HACHIMITSU TO CLOVER

DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME DramaHachimitsu to Clover II
MANGA ComedyHachimitsu to Clover
SPECIAL ComedyHachimitsu to Clover Specials

REVIEWS

• 

  dorotheian

  95/100
  I can relax whenever I watch this show

  This is my number one favorite show. Whenever I put it on, I feel like I can relax. It's my feel-good show. This is due in great part to the lighthearted soundtrack, Spitz's music, and the fluffy art thanks to Chica Umino's character designs, and also to the tone of the anime as a whole, which is contemplative (some might say navel-gazing) and comedic in turns. I come back to this anime again and again and there's always some precious or comedic detail I've forgotten from the last time I watched.

  Oh yeah, the first season's food intro visuals are just bizarre and have dubious connection to the show itself. (I'd love to see someone else analyze them, though. What exactly was the studio trying to say???) A girl's panties??? Jump scare crab legs???? 'Help me' written in ketchup??? Please don't judge the entire show by them...

  Honey and Clover is one of the few shows that I think makes love triangles work without having any one guy come off as too much of a jerk and be written off. Rather, you want to root for everyone. In general the conclusions of the show seem realistic, naturally flowing out of the characters, although some decisions are not without controversy--- Hagu's choice to remain with her older cousin Shu (technically, first cousin once removed) raises feathers. Imo, Hagu's decision does flow out of her character as a shy girl who needs care and stability more than passion, but to many it constitutes negative character development rather than positive because she chooses someone "safe" for her rather than take a risk and follow her feelings, in addition to the familial relationship and age gap. It may not be the right choice but I think it is a brave choice for the story to take, so I respect it. Overall, Honey and Clover takes care to explore many kinds of romantic relationships without putting any one particular type on a pedestal, which is refreshing.

  It also has something to say about loneliness, pressure, breakdown, passion, and art.

  Morita may be one of the few primarily comedic characters that I consistently like. His antics consistently make me laugh. Id-driven and reckless, a trickster spreading chaos wherever he goes who seems untouched by human rules, on occasion he has wisdom and insight of the Fool. A good part of the joy of watching this show is just for watching what crazy thing Morita will do next to inject some levity.

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• 

  YamatoTheGreat

  98/100
  An under-watched masterpiece of the slice of life genre

  ___"All I've really been doing is going around in circles. But, I've figured something out. The reason why I wander. It's not because I don't have a map. The thing I'm missing... is a destination."___

  Out of the hundreds of anime I've seen over the years, only one of them is consistently able to bring such fond, bittersweet memories to mind every time I watch it. As I see this group of friends struggle to come to grips with the meaning of adulthood and love, inevitably, my mind starts to wander to memories of long-forgotten hopes and desires, and old friends of mine that are now far away... Memories of what it felt like to be in college, with no clear path to the future and no idea where to go next. This is Honey and Clover in a nutshell; it is a show so potently relatable, wise, and nostalgic that you will likely come away from it a better person.

  Honey and Clover is based on a manga by Chica Umino, known for other titles like Eden of the East and 3-gatsu no Lion. While 3-gatsu has become very popular lately (for good reason), Honey and Clover is often overlooked, perhaps because of its age. It was released in 2006, but still feels incredibly relevant today. In fact, to me, this show feels more grounded and relatable than 3-gatsu, which often relies on the game of Shogi and the settings surrounding that lifestyle to convey its ideas. Here, we have a group of college students (and adults) trying to find meaning and purpose in a world that seems to lack both at times. That core, fundamental longing is something that every single person can relate to deeply.

  Upon first watch, the art style might be the first thing you'll notice (apart from the incredibly weird yet legendary OP). The show is drawn almost like a watercolor painting, with faded colors and a hazy, almost dreamlike feeling to it. This unique style fits the subject matter like a glove, and gives the show a soft, comforting feeling, like coming back to a warm home after being out in the cold all day.

  Honey and Clover's sound design is a home run, with an all-star cast of voice actors that deliver on every line, and an OST full of emotionally-moving songs that capture moments in time. These songs will sound objectively good on first listen, but as the show goes on, they come to life, and may even bring you to tears. The OST simply brings out the best of every scene, and I can find no fault with it. Oh, and it also features one of the most underrated ED songs of all time: Waltz by Suneohair.

  For any slice-of-life series, the heart of the show usually boils down to its characters, and Honey and Clover nails this like few others. Whether it be the uncertainty of adulthood looming in Takemoto's future, Yamada's unrequited love, or Hanamoto-sensei's lingering memories of youthful days gone by... Almost every single character is shockingly human. This is where Honey and Clover truly shines: it has an almost universal relatability that borders on painful accuracy at times. As a result, once you're hooked, it takes you on an emotional roller-coaster ride. The humorous moments are on-point, and the emotional moments can hit like a truck; few shows can take you from a hearty laugh to the verge of tears as quickly as this one.

  Chica Umino undoubtedly has a generational talent for writing characters that feel like real people. Here, she was in top form. The cast of this show is absolutely unforgettable, and the intertwining stories of their lives feel natural and genuine. Each and every episode is filled to the brim with wholesome character interactions that make you feel like you're spending time with old friends, and you'll find yourself wanting to come back to visit with them time and time again, to discover one more anecdote - one more nugget of wisdom.

  If there was a weakness to be found here, it would be the story, as there really isn't much of an overarching plot to speak of. The characters' lives are the story, and the show doesn't really need much more than that. However, I would be remiss not to at least mention the rather sudden and highly controversial ending of the series. It's something I've always overlooked due to the sheer quality of the show as a whole, but if you're expecting a satisfying, mind-blowing conclusion to the series, you will probably be disappointed (there is a sequel as well, called Honey and Clover 2, that ends the series; in my mind, I count both as one complete show). Much like life itself, this show is not about the destination, but the journey, and few journeys are as touching and meaningful as this one.

  As you can probably tell by now, this show is very special to me. When I first discovered it over 10 years ago, while living on-campus at college, it felt like a revelation. To a young man drifting along without any real aim in life, it provided immense wisdom. It taught me the beauty of a simple, honest life, and how precious everyday moments should never be taken for granted. It showed me that adulthood doesn't mean leaving the things you love behind. Even now, as a grown man in his 30s, I still find value every time I come back to spend time with these characters. I've lost count of how many times I've re-watched it, so, I may be a bit biased, but I truly believe this show is one of the greatest anime ever made, and it is undoubtedly my personal favorite of all time. The worth of this show simply transcends entertainment.

  Even though all of this praise is subjective, as all reviews are, I invite you to find out for yourself. Spend some time with this masterpiece. Open your mind, and see where this show takes you. You might just discover something valuable about yourself in the process.

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• 

  Alicemagic18

  100/100
  A fairly simplistic and wholly relatable story of a group of art college students

  “I realized why I was lost. It’s not because I didn’t have a map… It was because I didn’t have a destination.”
  -Yuuta Takemoto

  Gosh, I don’t know what to say. Honey and Clover is a gem of a masterpiece! I watched it way back 6 years ago, but when I re-watched it, this anime gave me many important things in life. I’ve read the manga, seen the live-action movie and TV Drama, and re-watched the anime nevertheless, it hits me in the heart. Chica Umino wrote it, known for 3-gatsu no Lion and if haven’t watched it, you might miss a hidden gem of a masterpiece. It is a tale of friendship, love, pain, family, and self-discovery.

  (LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!)
  Story: 9/10 - The major premise of the story is about Yuuta Takemoto, your typical poor college boy who lived in an old apartment with his senpais, Morita and Mayama. He doesn’t have any plans for his future, as well as his studies in architecture in Tokyo Bidai. His whole life changed when Hagu Hanamoto comes into the picture. He falls in love with Hagu at first sight but Morita and Hagu seem to like each other, so Yuuta becomes confused with his feelings for her. He felt that his love for Hagu is unrequited. Along with Ayumi Yamada, whose in love with Mayama, they will experience pain and hardships in life and adulthood. The premise seemed like a typical romance story, but what hooked me was the actual intention of the story to the viewers. Every episode is talked about the struggles of college life, as is facing the future is uncertain and mysterious and sometimes, it scares us a lot. The pain of each person is also told in the story and how should we take another step to have the courage to face it. The passion that every person has been working on will make you think, “Is this the thing that I want to do most?” The story is also heartwarming that gives SoL feels that will make you fall in love with the show, as it’s a charismatic feature of a josei anime. The story is a bittersweet ride, for all the fans who love watching SoL Romantic Dramedies anime.

  Art: 10/10 - This show was released in 2005 but the art is so gorgeous. It’s like a watercolor animation but uniquely and beautifully. The scenes on sakura tree and the old dormitory gave life, and it’s suitable for the atmosphere of the story. This style fits the story, and gives the show a warm and comforting feeling, like coming back to a home after being out in the cold outside all day. Every pallete and art in every scene are like amazing paintings in the exhibit.

  Sound: 10/10 - The soundtrack is so beautiful! It gave me dramatic and romantic feels, as well as the feels of each scenario. The sounds will be in my heart and mind for some time because they gave me hope to understand the meaning of living and the pain of life. The OP was so weird but the ED made it up for me. The OST is full of emotional songs that capture moments in time. These songs will sound like normal OSTs but every moment when they play them, the feelings of the show are coming to life.

  Characters: 9/10 - I love Yuuta because he was one of the best character-driven in the story. His monologues can be so inspiring, as he was too scared to face the uncertain future of his adulthood. His bicycle journey across Japan inspires me A LOT! as he wants to move forward, just like I want to. The other characters in the story, especially Ayumi, as she holds an unrequited love for Mayama are amazingly portrayed by the seiyuus. Each character is relatable, and you will almost certainly see parts of yourself in this cast. This makes Honey and Clover shine: this show is relatable, unlike any other that I’ve personally watched. The humorous moments are funny, and the emotional moments can hit like a truck; few shows can take you from a hearty laugh to the verge of tears as quickly as this one. The characters gave me fuzzy, warmth, pain, and many more feel me, as I’ve watched them struggle throughout every episode.

  Enjoyment and Overall: 10/10 - As you can probably tell by now while reading this review, this show is very special to me. It molded me into a mature person, as this anime gave me many important things in school and myself. After some re-watches, I truly believe this show is one of the better anime ever made, and it is undoubtedly one of my personal favorites of all time. This anime has everything, unlike the other SoL drama animes. I never knew why this anime got my attention but this anime is so beautiful. You may not regret it when you watch it.

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