Although I haven’t watched some of the best classic Anime series, like Trigun and Cowboy Bebop, I have watched enough shows I guess to determine my favorites of all time.
Honey and Clover was an Anime that marked me deeply, and make me think a bit more about my future. But there was never an Anime, movie or story that scarred me (yes, scar) as much as this one: Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien (The Eternity you desire).
It starts off as any other romantic Anime show with teenagers. And then things go horribly wrong, and we are driven into the middle of the most painful dilemas and grow to love and hate all of the characters, for various reasons.
This show had all the reasons to go wrong. It was based on an adult video game, that should have been reason enough. Instead, this show had a storyline so great that even some people I know, who had never touched Anime, not even with a long stick, watched it until the end, as fast as they could, and loved every second of it.
This is also, by far, the most depressing story I have ever seen. The characters aren’t immaculate, saints, or just pure evil. They are normal people, like you and me, who happen to be in the middle of a very difficult situation and they deal with it in the best and worst ways they can.
I guess you could call it a dramatic masterpiece. Which is why I’ll probably never watch this Anime again, unless I’m certain I can cope with all of the emotions that go through the story.
“I guess you could call it a dramatic masterpiece.”
Actually, I call it a “Soap Opera”, because that’s exactly what it is. I felt like I was watching Days of Our Lives or All My Children. The only thing missing was the cheezy music, 5 minute commercial breaks, and really bad lighting.
Not everyone likes dramas. But if you call Kimi Ga a “soap opera” then you must have really high standards.