forbesplaid Reviews

1 Litre of Tears (2005–2007)

A tribute, not an accurate history.

[8/10 · 24 May 2016]

The series is not a completely factual and accurate history of Aya's life. I don't believe it was meant to be. It's an adaptation of her diary.

Kito Aya wasn't good at sports. She never had a boyfriend. The character Asou didn't exist. Many people didn't understand her disease and treated her poorly for it. She was plagued by doubt, fear and uncertainty her entire, short, life. She was human and she was beautiful.

Her mother, Shioka, wanted this to be a better version of Aya's life, a happier story. I don't fault her at all for it. It was enjoyable.

If you can find it, read the diary, then watch this. It is a story sometimes unbearable to read. It's heartbreaking in it's entirety. I actually appreciate the way this story was told in this series.

The series is very much worth watching and appreciating.

Flying Witch (2016)

Perfect

[10/10 · 22 May 2016]

I felt compelled to write about this series purely because of how much I have enjoyed it.

"Flying Witch" makes me happy. It isn't magical girl anime; no battles, no conflict, no one needs to be saved. It's a story centered around every day life. If you want a program you can lose yourself in, this is a great choice.

Consistent in the mood and atmosphere it creates, "Flying Witch" is like a warm blanket on a cool, sunny day. The colors are mellow and slightly subdued. The pace of the show is relaxed and the soundtrack is an added bonus. Miwa and 96Neko perform the opening theme.

I don't know how to classify this series, or if it even needs it. Slice of life, comedy, take your pick. It's easily become one of my favorites. I had no reservations giving this show a perfect rating.

Beauty can be found in nature, people and even little animated television programs.

My Love Story!! (2015)

Different Expectations

[6/10 · 21 May 2016]

I haven't read the manga. I've only watched the anime. My review is based on a comparison of the film to the anime.

I enjoyed the anime adaptation very much, so I was eager to see the live action film. The production was well cast and the actors portrayed their roles very well. The screenplay, however, was a disappointment.

I anticipated some differences between the movie and the animation. I was unprepared for how different it would be. It isn't a case of the anime brought to life, it's something else. The movie felt rushed to attempt to include most of the story in one feature film. Many scenes from the TV series were rewritten, combined or omitted completely. Plot elements that supported transitioning between scenes were missing. It felt like I was watching a series of clips with no connection from one scene to the next. A lot of character development and background was left out. It gave me a feeling of being profoundly incomplete. A feature film series may have served this story in a better manner.

It isn't the anime. It's quite different. The film is entertaining and worth watching.