Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai Discussion Thread [Archive]

Suwako Moriya

04-14-2011, 12:01 PM

I believe the plot of this involves living long enough to say the full name of it. Either that or to fantasize about the grabbing the chest err I mean the twin tails. I could be wrong on both counts.

ANN Entry (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=12368)

Official Site (http://www.anohana.jp/)

Note
As usual, please try to follow these three easy forum courtesy habits when replying:
1) If you're the first person to post about an episode in any given week, please respond to the root post (this post) and indicate in the subject line which episode you're posting about.
2) If someone has already posted about an episode before you, please respond to that post (or a relevant reply to that post). Keep in the right subthread.
3) Don't use the blue "Post Reply" button because it causes your reply not to correctly inherit the subject line of the post you're replying to. Just click "Quote" to the post you want to reply to.

EmperorBrandon

04-15-2011, 03:22 AM

Wow, I was expecting good things of this series given the staff, but as far as exactly what kind of things I didn't really have any idea. This was really very interesting to me, though. Menma... :cry: I do wonder how the supernatural element with her will play out in this series. Really liked the first episode and this has a lot of potential in my mind, so I hope it keeps it up. Looking forward to more, and this needs an official simulcast, dangit! (maybe there's still time for one to be announced...)

Westlo

04-15-2011, 04:11 AM

Mari Okada is just knocking it out of the fucking park this season, writing both this and Hanasaku. She's one of the better writers around and been getting a lot of work since she put herself on the map with True Tears. TT wasn't a commericial success but was highly regarded and got Okada a lot of attention. She seems to work a lot with A-1 Pictures (Fractale, Black Butler 1 & 2 and AnoHana) and of course P.A Works (TT, CANAAN, Hanasuka) the only anime she didn't work with P.A was of course Angel Beats...

Anyway really liked the episode and I think the show has a lot of promise, while the production values weren't as good as Hanasuka I felt the first episode had a lot more impact. Also seems that Japanese viewers really liked what they saw since this shot up to #6 on the amazon pre order charts..

I think the end is obvious and it will be quite emotional.. but how they get their will be the interesting part. Nice too see Tomatsu in action again... looks like she's playing Irino Miyu's potential hook up again.. even though she wasn't his preference as kids.. just like in Cross Game... Also have to say Menma's smile after Jintan called her ugly.. damn... kinda feel sorry for that other chick too, obvious her guy was really into Menma too...

Been very impressed with both noitaminA shows this season... more so with AnoHana but C was intriguing as well.

EDIT - Here's the actual ED sequence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB2rMhu8EB8

Love the ED theme...

Johnny

04-15-2011, 04:44 PM

Wow. What a first episode. I'm a sucker for this sort of childhood reminiscing/nostalgia and to have an entire series of it is something I'm really looking forward to. This could be something really special. Cannot wait for more!

Sly05

04-15-2011, 08:03 PM

I'm a sucker for this sort of childhood reminiscing/nostalgia and to have an entire series of it is something I'm really looking forward to. This could be something really special. Cannot wait for more!

I'm a sucker for this kind of show too. This series looks set to deliver some good heart-wrenching drama when it gets into more details around Menma's death and the group of friends drifting apart. I'm really looking forward more.

bear

04-15-2011, 08:49 PM

This show is almost too good for me. They played the ghost aspect of it marvelously. Once I realized Memma was dead and how it had affected the Jintan I was really brought down. The mother making the offering to her and her acknowledgement that she knew she was dead was an even bigger downer. At best, the outcome for me could only be bittersweet. I have to ask myself if I really want to experience the emotions this show is probably going to generate.

Ashyukun

04-15-2011, 10:07 PM

This show looks like it's going to be absolutely fantastic- but it will also require I have something lighter to watch afterwards to properly balance myself out.

Last seasons' NoitaminA shows both started out showing a lot of potential... let's nope that the success rate in keeping that up this season is higher...

TJR

04-15-2011, 11:08 PM

Anyway really liked the episode and I think the show has a lot of promise, while the production values weren't as good as Hanasuka I felt the first episode had a lot more impact.

Nagai can just bring the characters to life, can't he?

As expected, the dramatic scenes (reminiscent of Toradora!) were handled marvelously.

HitokiriShadow

04-16-2011, 01:01 AM

Menma is a strong contender for the most adorable character of the season (Erio being her main competition at the moment). And her seiyuu is.... Kayano Ai. Who was also the very cute Isana last season and... uh, the underused, maybe-said-three-lines-the-entire-series Itsuwa from Index II. And that's about it so far. She's pretty new, but she's definitely a name to keep an eye out for.

I'm expecting great things from Natsuko. She's.... very Tomatsu Haruka.

I'm liking Chiriko too, but her character just isn't the type that makes as strong an initial impression of the other two.

I like the premise and while I can't say I like Jinta, that's kind of the point and I think he does a good job for the kind of development this show is aiming for with him. And I have to say, he took suddenly seeing his dead childhood friend pretty well.

Excellent first episode, this is definitely on track to be one of the top shows of the season.

Suwako Moriya

04-17-2011, 05:33 AM

I'm not sure what's more depressing, Menma's fate or the "negative" changes everyone else seemed to take on. Although some seem worse than others.

This series has potential, but I hope we're not going to spend the entire series with 90% of the group having activated "NEGATIVE MODE OF NEGATIVITY".

Still like I said there's potential. A strong first episode and Menma is love. So it can definitely turn out well if done right.

Fencedude

04-17-2011, 07:53 PM

Wow, that was fantastic. Really, really amazingly good.

The scene with Menma in her house was just...damn. Powerful stuff.

Really interested in seeing where this ends up going.

something

04-17-2011, 07:54 PM

Episode 1:

- Menma is adorable! Menma also appears to be a ghost, albeit one that can interact physically with things.
- Yay for Kayano Ai. Loved her as Isana in Merry.
- Man... I'm getting a really good vibe from this, by the end of the OP. So it looks like Menma lived a couple eyars beyond the point they show, since she's older as a, presumably, ghost.

- Hm, no, she's older than he remembers too. So I guess she did die back at that point.
- BARRIER!
- "Anaru" is a bit of an unfortunate sounding nickname. But yay, Tomatsu Haruka!

- Jintan is uber hikikomori, though I suppose the fact that he can go out at all puts him above some.
- Naruko (I can't bring myself to keep saying Anaru) is frightfully hot.
- Jintan, all your friends became assholes.
- Hayami Saori!! She seems a bit bitter about Menma.

- Bit of a complicated love... ...polygon. Seems like both Jintan and Yukiatsu liked Menma, but Naruko liked Jintan and I guess Tsuruko liked Yukiatsu at the time but knew he liked Menma.
- Jintan you jerk, Menma isn't ugly. ;_;
- Shiiiiiiiiiiiit. The close-up on Menma's face as she's tearing up, saying she know she died, was heartbreaking. ;_;

This show is going to destroy me, isn't it? Damn... So good.

bear

04-17-2011, 08:02 PM

Episode 1:
- Shiiiiiiiiiiiit. The close-up on Menma's face as she's tearing up, saying she know she died, was heartbreaking. ;_;

This show is going to destroy me, isn't it? Damn... So good.

First it appears that she might be his kid sister, then maybe a neighbor, then a figment of his imagination. Then we find out she died. No she's not a figment she's a ghost and one who can interact with her surrounding to a small extent. They played that out well leading us into the story. That girl is going to make a lot of people tear up. Her smile when Jintan called her ugly and that closeup....

Fencedude

04-17-2011, 08:03 PM

- Naruko (I can't bring myself to keep saying Anaru) is frightfully hot.

Oh yeah. That scene of her lounging on her bed was fantastic. She's also such a terribly Tomatsu Haruka character, isn't she?

something

04-17-2011, 08:06 PM

Oh yeah. That scene of her lounging on her bed was fantastic. She's also such a terribly Tomatsu Haruka character, isn't she?
I couldn't help but be superficially reminded of Megumi from Shiki. I wonder if that's just her niche in noitaminA shows...

strangefour

04-18-2011, 01:54 AM

-Is he being tormented by an imaginary girl? Or just a vampire who has no reflecting. Either way she is cute.
-So he's haunted by a missing/dead girl or insane. She's a cheerful little unseen spirit though.
-Anaru is cute. In a slightly bitchy way.
-So she's a poltergeist. A sad sweet little ghost. :cry:

Menma just stole second place anime for this season. Is a bit odd my two favorite anime this season have a partially insane male lead.

I miss the days of animes with short two word titles.

DenpaWa

04-18-2011, 05:35 AM

- Jintan, all your friends became assholes.

I suspect that, in the direct way children can have, they blame him for her death. Even if it was a pure accident, they'd think, "He made her unhappy. Now she's dead." And years later, they still unconsciously blame him.

something

04-18-2011, 09:32 AM

I suspect that, in the direct way children can have, they blame him for her death. Even if it was a pure accident, they'd think, "He made her unhappy. Now she's dead." And years later, they still unconsciously blame him.
Totally. Still assholes though. And he's no prize himself. Right now I'm most sympathetic to Naruko. The power of boobs.

But nobody could possibly beat Menma. <3 She's going to be a top 5 character this season, definitely. (I keep expecting her to be voiced by Iguchi Yuka though.)

TheGreenMan

04-18-2011, 12:21 PM

Menma is competing with Ohana for the cuteness factor this season.
Menma is a ghost. I figured it out pretty quickly.
Wow...all of his friends hate him. I guess he'll have to win them over.
Menma...don't cry! I'm surprised that she knows she's dead.
And Jintan runs into Jumbo!

Wow. Damn. This show and Iroha are laying waste to everybody else this season.

Westlo

04-22-2011, 10:26 AM

Still the best show of the season...

As expected Naruko (so hot) also has a lot of guilt over Menma's death, thinking that if she never asked that question in the first place things may not have turned out as they did. Also had a love/hate relationship with Menma, while she was friends with Menma and wanted to be like her she was jealous of how Jinta liked her. The taped up sticker being a great example of how she felt.

Looks liked even before they made up somewhat in this episode that Naruko still cared for Jinta quite a bit, aside from bringing him his homework (late) and asking him if he will go back to school she kinda stuck up for him a bit when her friends were making fun of him. Until the wet dream part when she just blushed lol.

Speaking of that wet dream part it seemed to have ticked off Tsurumi quite a bit, I'm sure most people will think she's a bitch for that scene but she was just hearing people talk shit about an old friend of hers and she obviously can't hear Naruko blushing. Her criticism of Naruko being a follower is spot on and she seemed to have genuine concern for Jinta from that episode 1 encounter. I guess she's just over the entire Menma situation, not only did that group colapse but the guy she likes was always into Menma and clearly hasn't gotten over it. Good god Yukiatsu.. sniffing her dress.. what's wrong, couldn't find her panties back than? If I was a betting person I would say that Yukiatsu was very close to the scene of the incident that caused her death...

The entire Nokemon thing was just a nostalgic blast, a feeling this show able to summon at will. It was good to see some of the gang back together again and lol @ the Anaru joke still getting used. Poppo was way too easy.. but needed @ this stage of the show.. it's clear he has some issues as well.

The ED is godlike and next episode should be interesting, back @ school... how will Naruko react now....

Sly05

04-22-2011, 02:31 PM

It's good to see some of the group already back together. It's clear that everyone is still concerned about their childhood friends, even if they've drifted apart due to the tragedy and each have their own scars from it.

Good god Yukiatsu.. sniffing her dress.. what's wrong, couldn't find her panties back than? If I was a betting person I would say that Yukiatsu was very close to the scene of the incident that caused her death...
That's creepy even when the person being obsessed over isn't a girl who has been dead for five years. Just as creepy is wondering what he did to get one of her dresses. I hope it at least isn't the dress Menma was wearing when she died. As Jinta hasn't asked Menma who was responsible for her death, I'm assuming it was determined to be an accident and Yukiatsu wasn't responsible, but he certainly hasn't grown up to be someone who has the right to ridicule Jinta for being a hikikimori.

Westlo

04-22-2011, 02:35 PM

As Jinta hasn't asked Menma who was responsible for her death, I'm assuming it was determined to be an accident and Yukiatsu wasn't responsible, but he certainly hasn't grown up to be someone who has the right to ridicule Jinta for being a hikikimori.

Ah yeah definitely not implying that he was the cause of it or something, just that I'm pretty sure he would've seen what happened first hand. Even though he was harsh to Jinta and was sniffing Menma's 5 years old dress I don't think he's a horrible person, he did give that rare poke.. nokemon tip to Poppo after all.

EmperorBrandon

04-22-2011, 05:09 PM

Yay.... Pokem... errr... Nokemon!!! :bigsmile: Heh, it seemed kind of silly to me at first, but it was really very nice how it played out for all of their interactions. I'm definitely enjoying the increased Naruko focus with this episode, and I found Poppo's attitude about things to be rather refreshing.

Sly05

04-22-2011, 05:23 PM

Ah yeah definitely not implying that he was the cause of it or something, just that I'm pretty sure he would've seen what happened first hand.
My mistake. His grudge against Jinta is likely more about Jinta being closer to Menma when she was alive than actually believing he was responsible for her death. So yeah, despite how twisted he's become, there probably isn't anything sinister there.

strangefour

04-22-2011, 11:24 PM

-Nokemon. Come on guys. Either just call them Pokemon or come up with a more creative name.
-Aww Menma came back.
-MENMA CAN EAT THINGS!?
-Poppo wants to taste Anaaru's jelly. :sd:
-Gamestyle Advent! Rindendo! Looks like Gyrados is a starter Nokemon. Heh.
-Wait wait. They can't say Pokemon but they have Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo?
-Why ghosts cry. :cry:
-WTF . . . Did Yuki just sniff an old dress of Menma's?
-Dang. Now I want to watch some Pokemon.

Damn this show is engrossing. Howevere...

Good god Yukiatsu.. sniffing her dress.. what's wrong, couldn't find her panties back than? If I was a betting person I would say that Yukiatsu was very close to the scene of the incident that caused her death...

Yeah that was bordering on serial killer creepiness right there. Or he's a secret crossdresser. It's hard to write that off as something silly considering one cast member is already dead. Sadness and sorrow mix with the joy and laughter.

Fencedude

04-23-2011, 12:15 AM

Oh man, Naruko's just amazing. Total sexiness with that perfect tsundere blend that only Tomatsu Haruka can truly bring to the front. Jinta, you're a damn lucky man. I also like how she still has those dorky square framed glasses. And the bit with the sticker? Absolute perfection.

I was never into Pokemon, but I certainly know all about it. Hell, I was just discussing with the guys who run my Local Independent Game Retailer about just how long Pokemon's been around, and how the people who got in on the ground floor with it back in the day are now honest to god adults. Nostalgia blast all the way.

Poppo's fun, he's just what the show needs to keep from getting ground under the despair the other four have fallen into, though I'm sure everything with him is not as rosy as it looks right now.

And Yukiatsu? Creepy dude, creepy. That ain't cool.

Westlo

04-23-2011, 06:20 PM

Yeah that was bordering on serial killer creepiness right there. Or he's a secret crossdresser.

He hires lolita hookers to dress up as Menma.

bear

04-23-2011, 08:24 PM

Speaking of that wet dream part it seemed to have ticked off Tsurumi quite a bit, ....I guess she's just over the entire Menma situation, not only did that group colapse but the guy she likes was always into Menma and clearly hasn't gotten over it. Good god Yukiatsu.. sniffing her dress.. what's wrong, couldn't find her panties back than? If I was a betting person I would say that Yukiatsu was very close to the scene of the incident that caused her death...

Both Yukiatsu and Tsurumi are prime suspects in my mind for either being there or having something to do with Memma's death.

HitokiriShadow

04-23-2011, 10:33 PM

Lot's of Naruko this time, and it was glorious. Wasn't expecting her to warm up to Jinta again so quickly, I thought it would be another episode or two.

I love Aniplex's penchant for putting posters and signs for other anime into their shows. Here we get posters for Sekirei, Working and Hourou Musuko (along with one I couldn't place; the one between Sekirei and Hourou Musuko in front of the register) in the store Naruko works at.

And if it wasn't for the name changes, you'd almost think Nintendo sponsored this episode.

Oh, and Yukiatsu? Yeah, sniffing the the clothes of your dead friend is more than a little creepy.

Johnny

04-28-2011, 10:26 AM

Heh, Nokemon :P

Anyway, another fantastic episode, maybe even better than the first. It's completely gripping from start to finish.

bluesilo

04-28-2011, 11:41 PM

Sly05

04-29-2011, 09:30 AM

Anyway, Yukiatsu is still mega-creepy, but Tsuruko softening up a bit is nice.

I'm kind of worried that what Poppo saw was actually him dressing up as Menma. He's buying girls' accessories for something.

bear

04-29-2011, 07:26 PM

I'm going to be honest here and say the first part was disappointing. I feel the story stayed stagnant even for a slice of life type story. The second part brought the characters together, but I felt there might've been some convincing of one of the female characters who pulls a 180 and actually acts somewhat nice. I'm not sure where they are going with this, but I'll stick around.
I agree and I thought the first few episodes were something of a downer and didn't care for the characters and concept that much. This last episode changed my mind. The characters is really beginning to affect me. Jintan's mom especially.

bear

04-29-2011, 07:27 PM

Fencedude

04-29-2011, 11:31 PM

Argh. I just realized that bluesilo made his response to the episode 2 subthread, not a new subthread.

PLEASE remember to always respond to the ROOT POST for a new episode!

I'm moving my post to a response to this one.

Fencedude

04-29-2011, 11:31 PM

Goddamn, is each episode going to increase Naruko's sexiness? With her hair down and in that short white dress, I don't know what they can do to top it.

Anyway, Yukiatsu is still mega-creepy, but Tsuruko softening up a bit is nice.

Menma is always excited. Always.

strangefour

04-30-2011, 12:25 AM

-Menma can see you peeing homeless Popo.
-Menma is filled with wishes.
-Highschool girls can be super bitches. Finally some anime realises this.
-Don't leave the Gameboy on poltergeist. You'll waste the batteries.
-A ghost praying to another dead person. I'm not sure if that's meta, creepy or adorable.
-Menma muffins. She can cook. She can EAT. Menma is a most peculiar ghostly figure.
-Heh. Tsuruko reacts badly to being considered his girlfriend.
-Wait... Yuki is a cross dresser isn't he.

-Menma wants to see Menma's own ghost! :sd:
-This is the worst bbq ever.
-Wait a minute... the ghost Popo saw while peeing must have been Yuki! Ewww.
-Crab!
-I don't like Yukiatsu. But he knows how to prepare for a bbq. *nods*
-:keroro:

Ventura Space People again? Okay google tell me what the hell this is about. It comes up way too often in anime. Oh Usuri yats-- Utsury ya--- Lum's anime thing. Not that I can find any video proof of this.

Anyway another genki Menma episode.

EmperorBrandon

04-30-2011, 12:53 AM

(let's get my responses in the right subthread now...)

With her hair down and in that short white dress, I don't know what they can do to top it.

Yeah, she looked just beautiful there.

I'm kind of worried that what Poppo saw was actually him dressing up as Menma. He's buying girls' accessories for something.

I didn't think of it until after the episode, but since it seems clear the "ghost" Poppo saw is not the same one hanging around Jinta, and that would be one explanation for it... Really wondering what Yukiatsu is planning if it is him, and if anyone else (Tsuruko?) is in on it.

Ashyukun

04-30-2011, 09:25 AM

Ventura Space People again? Okay google tell me what the hell this is about. It comes up way too often in anime. Oh Usuri yats-- Utsury ya--- Lum's anime thing. Not that I can find any video proof of this.
Yup- second half of the first episode of UY. May have shown up other times as well, I can't remember for certain (unsurprising for a show that long....), but it's definitely from there. I got a GOOD laugh at that- both for the reference in general and the fact that he was trying to use a chant to summon aliens to summon a ghost... :sd:

HitokiriShadow

05-01-2011, 12:11 AM

Menma continues to be adorable and Naruko continues to be deliciously.... Naruko. I especially loved her conversation with Tsuruko.

So is Yukiatsu telling the truth.... I'm thinking "no" and he's actually just screwing with Jin. He probably suspects Jin thinks he can see Menma, so he's just trying to get Jin to admit it.

something

05-01-2011, 12:49 PM

Episode 2:

- Oh hey, at least one of them didn't turn into a total ass. Go Poppo.
- Although I'm most sympathetic by far to Naruko (of the living ones I mean). Tsurumi is making sure it's really fucking hard to be sympathetic towards her, even though you know she's a good person deep down and blah blah. Naruko, however, is really awesome. And she really misses Menma. ;_;

- Nokemon Opal! Yay, more Naruko.
- Damn. She was about to say something but other customers showed up. How inconsiderate of them!
- Oh great, Poppo. Just go and get the king of the bitches riled up. I'm sure I'll like Yukiatsu and Tsuruko by the end but it's going to take a lot.

- Naked Menma! Well, towel Menma.
- Huh, Menma can eat.
- I thought Naruko would be the first one they added to the Menma harem but Poppo's personality is much better suited to establishing a foothold.

- Naruko <3 <3 <3 Menma!
- Oooh now we have three together. Win her over! Win her over! I wonder if anyone else will see Menma at any point.
- ANARU JELLY. Oh god. And this kind of thing is why so much of her erotic fanart features certain sex acts. -_-
- And now they're all playing Nokemon.

- ...WHAT. Okay Yukiatsu is going to be the creepy motherfucker of the group, isn't he? Not surprising. But sniffing the dead little girl's old clothes? Tsuruko, your problems are clearly related to your poor taste in men.

- Fuuuuuuck, I think I love Naruko almost as much as Menma. Oh god she's incredible. She's as cute as she is sexy.

God damn. Maybe it's not Denpa or Nichijou that's #1, but this. I can't decide. All I do know is that these three shows are really starting to pull away from everything else this season. I can't see Steins; or Hanasaku quite catching up, even as great as they are.

I'm seriously getting the feeling this could be just as good as Hourou Musuko. Whatever noitaminA has going on right now (if it's not all just Okada Mari power; is she really a mere mortal!?), fuck, they need to keep it up.

Johnny

05-03-2011, 08:25 AM

Jin is going to school...and then he isnt :sweat: Interesting that his dad doesn't seem to be pressuring him into going either.

Poppo sees a ghost, but Menma says she has been at home all day. Hmm. Then, when Yukiatsu turns up to the barbeque, he also says he has seen Menma...

Johnny

05-03-2011, 08:31 AM

Goddamn, is each episode going to increase Naruko's sexiness? With her hair down and in that short white dress, I don't know what they can do to top it.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of hers too <3

Westlo

05-03-2011, 09:56 AM

So the noitaminA timeslot ratings for C+AnoHana (we all know which one is carrying the other...)

Week 1 - 1.6%
Week 2 - 2.5%
Week 3 - 3.9% (with a peak of 5.5..)

So not only is AnoHana going to sell 5 digits in regards to dvd/bd sales it's pushing the ratings of noitaminA back up.

bear

05-06-2011, 09:51 AM

Well, the speculation about Yukiatsu dressing up as Memma are confirmed as well as his dislike/jealousy of Jintan. When Tsuruko asked about what the "other" Memma was wearing alarm bells went off in my head. It was obvious she either knew something or was setting something up. Even though Tsuruko has been shown as cold and snobish, I'm beginning to like her.

Poppo getting jumped on by Memma and reacting also shows that it isn't all in Jintan's head. First Naruko feels her weight, then Memma's family has poltergeist phenomena, now Poppo.

Now we need to know how Memma actually died and if Tukiatsu had something to do with it.

Sly05

05-06-2011, 10:31 AM

Dressing up as an 11 year old dead girl is serial killer level creepy, Yukiatsu. Buying girls clothes with your childhood friend is also not a very good way to keep your nighttime activities hidden as this episode proved.

Tsuruko continues to be intriguing as we still know so little about her. She's obviously expected Yukiatsu was up to something, but nonetheless looks quite upset when she realizes the extent of his obsession over Menma. If she does have any feelings, his outing this episode must make it really difficult.

EmperorBrandon

05-06-2011, 02:32 PM

Even though Tsuruko has been shown as cold and snobish, I'm beginning to like her.

Yeah, I liked her a good bit this episode. Yukiatsu on the other hand... I was expecting him to be a big jerk, but he managed to exceed those expectations here. The scene where he was making stuff up for Menma and upset her got me pretty pissed off. It's nice Jinta stood up for her a little there, as good as he can since too much would make him look like even more of a lunatic (I'm still hoping some of the others will be able to see her in time).

Menma had some amusing cute moments this episode too. I liked her being excited about the prospect of seeing another Menma and the Mario & Luigi/alternate color references. :) Naruko is also determined to show she looks absolutely hot with yet more different hairstyles (some cute braids this time), and there's some nice scenes with her and Jinta too.

Sly05

05-06-2011, 03:20 PM

(I'm still hoping some of the others will be able to see her in time).

Given that she can interact with physical objects, they might at least be able to see her drink coffee from her cup at the clubhouse or something similar to prove that Jinta isn't completely nuts.

bear

05-06-2011, 09:05 PM

Fencedude

05-07-2011, 03:06 AM

We get a better look at Tsuruko and Yukiatsu this episode. One comes out looking better, the other...not so much.

Naruko shows even more hair styles, with a nice twin braids look. Her default...handlebars are really her worst look.

Ashyukun

05-07-2011, 09:03 AM

HitokiriShadow

05-08-2011, 12:04 AM

Menmario and Menmaluigi!

Unsurprisingly, Yukiatsu was lying about seeing Menma. And he's dressing up as Menma, also not a huge shocker.

It was nice to see Tsuruko get some half-decent screentime.

strangefour

05-08-2011, 12:44 AM

-Menma is Menma for Menma.
-Oh the river. Is by the path on the steep hill. :(
-Don't cry Menma. You'll make me cry.
-Stop being a dick Yuki.
-AHAHAHAHAHAH! I wanna play Super Menma Sisters.
-Aww, Menma gets her own pillow.
-"My Menma is better than your Menma."
-Come back here Luigi Menma!

Jintan may talk to a ghost, but Yuki is the real crazy one.

PosterAnonymous

05-12-2011, 10:00 AM

Now we need to know how Memma actually died and if Tukiatsu had something to do with it.

A weird thought crossed my mind. What if it was Tsuruko who had something to do with Memma's death? Both Jintan and Tukiatsu were infatuated with Memma and Tsuruko was the quiet one....

I hope not! I don't get the impression that Menma's death was anything other than a freak accident. I think it'd spoil the story a bit if it wasn't because it would detract from the whole plot of separating and coming back together due to the love of a special friend. I don't think that Menma came back to out a murderer/man slaughterer, I think she came back because she loved her friends and she wants them to remember who they were. She wants to turn her death into a binding force instead of a separating one.

As for her wish, I am not sure... She apparently told Jin-tan her wish before the confrontation/her death, but neither one remembers what it was. If I had to guess this early on, I'd guess she wanted something simple and naive such as her friends to stay together as friends forever. As for Jin-tan's love interest, I'm not 100% convinced he loved Menma in a romantic sense. I don't know - Something about the way he held Naruko and what he said to her makes me wonder... :shrugs:

bear

05-12-2011, 11:10 AM

I hope not! I don't get the impression that Menma's death was anything other than a freak accident. I think it'd spoil the story a bit if it wasn't because it would detract from the whole plot of separating and coming back together due to the love of a special friend.
Oh, I agree that she probably wasn't murdered by one of the group or that they were even was the cause of it. My supposition was more of whether anyone else in the group also has something that they feel guilty about in relation to the death. Jintan feels responsible somehow because of what he said to her before she died. Naruko does because she asked the question. We know Yukiatsu was in love with Memma (and jealous of Jintan) and Tsuruko may be in love with Yukiatsu. So it looks like the story isn't just about Jintan's guilt and the only two that haven't had their relationship with Memma fleshed out at all are Poppo and Tsuruko.

PosterAnonymous

05-13-2011, 12:39 PM

(Apparently I did not reply the correct way though I thought I did.)

Is it bad that I start looking for RAWs Thursday morning at work and watch the first one I find as soon as I get home? Especially since I don't speak a lick of Japanese? ;)

Episode 5:

- I love the opening and ending themes for this show...
- Do you look ok? Guys in dresses aren't my cup of tea, sooo... ;)
- Good call on the guilt thing, bear. It was kind of obvious, but still...
- Ooo flashback!
- Aw... Yukiatsu confessed!
- Eh... She didn't outright reject him. I think she was just distracted at that moment.
- She picked up the original and kept it. Maybe next episode we'll see Tsuruko dealing with her jealousy/feelings?
- Am I the only one who thinks Jin-tan's glasses look an awful lot like Naruko's when she was a kid?
- Naruko's jealousy won't resolve until the end of the series, I suspect...
- Menma's wish is mentioned again, but not much more is said on the subject. :/
- And the Soul Slut Sisters make their triumphant return! I really dislike those two, and I think Naruko is starting to realize they aren't true friends as well.
- A decent English paragraph in complete sentences... Nicely done!
- Hmm... Tsuruko seems to have trouble getting close to those around her. I wonder if this is due to Menma's death or if she has always been this way.
- Ugh... Karaoke bar with adult men. Who doesn't see what's coming next?
- YEP!
- Yukiatsu to the rescue?? Was he following her from the train station the whole time?
- Hmmm... Interesting train conversa-- Wow. He went there. :D
- Hang in there, Naruko! I don't think Menma is as big of an obstacle as you do.
- Poppo has a little shrine.
- Why'd he go and make Menma cry like that? Maybe his issues will be dealt with next? His traveling around the world might be him trying to run from a guilt of some sort...
- I really like the ending and the way they integrate next week's preview into the credits!

All in all, another fine episode that leaves me wanting more. I'm beginning to think that Menma appeared to Jin-tan because he was the leader of the Super Peace Busters and perhaps not because she loved him romantically. I do hope they resolve those issues and don't leave it too open...

Why can't it be next Friday already??

EmperorBrandon

05-13-2011, 02:26 PM

- And the Soul Slut Sisters make their triumphant return! I really dislike those two, and I think Naruko is starting to realize they aren't true friends as well.

Yeah, I think I've disliked them more than I have Yukiatsu, and particularly so after this episode. I wonder how things will come to a head between Naruko and her so-called "friends". That sure was a scary situation there. It's interesting we get a scene where Yukiatsu is positively heroic already, and I like how he gets her into talking about Jinta.

Menma was getting me crying at the end too. :( All of the unknowns of her situation are really getting to her and it's so sad to see. Still very curious how things will progress there.

bear

05-13-2011, 02:30 PM

- I love the opening and ending themes for this show...
The more I see of the story the more they seem to affect me.

Good call on the guilt thing, bear. It was kind of obvious, but still...

- She picked up the original and kept it. Maybe next episode we'll see Tsuruko dealing with her jealousy/feelings?

- Hmm... Tsuruko seems to have trouble getting close to those around her. I wonder if this is due to Menma's death or if she has always been this way.

I'd assumed that Tsuruko's feelings were for Yukiatsu, but I'm beginning to wonder if maybe it was Memma...?

I'm not too fond of supernatural stories and I really wasn't planning on watching this since it really seemed like a downer, but the characters are really starting to grab me. I thought Yukiatsu was just sort of a creep, but after seeing the flashback and his actions with Jintan and Naruko I see how torn up he is. In his own way he's in as bad a state as Jintan. Maybe they all are.

Sly05

05-13-2011, 04:01 PM

- Yukiatsu to the rescue?? Was he following her from the train station the whole time?
He must have been waiting for her outside of the karaoke place the whole time. Even when his intentions are good, he goes about it in a creepy stalker way.

Naruko really needs to ditch her school friends though. Going on what I assume they were hoping would be compensated dating with sleazy adult men isn't a good path to go down.

- Why'd he go and make Menma cry like that? Maybe his issues will be dealt with next? His traveling around the world might be him trying to run from a guilt of some sort...
It was the first time that we've seen Poppo's carefree attitude start to break. He seemed outright desperate when he was pleading for Menma to appear.

bear

05-13-2011, 06:28 PM

Ok, this one really got to me: What might have been. (http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=18540650)

Suwako Moriya

05-13-2011, 11:48 PM

Jinta, there's nothing wrong with Menma in a towel. In fact, it's all kinds of right! What?

Nokemon? Now I've heard everything. Ok, my only real experience with the series Pokemon is seeing some of the cartoons, which I stopped watching for various reasons.

Considering the depressing nature of the first episode, this episode was more hopeful than I might have expected. Probably a good thing since there are only 11 episodes to work with.

strangefour

05-14-2011, 10:12 PM

-Yuki you are the worst crossdresser ever. Also a jerky looney.
-Wait... They change the names of all the snack to Rocky and whatever. But Pepsi is still Pepsi?
-Naruko out on a date with.. AAAHHH (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/916739/)!!! Damn it Fence, why did you show me that before.
-Yuki is a total jerk. But he can be useful.

Dang it guys. Stop making me-- making Menma cry. *sniffle*

Fencedude

05-15-2011, 12:27 AM

Ahhh...Naruko? Your friends suck. Please find better ones.

And Yukiatsu both has his shame exposed, and gets a hero moment in the same episode. Thats pretty impressive.

And dammit, Poppo. Whats up with you?

strangefour

05-15-2011, 12:50 AM

And dammit, Poppo. Whats up with you?

He's homeless and emotionally needy. Since he was a child he's been the little guy who had to be silly to get attention. So now he makes up tales of world traveling and lives in a shack.

bear

05-15-2011, 08:55 AM

He's homeless and emotionally needy. Since he was a child he's been the little guy who had to be silly to get attention. So now he makes up tales of world traveling and lives in a shack.
Whoa, didn't think of that possibility. I just naively took him at his word, but that is much more likely the reality.

HitokiriShadow

05-15-2011, 10:45 AM

Naruko, you really should hurry up and ditch those awful so-called "friends" of yours.

PosterAnonymous

05-16-2011, 10:20 PM

Ok, this one really got to me: What might have been. (http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=18540650)

Aw man... That's just sad. :(

And dammit, Poppo. Whats up with you?

He's homeless and emotionally needy. Since he was a child he's been the little guy who had to be silly to get attention. So now he makes up tales of world traveling and lives in a shack.

Ooooo good call! Now I want that to be true for the drama but don't because I don't want the character to have that sad of a life. :(

I whole-heartedly agree on ditching the slutty friends. Gah I hate them!

strangefour

05-17-2011, 01:44 AM

Ok, this one really got to me: What might have been. (http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=18540650)

Aw man... That's just sad. :(

:cry:

And dammit, Poppo. Whats up with you?

He's homeless and emotionally needy. Since he was a child he's been the little guy who had to be silly to get attention. So now he makes up tales of world traveling and lives in a shack.

Ooooo good call! Now I want that to be true for the drama but don't because I don't want the character to have that sad of a life. :(

It's just a guess. Be he is a kid who has kept up repairs and added some furnishings to a shack in the woods he and his friends used to hang out in as kids. Sure maybe Poppo is just trying to recapture the fun of his youth. However we have seen every one of the other kid's rooms at home, but not Poppo's room. Also I really don't buy that he's gone traveling to multiple countries around the world. One other country maybe.

PosterAnonymous

05-20-2011, 09:29 AM

Have I mentioned that it's driving me nuts waiting a week for this show? Because it is... ;)

- Heh. I'm assuming this is some horror TV show about ghosts? The sub I'm watching didn't translate the TV's text.
- Ah - At least Jin-tan isn't blaming himself for her death.
- Gah! This opening... :depressed:
- He's going back! Huzah!
- Aw... The hikikimori <sp> comes to school and all they care about is the village bicycle.
- Yay! Old-School Jin-tan to the rescue!
- Wow. A Love-Hotel Face? Really? And you think she's dumb/clumsy?
- You probably should have done that 5 seconds earlier, Anaru. ;)
- Jin-tan, you should have gone home with her.
- I'm sure it's soaked in more man-juices than any of us would like to know... :sighs:
- Wait -- Now you're considerate about Menma's feelings, Poppo?
- The more I hear him brag about his travels, the more I think strangefour is right... That's sad, but I hope they have enough time to cover it. :depressed:
- But have they changed for the better, Poppo?
- Her mom looks more and more despondent. I wonder if Menma noticed?
- Maybe Tsurumi doesn't let people in because she doesn't want to lose someone close to her again?
- He has an iPhone 4. I think that's the first iPhone I've seen in an anime.
- "Gotten" honest? I think he's reverting to his true self, personally.
- Advice on something? Hmm... Maybe Anaru asked Jin-tan not out of jealousy but because Menma couldn't gather the nerves to do it herself? Maybe it was an honest rejection of Yukiatsu from last episode's flashback? <OOOOORRR Maybe Anaru asked Menma for advice because she loved Jin-tan and Menma called the other two in to assist?>
- Ooo Poppo burn! :D
- "Am I the loner?" I'd say no. Everyone in the group seems to be "loners" in that they don't fit into the situations they've allowed themselves to be shoehorned into since Menma's death.
- Ok, she did notice. I wonder if that's tied in any way to her return?
- Is he going to do it? Is he finally going to attain peace with himself?
- GAH!!! Stupid nosebleed! WTF???
- Ah, that's what Poppo meant by not being honest.
- When did this become a harem comedy? ;)
- This ending... I just watched it 3 more times before finally closing VLC.
- NOOOOOOOO! Now I'm going to ponder what's in her diary all week! Curse you, next episode preview, curse yoooouuu!!

bear

05-20-2011, 12:06 PM

The more I watch the story the more the OP gets to me. :cry:

Jintan just wanders back into school and the teachers don't even notice, yet some old biddy passes gossip and Anaru gets called to the principal's office?? Given the Slut Sisters why would they even care what Anaru does?

Uh, Jintan I don't think you're speech had the effect you intended though it did shut everybody up for awhile.

Tsurumi seems surprised that the girls think that she's in love with Yukiatsu.

Visiting Menma's home after all this time? Mom is really out of it. She's way beyond grieving, and to give up the diary....

Well, given what nosebleeds signify, I think it's safe to say Jintan has feelings for Menma even if they are only sexual.

EmperorBrandon

05-20-2011, 10:59 PM

- Heh. I'm assuming this is some horror TV show about ghosts? The sub I'm watching didn't translate the TV's text.

At one point, it's clearly a scene from Occult Academy, another A-1 Pictures original anime series, on the TV.

And whoa, this episode was awesome. There were some very interesting scenes with a lot of the characters this around. Jinta was so incredibly awkward when he stood up in the classroom scene, but I actually felt a little relieved he got to do something to relieve the tension on Naruko having rumors spread about her. Things were so uneasy and depressing before then...

Jinta and the others visiting Menma's house made for some very powerful scenes, particularly when Jinta told Menma about it.

They certainly seem to be covering a lot of ground in the past few episodes. It kind of feels like this series has been rather well-paced, despite me wondering if it would be otherwise at first.

strangefour

05-20-2011, 11:27 PM

-JK! Maya! How you guys been doing?
-Poor Anaru. She's now the school's virgin whore. I wonder if her "friends" were the ones that spread the love hotel news.
-Jintan has balls. Big balls.
-Ugh. But you're still kind of an idiot.

-Popo gains a roommate.
-Anaru cleans up pornographic leavings.
-Menma's diary! *gasp*
-Poltergeist confiscation! *laugh*
-Ecchi Sketchy! *chuckle*
-Anaru is stronger than she looks.

Damn it people. Stop making me-- menma cry! This is the best tear jerker show in a while. For some reason a sad ghost is sadder than just a sad girl.

- The more I hear him brag about his travels, the more I think strangefour is right... That's sad, but I hope they have enough time to cover it. :depressed:

Yeah sorry `bout that. But he's totally bullshitting.

*after credits* "The ghost of a mother in law strikes back." What the Menma?

Sly05

05-20-2011, 11:34 PM

Anaru got caught. I know the episode said a teacher saw her but I wouldn't have put it past her two friends to have set her up. Either way, I doubt it was her friends' first time partaking in compensated dating.

Jintan makes an incredibly valiant if painfully awkward attempt to stand up for Anaru though I don't think saying a girl has a love hotel face is going to win him any points.

I loved the scene in Menma's bedroom. Having it be completely empty impacted me a lot more than if her parents had left it untouched.

mk2000

05-21-2011, 12:26 AM

- He has an iPhone 4. I think that's the first iPhone I've seen in an anime.

There was one in Summer Wars that had a lot of screen time.

bear

05-21-2011, 09:38 AM

I loved the scene in Menma's bedroom. Having it be completely empty impacted me a lot more than if her parents had left it untouched.
It brought me up short at the time because I'm used to seeing the bedroom as a shrine to the departed child trope. Given Menma's mom that's what you would have expected. It made her loss even more poignant.

something

05-21-2011, 08:33 PM

Episode 3:

- Wow, I can't believe I've only watched 2 episodes of this. It feels like so much more. Time for 4 eps in a row!
- ...I'm only at the OP and I'm already feeling a little emotionally overwhelmed. I don't know if I can even take four episodes of this in a row.

- Damn bitches. Naruko and Jintan had something nice going on and those assholes ruin it. Naruko fucked up too though.
- Menma is bored!
- Awwww... a ghost praying for the dead.

- Ventura ventura space people! ...Dude, Menma isn't an alien.
- Heh. Poppo saw ghost Menma's ghost!
- Yukiatsu is doing some shopping. >_>

- Hahah, Menma is so manipulative. "Ohh, this might be the wish I want fulfilled..."
- Son of a bitch. I'd already seen plenty of hair-down dress Naruko fanart but she's utterly stunning anyway. Daaaaaamn.
- Wtf, Tsuruko came. Seriously? Oh sure I know she wants to see Menma too, deep down, but I seriously did not expect her to come to something like this, at least not yet.
- Candles and fireworks. Mmmm, delicious!! :sd: God damn Naruko is to hot it's blinding.
- Poppo may be a goof, but he's a really good guy.
- ...How many candles did she bring? Each one is pretty bulky.
- Naruko is trying to get along but Tsuruko is just stone cold. ;_;
- Fuuuuck, I just love love love Naruko. Tsuruko is really being harsh with her but Naruko doesn't fight back.
- And it pays dividends when Tsuruko agrees to join up with the rest. Aww.

Yukiatsu arrives, and he's hard to read, but seems to me like he's just saying he can see Menma so he doesn't "lose" to Jintan.

THIS SHOW IS TOO GOOD.

And I need to import this ED. ::throws it on the wishlist for next order::

something

05-21-2011, 09:22 PM

Episode 4:

- Tsuruko is giving Yukiatsu such a look...

- Ooooh, smooth moves, Jintan. And Naruko, you should be as honest with him as you were with Tsuruko.
- FFFffffFFFFffFfff, that's where Menma died. Or similar at least. Damn.
- "If you can see Menma, please be kind to her." ;_;

- Menma is hilarious... "I wanted to see her too!" :sd:
- ...Yukiatsu is a very sad character. He's trying so hard to convince himself that he's seen Menma. It's just... pathetic.
- And now he's trying to break the group up so he can have his own monopoly on Menma. Or, well, his delusional desire for her.
- I hate you so much, Yukiatsu.
- And Tsuruko knows more than she's letting on.

- 2P Menma!
- Menma puppet show~
- Huh. Tsuruko is visiting Jintan.
- Gaaaah so much is going on I can barely stop to type. Beautiful subtle character moments everywhere. Tsuruko became interesting much earlier than I'd hoped, although I'm pretty sure her motivation in getting involved is to break Yukiatsu from his Menma obsession so she can swoop in and take him. Although, fuck, why would you want the guy?

- NARUKO SEXINESS ONCE AGAIN!! Oh god, bare shoulders and twin braids! GLORIOUS!
- "Gotta pee!" "Menma will go too!" HAHAHAHAH~
- It's pretty remarkable just how physical Menma's presence is. She can interact with physical matter 100%, as far as we have seen. Someone should notice the bed shaking or the brush breaking down ahead of them...

...Yep. Tsuruko knew. So did I, unfortunately (lots of spoilers out on that thar internet, what with all the Manma talk), but I'm not too devastated since they'd been very strongly leaning in that direction for a while. At least that's all I'm spoiled on, so it should be safe from here on out, if I can keep current.

At any rate... damn. Where does a story go from here?

And I love this ED. ;_;

something

05-21-2011, 09:57 PM

Episode 5:

- Damn. Well played, Anohana. Well fucking played. It should have been so easy to screw up that Yukiatsu scene, or come off with an unbalanced view of him, but it played it masterfully. Perfect mix of his despair and - somehow - making him a little bit sympathetic. Then revelations that he said something to Menma before she died, and Menma having Jintan say something that only Menma and Yukiatsu should know. Finally, Yukiatsu's comment to Tsuruko as he leaves. Phew.

- Great time to try to confess, Yukiatsu. >_> Menma was very cute as she awkwardly rejected him.
- And huh, Tsuruko has the original hairpin.
- Naruko jiggle! I can't get over how good she looks with her hair down.
- Menma eats pocky much too cutely.

- Yes, Naruko. Stop being friends with those two. Please. The sooner the better.
- Especially when being with them lands you in situations like this. You know she's not like her friends when she actually thought he was taking her to the train station. :sd: Don't do it, Naruko!
- Okay. You're still kind of a creep, Yukiatsu, but if you want to start redeeming yourself this was a very very good first step. Good job saving Naruko, dude.

- What. No. Naruko will not date you.
- Heh... he just wanted to get an inadvertent confession out of her about Jintan. And she's beyond adorable doing it.

...Oh god. The ED begins just as Menma starts crying and it absolutely kills me.

I don't know if words can even describe how Menma much feel. All she knows is that she's dead, yet she's suddenly back with her childhood friend. Wishes? The afterlife? She has no idea what to do about all that. She's just been plunked down in this strange situation without knowing anything. That's... somehow both beautiful and cruel. She has a chance to see all the friends she loves so much, but she also knows that she's causing them pain. And she herself wants to talk to them, wants it so badly.

But her voice just doesn't reach.

something

05-21-2011, 10:38 PM

Episode 6:

- Jintan is watching Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin. :sd:
- Every time Menma turns into a flower at the beginning and ending of the OP I get a little pain in my chest. ;_;

- ...Heh. Jintan finally goes to school, but hardly anyone noticed since Naruko is the talk of the class.
- Ugh, I want Jintan to snap and bitch the whole class out, but I don't want him to ruin his chances of reintegrating on his first day. Poor Naruko, though. ;_;
- Well, nevermind, there he goes. Awkwardly...
- This is painful. >_> Jintan... You could have been much cooler about this. But I suppose trying to be Naruko's white knight would just make people think she's banging you too.
- Woooooooooah, okay dude, you're totaly falling apart. STOP TALKING.
- Alright. You finally got around to the point. It was a bit tortured, but you said what you were trying to say.
- Okay now you need to go back to not talking anymore! :sd:

- Oh god, I think it might have actually worked. Hahah, oh man. And even Naruko's bitch friends are feeling bad?
- So Naruko is going to run away from home and sleep in a shack in the woods where a weird drifter spends his days. I don't think that will squash the rumors!

- Crap, don't cry, Memna's mom. I'll cry again too. ;_;
- Hmm what's that look she gave Jintan? Did she hear about what he said?
- And her room is empty. I thought it'd be a situation where they left it untouched over the years.

- "Be careful, there have been a lot of weirdos around recently." Okay, I totally lol'd hearing that come from Yukiatsu's mouth.
- Hmm he and Tsuruko seem to have hit on something.

- Ah. Her room had been left as is, but finally they cleaned it up.
- The diary. So that's how mom knows about what Jintan said to Menma, isn't it?
- No Menma, you don't really want anyone to forget about you. Least of all your mother.
- Tension breaking nosebleed!

- Virgins!

Huh, first time the ED has started from the beginning in a long time. I don't think my mind will ever not be blown each time the flower shower animation freezes and then reverses in full color.

And I'm caught up. Damnit, I want more. ;_;

something

05-21-2011, 10:43 PM

-Poor Anaru. She's now the school's virgin whore. I wonder if her "friends" were the ones that spread the love hotel news.
Hmm. Hard to read. There are a couple reasons why they might have done it (trying to "liven things up", or just trying to break off with her for good) but their faces at the end of that scene were a bit more ambiguous.

Fencedude

05-21-2011, 11:16 PM

Damn, I thought Naruko was going to snap there when she was frantically writing in her notebook. And Jintan was almost cool!

I hope Naruko's "friends" feel like shit.

And damn, Menma. Damn.

William K

05-22-2011, 12:09 AM

HitokiriShadow

05-22-2011, 12:25 AM

Wow, Jin was actually kind of awesome there. Of course, naturally, he ends up saying too much and says some things that tick her off too.

Meanwhile, Tsuruko and Yukiatsu remember something interesting...

HitokiriShadow

05-22-2011, 12:32 AM

-JK! Maya! How you guys been doing?
-Poor Anaru. She's now the school's virgin whore. I wonder if her "friends" were the ones that spread the love hotel news.

I thought they might turn out to have planned Naruko's trip to the love hotel, setting it up with the guy(s) before hand, but nothing has happened yet to actually suggest they did. And even if they did, they didn't seem complicit with the rumor-mongering going on in this episode.

HitokiriShadow

05-22-2011, 12:37 AM

PosterAnonymous

05-22-2011, 01:43 AM

- Heh. I'm assuming this is some horror TV show about ghosts? The sub I'm watching didn't translate the TV's text.

At one point, it's clearly a scene from Occult Academy, another A-1 Pictures original anime series, on the TV.

Never saw the show, hence my ignorance. Forgive me for not seeing every anime ever made. :)

- He has an iPhone 4. I think that's the first iPhone I've seen in an anime.

There was one in Summer Wars that had a lot of screen time.

Another one I haven't seen. Cool. :)

Huh, first time the ED has started from the beginning in a long time. I don't think my mind will ever not be blown each time the flower shower animation freezes and then reverses in full color.

Yup, gives me goosebumps every time. When I shared the ED on FB, even my non-anime loving friends commented on liking it

It's not just me?? AWESOME! :) I love that moment where their eyes close, the music pauses, the camera pulls back, and the flowers change colors.

As for Jin-tan's Menma-induced nosebleed, I think that was caused more by the fact he was just excited in general (not sexual). I'm beginning to come around to the common consensus that he did like Menma, but the nosebleed started before Menma pinned him. ;)

EmperorBrandon

05-22-2011, 02:17 PM

Never saw the show, hence my ignorance. Forgive me for not seeing every anime ever made. :)p

I didn't intend to say that in a "you should know, since you should have seen it" sort of way. Sorry if it came across that way. :sweat: I was just pointing out what it was.

It did think it was kind of appropriate to have a show about the "occult" on when he is wondering about ghost Menma. Occult Academy even has one short arc focusing on a ghost girl.

Ashyukun

05-22-2011, 09:44 PM

- The diary. So that's how mom knows about what Jintan said to Menma, isn't it?

You mean about her being ugly? I've been under the impression she died pretty shortly after she ran off and never got home after that, so she wouldn't have been able to write about that.
They've never said or let on to exactly when it happened... it could have been when she chased off after Jintan, or the next day. We just know that Jintan didn't see her between the thoughtless insult and her death- we don't know whether the two prep-schoolers were talking about being called out to the hideout the day Jintan insulted Menma or the following day- just that it was almost certainly the day she died.

This show is pretty firmly the most powerful of the ones on at the moment- it tugs at the heartstrings HARD. It's a serious pity it's not being simulcast- hopefully someone will license after all though. And both songs and their accompanying animations are just perfect.

bear

05-26-2011, 08:24 PM

Geeze, watching the OP I still mist up a bit.

So we finally get the reading of the diary. Typical kid stuff, but they do get a clue as to her wish: a firework to send a note to God. Oh great, Menma's dad stands in their way....

Ok, so Anaru's feelings are beginning to show and Jintan is reacting. I hope those two get their act together and manage to get through school.

The relationship between Tsuruko and Yukiatsu is still murky.

So Jintan wasn't invited to the meeting Menma called. That means she didn't die immediately after the meeting where Jintan insulted her.

Menma's Mom's comment at her shrine: What the hell did that mean?

Fencedude

05-26-2011, 11:51 PM

Well.

Things were going smoothly up till the end, now they have to deal with Menma's father.

And Menma's mother...might not be entirely with it...

Sly05

05-27-2011, 07:53 PM

Menma's dairy is all basically the same entry. If ghost Menma keeps a diary, I would be surprised if her entries changed much.

Fireworks are expensive. Good to see Jintan being successful at his jobs though he makes another painfully awkward attempt to defend Anaru. Speaking of Anaru, she shouldn't have been too surprised her mom was pissed off. Not many mothers would be too pleased when the daughters are going on dates with middle age creeps.

strangefour

05-29-2011, 10:22 PM

-Beef bowl curry retreat! Poppo, you are awesome.
-"Make sure not to do weird stuff." Being lectured. By a ghost. Who plays video games. And eats ramen.
-Fireworks are too expensive. You kids need to build a bottle rocket. Pressure vessel power!
-Pig? That is an unflattering shirt Anaru.
-Jintan is Working!!

I guess I have to be the one to say it: Anaru has shacked up with Poppo. I love Menma's diary. She continues to make me start to cry every episode.

Menma's Mom's comment at her shrine: What the hell did that mean?

She's either the real crazy one not the kid who sees her ghost, or I don't understand what she said. Maybe a bit of both.

Ashyukun

05-30-2011, 12:08 AM

She's either the real crazy one not the kid who sees her ghost, or I don't understand what she said. Maybe a bit of both.
I interpreted it as follows:

She has also read the diary- probably quite a number of times as a matter of fact in trying to find some reason or logic behind what happened as a grieving mother. So she has probably surmised, at least in part, what they're trying to do with the fireworks- especially with the timing of it coming right after they were given the diary. She's also come to the conclusion that it's time for them to let things go, and probably also stop forcing her to re-visit everything that has happened in her own mind (as Menma herself worried about) and thus probably leaned on her husband to quash the firework-building.

HitokiriShadow

05-30-2011, 07:54 AM

Looks like Menma's mom put a stop to a Jinta-tachi doing the fireworkds because she doesn't like them still clinging to their memory of Menma. Dealing with her should be interesting.

Meanwhile, lots of Anaru being Anaru and Menma being adorable, and both of them being highly amusing.

Menma has interesting ways of making decisions. "If the dog's a female, then Jinta is being weird" "Today's dog is a female..." *Menma faceplants cutely*

bear

05-30-2011, 09:17 AM

She has also read the diary- probably quite a number of times as a matter of fact in trying to find some reason or logic behind what happened as a grieving mother. So she has probably surmised, at least in part, what they're trying to do with the fireworks- especially with the timing of it coming right after they were given the diary. She's also come to the conclusion that it's time for them to let things go, and probably also stop forcing her to re-visit everything that has happened in her own mind (as Menma herself worried about) and thus probably leaned on her husband to quash the firework-building.
Didn't think of her reading the diary. Of course the question I still have is: Did they read all of it?. I got the impression that they stopped when they got to the fireworks and we know that Menma had a meeting planned without Jintan. Maybe mom knows that they're off track and is trying to get them to look closer at the diary.

HitokiriShadow

05-30-2011, 09:55 AM

StudioZEL

06-02-2011, 08:56 PM

strangefour

06-04-2011, 11:51 PM

-Menma's mom ends up crying when the kids come to visit.
-Anaru cries confessing she was happy Jintan said he didn't like Menma that fateful day.
-The Dog of Flanders makes Jintan cry. Not.
-During Jintan's waterfalls, memories of Jintan's mom make Menma cry. And me.
-Muscle party. *cough*
-Menma says hi. *:cry:

Lots of crying this time. Not just Menma, half the cast turns on the water works. Which causes Menma to finally make the move to poltergeist noticed by more than Jintan.

something

06-05-2011, 02:08 AM

Episode 7:

- Naruko tiiiiiime! She wants in your antisocial pants, Jintan.
- And Poppo has the worst timing.
- OP visuals still blow me away.
- Put your message in a bottle rocket! It's all the rage this season!

- Menma is bored! Cutely. And yet only the second cutest character in this show!
- Hah, she's staring him down. She doesn't trust him...
- ...and she shouldn't. He skips after all.
- So they're still all about the fireworks. But holy crap, ¥200k?

- Holy shit, Jintan got a job! Working with Naruko. Heh. Naruko, he may be able to master the register faster than you but it'd gonna take a lot longer for him to master the people...
- Hahaha that was a seriously disturbing greeting. But he breaks the tension!
- Naruko really got the short end of the nickname stick... I don't even use that one. :sd: BUT SHE'S SO CUTE!

- Tsuruko is wearing the hair clip? That's honestly a little fucked up.

- I love how Menma just sits at the table like a normal living person.
- Ooh, she hears about the part time job. And then the fireworks. And then the construction site. I guess that's one job Jintan is capable of. Night time, no customers...
- Awww, she turns the light on for him.

Oh shit. Oooooh shit. The villain... Is Menma's mom! Or her dad, the fireworks guy didn't clarify. But the last scene implies it's mom.

(Okay, not a "villain" but certainly the obstacle. Damn. How is that going to play out?)

Fencedude

06-05-2011, 02:41 AM

Ah Geeze!

Thread titles! Watch your thread titles! Please!

EmperorBrandon

06-05-2011, 02:41 AM

What bothers me about AnoHana is that from the very beginning, all Jintan had to do is say "Hey, Menma! Grab some object and walk around holding it so everyone can see it float around of it's own free will! They'll know you're there!!"

Yet, neither Jintan nor Menma thought of this because they are F***ING MORONS!! >_<

Given that you think they would have done something like that by now, it might be that Menma, possibly unknowingly, is limited in how much she can affect things and get people to perceive her. I wouldn't rule it out, given what Menma herself seems to know about her situation is rather limited too. Maybe it is just for the drama, though. Who knows...

Fencedude

06-05-2011, 02:43 AM

Well, lots of crying this episode. The scene with Naruko in the office was probably the strongest of the episode.

And seriously, it took this long for Menma to figure out how to prove she exists?

EmperorBrandon

06-05-2011, 02:44 AM

Ah Geeze!

Thread titles! Watch your thread titles! Please!

Er... yeah, I was getting confused. Should we migrate responses to strangefour's subthread (since he started a brand new one it seems)? I went ahead and did that with my response.

something

06-05-2011, 02:48 AM

Make sure to talk about episodes in subthread with subject lines, guys. So reply to strangefour's post.

Episode 8:

- Oh Poppo, you have no idea how off you are. Menma's father may be in charge of the festival but it's mom who is behind this.

- Hmm she's playing it off like she had nothing to do with it. Why?
- Fuuuck. She's... a very broken woman. We already knew that she had never come to terms with Menma's death but it's much worse than that.
- And it's imploding the group's chance at stability, which in turn is just going to hurt Menma.
- So Jintan calls it off and decides to handle it on his own. Not what Menma wanted!

- Naruko ponytail~
- Shiiiiit. Naruko finally puts it all out in the open, and goes down in flames. Poor poor Naruko. ;_;

- ...Dad didn't notice the sheet on the bed hovering over an invisible lump?

- Finally. Sounds like Menma is planning to prove her existence to the others. This will, of course, backfire spectacularly. But it's something that she needs to do before anything gets resolved.
- Calling Tsuruko and Yukiatsu... and words aren't heard, but something is. Could that be the beginning of hearing her?
- Ahhh, interesting. Menma's little brother is talking to Jintan. And he knows his mom is nutty.

- So Jintan heads to the secret base to talk to Naruko and... shit, this is not going well at all.
- Hey, Menma! You're there! Shit is getting really, really bad. You can fully interact with physical matter, this has been proven repeatedly. Do something!

Oh god. I thought she was going to be holding Yukiatsu's fist back, but dropping the diary and leaving a note was pretty amazing. She could have done something much more unambiguous but this carried some great emotional weight. Damn.

Fuck. Need more. I can't believe there are only 3 episodes left. But we are on track to end properly, I think... everything is rapidly approaching a climax. Menma's wish is definitely just a wish for everyone to get along. Maybe, with this, she'll have brought the Super Peace Busters together. What remains is her broken family... which will be much harder.

I really hope Jintan makes Naruko happy after Menma is finally put to rest. You better not ever let Naruko cry again, damnit!

something

06-05-2011, 02:53 AM

Fencedude

06-05-2011, 03:01 AM

Still love how she chose to tell them - but she could have at least put the date mentioned what Naruko was wearing or something. =P

"PS: Anaru's boobs got huge!"

bear

06-05-2011, 10:06 AM

Sorry, I swear I thought I'd changed the title. I hope that doesn't screw things up. Deleted the incorrect one.

Ah Geeze! Just when I think they can't mess with my emotions anymore they do this. One emotional scene after another. The OP always makes me sad but they never let up through the whole episode.

Could they make Menma any sadder and cuter???

Now people are beginning to admit to their real feelings.

Menma's mom shows how she really feels this time. Understandable. Why my child? Why are you still walking around when she's not?

I really felt for Menma's brother. He gets the blowback from Menma's death and doesn't get the love he deserves because his mother can't put it behind her.

Anaru finally admits to Jintan that she's always been in love with him, but he brushes her off. Stop being an ass Jintan.

WTF? So everyone has some guilt related to Menma's death. What did all of them do to Menma???

Menma finally gives them proof that she's there.

bear

06-05-2011, 10:22 AM

something

06-05-2011, 12:39 PM

For example, one thought that crossed my mind was that maybe Menma isn't a "ghost". Maybe Jintan was right when he said she was a manifestation of his stress. By that I mean that she's a poltergeist. He created her from his memories of Menma. She has some free will but only knows what Jintan remembers of her.
The main reason I'm still accepting the straight-up supernatural ghost explanation is that it fits with what I now assume her wish to be. That is, before she died she was calling together a meeting of everyone but Jintan - the fact that it was her who called it and that she didn't call him were major plot reveals - so clearly she wanted to say something about him, or do something for him, or whatever. Maybe it was to ask them not to get mad at his unintended "ugly" insult. Or maybe it was his birthday soon, and she wanted to use that opportunity to cool tensions. Maybe she was going to be moving away, and wanted everyone's advice on how to make up with Jintan before she left.

Whatever it was, it was about him. And he had no knowledge of it, so it makes more sense to me for her return to be driven by something else. Or maybe I just like the idea of this being her wandering spirit needing to tell him something before it can rest better than Jintan just being crazy.

strangefour

06-05-2011, 09:29 PM

Sorry, I swear I thought I'd changed the title. I hope that doesn't screw things up. Deleted the incorrect one.

Oh that's my whoops too. I saw there was a new subthread. But saw that it wasn't labeled Episode 8, so figured it was a discussion of the story up till now subthread. I didn't even think to read it to see if you were talking about episode eight. :x

Ashyukun

06-06-2011, 09:15 PM

Maybe it is just for the drama, though.
Definitely just for the drama. She can eat food, play video games, move all sorts of objects around, sit on people, bump into people, pull on people... The only reason this show hasn't had her do the obvious thing is because it'd cut down big-time on the drama. So yeah, it takes some suspension of disbelief. Think about it too much and it kinda sucks the enjoyment out, so I try not to. Though I fail at not. :sd:

Well since this is a story the writers could always come up with some reason why she doesn't do something like that. Sort of like Star Trek always had a new radiation or technology when they needed it.

For example, one thought that crossed my mind was that maybe Menma isn't a "ghost". Maybe Jintan was right when he said she was a manifestation of his stress. By that I mean that she's a poltergeist. He created her from his memories of Menma. She has some free will but only knows what Jintan remembers of her. That would explain why she doesn't remember what her wish was, because Jintan doesn't know what it was. She doesn't interact with the others because Jintan doesn't really want her to. When she has interacted it's been a spur of the moment thing. Only when he was about to get pounded by Yukiatsu did he let her interact because he was distracted. This probably not the explanation but maybe they will provide a better one.

Nope, sorry- they've already once had her reveal something that Jintan didn't know about: telling Yukiatsu that she was sorry about the hair clip. He had no idea what it meant, but said it anyway- and we saw that he couldn't have known what happened with it since he ran off before that. I'd solidly believe that she really is Menma's ghost, and is acting of her own impulse- but we've seen that she's not exactly the brightest bulb in the bunch- her own mother said she was afraid she'd forget she was dead (which, at the beginning, she effectively had).

I think the rocket will still play into things- it's in the OP rather noticeably.

Regardless, this show is hitting QUITE hard emotionally- as much as I'm enjoying [C], this should really have been the one being streamed- it's fantastic.

bear

06-09-2011, 08:10 PM

Hopefully, I got everything set up right this time.

Well, at least the writers were not doing a totally sloppy job with respect to Menma being able to manipulate things. We now see her do it in front of the others and the gang even comments on why she didn't do it before (maybe they've been reading this thread;)).

Tsuruko complaining about Anaru grabbing her when they saw thing floating in the air then her doing the same thing to Anaru. :sdsmiley:

Menma not being able to write except in the secret base (her diary and the wall) is interesting.

The bridge scene where she was looking at the carp brings up the question of was this how she died?

So the rocket is a major point of the story. A banner?

One thing that I find depressing about shows like this (and harem shows also) is that someone is going to be left out in the cold. Here, it looks like both girls are losing out to Menma. Neither Yukiatsu nor Jintan can let go of Menma. It doesn't look like that is going to change and there's a danger one or both of them isn't going to make it to the end alive. Even if they do, I don't think things are going to work out happily.

Yukiatsu's trying to hook up with Anaru I guess. Which means it looks like Tsuruko is left out in the cold. I wonder if it's because Anaru likes Jintan and it's a way for him to "win" against Jintan.

HitokiriShadow

06-09-2011, 08:29 PM

Oh good, Menma finally does something to prove she's there to the group. I was wondering how much longer the show would avoid doing something like this, as we knew she had a physical presence and could interact with objects and people to a degree, making it fairly easy to prove her presence. And given that one of the biggest problems is that no one else in the group believes that she's there....

When they showed Menma's mom, Yukiatsu, and the others there and talked about how they're suffering, I think it became pretty obvious what exactly Menma's "wish" is. She wants people to stop suffering over her death.

Also, damn, that Naruko scene with Jinta. ;_;

StudioZEL

06-09-2011, 08:52 PM

Yukiatsu's trying to hook up with Anaru I guess. Which means it looks like Tsuruko is left out in the cold. I wonder if it's because Anaru likes Jintan and it's a way for him to "win" against Jintan.

This is probably half the reason, easily. The other two reasons consisting of "They're going through the same pain of loving someone who can't/won't love them back" and "Boobs!". :-P

Sly05

06-09-2011, 09:44 PM

Far from bringing everyone closer together, the reveal that Jintan isn't nuts or a liar about Menma drives a further wedge between the group. Yukiatsu is jealous that he can't see or talk to Menma while both Anaru and Tsuruko feel that they can't live up to her. No ones romantic prospects are looking all that good.

Poppo almost reveals more about how Menma died but backs down, curses. I guess there are only two episodes left so it has to be revealed soon at least.

strangefour

06-11-2011, 03:29 PM

-HAUNTED MUFFINS!
-Running can be dangerous for the dead.
-Yuki has snapped.
-Anaru's wearing her pig shirt again. :(
-Anaru you can measure up. You measure so much more than Menma in so many ways! Okay she has you beat in pure energetic cuteness, but that's all.
-Defend your honor from Yuki's pathetic advances Anaru! That side jump was super cuter. Menma better watch out.
-Can Menma catch a carp?

Menma's started to do her poltergeisting in public. But apparently can't write in the presence of nonbelievers. Poor Anaru is jealous and sad. While the worst crossdresser hits on her. Damn it Jintan, start caring about the hot living girls too!

Fencedude

06-12-2011, 01:36 AM

I really could do without Tsuruko angsting over Yukiatsu getting together with Naruko. Seriously.

And yeah, Jintan doesn't want Menma to go away.

something

06-12-2011, 03:28 AM

Episode 9:

- Yes! She carried the plate over with Jintan nowhere near. Now they can't say it's him! I've been waiting for her to do something like this.
- Oh Yukiatsu. Don't make Menma feel sad when she's so happy.
- Tsuruko and Naruko hugging. =D Well, sort of.
- Huh. Menma can't write on it? Maybe she can only write in her diary because it's something from when she was alive? Bit of an arbitrary restriction when she can interact with everything else.

- Damnit Tsuruko, don't be such a buzzkill.
- Yukiatsu, you're awful. Jintan was keeping her to himself? Really? Man, fuck you. I bet you want to "send her to heaven" not because it will put her ghost to rest, but because you dont want Jintan to have anything you dont.

- Naruko and that ponytail... damn.
- I feel so bad for her. ;_;

- I don't feel bad for Yukiatsu though. Maybe a bit for Tsuruko, having to hear him say he loved Menma right in front of her. Even if she knew it already.
- Jintan has really made a lot of progress. He's talking quite comfortably with Tsuruko and Yukiatsu, the two most difficult Busters.
- Oh wow, Yukiatsu asks if she's pretty. And huh, he never told them that Menma grew up too. This time Yukiatsu gives a better answer than last time...

- Yukiatsu's approach worked, it seems. The fireworks will be made.
- Naruko is too sexy. No matter what she wears. Just too sexy.
- Uhhhh Jintan, maybe you shouldn't interact with Menma like that in front of people who will think you're crazy.

- This is far from the first time they've been pushing Naruko x Yukiatsu... it's... fuck, what do I think about it? In a really, really bizarre way I think I'd be able to accept it at the minimum level required for it to not piss me off, but it is not, repeat not ideal. I don't trust Yukiatsu to really know how to love anyone other than Menma anyway. And I really, really like Naruko x Jintan.
- And of course Tsuruko sees. Fuck, what should she be thinking? She's stuck with Yukiatsu all this time. Put up with all his bullshit. And he's interested in Naruko now? She must want to scream.

- Menma is going to hang out with Poppo. That... wouldn't that get a bit awkward? Two people who can't communicate with each other, alone together.
- Yep. She can only write in her diary. Interesting.
- Menma. MENMA! Stay away from water and heights! Goddamnit! But, a ghost can't die, can it?

- Okay, maybe it's Jintan who needs to be careful. :sd:
- Damn. Visceral reaction to seeing Menma near water. She doesn't seem bothered at all, which makes me wonder if she remembers how she died. Or maybe she's just not worried since she knows she's already dead.

I can't remember the last time we saw 100% of the ED animation.

Another week, another drop-dead phenomenal episode of AnoHana. This show always fries my brain. I can't do anything after watching it but put Secret Base on loop for an hour and stare at the walls.

We're so close to the end. So close... I can't fathom not having this show anymore.

something

06-12-2011, 03:33 AM

It doesn't look like that is going to change and there's a danger one or both of them isn't going to make it to the end alive. Even if they do, I don't think things are going to work out happily.
I don't think there's enough time left to kill anyone off. AnoHana doesn't seem like a show that would do that without leaving the appropriate time to deal with the aftermath. I'll also be surprised if everyone is not happy in the end. How would Menma feel if her involvement just resulted in a BAD END? No, I think that tears will be shed, voices will be raises, a slap or two will be shared. But there's going to be a happy ending. There has to be.

Yukiatsu's trying to hook up with Anaru I guess. Which means it looks like Tsuruko is left out in the cold. I wonder if it's because Anaru likes Jintan and it's a way for him to "win" against Jintan.
Huh, that seems so obvious now that I'm not sure why it wasn't my assumption since he talked to her on the train. He doesn't like Naruko, he just wants to take something away from Jintan. Yukiatsu really is fucked up. And sad.

bear

06-12-2011, 09:39 AM

I don't think there's enough time left to kill anyone off. AnoHana doesn't seem like a show that would do that without leaving the appropriate time to deal with the aftermath. I'll also be surprised if everyone is not happy in the end.

That's my problem. I just don't see how everything is going to be resolved happily in the time left. Maybe it's not. Menma's mom is a wreck and I don't see that changing. Jintan is as bad off now as he was before. He can't bear the thought of Menma leaving. How is that going to be fixed unless he dies so he can join her? If she leaves he's screwed, if she stays he's still going to be a mess.

Naruko is hung up on him but there doesn't seem to be any reciprocation. I don't see Naruko and Yukiatsu making a go of it. She's not that smart and he's almost the top of his class at what seems to be a prestigious high school. At least Yukiatsu is trying to put Menma behind him, but I don't think it's working.

We still don't know what the deal is, if any, with both Tsuruko and Poppo. I've been wondering if the assumption that Tsuruko is interested in Yukiatsu is wrong and she really was in love with Menma. I can't figure her out yet. But that's partly because I don't see a happy ending related to her if she loves Yukiatsu.

It seems almost as if the writers are not going to send Menma off and are angling for another cour to resolve things.

HitokiriShadow

06-12-2011, 10:40 AM

Poor Naruko. Her rival has been dead for the better part of a decade and she's still losing to her.

And now Tsuruko goes from losing to the dead girl to losing to the other girl who's losing to the dead girl. Ouch.

HitokiriShadow

06-12-2011, 10:48 AM

That's my problem. I just don't see how everything is going to be resolved happily in the time left. Maybe it's not.

I don't think they have to make everything happy. They just have to show that everyone is finally moving on and getting over Menma's death. Not everyone has to be happy, just better off than when the show started, particularly in terms of dealing with Menma's death. It's pretty clear that while none of them gone as far south as Jintan, none of them had really gotten over Menma's death either. Well, except maybe Naruko, as her issues aren't with Menma's death itself but with its effects on her relationship with Jinta.

something

06-12-2011, 01:37 PM

That's my problem. I just don't see how everything is going to be resolved happily in the time left. Maybe it's not. Menma's mom is a wreck and I don't see that changing. Jintan is as bad off now as he was before.
Yes, they're all a mess. But I disagree that they're necessarily worse off than before, because they're a mess together. I think that's the important part. Sure, there was less drama in their lives before Menma came back and brought them together, but they were still deeply hurt people with a big void in their lives. That kind of void needs to be confronted, and this is doing it. Things always get worse before they get better, in these stories.

By getting their issues out in the open, they've inadvertantly created a situation where one big event (say, fireworks!) could do much to heal it all. There are two fundamental hang-ups. Guilt over Menma's death and an inability of two of the guys to maintain serious relationships with anyone else. Should Menma finally be put to rest, convince Jintan and Yukiatsu to let go, and reassure everyone that she does not resent them, that fixes a lot. Jintan should then realize what a good thing he's got in Naruko. Yukiatsu the same, with Tsuruko. Poppo should understand that he doesn't need to run away anymore. Mom and dad will see the fireworks and get a quick visit from a suddenly-visible Menma and know their daughter wants them to move on. Menma's brother will no longer be ignored. And so on. Really, I can see a lot of good coming from a brief visit from Menma, and none of it would feel inappropriate.

Also, I'm about 40-50% expecting the epilogue to be a significant flash forward of 10 years. That's a lot of time to let the details sort themselves out.

It seems almost as if the writers are not going to send Menma off and are angling for another cour to resolve things.
Mmm... I don't know. There's no way they could have predicted beforehand that it would sell anywhere near preorder estimates are putting it at, and I guess it feels much too tightly plotted so far for them to have looked at the preorder numbers a month ago or so and say "uh oh better switch gears".

bear

06-12-2011, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by bear :
It seems almost as if the writers are not going to send Menma off and are angling for another cour to resolve things.
Mmm... I don't know. There's no way they could have predicted beforehand that it would sell anywhere near preorder estimates are putting it at, and I guess it feels much too tightly plotted so far for them to have looked at the preorder numbers a month ago or so and say "uh oh better switch gears".

I was thinking along the lines of a "pseudo" end, where they were hoping for another cour but couldn't guarantee it. Where things are resolved up to some point but room is left for more. Ex: Menma doesn't disapear and continues to live with Jintan, Naruko and Yukiatsu start dating and everyone feels that Menma has forgiven them. "Happy" ending. Everything seems ok but nothing really resolved. What ever the real issues are are never dealt with.

something

06-12-2011, 04:45 PM

I was thinking along the lines of a "pseudo" end, where they were hoping for another cour but couldn't guarantee it. Where things are resolved up to some point but room is left for more.
Maybe... obviously without reading their thoughts I can't be sure but I guess the recent history of noitaminA wouldn't encourage me to even fathom a second season of anything. Sales have been low, and more importantly, ratings were at rock bottom for the block. AnoHana has revived it in a huge, huge way but that's been a shock to pretty much everyone.

bear

06-16-2011, 08:59 PM

Ok, I watched this with a lump in my throat.

We do know why Poppo is so loyal to the group. They accepted him when everyone else thought he was an idiot. His actions at the party shows he's more aware of things than he even realizes. Forcing Jintan to tell Menma how he felt and then stoping Jintan from running away was not something I expected of him, but it was the right things to do.

Only one more episode and nothings resolved.

Neither Jintan nor Yukiatsu have been able to put their feelings for her behind them. Yukiatsu did force the situation so Jintan could say what he really wanted to back then, but he's so hung up on Menma he's willing to keep her around as a ghost regardless of what that would do to her and to him.

Tsuruko has at least admitted her feelings for Yukiatsu to Anaru. It seemed obvious but it explains her personality. She's totally shut down her emotions so she can deal with the situation.

It looks like Menma is expecting to join Jintan's mom in heaven. She met with her alone in the hospital and we know she wanted to bring the group together to do something for Jintan. That is probably why she hasn't left yet. Could it be something to do with Jintan's mom?

Menma keeps looking at the palms of her hands. Wonder what that means.

Only one more episode. Seems way to short. All of the character's personalities are starting to be fleshed out. It would have been nice if they could have given more time to that.

bored@lazy

06-18-2011, 03:48 AM

Ah, I've finally caught up so now I can actually partake in the discussion.. :P

My feelings as they currently stand are that I hope Ano Hana does not get another season, I feel it would just cheapen everything that's happened thus far. Especially if it's artificially extended.
As for how it'll all end, I don't mind if it's not a particularly happy ending as long as it fits in with the themes of the series(and that Naruko stays as far away as possible from Yukiatsu :P).

strangefour

06-18-2011, 10:39 PM

Time for another fantastic episode of Menma makes me cry.

-Megane Anaru!
-Tsuruko has emotions!
-Something only Anaru can do?
-This is the saddest party ever. Not counting Menma's unstoppable Menmaness.
-Yuki you are an asshole.
-Aww Anaru & Tsuruko share a tender moment of unrequited loves.
-Yuki you are a creepy bastard!
-Menma Banzai! :cry:

Menma keeps looking at the palms of her hands. Wonder what that means.

She's becoming transparent. So she's disappearing on her own because of time or they are finally getting closer to her "wish." Which at this point seems to be either "lets all be friends forever" or something like "you don't need me any more Jintan."

Fencedude

06-19-2011, 12:50 AM

That was a hell of a firework.

And goddamn Tsuruko, why did you do that to your hair?

Ingraman

06-19-2011, 02:18 AM

Ok, I watched this with a lump in my throat.

I didn't cry, but my eyes were tearing up and I got the sniffles... ;_;

Forcing Jintan to tell Menma how he felt and then stoping Jintan from running away was not something I expected of him, but it was the right things to do. That was a good scene.

Tsuruko has at least admitted her feelings for Yukiatsu to Anaru. It seemed obvious but it explains her personality. She's totally shut down her emotions so she can deal with the situation.I look forward to seeing what they do next episode...

It looks like Menma is expecting to join Jintan's mom in heaven. I'd love to see that, but I don't expect it.

;_; <sniff> I'm loving this show.

something

06-19-2011, 10:56 PM

Episode 10:

- Oh wow, Menma is starting to fade. You can see through her right hand.
- Megane Naruko!
- "He's into crossdressing." >_> Well it's true! But damn, she's not happy about what she saw last time.
- Poppo is really, really fragile beneath that big merry exterior. He's going to be crying a lot when Menma disappears...
- Finally some signs that Menma's mother might be able to come to terms with Menma's death? Go go Satoshi. And dad was pretty good too. You both need to wake that woman up. Menma would not have wanted things to be like this.

- Naruko finds another way to lookg sexy.
- Damn, Tsuruko is harsh. She's not going to let Yukiatsu run away from this... away from her.

- Party is missing people. ;_;
- There they are!
- ...What did Yukiatsu ask Naruko to do? She looks really nervous.
- "Please be my friends until the very end." ;____;

- ...What, Yukiatsu? Oh that's great. Role playing. Role playing something very awkward.
- Oh shit. Naruko went with it, though she looks terrified. And Poppo... he's kind of scary.
- Boy it must have gotten awkward after that, but we don't see it. We do see Naruko going back with Tsuruko though. She's a wreck. Aww...
- Damn. I was kinda hoping Tsuruko would hug Naruko there. Great scene though.

- Ouuuuuch. Menma is super happy but what she's saying has to be painful for Jintan.
- Jintan... you shouldn't have said that. But then, he needed to get it out somehow.
- Wow... Menma handled that very well. She knows she doesn't have forever, even if she wanted to stay like this. Will her straightforward answer be what Jintan needs?

- Meanwhile, Yukiatsu... >_>

- God damn, are they shooting off a firework or launching a space shuttle?
- Woaaaaaah way to rejection haircut, Tsuruko! It... does not suit you at all, holy crap.
- Satoshiiiii! He's a pretty awesome dude. And Menma is so happy to see him, aww....
- Although with him there they can't talk to Menma so openly.
- Oh god this is getting dangerous. Jintan is thinking of stopping it. Yukiatsu is going to make it happen no matter what.
- But before he can stop it...

Damn.

Of course the firework wasn't it. Of course she wouldn't disappear just like that. It's not a physical event that will send her off... it's only when everyone involved accepts her death - and that includes accepting each other - that she can really pass on. Jintan rejected it at the last second, and until he accepts it, she can't move on.

(Editing of the ED sequence got a little weird since they went into a part of the song they usually don't, but the last note fit the last shot well. Speaking of the ED... I always have to wind down from this show by putting it on loop for about ab hour.)

something

06-19-2011, 11:03 PM

It looks like Menma is expecting to join Jintan's mom in heaven. She met with her alone in the hospital and we know she wanted to bring the group together to do something for Jintan. That is probably why she hasn't left yet. Could it be something to do with Jintan's mom?
I don't know if it's directly about his mother or what, but the conversation about reincarnation has me half expecting an epilogue with Menma being reborn as Naruko and Jintan's child... spiritually and all, not actually as Menma, physically and emotionally.

Asrialys

06-21-2011, 09:49 PM

Finally started watching a spring show, and it looks like I chose well. The emotional turmoil of the characters is pretty heavy. Although, there's a sense that no one is really changing for the better, and that they'd mostly remain the same if the fireworks had succeeded. Hope everything can be resolved in the final episode. It comes down to the true wish.

Episode 10:
- God damn, are they shooting off a firework or launching a space shuttle?

lol I was wondering what in the world it was they were constructing these past two episodes. I remember the guy saying that it was something basic, but then he did say it would cost 200,000 yen...

Anyway, the animation at the point where Menma realized she was still there seemed different. Better in quality. Seemed like the movements flowed better and seemed almost realistic. Particularly around Menma. Just an observation...

bear

06-21-2011, 10:00 PM

lol I was wondering what in the world it was they were constructing these past two episodes. I remember the guy saying that it was something basic, but then he did say it would cost 200,000 yen...

I think it was about 100K but even at that we're talking thousands of dollars. Who does that guy think he is NASA?

something

06-21-2011, 11:17 PM

I think it was about 100K but even at that we're talking thousands of dollars. Who does that guy think he is NASA?
They did specifically say ¥200,000, or about $2,484 USD lately. Big money there.

Asrialys

06-25-2011, 12:10 AM

The tears. They wouldn't stop!

Great ending. And we learn more about Poppo's pain. It'd be too much with all the boys loving Menma, so they give him something pretty heavy. I'm so glad that everyone got to say their farewells. Even in the beginning of the episode, I think Menma's mother got some closure.

Kinda weird that Yukiatsu gave Tsuruko that second hairpin, and that she happily wears it. Although, considering their preexisting and potential relationship, it also seems fitting that she accept such a gift. Ugh, I can't quite put it into words...

something

06-25-2011, 12:28 AM

stuff
Just a note, you posted on ep 11 under the ep 10 subthread.

Please reply to the first post in the thread if you're the one starting the subthread.

I'm about to watch this so I'll start to ep 11 subthread in an hour or so if nobody else has.

Asrialys

06-25-2011, 12:34 AM

Hm, really? I did click on the Post Reply button though. Guess that's now how it works? I don't use that particular view.

Might be annoying, but I did the same for this post, just to see...

EDIT: Oh, guess it does do that. Hm, been using that button wrong all this time...

something

06-25-2011, 01:05 AM

Please reply here for the episode 11 subthread.

Episode 11:

- Who would have thought? Menma's family seems to have been healed by the firework, but Jintan and friends are as uneasy as ever.

- Menma goes to sleep and Yukiatsu calls the Busters together. They quickly get to the heatr of the matter - nobody was thinking about Menma. They were thinking of their own selfish needs. Naruko for Jintan to be available again. Yukiatsu and his jealousy at Jintan. Tsuruko and her feelings for Yukiatsu. Jintan clearly didn't want her to leave and told us so.
- Wow this gets nasty, but it's exactly what they need. Tsuruko calls Yukiatsu disgusting. Naruko attacks Tsuruko for hiding her feelings. Tsuruko reveals that Yukiatsu and Naruko did the same thing ten years ago that they did at the farewell party, forcing Jintan to say whether he liked Menma or not.
- Yukiatsu must be epic-class dense to not know Tsuruko liked him, holy crap.
- Damn this gets more complicated. So Yuki and Naru conspired to force Jintan into a corner and Tsuru told Menma about it and... jeeze.
- And what about Poppo? He's been rather quiet...
- Oh wow. He's... been a basket case for the last ten years. Not entirely surprising, but sheesh. So he saw Menma die (and from what I gather was too scared to try to save her), and ever since has been trying to run away from the trauma but constantly returning to the secret base.

- ...And everyone is broken out of deathly depression by Naruko having a makeup malfunction. Have to say, too abrupt a shift in emotion for my taste. Could have been handled better.
- That said, it just recovered from that stumble quite quickly and strikes a better balance when they resolve to send Menma off right this time.

...And then it's just fucking perfect through to the end. From the moment Jintan returns him and finds Menma on the floor, to the very end when she finally disappears after everyone is able to see her and hear her, I was crying almost nonstop.

Utterly beautiful. Just... Fuck. I can't put any other words to it. Just absolutely, profoundly gorgeous. No question about it, this is a lock for best show of the season, second best show of 2011 so far (including two-cour Fall '10) and fully deserves a 10/10 from me.

I love you too, Menma. ;_;

Edit: Man, if it weren't for AKB48, AnoHana would be a solid 1-6 sweep of the Amazon top ranking BD/DVDs right now. And even the DVD is ranked in the top 20 which is amazing.

bear

06-25-2011, 08:31 AM

Edit: Man, if it weren't for AKB48, AnoHana would be a solid 1-6 sweep of the Amazon top ranking BD/DVDs right now. And even the DVD is ranked in the top 20 which is amazing.

Just because you mentioned them and I happened to read about this right after:
Eguchi Aimi of AKB48 is a ghost too (http://gizmodo.com/5814813/can-you-
fall-in-love-with-this-beautiful-girl?tag=top)

HitokiriShadow

06-25-2011, 09:23 AM

Noooooooooo, Tsuruko cut her hair. ;_;

And like almost every single time this kind of thing happens, its a huge downgrade for her. At least she did when there's only one more episode left, rather than half a cour or so.

HitokiriShadow

06-25-2011, 10:04 AM

;_;

Menma's final goodbye hit me a lot harder than I was expecting.

Menma's goodbye was just perfect. At first I was a little disappointed because the one thing I wanted from the ending was for the rest of the group to see her just before she disappeared and for a little while, it looked like that wasn't going to happen. But then it did and the ;_; followed.

The earlier scene with everyone letting out their real feelings and yelling at each other was also fantastic. I love scenes like this, where characters just lay themselves emotionally bare and let out how they really feel, particularly the negative feelings they've been bottling up. We don't get nearly enough of these kinds of scenes in anime. Which is among several reasons that it's damn crime that there's no Ar Tonelico 2 anime.

Fencedude

06-25-2011, 10:28 AM

Well...that was a lot of crying.

Fantastic ending, all in all, couldn't have asked for anything better.

bear

06-25-2011, 01:12 PM

I honestly didn't think they could pull this off. Unbelievable! In just one episode everything tied up, everything needed to be said was said, all the major events were explained.

I loved Menma's childish misinterpretation of what Jintan's mother was trying to explain. "Yes, I promise to get him to cry!" Close enough to what she meant (he's bottling up his emotions). So cute and sad. It appears that Menma died right after the meeting at the secret base and Jintan wasn't supposed to be there. The meeting was for the gang to help Menma figure out how to get Jintan to cry for his mom. There was just more agendas at that meeting than Menma's.

We speculated that Poppo must have seen or been involved with Menma's death and that proved to be true. He had at least seen her body floating by. BTW what was he reading in the epilog? Textbooks?

The one character who we had little knowledge off turned out to be much more complicated that she first appeared. Not only did Tsuruko realize that she had no chance of competing with Menma for Yukiatsu's affection, but she felt that she couldn't even compete with Anaru! Feeling that Menma going to heaven was a step up since she would then only be second behind Anaru rather than third! She actually smiles (shyly) in the epilog and is wearing that pin! I don't think Yukiatsu gave it to her, it's the copy she had of the one he tried to give Menma.

The switching from the teenage characters to their childhood characters during Jintan's confession was masterful. Made it unbelievably poignant.

I didn't think this was going to be anything special based on the original description. Boy was I wrong. Not going to be topped this season and up there with "Madoka" for sheer emotional impact.

Asrialys

06-25-2011, 01:20 PM

BTW what was he reading in the epilog? Textbooks?
Yeah, textbooks. Or at least, test prep books. Considering all the traveling he's been doing, he's probably been out of school for much longer than Jintan.

She actually smiles (shyly) in the epilog and is wearing that pin! I don't think Yukiatsu gave it to her, it's the copy she had of the one he tried to give Menma.
The pin she's wearing looks clean and new. The one she found all those years ago was in poor condition.

something

06-25-2011, 01:28 PM

We speculated that Poppo must have seen or been involved with Menma's death and that proved to be true. He had at least seen her body floating by. BTW what was he reading in the epilog? Textbooks?
The first book reads 高認, which seems to be short for 高卒認定, itself short for 高等学校卒業程度認定試験, which wiki translates as "Certificate for Students Achieving the Proficiency Level of Upper Secondary School Graduates". So, basically, a GED (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GED)? Close enough to the idea I guess. One of the other books was the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOEIC)). So he's definitely thinking of getting a better job, maybe going back to school.

bear

06-25-2011, 05:34 PM

The pin she's wearing looks clean and new. The one she found all those years ago was in poor condition.
I misremembered. I thought she had a copy, but it was Yukiatsu who had one. Interestingly his copy was not exact. The second one has a small green leaf the first doesn't. The one Tsuruko is wearing on the train has the leaf so he almost assuredly gave it to her. Sweet.

bored@lazy

06-25-2011, 10:43 PM

Really good ending, but I was a little put off by the crying session just after everyone had finally laid their cards on the table. It just reminded my of the scene in Stellvia.
However the rest of the episode was fantastic. I didn't initially plan to watch this series but decided to about half way through, very glad that I did. :)

StudioZEL

06-26-2011, 09:51 PM

Which is among several reasons that it's damn crime that there's no Ar Tonelico 2 anime.

I would kill for this. Who do I need to kill to make this happen? j/k But seriously I completely agree, I love when shows have their characters spill their emotional guts, especially powerful, believable emotions. It's amazing stuff when done right.

strangefour

06-27-2011, 02:14 AM

-The present is exists in the dark. The past is filled with light. Nice symbolism going on.
-Comes in second place at being second best.
-Poppo knocks loose the flood gates and all crying increases exponentially. But not me. Not yet.
-Anaru is hairy.

-Menma will make Jintan cry... :cry:
-Just a little longer...
-Five little pages. Five times the memories. Five times the sadness. :cry:
-Hide and seek. :cry:

I love you too, Menma. ;_;

We all love Menma.
:cry:
:)

TheGreenMan

07-02-2011, 10:29 PM

wow,,,I just watched episodes 6-11 in one shot. Fantastic job by A-1. Definitely deserves the 'masterpiece' ranking at ANN.

So...all this thinking that Menma being killed by somebody was all for nothing since she was being silly-stupid by climbing over the bridge railing to see a carp.

pianocello

07-07-2011, 05:09 AM

When I started watching this, I expected to watch a show about flawed characters growing to become better characters. The show managed to pull off an outstanding ending but I'm thinking this show could have been better. Some of the drama felt forced and the characters bother me too much. Yukiatsu is too creepy. Jintan is an ass to Anaru 9no pun intended). Tsuruko is unlikable. Menma spends too much time alternately trying to act moe (and it comes off feeling forced) or crying and she feels more like a plot device. Poppo is ok....but a little bland.
The one character that really carries the show is Anaru. Anyway, the ending made the show worth watching.

The show needs an Anaru shower scene. There. I said it.

Shiroi Hane

07-27-2011, 09:09 PM

Huh, first time the ED has started from the beginning in a long time. I don't think my mind will ever not be blown each time the flower shower animation freezes and then reverses in full color.

Yup, gives me goosebumps every time. When I shared the ED on FB, even my non-anime loving friends commented on liking it
It affects me differently - every single time for that second I think my computer has frozen again, as it is wont to do from time to time when I am playing videos (requiring a hard shutdown and reboot).

Shiroi Hane

07-27-2011, 09:10 PM

- Advice on something? Hmm... Maybe Anaru asked Jin-tan not out of jealousy but because Menma couldn't gather the nerves to do it herself? Maybe it was an honest rejection of Yukiatsu from last episode's flashback? <OOOOORRR Maybe Anaru asked Menma for advice because she loved Jin-tan and Menma called the other two in to assist?>
I was wondering if it was literal: "guys, do you know what the name of this flower is?"

FUNiOP

07-27-2011, 10:36 PM

Shiroi Hane

07-28-2011, 04:31 PM

"Yukiatsuruko" - they come as a unit ^^;

Shiroi Hane

07-28-2011, 05:05 PM

I wonder if that pouch that is always around Poppo's neck relates to Menma in some way. What is his guilt?

Shiroi Hane

07-28-2011, 05:36 PM

- Huh. Menma can't write on it? Maybe she can only write in her diary because it's something from when she was alive? Bit of an arbitrary restriction when she can interact with everything else.
She can't interact with people other than Jintan either, not properly. She has weight when tugging on Jintan but Poppo and Naruko barely noticed her hanging off them.

Shiroi Hane

07-28-2011, 05:39 PM

I was thinking along the lines of a "pseudo" end, where they were hoping for another cour but couldn't guarantee it. Where things are resolved up to some point but room is left for more. Ex: Menma doesn't disapear and continues to live with Jintan, Naruko and Yukiatsu start dating and everyone feels that Menma has forgiven them. "Happy" ending. Everything seems ok but nothing really resolved. What ever the real issues are are never dealt with.
I can certainly see them setting off their firework, mending wounds and saying a final goodbye... and then Jintan goes home, opens his door and finds he on the other side saying "hehe".

Shiroi Hane

07-28-2011, 06:15 PM

Why is Poppo dressed like a convict?
Just how many t-shirts with random kanji on does Jintan own?
"I could only watch..." - he saw her die, didn't he?

That was intense.

And Tsuruko finally admits it. But Naruko seriously did already know? ^^;

And Yukiatsu is permanently broken.

What the heck? Just what kind of firework is that? At least it goes some way to explaining how expensive it is. And.. that is the cheapest.....

That is one insanely fast fuse.

"arere?"
"tehe"

something

07-28-2011, 06:45 PM

And.. that is the cheapest.....
Old man was soooooo taking advantage of a bunch of some desperate, naive kids. How cruel.

Shiroi Hane

07-28-2011, 08:10 PM

If I sleep awkwardly my arm goes to sleep like that. It doesn't usually go translucent though.

Menma knew all along.

Yup - he saw it.

I don't think I've seen this much crying in one episode since Tegami Bachi.

Can Memna even still write with her hand like that?

When was the last time I teared up at an anime?

At this rate it is going to end with them all joining her in the river ^^;

And here I go again.
And yet I can't help worrying, again, how they're going to explain things when they give the diary back.

I certainly can't remember the last time I wept this much over an anime.

Draneor

09-13-2012, 09:12 PM

Bought and marathoned the NISA set. Overall, I thought it was an excellent series. I cried quite a bit, particularly in episodes 8, 10, & 11. ranted, I'm always a sucker for bittersweet, touching stories about friendship The overall themes and feel of the series reminded me of Key. G. As far as original anime go, AnoHana is my second favorite, after Stellvia and just ahead of Angel Beats. While I generally like romance, I'm glad that, while there was tension throughout the series, none of it was resolved.

My favorite character was Anjo. I emphasized with how there was a disconnect between who she really was and how who she was around molded her into someone she wasn't entirely happy with. I think, to a certain extent, this happens with all of us. Whether it was Menma or her crappy friends. While I wish she would have ditched them, I do think the epilogue indicated that she was now much more comfortable asserting her true self, even if it conflicted with those around her.

Menma was my second favorite character. Adorable and utterly selfless to the end. I cried quite a bit at the parting scene. I can see how losing someone like that could have had such an impact. The show said multiple times that Jintan was the leader, but I think it demonstrated that Menma, was in fact, the core of Super Peace Busters everyone gathered around.

Poppo was my third favorite character. I thought he was a pretty lovable, carefree guy. I'd love to be friends with him.

Tsuruko was the most normal of the five. I liked how she was the only one who came to terms with the past and that her desires never could be prior to Menma leaving.

Jintan... was extremely frustrating at times. I'll cut him a lot of slack, since losing your mother and friend would hit anyone hard (plus, being a hikikomori). I liked how, over the course of the series, he slowly started to come out of his shell and even started working. On the other hand, he had a tendency to do stupid stuff (class room scene/the koi scene with Menma/walking out on Anjo's confession) and wavered quite a bit, even after a decision was made. He was a very complicated character so, like I said, i cut him a lot of slack. He's t-shirts were cool, I have to admit.

Yukiatsu--I thought he was an unlikable asshole to the end. I understand the show tried to redeem him somewhat by saving Anjo and some other stuff. But his assholeness kept coming back so my opinion of him never changed. Also, his utter cluelessness about Tsuruko's feelings bothered me (and the switch to Anjo... grrr).

Jintan's dad was just awesome. I liked how he was comfortable with being different (both in his dress and his parenting). He had a pretty difficult situation with Jintan, and I think his handsoff approach was probably the best way to handle it at the time. Certainly, sometimes a kid need a good kick in the butt, but I don't think Jintan needed that.

Regarding the cross dressing, I can see why it was an issue. Crossing dressing in anime is usually used as empowerment, a joke, or for fanservice--none of which I have an issue with (and rather like the first and last one). In this case, however, it was used to denote mental illness. I'm not sure that's a message I'm comfortable with. Had Yukiatsu been a character who came to terms with a realization he was a girl--I think I would have been far more comfortable with it. Perhaps it could have been addressed had the show been longer.

The only other criticism of the show I have is I wish it was longer. Certainly, the epilogue demonstrated that every character grew from the experience and was no longer stuck as they were when Menma died. I just wished we had one or two episodes of that.