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Overview of feelings:
I was instantly hooked on this story from the beginning. I loved the comedy it included and simply how wonderful the two main characters were. Unfortunately, for the anime, it really started to fall apart. The art and animation take a dramatic turn downwards and the story and character development went in a different direction.
What started out as a very promising anime, turned out to be one that fell flat.

Story: 8
Story got the highest score of all the categories and that is ... because it hooked me instantly from when I started watching it. This anime came out in 1998 and I was surprised I liked it so much. It reminded me of may shojo anime's that have recently come out. I loved how Yukino had a private side and tries to be perfect and the same with Arima. I think the story just really spoke to me about trying to be perfect when you're not. I could really relate to that aspect, because that's how I felt when I was in high school. Plus, I was also very different outside of school. While I never studied as much as Yukino did or work out, I kept my private life very private. Only my sister knew of my love of anime for the longest time.
Anyways, I must say, I really loved the fact that Arima and Yukino didn't take the whole 26 episodes to announce to each other they were in love. Some shojo's these days take the whole season for the boy and girl to say they like each other and it is getting quite annoying.
Unfortunately, the anime started to move away from our two main characters and there were a couple of episodes focusing on supporting characters and it just really turned me off. While they were focusing on these other characters our main characters were lost and their story kinda thrown to the side. I much rather have seen them spend time developing Yukino and Arima and really give them a great story. I haven't read the manga, so I'm not sure about their whole story, but hopefully it was better then how it was portrayed in the anime. Also, the story kind of drifts off and so there doesn't really seem like a climax at all, at least to me.

Art: 3
Art got the lowest score because I started to get really pissed off about how the animation was given such poor quality. In the middle and towards the end, the animation was just line drawing and cut-outs and sometimes even on sticks. Like, come on. I know it was animated like 20 years ago, but it mostly seemed like a lack of time. From a message board on MyAnimeList I found out that:
His and Her Circumstances is a romantic drama manga series by Masami Tsuda. Anno was tasked with directing the series but Tsuda grew displeased with the more comedy-focused adaptation. A lot of Anno's directorial marks were on the adaptation as well, which utilized traffic signals and railroad crossings as symbols. As Tsuda's displeasure grew, the show began resorting to less and less actual animation, at one point replacing characters with literal popsicle stick cut-outs. Anno left his directorial duties and the remaining seven episodes were overseen by Kazuya Tsurumaki.
This sounds like a bad situation in general and it really makes me want to read the manga so I can get the real story and art. The sad thing is that the moderate amount of comedy in the beginning really dragged me in as well, but it must have gotten out of hand. It was sad to really see the anime decline.

Sound: 6
I really didn't mind the sound. I watched the English dubbed version, simply because I was busy and listening to it in English and multitasking were just easier for me. I usually don't like dubbed versions, but I thought the actors who played Yukino and Arima were quite good. There were a few creepy parts in there with Arima. I'm not sure if that was the script or the actor just didn't know how to portray that certain scene.
All in all, I thought the music fit well and went nicely with the serious scenes and the opening song was catchy. So, I honestly, didn't mind the sound at all.

Character: 6
The only reason this is so high is because of the beginning and how much I loved the characters of Yukino and Arima. They were both so similar and different at the same time. Their relationship is probably the most realistic one I've every seen in an anime and I could relate to it.
Yukino: She is popular, smart, athletic, but she has a complete opposite side when she's at home. Honestly, she's just popular, smart, and athletic all and all. She's really not that different when she's not at school, as far as the anime showed, except for like the first 5 episodes. So, her back story is sort of pointless, but I do get that feeling of being lost from her. Her whole character development was to figure out who she is and to be herself. I don't think there was that big of a breakthrough, but I still very much enjoyed her personality and her realness and kindness towards Arima.
Arima: Smart, popular, and athletic just like Yukino. I think this is why this couple seems so real to me. In high school you always saw like minded people together. This time it's not about the jock and head cheerleader, it's about two hard working regular teenagers. While Yukino works hard to keep her appearances, Arima works hard to impress his ever disapproving family, besides his foster parents. His back story is kinda, "Ehh, really?" at some points, but I understand they were trying to go for a kid that has been abused to give him something different. I really liked him, he was kind and caring, but could be firm when he wanted to be. I especially appreciated that firmness during their relationship.
Their relationship was so realistic and covered what a real relationship would be like. I think high school kids are a little more horny then these kids, but hey I get it. Yukino and Arima were shy at the beginning and the best part was you could see how they were opening up to each other, sharing everything together. I think this really reflects relationships these days.
But, main characters are only so much of this anime and since they focused so much on supporting characters, I need to account for that. That is why the Character category only got a 6, because the side characters were forgettable and not as interesting.

Enjoyment: 5
Again, this got a 5, because I really did enjoy it at the beginning and in some episodes here and there. I definitely think this is an okay anime to watch if you can be patient with the animation at points.

Overall: 5
This really is an average anime. It started out great and sort of took a downfall, which was unfortunate. I still think this is something to at least watch, because it really does have a good story in there. Maybe it would be better to read the manga though.

I only watched this movie because I pick director Hosoda, Mamoru for a director I didn't know for the 2017 Anime Challenge and I am so glad I did!

This was a beautiful movie, with stunning art and wonderful characters. I literally watched it online from a free source, then right after went and bought the movie off Amazon.

If you are looking for a wild and crazy plot that is 100% accurate, then don't watch this movie. If you are looking for genuine and emotional storytelling, please watch this movie. The plot isn't fast pace or as exciting as other anime movies, but it's not ... meant to be that way. It's slow and heartfelt.

The mother was by far my favorite character. The way she raised her children, her acceptance of someone different than herself, her hard working nature, these traits pulled me in. She is a character I will love for a long time.

I think that viewers need to think about this movie and it's underlying messages because they are powerful and say a lot about our modern world.

So watch this movie if you need a good cry, watch this movie if you want to see some stunning background art, and watch this movie because it's just damn good.

Thanks for reading! :)

First off, I have to say I haven't read the manga, but after watching this, I might.
Honestly, reading gives you more details and for this anime, it also expands past the end. (At least a little, as far as I've read on Wikipedia).
Also, I review based off my enjoyment of the anime and what I honestly think about it. :) So read or don't read :) Enjoy!

So for the review. Now, I had dropped this anime more than just a couple of times and I always restarted from the beginning. Since, I watched this for the 2017 Challenge, I restarted again, but I ... actually kept going.

With that in mind, that is why I gave this anime an 8 and that's rounding up. It probably would have been a good solid 9 otherwise. So, not the best, but on the higher end.

Why an 8? That's because the anime itself is very well drawn. Usui is gorgeous and although I couldn't stand Misaki's hair style, she was also well drawn. You could easily tell the difference between each character, (trust me, this is big, because there are some anime, if they didn't have different hair colors, I wouldn't know the difference), and there was a good number of different characters that needed to be drawn each episode. Each were well drawn and look great.

Another reason is the character personalities. I would have to say this is the best reason to watch this anime. They were all different and intriguing, and honestly is what kept me interested. I wouldn't say there was a lot of character development, which is probably why I dropped it so many times. Although, there was some at times, but mostly for the side characters. Usui is perfect, so there wasn't much room there to grow, and Misaki didn't change at all. That being said, I still like their overall personalities. It just would have been nice to see it grow a little.

The story is what hurts this anime the most. It has a really great potential, and maybe it's all in the manga, I don't know. The deeper parts are very subtle and I wish they were further developed and touched upon, example, when Sōtarō Kanō is afraid of girls, one episode we see this problem and then boom, he's all good and dandy. And good god, it took so long for Misaki to say she likes Usui. It must just be me, but all these shojo's that take the whole season to say you like someone is just getting a bit boring. It was just so obvious and everyone knew she liked him, besides herself. She is portrayed as such a smart girl, but you couldn't figure out you liked him, REALLY???? I think taking the whole season just to learn something we already knew, just really hurt this anime.

After the first 8 episodes or so, I really did start to enjoy it more and it kept me interested. I love the humor that was incorporated and it's definitely a great anime to watch if you like romance/comedy.

Thanks for reading!