menma: That sounds great!

Toko: But, there’s only one thing… only… one thing…

When it comes here, Menma wakes up. She finds her hands getting even more transparent than before, which means she’s running out of her time gradually.

Menma: Please, please wait a bit longer, Jintan’s mom. My friends are getting the rocket ready for me, so please…

After a few hours later, Menma, Jintan and others are gathered at the launching place at the foot of a mountain. But only Tsuruko hasn’t come yet. Yamasan the pyrotechnist calls to them.

Yamasan: First, we begin with attaching a gimmick(He calls it Syoimono in the show) on it.

Poppo and Menma: Yes, sir!

They get to each work. Jintan and Anaru is working together. She looks into his face and finds him not very happy as he’s supposed to be, even though the day’s finally come, which he’s been working his butt off for. She’s a bit anxious about him. On the other hand, Menma is also standing by them. Not like Jintan, she looks pretty enjoying this time. Jintan takes a glance at Menma and she smiles back at him.

Jintan: ( Oh, Menma… )

Eventually Tsuruko shows up there.

Tsusurko: Sorry I’m late!

She runs up to their place but they notice that she looks quite different from yesterday.

Poppo: That’s…?

Yukiatsu: …Tsurumi?

She’s had her hair cut very short.

Menma: So sweet! She looks like when she was little!

Tsuruko joins to Jintan’s team.

Anaru: What is that all about?

She asks about her short hair.

Tsuruko: It’s just a change of mood…

She gives a big sigh after a few moment.

Tsuruko: It’s a lie.

Anaru: I knew it.

Another couple of hours has passed. Their work is getting closer to finish. Menma is now playing with an umbrella in her hands, though Jintan still looks a bit gloomy.

Poppo: Jintan, can you hold up that?

Jintan: Ah, sure. Is it all right?

Poppo: OK. 1… 2… 3… Here we go!

When they hold up the body of the rocket to carry, someone walks up to them.

Satoshi: Hello.

Jintan: Gosh! I never expected you’d come see us!

Among of all, Menma is the most surprised to see him there. The next moment she runs up to her brother and hugs him tight.

Satoshi: Is this…?

Jintan: W… What’s the matter?

Satoshi doesn’t know about Menma being back to them.

Satoshi: I just smell something I used to know…

He can’t see or hear Menma, but somehow he can just sense her smell.

Menma: Is it you who invited Sa-Kun for me, Jintan?

Jintan: Ah, yeah.

She looks very happy, hugging and pressing her cheek against Satoshi adorably.

Menma: Thank you so much, Jintan…

Poppo: What’s going on, Jintan?

Jintan: Um, it’s all right…

Despite the moving reunion, it certainly makes Jintan feel even stronger that they’re heading toward the finale.

( to be continue )

Jintan and Menma are also heading back for their place. Walking on the street side by side, Jintan is thinking of Poppo’s apology to him when he left the hut.

Poppo: I’m really sorry about provoking you like that, Jintan. But I just felt at that moment as if we could retrieve everything in the past.

Jintan: ( Retrieve everything… )

Suddenly Menma looks into his face and asks him.

Menma: Hey, was that true?

Jintan: Oh, well, of course yes…

She looks so happy with his answer she even starts dancing on the curb.

Menma: I like Jintan very much, too!

Jintan: I… I mean I like you not just as a kind of friendship, you know?

Menma: Sure I know. You love me so much you want to marry me, right?

She’s a bit too straightforwards to make Jintan feel embarrassing. She’s suddenly off the curb and links her arms with him.

Menma: If I had grown up in order just like now, do you think we’d have become a couple?

Jintan looks down on the street, where he can’t find her shadow at their feet.

Jintan: Even if it wasn’t normal…

Menma: What?

Jintan: You could stay here even without going back and rest in peace…

Menma: Jintan…

Jintan: ( I finally said it to her… )

He regrets telling her about his real mind. Menma is a bit surprised for a while, then she runs a bit forward on the street and turns around to him.

Menma: I’m going back and rest in peace. Otherwise, I’ll never be able to get reincarnated, and never be able to talk to my friends again, too!

The word “reincarnation” makes Jintan think deeply.

Menma: Oh, but I’d rather not become a worm! He can’t speak!

Jintan: ( To be able to talk to her friends, again… )

Meanwhile Yukiatsu has been back home, too. In his room, he takes a wig out of the closet that he used to use to change himself looked like Menma. He talks to the wig in his arms as if he was stroking Menma’s head.

Yukiatsu: Hey, Menma. What did you answer Jintan when he said he loved you? Oh, wait…

He’s reminded of a couple of happenings today.

Yukiatsu: I already know your answer, pretty easy to guess, right?

Since this moment, his mindset toward Menma is getting different than before.

Yukiatsu: Well, enough. Everything has done. Why don’t you go back and rest in peace, Menma?

He’s desired to meet Menma again for all his life, however now facing to the fact he could never win her love, he’s decided to send her back to the world of the dead and never let Jintan be along with Menma any longer.

( to be continued )

Eventually the party was over. Tsuruko and Anaru are on their way home together but Anaru is crying so hard.

Tsuruko: Stop crying! You’d look like a fool.

Anaru: Fine! I know I am!

She wouldn’t stop crying.

Tsuruko: Yukiatsu put that idea into your head, didn’t he?

———-

It was a few hours ago when Yukiatsu and Anaru are coming up to the hut in the woods.

Anaru: Hey, on second thought, is that really necessary for us? I think we’ve already had a clear answer to “that day”.

Yukiatsu: Even after Menma passing away, and not knowing which way to go, are you really content with yourself still being beaten by Menma who no longer exists?

Then Anaru was convinced to help Yukiatsu do re-playing the same situation on that old day.

———-

Back to now, Anaru is still crying.

Anaru: Tsuruko, you’ll never know how sad you’d feel like if you loved a guy so much but he didn’t see you forever!

Tsuruko: I actually know!

She answers her in a bit upset.

Tsuruko: Because I love Yukiatsu.

Anaru is surprised at her words and stops crying. Tsuruko goes on her story looking up at the night sky.

Tsuruko: I know Yukiatsu has been chasing Menma all along that I’ve been watching…

Anaru: Tsuruko…

Tsuruko: Who knows it’ll continue forever? If Menma goes back again, then Yadomi might…

Anaru: Oh, no!

Tsuruko: However even after Menma going back again, I’m sure it will never happen that Yukiatsu choses me. It’s you, Anjo that he’d take instead of me.

To hear it, Anaru runs up to Tsuruko and starts opposing hard.

Anaru: Don’t tell me! He’s never been dreaming of me as an alternative to Menma! And of course I won’t go out with Yukiatsu no matter how lonely I get feeling! I love Jintan, no one else!

She starts crying hard again. Tsuruko looks at her for a while.

Tsuruko: You’re right. There’s no alternative for anyone. So we need to send Menma back, again.

She shows her strong decision to Anaru.

( to be continued )

It’s getting to the middle of the party.

Poppo: Menma, do you wanna try it?

He shows a bag of potato chips in his hand to Menma.

Menma: No, I don’t like such a hot one! It hurts my mouth!

Of course Poppo can’t hear what she’s saying so she writes down her ideas on the diary and shows it back to him.

Poppo: Come on, it wouldn’t taste so hot! Have a bite! Say Ahhh…

Poppo and Menma look pretty enjoying this time but others don’t very much. Suddenly Yukiatsu suggests something.

Yukiatsu: So, isn’t there any entertainment?

Jintan: Hmm?

Yukiatsu: We’ve been just eating and drinking here. If it’s a good bye party, we should do some entertainment for it, right?

Menma: Sounds great!

She’s pretty happy about his suggestion.

Poppo: But what should we do?

Yukiatsu: Well, how about replaying “that day”?

He makes an evil smile on his face.

Jintan: What…?

He can’t believe what he just said. But Yukiatsu goes on.

Yukiatsu: I mean we exactly do what happened on that day right here.

Jintan: What happened on that day…?

Tsuruko: Yukiatsu…!

Jintan gets almost furious at him for being too inconsiderate.

Jintan: Don’t be ridiculous! That won’t lead us anywhere!

Yukiatsu: Anaru!

He shouts her name that makes the rest of them look at her. She’s a bit trembling.

Anaru: Jintan…

Jintan: Don’t say!

Anaru: Jintan, you love Menma, don’t you…?

She speaks just same as she did on that day.

Jintan: You guys…!

Menma looks down at the floor in quiet.

Yukiatsu: Tell us! She’s also here, isn’t she? Then, be honest!

Jintan: Y… Yukiatsu…!

Jintan is about to break, then suddenly Poppo starts to mumble something.

Poppo: Go… go… go… go…

It’s so hard for Jintan to imagine but Poppo is actually standing on the opposite side of him. Poppo looks different than usual. Jintan can’t believe why even Poppo trying to go on this ridiculous replay.

Tsuruko: Hey, stop guys! You’re going too far!

Jintan looks at Menma and finds her really sad. He can’t stand seeing her in such mood any more. So in the end, he tells her his mind in very low voice.

Jintan: I love…

They’re all surprised at him.

Jintan: I love …Menma!!

With that, he tries to run out of the hut just like he did in the past.

Poppo: If running away now, then you’ll make the same mistake, Jintan!!

He shouts to Jintan and he stops running just out of the door. He turns around and looks at Menma and he knows some drops of tears are rolling down on her cheeks silently.

( to be continued )

Secret Base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~ (10 years after Ver.) (「Secret Base ～君がくれたもの～ (10 years after Ver.)」)
(ED song from Anohana)
Performed by: Ai Kayano, Haruka Tomatsu & Saori Hayami
Lyrics & Composition: Machida Norihiko (full lyrics)
Arrangement: Toku Sound Produced by “estlabo”

This was the 2nd cover song based on the original song with the same title by Zone. The 1st one was performed by SCANDAL as one of the ED songs for anime Kyou no Gononi.

It’s getting evening. There’s already been 3 guys, Jintan, Menma and Poppo, at the hut for Menma’s good-bye party, but the others haven’t come yet. Poppo is getting a bit impatient.

Poppo: How come they still haven’t shown up!

Menma: It’s OK. I’ll be able to see them tomorrow any way.

Jintan: Let’s get started?

Poppo: I’ll go and catch them!

Jintan: Wait, Poppo?!

Just before Poppo getting out of the room, Tsuruko comes in through the door.

Tsuruko: Hello.

Poppo: Oh, Tsuruko!

She puts down a grocery bag on the table.

Tsuruko: I’ve got some snacks here.

Poppo: I knew you’re something, Tsuruko!

Yukiatsu: And soft drinks, too.

Following after Yukiatsu, Anaru shows up, too.

Poppo: Oh, I love you, Yukiatsu!

Menma: Wow, it’s gonna be a great party!

While Poppo and Menma are getting pretty excited, strangely both Anaru and Jintan don’t look like enjoying their party very much.

Poppo: I believed you guys would come! I’m so happy now! Oh, it’s my favorite one!

He tears a bag of snack by mistake when trying to open it, and all of the contents fall down on the floor.

Jintan: We’re finally gathered…

He mumbles to himself.

Menma: What?

Jintan: Oh, nothing!

But he looks like getting anxious.

Jintan: ( I feel like as if it’s getting closer and closer to the end… )

Then, Poppo starts to give an opening speech for the party like a MC.

Poppo: Well, we and Ms. Menma founded The Super Peace Busters together and…

But Tsuruko cuts in his speech since it seemed to be going on too long.

Tsuruko: Cut that introduction.

Poppo: Oh, OK… Then, here’s today’s our guest, Ms. Menma! Come here please!

They all applaud even though they can’t see Menma herself except Jintan.

Menma: Thank you!

She stands up and shows them the messages on her diary. It reads “Thank you for all about doing for me today.”

Menma: Then…

She turns a page. It reads “I’m going back and rest in peace tomorrow.”

Reading her message, all of them can’t help feeling sad, but Menma goes on. The next page reads “I want to be a good friend to you all until the end. Please.”

Poppo: Thank you for your wonderful speech, Ms. Menma!

He finishes up her speech fighting back his tears with their big applauding.

The party seems to have started pretty well but…

( to be continued )

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai translates in English to ‘We Still Don’t Know the Name of the Flower We Saw that Day.’

So for simplicity’s sake, I’m just going to christen it Ano Hana for the rest of this review.

Ten years after a tragic accident took the life of Meiko “Menma” Honma, her five best friends have all changed and drifted apart. The leader of the “Super Peace Busters”, Jinta “Jintan” Yadomi, has now become a hikikomori, a recluse who has totally withdrawn from society. As the summer heat batters down, the ghost of his old friend appears before him, telling Jintan that she cannot pass on into heaven until she has her wish granted. The problem is, she cannot remember what it is. He attempts to write her off as a manifestation of his stress, but Menma is a very tangible ghost, able to cook, write, and beat Jintan down harder than the heat.

Having to betray his identity as a solitary recluse, Jintan rounds up the other members of the Super Peace Busters in order to help Menma and grant her wish, but as their friendship rekindles, so do feelings of guilt, bitterness, and regret, as they not only have to aid this ghost in moving on, but they have to help themselves to move on too.

Ano Hana was produced by A-1 Pictures so the animation quality is well done; the series was very pretty to look at with detailed backgrounds and crisp lines and colors. The character designs, while nothing new, were also well handled. There’s enough nuance in the way the five remaining Peace Busters wear their hair or change their clothes to make it feel very much like we’re watching real life.

One of the most critical aspects Ano Hana had to accomplish was the contrast between the flashback sequences to that fateful summer day ten years prior and the present day. The separation of past and present was very tangible and did well to establish the plot as well as invoke the carefree days of being a child against the difficulties of being an adolescent. Every character is still recognizable despite being aged down to elementary years, but you can also see how each has grown up. Good animation was also necessary because children and teenagers move differently. A-1 Pictures got the jerky fidgety aspects of being a kid down, and as a result, we can see how much these characters have changed, and that they really are not the children they used to be.

The music was always toned down and fitting. The opening sequence “Aoi Shiori” by Galileo Galilei was very simple and pretty and the animation stands out against other slice of life openings where the characters bop around high school or show off how endearingly quirky they can be; rather it’s more just like being a casual observer of everyday teenagers going about their lives. The ending sequence “Secret Base” sung by the seiyuu for the three female leads was equally pretty but a touch over used as they began playing it during the climax at the end of most of the episodes, and by the end, it lost a lot of its impact. Special care I think was taken with both the Op. and the Ed. to invoke the tone at the heart of the series.

It’s about nostalgia.

The goal is to send Menma off to heaven, but the series is really about the realities all of us have to face as adolescents that go beyond physical changes. Jintan and the rest of his friends are in the middle of a life transition — being forced into adulthood.

Our childhoods are the happiest times of our lives. Days were uncluttered by things like anxiety and negativity and as children, we are able to blisfully pass through life without any real-world concerns. For the characters of Ano Hana, childhood ended painfully early with the death of their friend, before they were fully equipped to deal with it. Each character in his or her own way feels responsible in some part for Menma’s death, despite it being an accident, and Ano Hana longs for the time when all those painful memories and emotions did not exist.

The series hits home because it’s so universal. Even if not all of us has had to deal with loss at such a young age, it deals with all the other aspects tied into this life transition. I’ve had falling outs with some best friends and lost contact with others. I wish I could slow down the clock before professional school for as long as I can because that means taking on responsibility and whole lot of work. I’m sure anybody reading this has had to deal with these pains of growing up and often look back on the old days with fondness.

Now add that to the drama that has to follow with a …well drama series, and you’re going to need a box of tissues handy every episode.

Not only is Ano Hana filled with sobering issues of grieving the death of a friend and dealing with the guilt of possibly having caused it, the futility of speaking with a ghost that nobody but Jintan can see, as well as the longing for childhood, but there’s also an awkward. love. pentagon.

There’s a long chain a feelings running through five of the six main characters (and one of them is dead) and here is where I could fault the series for being cliche. The mystery of solving Menma’s wish and dealing with her death was enough to have sustained the series short 11 episode run. The fulfillment of Menma’s wish wasn’t what I had imagined it to be; while the conclusion wasn’t bad, it didn’t really tie into the overall context of the show. The fact that their guilt and and the romance are inherently tied together but Menma’s wish is not, poses a little bit of a problem.

From a storytelling point of view, the series begins well paced and a little episodic, while still managing to carry the overarching plot along. But as it continues, it sort of meanders for a while before an anti climax the penultimate episode, and has to rush the conclusion with only one episode left to do it. Without question, the ending is good, sad, inevitable and will leave you crying along with the cast, but it does feel a touch out of place against the rest of the series, which was paced so well.

During the course of Ano Hana, Menma’s sudden appearance pulls unresolved issues back into the light and show’s the character’s struggle, but does not really resolve the issues brought up. Four of the five in the love pentagon cry about their unrequited feelings, but in that respect, the series really leaves it up in the air — which is why I questioned adding the complicated love story in the first place.

My other critique is with the characters. In addition to Jintan and Menma, “Anaru” is the tsundere who fell in with the wrong crowd, “Yukiatsu” and “Tsuruko” both attend a gifted prep school, and “Poppo” is the ever cheerful high school drop out turned world traveler.

However, Jintan is a self-pitying recluse, Yukiatsu is totally full of himself, and Anaru could have been pulled straight from Mean Girls. The accident ten years ago changed almost all of them for the worse, and while it’s realistic, it makes it difficult to get behind and feel sorry for the guy who keeps on insisting he’s the hottest, smartest guy around, and even more difficult to understand why the other one likes him so much. While the action of the series was paced relatively well, the character development was not. Some character revelations don’t occur until the very last episodes, and even those who drew most of the focus don’t really change a whole lot between the beginning and the end. We get to see which developments led them to become the way they are, but not much to suggest that with new understanding, positive change will follow.

And to get to Menma herself— I’ve heard her described as a pure moe blob, cute and crying and annoying. While I dislike the trope, I actually found her endearing and adorable, and there’s a good reason for that. In her case, the character makes sense because she’s a child ghost whose “body” has just taken an adolescent form. She’s not that way because she’s catering to some obscure male archetype of the perfect woman, but because her soul never grew up. It explains why she’s so chatty and why Jintan often finds himself so frustrated around her.

Despite that, I still rate Ano Hana as an amazing anime. Not only was it a nice break from typical slice of life storytelling, but animation, music, pacing, character design, story elements, were all so wonderful. And at the end of the day, I personally can’t fault a series for being realistic. Awkward teenage love triangles left uncertain and mental issues stemming from the loss of a best friend left relatively unresolved…? That’s real life. The series was about Menma and it ended when her wish was granted. Do I think the wish resolution was handled well…? No. But problems with the story and character aside, it still manages to pull you into the drama and it pulled a surprising emotional response out of me. Ano Hana could have been a masterpiece, but as an almost masterpiece, it’s definitely worth the watch.

((Personal Rating: 8/10))

-

Ano Hana (2011)
Genre: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Tragedy
Episodes: 11
Produced by: A-1 Pictures

A year ago…I was finishing up AnoHana (a gold mine for posts)…

…and just starting Mawaru Penguindrum (and even richer mine).

A year ago…Tommy wrote the concluding post in the Aniblogger Testimony series…

…which we wrapped up…

…and then added to with a post by Alexander.

A year ago…I profiled a Christian seiyuu.

A year ago…we started a week full of Christian OEL manga…

…interviewing Manga Hero’s publisher…

…artist…

…and one of their writers…

…before ending by reviewing one of their works.

Late afternoon, Yukiatsu and Anaru are talking at the fast food restaurant.

Anaru: I’m a bit worried what will happen to us.

Yukiatsu: You mean after launching the rocket?

Anaru: In old days, I always hoped if Menma went away somewhere. If that happened, I thought I could be the closest one to Jintan. But it turned out not to be true. After we actually lost Menma, the relationship between me and Jintan was getting weaker and weaker. After a long time, we’ve got close to each other again, though just because Menma came back to us.

Yukiatsu: Luck of us…

Anaru: Hmm…?

She just doesn’t understand what he meant to. But then, his cellphone starts ringing.

Yukiatsu: It’s from Tsurumi. Hello?

Tsuruko: Are you going to the nest tonight?

Yukiatsu: I’m not sure yet.

Tsuruko: Are you with Anjo now?

Yukiatsu: Yeah, so what?

Tsuruko: You’re a coward.

He can’t say anything back to her. To see him change his mood suddenly, Anaru asks him.

Anaru: Is it Tsuruko?

Tsuruko: You were always so eager to send Menma back to rest in peace, but at the very last moment you’ve got cold feet, right?

Yukiatsu: No, I don’t!

In fact, Tsuruko is on the street near the restaurant, where she can see the two talking inside. She might have followed after Yukiatsu after school.

Tsuruko: Funny story. Getting scared of Menma, getting away from Menma, and you ended up coming to Anjo in order to make yourself feel better “It’s not only me who feels miserable”.

Yukiatsu: Um…

She’s too precise for him to talk back anything to her.

Tsuruko: I’ve also remembered what Menma said to me on the phone. She just said “I’ve got something to ask you about Jintan”.

Yukiatsu: What?

With that, she hangs up.

Anaru: What’s the matter, Yukiatsu? What did she say?

He suddenly stands up and talks to Anaru seriously.

Yukiatsu: I’d like to ask you something. Yes, nobody else can make it but you, Anaru!

She’s got surprised by him calling her by nickname maybe after a long time.

( to be continued )

Meanwhile, Poppo has been to Jintan’s place. They’re getting ready for good-bye Menma party.

Poppo: Hey guys! Keep your hands working! You know it’s got to be the greatest party on the eve of sending Menma off tomorrow! So it needs the most gorgeous decoration, too!

Menma: I’ll make paper flowers with Kleenexes!

It seems they’re making plenty of decoration for the party tonight.

Jintan: Hey. I don’t think you’re supposed to work with us as a main guest.

He talks to Menma but she looks pretty happy about this.

Menma: But it’s really fun!

Then Poppo notices a paper flower in her hand.

Poppo: Oh, you made it really well, Menma!

She makes a sign of victory at Poppo.

Poppo: And you, Jintan. Don’t slack off! Please make a wastebasket with those flyers, OK?

Jintan: Well, all right… Wait. A wastebasket??

He doesn’t understand well why they need a wastebasket.

Poppo looks much more eager than usual today. He starts his story.

Poppo: When we were kids, you know I was good for nothing in class, right?

Jintan: Hmm?

Poppo: I had to draw their attention by doing any silly things myself. But you guys were different. You welcomed me as a friend! However I still had to be watching you, just watching…

Looking back on it, Poppo looks a bit down. Jintan wonders why he talks about his this story now.

Jintan: Are you all right, Poppo?

Poppo: Oh, yeah! So, leave everything to me this time, OK? I’ll go all out for seeing you off, Menma!

Menma: Thanks a lot! You’re really kind, Poppo!

However, for some reason, Jintan doesn’t look as happy as the rest of them.

At Menma’s parents home, her mother and father are talking about something in the living room.

Manabu(Menma’s father): So, will you go?

Irene(Menma’s mother): No way!

There’s a letter on the table that Jintan put into their mailbox in this early morning, which is an invitation to the launching their rocket. But Irene never looks happy with it.

Irene: I can’t believe those kids haven’t been satisfied with torturing us yet! Not yet!

Satoshi(Menma’s brother): But I’ll go.

Suddenly he comes into the room. Irene gets upset about his words and clings to his shoulders.

Irene: Why?! Why will you go, Sa-Kun?!(his nickname)

Manabu: Hey, calm down!

Satoshi: Mom, do you know my height now? I’ve really grown up since last year.

With that, he walks away the room. At the moment, Irene understands how Satoshi has been feeling about his mother. She knows he must have been lonely, too and she can’t help start crying.

Manabu walks close to her and puts a handkerchief on her cheek gently.

Manabu:: I should have known it earlier how lonely both you and Satoshi have been feeling.

Irene is really surprised at his words.

Manabu: Not only you, but who can forget Meiko? It quite makes sense. But… when you have to feel sorrow for our daughter, then let’s share the same sorrow with our family in the future. Don’t be alone…

Maybe because her husband has never been as compassionate toward her as now, she can’t put up with tears of delight. She still goes on crying, but now she’s got her husband hugging her shoulders so gently.

( to be continued )

One early morning Jintan is running to Menma’s house, where he put an envelope into the mailbox. With that, he runs back his home.

Jintan: It’s tomorrow…

At the same time Menma is praying in the front of the family altar and thinking of the same thing as Jintan.

Menma: It’s tomorrow…

She looks into her palms, one of which seems to be getting a bit transparent. Then she hears Jintan get back home so she goes up to the entrance.

On the other hand at Anaru’s home. She’s lying on the bed in her room, which has been so messy her mother’s coming into the room to talk to her about it.

Mom: Oh, girl! You finally came back home after a long time, since then you’ve been just lying around in your room all day even without going to school!

With telling Anaru off, her mother picks up some empty bottles on the floor.

Anaru: No bother! I’ll do it later myself! Go away, please!

Mom: Fine, fine.

After her mother having left, she regrets what she just said to her mother.

Anaru: Bothering… I’m sorry… mom…

Then she catches a phone call.

Anaru: Hello, it’s me. Ah, Yukiatsu?

Yukiatsu: Poppo is planning to give an eve party tonight. Are you going?

Anaru: I don’t know…

Yukiatsu: Me, neither. In any case, we should gather at the front of the station then…

At the moment he finds Tsuruko over there (He’s calling Anaru during the break time at school). She’s talking to two girls about something.

Girl: …And moreover, you don’t seem to understand enough yet? You still look like as if you only knew all about Matsuyuki(=Yukiatsu’s last name)!

These girls once had quarrel with Tsuruko over Yukiatsu in the class room before. They seem to have brought Tsuruko to the backyard.

Tsuruko: He is 60 feet, 150 pounds, he loves Yatsuhashi (Japanese sweets, a slice of thin Mochi rapping a small amount of Anko. One of the popular souvenir food in Kyoto).

Tsuruko goes on her story.

Girls: What?

Tsuruko: And his hobby is dressing as a woman.

Girls: Dressing as a woman?!

They’re pretty surprised at his hobby Tsuruko told them. But with that, Tsuruko tries to walk off.

Girls: Hey, wait, Tsurumi! We’ve not done yet!

Then, they see Yukiatsu show up over the corner of the building and he starts to follow after Tsuruko.

Girls: Ah…

So they won’t yell at Tsuruko any more in sight of Yukiatsu.

Tsuruko is walking away fast so Yukiatsu has to catch up with her.

Yukiatsu: Hey!

He catches hold of her right arm.

Tsuruko: It hurts.

Yukiatsu: Hey, you weren’t supposed to spread my secret, were you? That was outrageous of…

But Tsuruko cuts in.

Tsuruko: It… hurts…

Then he notices tears in her eyes, though it’s maybe not because of pain. He releases her arm and lets her go away.

Yukiatsu: Tsurumi…?

Seeing her unusual mood, he can’t understand what happened to her.

Considering Tsuruko’s feelings, it’s not so difficult to understand why she wants to be crying. The other day, she saw Yukiatsu, whether he was serious or not, suggest going out with him to Anaru. And today, she was accused of seeing him by those girls even though it was not true. So it should be a hard time for her now, but this silly guy doesn’t know about it yet.

( to be continued )

After having enjoyed with Poppo, now Menma is on the way home. Although I before explained that Siritori is normally played with more than 2 people, in this case she’s doing that by herself just for enjoying herself. She’s also been enjoying a play like hopscotch until she gets to a bridge. When she comes to the middle of the bridge, she happens to join her palms together. Actually she just remembered an old popular TV C.M. in Japan and mimicked the way of action seen on the advertisement.

Menma: Putting the wrinkles of your palms on to each other, then you’ll be happy!

I know it sounds kind of ridiculous in English but the advertisement was saying like that if I have to translate it into English.

Any way, at the moment, she’s reminded of something else but the ad. It might be about Jintan’s mother. She feels a bit sorry but soon gets back to herself.

Menma: I’ve got binocs here! Now I begin searching! Here we go!

She pretends to have binocs in her hands making a small circles with her thumbs and index fingers. She looks down at the dark river over the bridge railing. While she’s doing it, she finds something move in the river. As she tries to figure it out, oh my, she falls into the river!

At the same time, Jintan has just been back home.

Jintan: I’m here.

He feels something strange since there’s no reply to him and all the lights in the house are off. And he also can’t find Menma in any rooms.

Jintan: Menma…

He gets out of the house in search of Menma. He even phones to Poppo but he doesn’t answer at the moment.

Jintan: Damn! He doesn’t answer! He might have left for work already?

He gets worried about Menma so he’s picking up his pace more and more without knowing it himself.

Jintan: ( Why am I walking so fast…? Even running…? I’m sure she’s just… at our nest! )

Running thought the city far to the bridge where Menma fell, he’s out of breath now.

Jintan: ( But why I’m getting so worried? )

He doesn’t want it to imagine Menma may have been gone away suddenly. Just then, he hears a familiar voice.

Menma: Jintan! I’m over here!

He looks down at the shores of the river, where he finds Menma waving to him. Despite her smile, the scene Menma is standing on the riverside surely reminds him of the accident Menma died in the river. Without knowing it himself, he just starts running down to her as fast as he can.

Jintan: Don’t go! I never want to lose Menma!

Even though he’d once decided to send her back to the world of the dead as the rightest way, he can’t help being really honest to himself at the last moment Menma might be gone away.

As he’s running down through the trees to the riverside, one twig scratches on his cheek, which makes him stumbling and he can’t stop himself rolling down on the slope any more! In the end, he’s shot out of the trees throwing himself up into the air; he’s almost flying for a moment, and then he lands on the grass from his back first.

Lucky of him, he’s not hurt, but he doesn’t seem to understand what’s just happened to him for a while. Menma runs up and jumps at him.

Menma: Jintan! Never! I never want you to die…!

She starts crying so hard.

Jintan: Come on. You’ve been dead, too?

Menma: Ah, I forgot it…

She sounds a bit funny to him.

Jintan: Silly Menma.

She’s a bit upset with him for not being serious to her.

Menma: Whoever says silly to people is the one who’s really silly!

Jintan: All right. Let’s go together.

Menma: Oh, hold on.

Jintan: Yes?

Menma: I just saw a carp in the river.

Jintan: A carp?

Menma: Yeah, it was so large I wanted to look at it closer. Look! It’s just swimming slowly under the tree over there!

She walks closer to the river to see the carp. And just the moment she’s about to step into the water, Jintan shouts to her.

Jintan: No!!

Again he’s moving his body without knowing it himself. He finds him hugging her tight from behind. I’m not sure why he prevented Menma from stepping into the water but he might have been afraid of the same kind of accident happened to Menma in their old days.

Any way, he hugs her so tight Menma wonders why.

Menma: Jintan? It’s too strong. You aren’t a baby, are you?

She looks just as grown up as Jintan but she actually hasn’t been mature enough to know the meaning of his hugging.

Jintan: Never, never leave…

He’s surprised at his own words. No matter how hard he’s trying to think it’s the right way to go, after all, he actually wants Menma to stay with him as long as possible.

Menma: Jintan…?

Still he soon realizes he shouldn’t have said to her.

Jintan: Oh! I mean… don’t leave. You stay here and I’ll catch the carp instead of you.

Menma: Wait Jintan! You’ll have got soaking wet if you in!

Not listening to her, Jintan sloshes into the river with his shoes on.

Menma: Silly Jintan! You’d catch a cold!

She tells him off like a mother and he just smiles back at her like a kid. Jintan is feeling as if nothing had changed to them since old days, however as he looks at Menma crouching on the riverside, he finds there’s no shadow under her feet even in the moonlight, which brings him back to the real. He stands still in the river for a while.

Menma: Get back, Jintan!

She calls him again. Then they’re leaving for their home.

I never thought that AnoHana was this good! I know it’s good but I never realized that it’s not just an anime. It’s an experience. I think everyone agrees that they’ve been wanting a second season or perhaps a movie of the anime but that will be very difficult to layout and the movie may not live it’s expectations from the fans of the series. With only 11 episodes it’s packed with emotions and drama – and that just made the anime difficult to understand and sadly this is very difficult to be localized in Tagalog (local dialect). Anyway I was trying to look for AnoHana’s opening song and sadly I can’t find the anime’s opening theme in youtube. It appears that it was licensed by Sony Music and was taken down by YouTube immediately. Good thing is that I found a couple of good versions of it.

Here’s probably the best version of the song that I found. Sung by ‘someone’ really good voicing and the closest of all the videos that I found.

If you like the ending song, it’s titled “Secret Base” you can find it on Youtube. This one below is an English Version of AnoHana’s Opening song. I’m not sure if it’s fan made but from the looks of the video it is indeed fan made. Great translation and I felt what the opening song what is really about. Could be improved! so if anyone has a great vocals can make one like this.

Pretty cool huh!? Kudos to you man! You’re the best! I’m looking for a BluRay copy of the anime now and buy a legit copy of it and not just a download.

If you notice, I watch anime series really slow cause I watch them in parallel. The thing is I’m also busy at home for house chose and sitting right in front of your pc for continuous hours makes my eye hurt so much so it hampers my progress of doing a straight marathon of the series. Nevertheless, AnoHana never ceases to amaze me. It’s totally a joy to watch despite the concept of “Coping Up” and “Granting the wish of a Ghost”. The anime is not attended for mature audience and with a few geek speek and Japanese culture that foreign and casual anime viewers that only a few will understand.

I like the anime so much but no matter how good the anime is – It’s difficult for me to recommend it. I think most won’t recognize it’s greatness because almost all of the viewers here locally are Shonen addict. If you’re going to lurk in Facebook Pinoy Made communities everyone are crazy about Naruto, One Piece and Bleach. I’m not trying to be an elitist, what I really want to happen are for Filipino fans to explore other genres.

OK, now I’m ranting… my writing skills definitely needs to level up It lacks structure and direction.

So…We have that series that broke many of our hearts, back in this Summer 2012 with another event to blow away us away. The upcoming summer event of Anohana with it’s illustration featuring it’s loli – Menma in he mizugi and the translucent float as seen in the 1/7 scale figure we shared previously.

Being one of many events and highlights of the year, we are bound to have lots of fun and enjoyment in summer/autumn. Plan ahead to avoid crashing of appointments!

Well as part of my campaign of making the most popular anime blog in the Philippines i decided to start making animated GIFs! You heard it right – ANIMATED GIFS.I didn’t notice the potential of this one but it’s indeed one of the most effective of way of getting your content shared. The tough part is how to make one. You just need to be really precise on your images and you need to have access to high quality videos.

And today I haven’t successfully created one cause my tools are messing up. I’ll be making a complete guide GIF making in the future but for the mean time I have to make this work first. I think I really need to have a new workstation since my laptop is too old and is running a 1.6ghz dual core AMD processor.

I’m currently using AnoHana as a test sample and if I successfully created one I’ll share it with you. Anyway Don’t forget to check out my Kuroko No Basket Anime Hub, I’ve updated it today cause the PSP Game of the anime was announced and it was streamed in youtube. Aside from that Hyouka hub is already up and running but before I optimized it, I have to make Kuroko No Basket on the first page. Anyway AnoHana anime is great I’ll be finishing it tomorrow.