Statistics
All Anime Stats Anime Stats
Days: 335.0
Mean Score:
5.03
- Total Entries1,036
- Rewatched256
- Episodes19,365
All Manga Stats Manga Stats
Days: 65.2
Mean Score:
5.30
- Total Entries155
- Reread13
- Chapters8,809
- Volumes827
All Comments (44) Comments
An sich habe ich den Anime trotzdem aufgrund seiner mysteriösen, aber doch irgendwie idyllischen Welt sowie der wunderschönen Musik genossen. Fand das Pacing auch überhaupt nicht langsam.
Ich muss aber sagen, dass ich generell keine Manga lese und wann und ob ich überhaupt den Aku no Hana Manga lese, ist zumindest ungewiss. Gilt aber auch für meine Anime Watchlist, was halt eine Ansammlung von Titeln ist, die mich interessieren. Aber ob ich z. B. jemals Cardcaptor Sakura schauen werde, darf bezweifelt werden.
Ich würde zwar auch sagen, dass die Charaktere auf der Seite des Imperiums mir mehr zusagen, aber dass der Cast größtenteils flach ist, stimme ich überhaupt nicht zu. Gerade intrigante, korrupte Charaktere wie Rubinsky oder Trunicht sind spannend zu verfolgen.
Wo ich dir aber zustimmen kann, ist dass die drei von dir genannten Charaktere auch meine Lieblingsfiguren sind. Habe Hilda auf 1 und ja ihre Beziehung zu Reinhard ist großartig.
Und ich liebe die gelegentlichen Kommentare des Erzählers wie Ereignisse oder Charaktere der Serie in der Zukunft wahrgenommen werden und wie generell dem Thema "Geschichte" Bedeutung beigemessen wird.
Auch die Geschichte der Mutter war schwach geschrieben und hat mich nicht berührt. Da hilft auch das viele Heulen der Figuren nicht (auch wenn man die Tracks in der Serie loben kann).
Wofür steht CGDCT? Davon hab ich noch nie gehört.
I also want to thank you for your amazingly well-written message, you went leaps and bounds beyond what was necessary and I appreciate that. It just shows you what kind of people appreciate Katawa I suppose! :)
In general, I have to confirm your thoughts on Katawa Shoujo as a whole. At the time of writing this, I have read roughly 10 VNs, and while I know this isn't a lot, it certainly does feel like a sizeable amount! Visual novels can be monsters to read through, especially when you are a completionist such as myself. Atm my brother is reading Umineko, and I'm sure you know how gruelling of a read this can be. Katawa is succinct, digestible, yet impactful. Moreover, being primarily focused on Romance, I just cannot see why anyone would want to spend any more time on these individual stories. It will eventually lose it's charm. However, 7-8 hours per story is perfect. Just enough time to properly develop the characters, bring in some drama and intimacy and then finish! It makes the reader want to savour the experience rather than it be diluted. I can't tell you how enjoyable this was for me. I always find that when a VN drags beyond the 50-hour mark, it just cannot justify its length anymore. I mean, that's equivalent to, what, a 120-episode anime? That's absurd! Even LOGH is shorter than that haha
I also agree on how Katawa broke the mould with how it tackled disability. None of the girls in question ever felt disabled. Their disability mainly acted as the backdrop of the character, and may I say it often acted as a means of propagating character development. I mean, what a great idea it was to make the setting a disabled school! It breaks away from the typical school story and gives so much allure to how each character has learned to live with their ailment and how they have become stronger because of it. Incredible.
Now quickly on each girl's stories. Firstly, Emi. My god, I could so easily replay this story again. It just never got old! The chemistry between Hisao and Emi, the plot and the development was unreal. Like you say Hisao was the healthiest here and personally, it reminded me of my life a lot. Being a serious runner (something that only began recently while in Med School as a way to keep fit), I went through so many of Hisao's inner monologues myself and it was just so relatable. The conclusion of this story was epic as well. Pretty flawless honestly, I wouldn't have changed much from this. The nurse and Emi's mum were fantastic side characters who both nurtured and challenged the protagonists. Ranging from laugh-out-loud to bawl-worthly, this easily jumped from and 8.5 -> 9 for me. In some ways, it might be my favourite enjoyment-wise!
Hanako's story, is, as you say, also pretty flawless. Unbelievably realistic but dreadful to read. Not many characters have truly encompassing debilitating social anxiety as in Hanako's case study. The only 'issue' I have with it is just that, it's dreadful to read. A bit unpleasant in all the right ways and very much a far cry to Emi's arc. But like you say, an exquisitely deep tale and is a classic on its own. I still don't know about the intimate scene in the end. This was very morally grey and I appreciate that, but again it just took away from the unadulterated joy I felt in Emi's story. Anyhow, I'm rambling now. An easy 8/10 for me which stayed true to my first read.
Now, Lilly. I must say after reading what you wrote I initially did not fully agree. However, on re-read... you stand correct. Now, Lilly is still such a lovely character but I just feel that the development wasn't quite like it other 3 main stories. Lilly pretty much stayed true to her beliefs and values in life and had a pretty clearly laid path ahead of her (bar the family dilemma). I also agree that Hisao here was just too soft, although it must be pretty difficult getting aggressive against a person like Lilly, wouldn't you say? Finally, it was pretty saccharine looking back, and the whole ending was pretty Fairytale-like and felt more like watching a Hollywood Blockbuster than reading an intimate tale written by a small group of people. Still very good in my opinion as a whole, but definitely dropped down a score for me. From an 8.5 -> 7.5.
Now about Rin. What else can I say? I think that what you wrote about her hit the nail squarely on the head. This certainly is the most high-art story of them all. It transcended its medium in all regards and is totally distinct from the rest in my opinion. Moreover, this story has not just the brilliant good ending, but the equally excellent 'neutral' or 'true' ending, which makes it feel less helplessly optimistic compared to the other tales. I mean, in the other stories the neutral/bad endings may be skipped (?) but in Rin's the neutral only added to the subtlety and complexity of the characters and their circumstances. This arc could honestly be made into a live-action Arthouse Indie film and win awards, I'm sure of it! While it was also a little bit (purposefully) frustrating at times with how Rin cannot be understood, I felt it was so organically written and so intrinsically tied to her character that it worked. Of course, she would be frustrating to watch. But, her development in the end made it so worth it, whether she decided to change as in her good ending, or whether she decided to stay truest to her values. Unreal. 10/10 And of course, Rin's arc contains the greatest quote of them all:
Gets me every time man.
Oh, still screw Shitzune's path. Told my brother to skip it obviously. I do sort of see that story as just a side-arc though, and something to read if you somehow still feel that you want to experience more from Katawa. Otherwise, easy skip.
Overall score For Katawa Shoujo: 8.5/10!
All in all, I don't think I added much to what you wrote and I apologise for that. I feel you write prose better than I do! Thank you once again for writing what you did and if you have any more fleeting thoughts I would be pleased to read them.
Intelos :)
Just wanted to hear if you could share more thoughts on Katawa Shoujo in general and in particular Rin's story and why you gave it a 10. I honestly felt that it was also pretty much perfect and agree that it is best route. Also, how come did you give Lilly's story only a 5? I thought it had great progression and Lilly herself was wonderful! Personally, I would rank Emi 8/10, Hanako 8/10, Lilly 8.5/10, Rin 9.5/10 and sadly reading Shizune and pretty disappointed, would give it a 5/10 at best.
I feel Katawa is somehow underappreciated and not talked about enough anymore. When it's good it's truly great! Keen to read your thoughts :)
Nice to meet you :)