Anime: Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

Your Lie in April is yet another one of those shows you are watching just for the feelfaggotry. When it comes to the content, there’s hardly enough to fill two seasons worth of material and wastes most of its duration in out of place comedy. So, as usual, you just have to label everything as “it’s teenagers so it makes sense not to make sense” and move on to crying for the sake of crying.

The premise is your done to death romantic school comedy, which they spice up by making it as overdramatic as possible. Basically, the most tragic things happen to the kindest people, so you will find that sad and cry about it. More specifically, the boy suffers from PTSD and the girl has the mysterious incurable disease. This set up is enough to make it stand out from the majority of similar school romances, but only because of its extremity, not the way it handles the themes.

Starting with how it’s an anime, and that means it’s not really going to be about the romance, but constant misunderstandings as they desperately try to get to first base. In the west that is over in the first 10 minutes. In Japan it’s the whole f-ing show. Because the main character is as always a complete pussy. Most of the episodes are prolonged internal monologues, and side stories about other characters who ultimately do not affect whatever crumbs of plot there are. So basically the plot is 4 episodes, stretched to last 20.

As for the topics of PTSD and terminal disease, they are there but are constantly mocked by comedy. We have a boy with a history of child abuse and we are going to have him getting violently beaten up by the girl every 15 minutes, while making it seem it’s funny. What’s that, it ridicules whatever theme exploration we are going for? Oh, come on, “it’s teenagers so it makes sense not to make sense”. Keep crying! I even heard people defending the constant tonal inconsistencies as part of easing the depressing mood. For them ridiculing PTSD and terminal disease is what gives a bright note to the dread. I’m sorry, but if they ridicule it, it’s not serious.

Let’s face it. It’s the sad classic music that does the trick and the fact it actually exists in the show since the boy and the girl are playing instruments to express their emotions and it’s not random music they slap in the background. Also, it’s not chickening out at the end with a copout solution by magically fixing everything just for the sake of getting a forced happy ending. But these are not nearly enough positives to make it a great show. Not a complete waste of time, but also not one you watch for mature content.

Initially I was drawn to this anime simply because of the art style. It looked so colorful and eye catching that I had to check it out. Once I started watching it I couldn't stop. I felt an immediate connection with the main character, and I felt like I was moving right along with him. The music is excellent and it changes with every emotion to match beautifully.

"Your Lie in April" is a slice of life middle school romance story that revolves around Arima Kousei. Kousei is a 14 year old Jr. High student who is (was) a child piano prodigy, until the death of his mother at 12 rendered him unable to play and caused his life to be empty and colorless. He ends up meeting a vibrant outspoken female violinist named Kaori, who brings him back into the light and encourages him to play piano once more.

The art style in this anime is gorgeous. The colors and characters are drawn excellently and everything is eye-catching. There are a few moments that use CG, and you will notice them if you watch the show, but the CG is used to great effect and is not distracting at all. In fact I would say that the CG made certain moments better and had them stand out in your mind as important and dynamic moments for the characters and the audience. Different moments of the show are more or less vibrant depending on the mood of the moment, and it is actually noticeable and executed very well.

The sound for this show is incredible and is one of the main attractions to be sure. Since it is about classical piano and violin music, one would expect as much, but it goes beyond just a classical score. Each classical piece that is played feels completely different, and some of them even change as they are being played. Kousei might start out frustrated and angry, and you can feel it just from the way he is playing the song. Then he will realize what he is doing and calm down and start playing much more calmly and fluidly, and the difference is like night and day even though it is the same song! It's amazing. Early on, in the first or second episode there is a perfect example of this, where Kaori is playing violin, and she is playing the same piece as the boy who performed before her, but her piece sounds completely different and is much more lively and vibrant. When the crowd applauds it makes you want to join right in because it is just so stunning. The music direction is one of the main reasons to watch the show, but there are likeable relatable characters and an emotional story to draw you in even more and tie into the music.

Character development is mostly focused on Kousei and his best friend Tsubake (a girl who he grew up with as his neighbor), though the show is mostly portrayed from Kousei's point of view. Having the show portrayed from his point of view really drew me in more and helped me to understand him and feel his emotions. I felt very attached to him as a character and was able to relate with his problems and feelings. As Kousei plays piano, we are treated to the same sensations he experiences. When he becomes nervous and breaks down, the sounds of the piano twist and become muddled, and even disappear entirely. I could just imagine how nerve-wracking it was to be up on the stage at a concert and then not be able to hear yourself play. That also made it so much more satisfying when he did succeed. Looking at where Kousei was at the beginning of the show and at the end it is easy to see how much he has changed and improved as a person. He has a new sense of purpose that he didn't have before and he is ready to keep pressing on in life. Tsubake also has a few revelations throughout the show, but not as much as Kousei. Although there is some really good character development, there are also a couple atypical characters that fill some roles, and they don't really develop at all, but they fill their roles well.

The story is heartfelt. I really can't emphasize enough how strongly it conveys emotions and feelings of the characters. It drew me in and made me want to find out what happens to these new characters that I quickly grew to love. The finale of the show brought me to tears. I was thinking about it for days, and I still felt so strongly for the characters even after the show was over. It still brings some tears to my eyes when I think about it even now.

This show was 100% worth the watch. As soon as I finished it I recommended it to all of my friends that watch anime and even some of the ones that don't. If you are a fan of slice of life animes, or anime at all, you will not be disappointed with this show.

Review
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April) is a warm and cozy tale of school life, teen romance and tragedy following the steps of Kousei, a genius young pianist, as he falls in love with Kaori, a vivid violinist who brings light back to his stale life. While it initially portraits itself as more of the "guy bored with life who finds a motivation" there is a lot more going on in terms of drama, sadness, and sheer beauty to this piece of work. If there was any doubt about studio A1-Pictures in regards to slice-of-life dramas, this is were you will learn their style is simply perfect for that.

---

1. The first impression
   In a general sense, especially considering the first set of episodes, Your Lie in April dives deep into many stereotypes of modern japanese animation. The cast is irritatingly similar to shows like Clannad, Golden Time, and the recent Nisekoi. The tragic past and absurdly generic template of the protagonist has zero originality, and the starting events themselves are far from being groundbreaking, although being decent enough to catch your attention.
   
   But it grows...
   However, as episodes aired, Your Lie in April started to show its true colors. The generic protagonist, who initially looks like a slice-of-life version of Aldnoah.ZERO's main hero, gains weight and depth, even the seiyuu grows to give the character its own set of emotions to differentiate from its other works. Kaori grows more and more enticing, her energetic behavior slowly showing that she hides something more behind her smile.
   
   And there is support
   Although most of the shinning time will be on Kousei and Kaori, there are smart introduction of other characters, some temporary and other recurring, to incite Kousei into his next step of recovering or pushing him towards Kaori and ultimately his zenith. These guys vary from other musicians who pose a challenge to Kousei, a best friend with hidden love, the popular guy who doesn't exactly want to be what he is, or simply people to cheer for him when he needs. They react to the failures of the protagonist, work around him, and make the main duo shine even brighter than how they would.
   
   And it gets emotional...
   If there is an area where Your Life in April excels since the early parts, it is its capacity of turning simple scenes into emotional montages and giving us a vivid sense of accomplishment for its romantic pair. Every time Kousei gets on stage and every time he sits in front of a piano there is a huge amount of weight and a interesting narrative to develop his tragic past and make him progress to overcome his fears and traumas. If not enough, Your Lie in April's dramatic moments get bigger in the second half and there it delivers one of the most powerful dramas of the last recent years. If you ever watched a live piano opera, you will definitely see how it is all nicely portraited to show, granting you an insight to the mind of the artist that you normally wouldn't think.
   
   Simply Stunning
   A1-Pictures clearly outdone themselves here. Although Your Lie in April depends heavily in some montages and flashbacks while Kousei and other characters perform onstage, the sharpness of the artwork, the intensity of their expressive power, the bright colors, and incredible backgrounds make this one of the most visually stunning shows of recent seasons. This is also greatly aided by a cunning art style, which manages to feel not that different from the current japanese standard but also charming enough to get away from mediocrity. If only the character design was a bit more excentric or courageous...
   
   And, of course, it is about music!
   A piano and a violin. There is little to say beyond that. Sound direction here is a complete blast, with tons of classic scores played by Kousei and Kaori as well as interesting charming japanese music to work as opening, ending, and so on. The voice-acting does suffer a bit in the early episodes, especially because Kousei's seiyuu struggles to find a way to make him different from his other works, but beyond that nothing is compromised.
   

---

Comments
Your Lie in April is perhaps the best work of its season. A charming tale that mixes with great success cuteness, drama, and beauty. After this one, it is safe to say studio A1-Pictures is not only a powerful studio overall, but a base for some of best guys when it comes to craft dramas where tragedy and coming of age are concerned. If Ano Hana got you back in 2011, Your Lie in April can be said to be its true successor.

This is one of those shows that I almost passed up but, luckily, decided otherwise- it's not nearly as childish or whimsical as the title image depicts. Shigatsu is all about growing up; it might be disguised with a lot of music and perhaps even a bit of romance but underlying it all is a group of kids learning how to deal with circumstances and how to overcome setbacks. In this way, it is similar to shows such as Glasslip or Ano Hana. It differentiates itself by focusing on music in a similar way to how food was emphasized in Gourmet Girl Graffiti; music will literally bring color to scenes.

Arima is a child prodigy who was famous/infamous for his robotic ability to play piano pieces perfectly according to sheet music, in the process winning every competition that he entered. To achieve this, he sacrificed his childhood to practice more and meet his mother's strict demands. After his mother passed away, he was left psychologically traumatized, unable to "hear" the music that he plays. However, he suddenly meets an exuberant girl named Miyazono, whose passion-infused music is the direct opposite of his own. Suddenly, she asks for him, the disabled pianist, to accompany her at a violin concert. Can her persistence and artistic prowess help bring life back to Arima?

There's a lot to like about this show, some highlights being the cohesive plot, outstanding female lead, and nice classical background. There are also contentious points as well, mostly stemming from the somewhat-foreshadowed but still ballsy ending. Even with the uneasy conclusion, I believe this show is one of the best in the season. It really serves as gentle reminder not to let your past hold you back, and to live life to its fullest. I highly recommended this piece especially for those who like music or character development.

Animation:
The show is drawn in a fairly saturated and often very bright color palette. Backgrounds are drawn with a good amount of detail and given its timeframe in April/May you can expect a lot of colorful, nicely drawn sakura blossoms. The show does a superb job of using contrasting colors to make the background stand out vividly without overpowering the characters in the foreground. Lighting and shadows are also well done, giving night time scenes a nice vibe. Most unique is the usage of colors and visual effects to emphasize the tonality of music being played. The character design is a bit different from your run of the mill show; while lines are crisp, the overall drawing style is softer. All the characters are readily distinguishable and emotions are well expressed.

There isn't much action in the show, and likewise ecchi isn't the focus of the show- though you do get a bit of it early in the show; it seems it's a general trend that the protagonist and heroine must have a negative first impression of each other.

Sound:
The first OP comes across as both soft and playful, but the melody isn't anything special. The second OP is likewise soft and playful but is a bit faster paced and with a stronger theme. Though I'm normally not big on guy songs, the first ED strikes a nice vibe and has a nice melody to boot. The second ED is a slightly somber piece that fits with the direction of the plot. The BGM, fittingly, is full of piano pieces, some of which are classical pieces that viewers might recognize, other non-classical pieces are also good and successfully build anticipation. Occasionally, the sound is purposely distorted to emphasize Arima's inability to hear what he's playing.

The VA cast is very strong in this show, led by Risa Taneda's boisterous performance as Miyazono. You also get Ai Kayano, Saori Hayami, and even Mamiko Noto in supporting roles. Nevertheless, just like how Yuno was the defining voice in Mirai Nikki, Miyazono's performance is dominating here.

Story:
This show does something rarely seen in anime these days, well multiple things actually. First of all, there is actually a very thorough conclusion that introduces a layer of depth on top of the entire plot. Second, the show's title is actually aptly named, though the realization won't come until the very end of the show. Third, there is a random obsession with black cats that, though partly explained, is carried throughout the show as some kind of metaphor that I couldn't quite work out. But honestly, if you're looking for a show that will leave an impression, you sure have found it.

Shigatsu plays with many themes such as family relations, the loss of someone close, and childhood friendships. It's a coming of age show that has its fair share of comedic moments as well as serious, even outright depressing moments. The plot is pretty linear and major events are pretty well foreshadowed. The show is well paced and spends just the right amount of time switching between focal characters. Without getting into the details of the conclusion, just know that you're in for a pretty interesting ride.

Character:
The main character is amazingly unlikable; he procrastinates, hides from responsibility, has no self confidence, and is pretty much a recluse. My distaste for his personality goes almost so far as to compare with Yuuki from Mirai Nikki. That said, he is definitely a dynamic character who grows from his experiences and interactions with others; though it often feels like a two step forwards one step back kind of a progression. His presence is overshadowed by the many overachievers around him; his childhood friend is a sports ace, his best friend is a chick magnet, his former piano rivals are now district stars, and then there's Miyazono- blunt, aggressive, childish, and yet beautiful. After leaving just about the worst impression possible with Arima, she starts approaching him when her interest, Arima's best friend Watari, isn't around. Their relationship as fellow artists soon blooms in ways that Arima would never have imagined possible. Miyazono's character is an outstanding work; her musical prowess and boisterous presence is magnificently balanced with her inner fragility and occasional feminine charm. The show also spends a fair amount of time completing the relationship polygon with Arima's childhood friend, Sawabe. Overall, this show really impresses in this category.

Value:
Every once in awhile we need a reminder, a push from behind to move on as human beings; this is one of those shows that has that catalyzing potential. Shigatsu combines good presentation with a well executed plot and meaningful characters to create a symphony of awesomeness. This show is a very enjoyable watch that quickly grows after the first few episodes. Due to the ending and many foreshadows, there is also significant re-watch value. Definitely go and check it out, I greatly enjoyed it- and I promise that's not a lie.

For Persian speakers:

به شخصه به عنوان یک انیمه بین برای من در رده بهترین انیمه هایی که تا حالا دیدم قرار می گیره نه در ژانر خاص و سبک خاص به نظرم روایت قشنگ این داستان چه در حد مانگای خودش و چه در حد انیمه پخش شده ازش باعث شده حداقل خود من از این انیمه خوشم بیاد . همونطور که گفتم داستان روایت خیلی خوبی داره البته خب مثال این داستان رو خیلی دیده بودیم . قهرمان شکست خورده و بی رغیبی که به وسیله یک محرک دوباره به روزهای قهرمانیش بر می گرده . لازم نیست بگم چندتا انیمه از این نوع تا به حال پخش شده اما Shigatsu wa kimi no uso در کنار همین روایت تکراری ایده اضافه کردن چاشنی رمنس اضافه , طنز دلنشین و مهمتر از همه برای اولین بار ترکیب این چاشنی ها و داستان با موسیقی باعث شده این انیمه در سبک خودش حداقل به نظر من تک باشه .اولین باری که با این انیمه اشنا شدم زمانی بود که قسمت ده پخش شد یادمه برای اینکه ببینم چیه و چه جوری دانلودش کردم و بعد یک نگاه گذرا به قسمتش واقعا مجذوبش شدم و یادمه 11 قسمت رو تو مدت زمان یک روز دیدم داشتم می گفتم . یکی از قشنگترین جنبه های این انیمه موزیسین بودن شخصیت اول اونه که خب مشخصه زمانی که شخصیت اول انیمه موزیسین باشه بنابراین ما باید شاهد انیمه ای پر از لحظات موسیقی باشیم . خوشبختانه توی این انیمه ما شاهد نواخته شدن واقعی قطعه های معروف بودیم که با نمایش جذاب و جالب در هنگام نواختن علاوه بر القای حس خود موسیقی باعث هرچه لذت بخش تر شدن اونها شده بود . برای من به شخصه با اینکه چند قسمت گذشته اما هنوز قطعه غم عشق رو یادم نرفته واقعا قشنگ بود در کل هرچه از وصف بخش صدا و موسیقی انیمه بگیم کم گفتیم
نکته بعدی در مورد خود انیمه است . ما شاهد لحظات تصویری زیبایی در انیمه هستیم که میشه گفت کار استدیو سازنده خیلی خوب بود . اگر چه به خاطر سبک خاص گرافیکی انیمه اگه نسخه های کم کیفیت رو گرفته باشین اصلا این زیبایی رو نمی تونین ببینین اما در کل کار استدیو سازنده قابل ستایش بوده
همونطور که گفتم یکی از نکات مهم انیمه داستان بسیار زیبای اون بوده . نکته جالب اون اینه که به شخصه نتونستم تا اخرین قسمت اون حدس بزنم که دقیقا دروغ تو در اوریل یعنی چه که برای من جذاب بود

نکته جالب انیمه توازن میان سکانس های خوب و بدش بود . خوب از نظر سکانس های شاد و بد از نظر سکانس های ناراحتی و غم . اگر انیمه رو دنبال کرده باشید دیدید که با هرچه جلوتر رفتن انیمه از سکانس های شاد انیمه کم شده و انیمه غم ناک تر شد . یعنی واقعا خوشم میاد از انیمه هایی که به همین جنبه های کوچیک دقت می کنن . از نقطه نظر سکانس های طنز انیمه هم به نظر من طنز دل نشینی بود اگر چه در اکثر اوقات ما یک روند تکراری رو میدیدم و همین روند تکراری تکرار و تکرار تکرار شد تا به انتهای انیمه رسید و به نظر همین کم شدن از تعداد سکانس های غم ناک خودش کمک زیادی کرد که برای بیننده این سکانس ها تکراری نشن به نظر من از همین جنبه هم انیمه و داستان خیلی خوب عمل کرد.

برای حرف اخر
به نظرم به قول یکی از دوستان این فروم این انیمه یکی از انیمه هاییه که باید قبل از مردن دید . به نظر من واقعا انیمه قشنگی بود چه از لحاظ مفهوم - سبک و مخصوصا موزیک !!!
امیدوارم شما هم مثل من از دیدن این انیمه لذت برده باشید و همچنین خوشحالم که فرصت داشتم یکی از قشنگ ترین انیمه های این چند وقت اخیر رو ببینم
واقعا دلمون برای این انیمه تنگ خواهد شد

If you read it, rate it, or leave a comment to know you saw it? NOTE: I will have mild spoilers in the text (fair warning)

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (or KimiUso) is a romantic tragedy from the manga of the same name, with occasional comedic aspects, and at the conclusion so satisfying and heartbreaking you are struck with how deftly it was all pulled off. Like True Tears or Nodame Cantable, it is a moving romance of pain and loss, a romance with art, and above all, a romance with the person who saves the protagonist from lonliness. It has been done before, but rarely better. You will want to keep your copies of this, and show it to your otaku kids, or maybe (just maybe) to the music students as they wait for their lesson each week.

Now, for the review, which will be short as needed because I dont want to give any spoilers.

ANIMATION:A-1 Pictures (AnoHana, Saekano) is in charge, and they seem to have emptied the paintbox. Every episode except those where Kosei is floundering is richly hued and shaded, as Kaori brings color to his life made bleak by the loss of his mother. Background art is magnificent, and movement fluid. There is nothing to criticize, and they left a lot of the budget for a final fireworks animation of a concert with Kosei and Kaori in the last episode which will stay with me forever. Nothing short of 9 points, and almost perfect.

SOUND: Marvelous use of classical music, and the OP and ED are exceptional. I particularly liked the concert pieces that took up two episodes each, and the OST has a lot of fans. The soundstage is impressively large, and the voice actors are led by Natsuki Hanae (Toru in Absolute Duo and Ken Kaneki in Tokyo Ghoul) and impressively by Risa Taneda (Kuroha Neko in Gokukoku no Brynhildr; Sachi Nagamiya in GLASSLIP). I can not think of a deduction here, so it's a 10, but full disclosure, I am a musician.

STORY: Love Story was a very popular movie when I was in college an eon ago, and like that movie, this one takes a tragic air quickly. By the fifth episode, you kind of have a feeling it will not end well, but then there is a monkey wrench thrown in because his childhood friend Tsubaki is tragically tied to him by fate and by proximity (they live next door to each other). And our protagonist is a bit wimpy, but not in the usual way; his is born from tragic seeds and it has flowered into a debilitating psychosomatic disorder that keeps him from playing at the highest level. But Kaori will have none of it, and chooses him to be her accompanist. All is well... except she isn't. How this ends, and how they put everything right from all the broken shards of a life, is quite satisfying. Ok, deductions for using the tragic trope of unspecified illness, and for the cliches which abound, but which are pointed out (breaking the 4th wall) and which are part of the charm of the series. 9 points

CHARACTER: two of my favorite characters of 2015 are in this series. I noticed that character design by Yukiko Aikei (Accel World, Kyoukaisen-jou no Horizon, Todadora) shows maturity and elegance as they handle the growth of characters from kindergarden to middle school; the concert bodies of our main characters look a bit too developed for age 14, but they have normal flaws of all kinds that seem to be pointed out repeatedly. After all, middle school is a time when gangly is the only word that fits. I must say, there are times when the closeups are almost painful in their depiction of the inner feelings of our actors. Nobody is perfect; it's a redemption that is shared by many. 8 points with deductions for some unreal anime physics and SD.

VALUE AND ENJOYMENT: Get ready for a ride on the tissue train, if you liked Nodame or True Tears or ef, you will love this series. It is short enough to be accessible, and long enough to need to bingewatch. It is worth the time, and though I dont know what extras to expect (or what they are going to do with the OVA due out later this year), it's a great gob of goodness and well worth your time and money. 9 points.