Suki tte Ii na yo.

Friends will only let you down—that is the sad truth Mei Tachibana lives with, ever since she was wrongfully blamed for the death of a class pet by her so-called friends in grade school. Since then, she has stayed away from people in order to avoid ever being hurt again. However, Mei's life begins to change drastically when a misunderstanding in high school causes her to encounter popular student Yamato Kurosawa.

Yamato finds her intriguing and insists on being her friend, even though Mei wants nothing to do with him. But when a dangerous situation ends with Yamato kissing Mei to save her from the unwanted attention of a stalker, Mei begins to develop feelings for him. On the heels of her discovery that their feelings are mutual, they start dating and she gains not only a boyfriend, but friends as well. Mei, however, finds it very hard to adapt to this new lifestyle, especially in expressing her true feelings towards Yamato.

Throughout misunderstandings of their new relationship, each other, and the attentions of other girls, Mei and Yamato slowly grow closer and learn the true meaning of those three little words: "I love you."

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tachibana, Mei Main

Kayano, Ai Japanese

Kurosawa, Yamato Main

Sakurai, Takahiro Japanese

Mutou, Aiko Supporting

Uchiyama, Yumi Japanese

Takemura, Kai Supporting

Maeno, Tomoaki Japanese

Oikawa, Asami Supporting

Taneda, Risa Japanese

Kitagawa, Megumi Supporting

Kotobuki, Minako Japanese

Kurosawa, Nagisa Supporting

Ise, Mariya Japanese

Tachikawa, Masashi Supporting

Majima, Junji Japanese

Sasano, Momoko Supporting

Yonezawa, Madoka Japanese

Arai, Miki Supporting

Hayami, Saori Japanese

Ikeda, Shinichi Producer

Satou, Takuya Director, Script, Series Composition

Kuroyanagi, Toshimasa Director, Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation

Aketagawa, Jin Sound Director

Reviews

Dec 30, 2012

Skadi

Recommended

Oh how I wanted to say, I love you to Sukitte Ii na yo... but I just can’t because you’re a flat two dimensional romance that just didn’t live up to my expectations. It really is a shame, because Suki na yo had a tremendous amount of potential and gave us some things we don’t often get to see in the romance genre. But as the series winds down I found myself lamenting what could have been.

It’s hard for me to be too hard on the romance anime plot premise, I mean they have pretty much already all been done before and ... they are all mostly silly as well. Suki na yo is no different, with the unlikely story of the hot and most popular guy in school falling for a shy, friendless loner who kicked him down the stairs because she mistakenly thought he flipped her skirt. The beginnings of true and lasting love if I ever saw it. The girl Mei, and the boy Yamato, both have some interesting personality issues on the surface and despite the silliness of their meeting there was some enormous amount of potential in their relationship. However this is sadly mostly wasted over the course of the story.

Now here is where Suki na yo is a bit different from its other romance cousins. For the most part our lead characters are in a relationship together from the beginning to the end of the series. The typical format is 99% courting with the eventual payoff at the end when our little lovebirds finally realize their mutual affections. While it can often be frustrating when it is drug out with silly misunderstandings and character cockblocks at least by then we have a clear understanding why they both love each other. The show is called Say I love you, but it should probably more aptly called Say why I love you.

Even though I have some pretty serious complaints about the way the shows romance and plot unfolds, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy watching this series. But when you compare it with its peers within the genre and even shows that were airing during the same time as this, it comes across as distinctly average and ordinary.

Much in the same way as the story is underwhelming, so are the series main characters. A romance is by nature very character driven and if we don’t get compelling leads it’s pretty difficult to care if they end up falling in love with each other. Mei is your standard "everyman" kind of girl typical in shoujo romances. She’s cute, though not particularly beautiful, and pretty much average in every other way. She’s a nice girl with a strong spirit but very vulnerable as well. Exactly the kind of girl most people can relate too and can root for as well. It’s sweet how she slowly comes out of her shell and makes friends and learns to trust people again as well. Even though this mostly comes across pretty corny and clichéd. Though hell I like corny and clichéd anyway.

Yamato is less interesting and in many ways is also your typical bishounen leading man. Though I will give him some credit for breaking the trend and not being a cold, aloof, and unfeeling jerk. You get the feeling most of the time he has genuine feelings for Mei but at other times he’s actions around her seemed to be a bit condescending and they he was treating her more like a pet and as an equal partner. I felt some aspects of his personality were also very inconsistent, especially later in the series. For a guy who came across as supremely confident he was surprisingly weak willed at times and his distrust of Mei's feelings at times was implausible considering what the pair had been through to that point already.

The supporting cast is the weakest link though and stereotypical shoujo fair. This plays in to the weakness of the plot but basically the same themes are repeated multiple times over the course of the story. Girl appears, of course hopefully in love with Yamato, drama unfolds, girl is rejected and our leads love continues. And the rejected gets new love and becomes best friends with our dear Mei. While I mostly liked the supporting characters they simply lack the depth for them to be actually interesting. Then of course you have to look past the unlikelihood that two romantic rivals are going to be besties afterwards, particularly when one side was involved in some pretty nasty schemes and bullying.

Despite all these flaws though what Suki na yo really does best is both its artwork and musical soundtrack. Both are typical of the genre but I really did love both of the songs. The seiyuu cast is comprised of mostly veterans but none of them are real stars. I thought they did solid, if unspectacular work. While the artwork may not be a masterwork, it is very fluid and reality based, with clothes and body types that stay in the realm of possibility.

Even though in the end I have quite a few complaints about Suki na yo, it’s still a good watch. If you’re really starved, as I was, for a romance anime with a sweet ending and are not demanding to be shown some that’s never been seen before then you should have a good time with it as well.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Nov 28, 2015

Kecchan

Mixed Feelings

I can't decide whether to praise or diss this anime. I could write a review gushing about how great it is, or a scalding one about it's downfalls. I'll do both.
Pros:
-The romance itself is quite good. It's interesting to see the different sides of each other they bring out. They make one another less boring and have a truly touching love story, as sudden and maybe even forced as it was. They have heavy chemistry and you can understand why they love each other, even if seems that they fell in love rather fast.
-That being said, Mei's character isn't your regular happy, cheerful, submissive ... girl (well...), but she's interesting in that we can all relate to her pain and loneliness. She has had some tough experiences that were a bit dramatized and probably are...uncommon...but possible, and the pain she felt at being rejected by her classmates and being hurt over and over by her friends, is something we can all definitely relate to.
-There is no annoying waiting. The main love interest tells her he likes her quickly, and they don't take ages to get together, which is refreshing. They are also surprisingly honest with each other, which is nice to see and helps the romance come at a faster, better rate.
-The art is absolutely beautiful.
-The story is familiar, but it has some new elements that make it interesting and very unique.
-The romantic interest isn't a cold jerk to the girl for once. He is the cliche popular, rich, perfect player guy, but he is actually very kind, considerate and warm towards Mei, which is refreshing and interesting.
-They have a very balanced relationship. He is considerate towards her, and Mei is honest with him. There is no one person dominating the other. They have one of the healthiest relationships I've seen.

Cons:
-The romance is good in terms of chemistry, but it happens way too suddenly, way too fast. You blink, and they're in love. He's nice to her, sure, but at the same time, she doesn't come off as the type to be so trusting and loving right away after all she's been though....
-Talking about Mei, she goes off character many times. She goes from a cold, prickly girl to a moe, kawaii blushing cute girl in the span of four seconds. It's just uncharacteristic to change so fast. It's not character development, it's just conveniently changing her with no reason to make her cuter, more appealing, and better for the romance relationship.
-I can't stand the music, but some may, so I rated it average.
-The main male romantic interest is boring. I've seen him in nearly every shoujo anime - arrogant but kind, perfect, good at sports, good at academics, rich, popular, every girl loves him yet he chooses the loser girl, player....yeah. Been done before, and there's no development or even backstory for him. He's kind and a great boyfriend, but beyond that, very hollow, shallow character with little interesting things about him.
-A lot of the obstacles seem very forced, cliche, overdone and overdramatized. They take the smallest thing and blow it up to be some huge, mindblowing issue. It's just not that great story-wise. The plot is forced and kind of blind, despite some good themes it brings in.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jul 30, 2013

EmoolyCow

Not Recommended

Say 'I Love You.'
Where do I even start with this anime. The title even gives off an exceedingly romantic, unrealistic atmosphere. If there was ever a competition for "The Most Generic Shoujo," Say 'I Love You' would take the cake.
Let's start off with a brief summarization. A reserved young girl who has no social connection whatsoever plays as the object of desire for the most popular, handsome boy in the school. They eventually establish an awkward relationship filled with uncomfortable dialogue and well, there you have it. There really isn't much else to say about this anime. It's simplistic, it doesn't try to break ... any boundaries, and it's so monotonous it will probably make you yawn and fall asleep. It executed what every romantic comedy anime out there has ever attempted to accomplish. I can guarantee that you have seen this same template numerous times before, and I can also promise that you have seen better.

Story - 4 / 10

The story is generic and monotonous. It does not bring anything new to the table that makes itself memorable, or leave a mark behind in history. You can summarize the story in one sentence, and the reader could predict everything that will ever happen in the anime. Is there any completely unexpected plot twist? Is there any cliffhanger that leaves you at the edge of your seat? Or maybe there is some sort of symbolism, or undertone that it is trying to portray. The answer is 'no' to all of your questions. The story is basically a silly, happy-go-lucky, simplistic romance that has been repeated too many times before with absolutely no depth whatsoever. The pacing also made me uncomfortable. First episode they meet, second they kiss, and third, they automatically become a boyfriend and girlfriend. It's immature and childish, and definitely does not represent the singular theme they have been emphasizing throughout this entire anime, which is indeed 'love.' The storyline was just another contribution to why I find Say 'I Love You' so bland.

Art - 5 / 10

The art is satisfactory. It doesn't do anything extraordinary, but it certainly isn't disgusting. The somewhat likable character design, and the brightening colors that were incorporated into the background scenery was what gave its' animation a semi-respectable score, and I am sorry to say, is the pinnacle of this anime's accomplishment. Other than the sparkle and the twinkle that they sprinkle and sugarcoat in every single shoujo anime, Say 'I Love You' does not outdo any other anime with its' art. To wrap it up, it does its' job, and with the wide variety of spectrum the animation studio ventures into when they bring this anime to life is a compliment I am reluctant to give, but I will just for the anime's mentionable work.

Sound - 4 / 10

The soundtrack of Say 'I Love You' is almost like a lullaby. It puts you into a slumber, and makes you wonder whether Say 'I Love You' is supposed to make you fall asleep or make you giggle and laugh over the chemistry experienced throughout adolescence. The opening theme is a heartwarming hymn, but certainly isn't anything special. It's calm, collected, but definitely doesn't introduce the romantic aspect of Say 'I Love You', but gives you a more wistfully composed orchestral piece. The quiet piano and violin strumming away in the background is soothing and gentle, but it just didn't break a barrier or kick down a wall for me. The ending theme is practically an identical twin to its' opening theme counterpart. The OST? More whimsical singing, making me picture it to be more of a children nursery rhyme than a love song. In conclusion, the sound? Nothing remarkable. But still bearable.

Character - 3 / 10

The characterization throughout Say 'I Love You' is most likely the worst part of this anime. The main female protagonist is timid, reserved Mei Tachibana. Her introduction actually somewhat drew me in-- an anti-social, pessimistic student who doesn't believe in establishing relationships with her classmates. This really hooked me-- I wanted to know more about her perspective on the everyday boundaries of school life, and her thoughts/opinions on social hierarchy, interactions, etc. I also really liked it when I noticed the courage she possessed when she gave the most popular boy at her school a roundhouse kick in the face! But then this bright, intelligent, and audacious young woman that I believed had such an interesting view on the world suddenly transformed into your ordinary tsundere character who would never respond to the male protagonist, Yamato Kurosawa's affection. Which brings me to my next point. Yamato Kurosawa has got to be one of my least favorite characters in Say 'I Love You." He is perfect, almost robotically so. Yamato Kurosawa, the academic all star, the athletic champion, the wealthy son of a successful family, and on top of all that he has a beautiful face and a social life. Which is what makes him so monotonous to observe as a character. I didn't like how there wasn't anything wrong with him. He is a human, not an alienish demigod who excels at everything he does. I also didn't like the sudden fluctuation between his interest in Mei. First he is all over her, his top priority, the one individual he wanted to see and spend his time with, and then all of a sudden, he almost forgets her. The process rinses and repeats like a cycle. Neither Mei Tachibana nor Yamato Kurosawa did their role as the main protagonist justice, not even decently so, which is why the score they have received is so long. It would have been even lower if Mei Tachibana's introduction wasn't so solid. This aspect of Say 'I Love You' was yet another factor that made this anime so disappointing.

Enjoyment - 3 / 10

Alright, I will admit it. I don't usually watch shoujo anime. Yes, I have seen a lot of excellent shoujo anime, and I have seen a lot of completely gagworthy shoujo anime. Say 'I Love You' to me is just a mediocre, soap opera fling. It is a decent anime to watch if you want to completely turn off your constructively critical brain, and just enjoy a romantic comedy. But that does not forgive the English bran muffin of a storyline, and the disastrous characterization. Say 'I Love You' has done everything that has already been done, and if not worse. I certainly did NOT enjoy this anime, and this is coming from a female adolescent, which I believe is Say 'I Love You' 's target demographic. It claims itself to be a romantic comedy slice-of-life. But I did find the relationship that Mei and Yamato shared to be romantic, but more awkward, prepubescent, and coming-of-age. The most that Mei and Yamato did was hold themselves in an uncomfortable embrace, or a sudden kiss here or there. In my opinion, an adolescent attraction is not what love is, and if you haven't noticed already from its' title, is what this anime is trying so hard to emphasize. It claims itself to possess comedy, and will promise laughter. But the jokes that were displayed only put a halfhearted smile on my face, because well, I can't put it anymore bluntly than it wasn't funny, and definitely didn't provide any entertainment for me as the audience. It does what it's supposed to with its' slice of life genre, which isn't all too interesting to witness anyway. You have your high school, identical uniforms, and handsome/beautiful boys and girls. Nothing ever happened, nothing ever happens, and nothing ever will happen. Say 'I Love You' just wasn't for me.

And with that, I give it an overall score of 4 / 10.
Sorry. :/

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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