Now, I know this series gets a lot of love amongst blogos and after watching the first two episodes I’m into it, but I can’t help but wonder if the only reason I’m enjoying Honey and Clover is because it feels different, like an anime not made for otaku. This makes it refreshing (as an anime), though Hagu feels a little borderline otaku-bait to me, at least so far.
If this were live action would I care or like it? I’m inclined to say no, but since it’s animated I can watch it. In an anime, it seems perfectly fine that people would be a-ok with some dude disappearing for weeks at a time and returning with random pieces of food that they’ll eat without a second thought. Plus, they do something crazy like wait for the guy. That’s kind of what makes an animated world fun to watch. Passing thoughts that disappear from our heads as soon as we think them get taken up by animated characters. Normally, I don’t think much about “if this were live action,” even in other shows that don’t need to be animated to properly tell, but the thought popped up in my head a couple of times.
I do like the bike wheel thing going on.
I’m guilty of having not seen much of Honey and Clover yet. I watched two episodes with my wife a few months ago, and haven’t gotten to watching any more anime since. I do like how the bicycle wheel represents love.
If you like Honey and Clover, you’ll probably like Nodame Cantabile, if you haven’t watched it yet.
I’m a big fan.
I know a lot of people get turned off about half way through, when they get heavy in tot he drama. The ‘triangle’ that develops is somewhat frustrating, and I think people didn’t care for the end. And if you make it through to season 2, I think people hated that ending even more.
The awkwardness of Hagu’s look definitely effects people too. I think she’s just supposed to be short/small, but people cant seem to get around that she looks like a gradeschooler, in comparison with most other anime.
But by the end, as an overall piece I decided I loved it. And I’d go so far as to say Takemoto I can count as one of my top favorite anime characters in general.
I don’t know what happens, but I do know that it goes more dramatic than the relatively light opening episodes. Sometimes it’s good to know what you’re getting into from others who’ve seen the show, but I think H&C has telegraphed it pretty well from the beginning.
Honey and Clover is an excellent series and I’m glad that Viz finally released the series on DVD. I think the series gets better as it progresses.
I would love to see Nodame Cantabile to released as well but not sure that will happen. It’s another series that’s different and similar to Honey and Clover, in that it’s an anime not for otaku.
Honey & Clover was a great series, one of my favorites. Not many anime cover real-life issues as well as in Honey & Clover. Sure, relationships like in HachiKuro aren’t unique in anime, but HachiKuro does a more convincing stab at it. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season, but have not had a chance to watch the second one (yet).
I’m glad to see you watching this. It was one of my favourite anime when I first watched it 3 years ago, and it was solidified as my favourite favourite when I rewatched it this year.
I’m not sure how to address the live action issue since I’ve only seen 2 episodes of any Japanese live action in my entire life, but the appeal of H&C goes deeper than the fact that it’s different. It’s a very hit-and-miss show IMO, but I think its strength is in how simple yet realistic it is. I don’t really know how they did it, but as the episodes roll by, the viewer naturally makes connections with the characters, relating them to our own lives. There have been a few blog posts written on it, and from what I’ve noticed, everyone wrote about it based on their own experiences in life. I think that’s what makes the show good, whether it works on you or not: it’s almost like looking in a mirror.
And hey, at the very least, it’s still a spectacular romance/slife-of-life
I still have yet to see Honey and Clover, so i don’t know what’s so good about it.
I’ll probably get around to seeing it one day…
maybe
I love both Nodame Cantabile and Honey & Clover. Have to agree that it is rather refreshing.
Any more recommendation that is similar to these 2?
Just started rewatching this recently, and boy is it so ‘powerful’ now that I’m in the right state of mind (and experience?) to savor this for all its worth. Glad you’re watching this! :3
H&C probably benefits from going through the college student life. I know when I’m watching, it triggers a lot of nostalgia for me, which is good every once in a while.
i love this anime ALL TIME FAVORITE no joke
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