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Alternative TitlesSynonyms: Suki-tte Ii na yo., Sukinayo InformationType:TV Status: Finished Airing Premiered:Fall 2012 Producers:Starchild Records, Kodansha, Magic Capsule, Yomiuri Advertising, GANSIS Studios:Zexcs Genres:Drama, Romance, School, Shoujo Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older StatisticsRanked: #13122 2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded. Members: 367,216 | ReviewsSort
13 of 13 episodes seen
It’s hard for me to be too hard on the romance anime plot premise, I mean they have pretty much already all been done before and they are all mostly silly as well. Suki na yo is no different, with the unlikely story of the hot and most popular guy in school falling for a shy, friendless loner who kicked him down the stairs because she mistakenly thought he flipped her skirt. The beginnings of true and lasting love if I ever saw it. The girl Mei, and the boy Yamato, both have some interesting personality issues on the surface and despite the silliness of their meeting there was some enormous amount of potential in their relationship. However this is sadly mostly wasted over the course of the story. Now here is where Suki na yo is a bit different from its other romance cousins. For the most part our lead characters are in a relationship together from the beginning to the end of the series. The typical format is 99% courting with the eventual payoff at the end when our little lovebirds finally realize their mutual affections. While it can often be frustrating when it is drug out with silly misunderstandings and character cockblocks at least by then we have a clear understanding why they both love each other. The show is called Say I love you, but it should probably more aptly called Say why I love you. Even though I have some pretty serious complaints about the way the shows romance and plot unfolds, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy watching this series. But when you compare it with its peers within the genre and even shows that were airing during the same time as this, it comes across as distinctly average and ordinary. Much in the same way as the story is underwhelming, so are the series main characters. A romance is by nature very character driven and if we don’t get compelling leads it’s pretty difficult to care if they end up falling in love with each other. Mei is your standard 'everyman' kind of girl typical in shoujo romances. She’s cute, though not particularly beautiful, and pretty much average in every other way. She’s a nice girl with a strong spirit but very vulnerable as well. Exactly the kind of girl most people can relate too and can root for as well. It’s sweet how she slowly comes out of her shell and makes friends and learns to trust people again as well. Even though this mostly comes across pretty corny and clichéd. Though hell I like corny and clichéd anyway. Yamato is less interesting and in many ways is also your typical bishounen leading man. Though I will give him some credit for breaking the trend and not being a cold, aloof, and unfeeling jerk. You get the feeling most of the time he has genuine feelings for Mei but at other times he’s actions around her seemed to be a bit condescending and they he was treating her more like a pet and as an equal partner. I felt some aspects of his personality were also very inconsistent, especially later in the series. For a guy who came across as supremely confident he was surprisingly weak willed at times and his distrust of Mei's feelings at times was implausible considering what the pair had been through to that point already. The supporting cast is the weakest link though and stereotypical shoujo fair. This plays in to the weakness of the plot but basically the same themes are repeated multiple times over the course of the story. Girl appears, of course hopefully in love with Yamato, drama unfolds, girl is rejected and our leads love continues. And the rejected gets new love and becomes best friends with our dear Mei. While I mostly liked the supporting characters they simply lack the depth for them to be actually interesting. Then of course you have to look past the unlikelihood that two romantic rivals are going to be besties afterwards, particularly when one side was involved in some pretty nasty schemes and bullying. Despite all these flaws though what Suki na yo really does best is both its artwork and musical soundtrack. Both are typical of the genre but I really did love both of the songs. The seiyuu cast is comprised of mostly veterans but none of them are real stars. I thought they did solid, if unspectacular work. While the artwork may not be a masterwork, it is very fluid and reality based, with clothes and body types that stay in the realm of possibility. Even though in the end I have quite a few complaints about Suki na yo, it’s still a good watch. If you’re really starved, as I was, for a romance anime with a sweet ending and are not demanding to be shown some that’s never been seen before then you should have a good time with it as well. 9 of 13 episodes seen
However, this anime actually accomplishes it WELL. Where it stands out is how dead on and absolutely accurate it depicts falling in love HARD the first time. Even if you've been in love several times, you'll find something in Mei and Yamato's relationship that may bring tear to your eye. Mei is a good character. Several female leads in this sort of role invariably fall into the 'Mary-Sue' trap and end up just being an empty shell. What makes Mei stand out is the decisions she makes and how she reacts to the situations around her. Throughout watching all the episodes, I watched Mei make the same decisions I would of as a girl in her position in high school. She is realistic and very easy to sympathize with. Yamato's character could have easily suffered from the same sort of stigma that befalls his character archetype. The typical, popular, good-looking guy. This could have easily turned into a 13 episode version of the movie 'She's All That' but his character keeps it from doing so. Yamato actually comes off like he has an absolutely beautiful soul. He strikes you as that rare individual that is good inside and out and instead of 'making over' the heroine in his popular image he seems like he was looking for someone like her all along. Then he works to get others to see she's actually a good person the way she is. Their budding relationship is realistic as well, save for the part with Yamato's little sister. That part came out of left field but I digress. Watching them learn from each other and grow is entertaining and you want nothing more than to root for their happiness while watching. The show leaves you with warm fuzzy feelings inside that stick around for a while. The art is gorgeous and the music complements it perfectly. The intro took me a bit to get used to but once I did I found it very cute. Overall, even if you're the type to shun the typical 'romance, shoujo, slice of life' anime - PLEASE try his one. It's worth it. 13 of 13 episodes seen
You're an individual who has a troubled past. You have been ostracized by various circumstances and nowadays, you don't give a damn what anyone thinks about you or your life. That is till you meet one of the hottest student at school who takes an interest in you. Your heart pounds and for the first time in your life, you give a damn about your life and those around you especially regarding that student. That, my friends, is where Sukitte Ii na yo shines. It's a discovery and it's a classic. Sukitte Ii na yo (also known as Say 'I Love You'.) is an anime series adapted from the manga written by Kanae Hazuki. The animation studio, Zexcs handles its production which is already known for some of its past works in the romance department such as Da Capo, Fortune Arterial, and H2O: Footprints in the Sand. The series fits within the romance and drama side as opposed to a pure romantic comedy because of the story involved. Like I mentioned before, the series is a classic for those into the shoujo medium. It is like a breath of fresh air to watch especially with the lighthearted backgrounds presented. For those into some school drama involving the typical high school life, it's like a journey all over again. The series kicks off with a girl named Mei Tachibana. She is nothing special although she used to get well along with others. Unfortunately, it seems that events in the past has shut her down and made her an unsociable person. In fact, classmates who knows her describes Mei as a girl who keeps to herself with little words and a person stuck in her own little world. Yet at the same time, we can see Mei as an honest girl who is caring, loyal, and willing to help others when the time calls for it. But time isn't always on her side especially during a day when she bumps heads to heads with the most popular student at school. Here's where the drama kicks in and his name is Yamato Kurosawa. Yamato is one of the most popular guys at school and his name may even suggest a male version of Yamato Nadeshiko (no pun intended). He meets Mei in a very unusual way at school and later on so helps her with a problem involving a stalker. Yikes! Now, from there on and out, the two forms a bond despite Mei's stubbornness. Now, the duo seems to very incompatible at first glance. I mean, Mei is one of the most plain looking girls at school with a plain way of dealing with her life. On the other hand, Yamato is the most popular guy at school who is idolized by many of the students. Sounds like living on the opposite of the world, right? Yet, what these two individuals share in common is their willingness to take on life itself with their ways of helping others and discover themselves. It's a pleasant watch and a rare gem we don't see too common in today's shoujo theme series. Later on, Mei and Yamato forges a relationship that seems to get quite the attention. I honestly think the duo are quite compatible that balances out each other. We know that Mei is a plain looking girl who is clumsy yet very honest with herself and with others. Yamato often goes out helping his classmates as well by putting others above himself. We can see that he dislikes people who just likes him for his appearance. When Yamato realizes that Mei likes him beyond just his physical appearance, the two becomes quite compatible. Although loathed by some of the other students at school, they are a good match. The other characters also plays their roles in the story as well that often brings forth new surprises and obstacles to the couple. That brings for the drama into the series. On the male side, we have Kai Takemura who has very similar circumstances with Mei. Both of them had a past they wish they can forget but they manage to move on. After their encounter, Kai becomes part of the love triangle between Yamato, Mei, and himself. It's drama to the D especially when we see Yamato's jealous and defensive side. On the female side, there is Megumi Kitagawa. She is seen as an idol on similar status with Yamato and is possibly what Mei wants to be: popular and beautiful. Yet, we see behind that outer shell is a very insecure girl who seems sweet but is only aiming at her own goals, aka Yamato. The three of them is a love triangle that makes Mei once again examine herself and the relationship she forms. The overall execution of the series follows that typical shoujo theme ways of portraying its ways, settings, and backgrounds. As such, expect some cliched and predictable moments especially between the duo of Mei and Yamato. Even from the pilot episode, it can be easy to tell where the direction the two are heading. The misunderstandings and some of the drama are also easy to see through especially involving Megumi. It's no surprising either that in high school, all sort of situations happen and love is may just be one of them. The series takes that love between the duo and drives it throughout each episode as obstacles and events are presented. It shows how much they discover themselves and how much they can change when they understand each other. The artwork of the series is quite realistic and portrays the backgrounds with the school life setting. The various classrooms, playgrounds, and characters are real and needs to be in that way to convey to the viewers what high school is all about. Yuka Hirama (the art director) does a wonderful job of that crafting the characters. Mei is painted as a plain looking girl. Yamato is painted as cool looking guy. Megumi is painted as a school idol with a beautiful figure. Kei is painted as a guy that used to have a rebellious nature. It is all there and the audience can see how each of them fits within their boundaries within the artwork department. Similarly, the soundtrack of the series is lighthearted. Although not too well known, Yuuji Nomi engineers the series' music with his skills to create a sense of being there. It's nothing too special because it mostly is lighthearted and hardly noticeable at times. However, it is a sweet melody that depicts the settings and the characters especially the opening song. 'Friendship ~ for Sukitte Ii na yo' by Ritsuko Okazaki is a very lighthearted song that gives off that melody of sweetness which depicts the duo's sweet relationship. Similarly, the ED song follows the same suit to match the lightheartedness of the series. All in all, Sukitte Ii na yo is a pleasant series to watch. The relationship between Mei and Yamato is quite warming and realistic to what some of us may have experienced during our teen years. It's heartwarming, sweet, and at the same time has drama to it especially involving the other characters. It is also a shoujo that fits within its boundaries without going over heels or trying too hard. Ultimately, it's a rare little gem that deserves praise for its beauty. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Well that’s exactly the problem with romance animes. Their stories redound to become mainstream and that’s why they don’t appeal much on their viewers, so that makes them complete them without considerate them as a big deal. But here we have something special. A HUGE deal, actually lol. So, let’s start from the basics. We have our typical social-awkward girl and the popular hot guy who falls in love with her. Of course I was like “awww” when hearing the typical love words and stuff like “you’re my everything”, but what I liked more was the participation of the other characters in the story. I mean, watching a couple doing stuff all over the anime is totally boring. But here, you will see development in the characters. They will narrate their different pasts, their different stories and reveal sad truths and facts about them. So, there were some life lessons as well. Trying hard to be accepted by the others -so much that you harm yourself, overcoming your fears, the meaning of friendship, be envy of the others, isolate yourself. All these applied on the characters making you enjoy the show as you see how relations between them are being developed. And I think that was actually what made me curious about the next episode, watching it right after the previous ‘cause I just couldn’t wait at all :P What I also liked was the way that characters showed up in the show, leaving you more curious and making you wanting to “explore” their personalities and find out their connection to the rest of the characters, as well (which was an another strong point of the anime). So, about the “romantic” side, I have to say that I really liked it. You can clearly see what love really means, what love really is just by how the relation between the two main characters is developed. And this anime taught me that love has to do with completing and dedicating completely to each other. Hahah, and I’m putting aside the cute main character, our loving Yamato. Overall: 7 Sukitte Ii na Yo was a decent romance anime. Not too girly nor boring and totally NOT stupid at all. It can keep you stuck to it until the end through its great love story, the shapely art, the variety of the characters and the zestful relations/connections between them. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Where do I even start with this anime. The title even gives off an exceedingly romantic, unrealistic atmosphere. If there was ever a competition for 'The Most Generic Shoujo,' Say 'I Love You' would take the cake. Let's start off with a brief summarization. A reserved young girl who has no social connection whatsoever plays as the object of desire for the most popular, handsome boy in the school. They eventually establish an awkward relationship filled with uncomfortable dialogue and well, there you have it. There really isn't much else to say about this anime. It's simplistic, it doesn't try to break any boundaries, and it's so monotonous it will probably make you yawn and fall asleep. It executed what every romantic comedy anime out there has ever attempted to accomplish. I can guarantee that you have seen this same template numerous times before, and I can also promise that you have seen better. Story - 4 / 10 The story is generic and monotonous. It does not bring anything new to the table that makes itself memorable, or leave a mark behind in history. You can summarize the story in one sentence, and the reader could predict everything that will ever happen in the anime. Is there any completely unexpected plot twist? Is there any cliffhanger that leaves you at the edge of your seat? Or maybe there is some sort of symbolism, or undertone that it is trying to portray. The answer is 'no' to all of your questions. The story is basically a silly, happy-go-lucky, simplistic romance that has been repeated too many times before with absolutely no depth whatsoever. The pacing also made me uncomfortable. First episode they meet, second they kiss, and third, they automatically become a boyfriend and girlfriend. It's immature and childish, and definitely does not represent the singular theme they have been emphasizing throughout this entire anime, which is indeed 'love.' The storyline was just another contribution to why I find Say 'I Love You' so bland. Art - 5 / 10 The art is satisfactory. It doesn't do anything extraordinary, but it certainly isn't disgusting. The somewhat likable character design, and the brightening colors that were incorporated into the background scenery was what gave its' animation a semi-respectable score, and I am sorry to say, is the pinnacle of this anime's accomplishment. Other than the sparkle and the twinkle that they sprinkle and sugarcoat in every single shoujo anime, Say 'I Love You' does not outdo any other anime with its' art. To wrap it up, it does its' job, and with the wide variety of spectrum the animation studio ventures into when they bring this anime to life is a compliment I am reluctant to give, but I will just for the anime's mentionable work. Sound - 4 / 10 The soundtrack of Say 'I Love You' is almost like a lullaby. It puts you into a slumber, and makes you wonder whether Say 'I Love You' is supposed to make you fall asleep or make you giggle and laugh over the chemistry experienced throughout adolescence. The opening theme is a heartwarming hymn, but certainly isn't anything special. It's calm, collected, but definitely doesn't introduce the romantic aspect of Say 'I Love You', but gives you a more wistfully composed orchestral piece. The quiet piano and violin strumming away in the background is soothing and gentle, but it just didn't break a barrier or kick down a wall for me. The ending theme is practically an identical twin to its' opening theme counterpart. The OST? More whimsical singing, making me picture it to be more of a children nursery rhyme than a love song. In conclusion, the sound? Nothing remarkable. But still bearable. Character - 3 / 10 The characterization throughout Say 'I Love You' is most likely the worst part of this anime. The main female protagonist is timid, reserved Mei Tachibana. Her introduction actually somewhat drew me in-- an anti-social, pessimistic student who doesn't believe in establishing relationships with her classmates. This really hooked me-- I wanted to know more about her perspective on the everyday boundaries of school life, and her thoughts/opinions on social hierarchy, interactions, etc. I also really liked it when I noticed the courage she possessed when she gave the most popular boy at her school a roundhouse kick in the face! But then this bright, intelligent, and audacious young woman that I believed had such an interesting view on the world suddenly transformed into your ordinary tsundere character who would never respond to the male protagonist, Yamato Kurosawa's affection. Which brings me to my next point. Yamato Kurosawa has got to be one of my least favorite characters in Say 'I Love You.' He is perfect, almost robotically so. Yamato Kurosawa, the academic all star, the athletic champion, the wealthy son of a successful family, and on top of all that he has a beautiful face and a social life. Which is what makes him so monotonous to observe as a character. I didn't like how there wasn't anything wrong with him. He is a human, not an alienish demigod who excels at everything he does. I also didn't like the sudden fluctuation between his interest in Mei. First he is all over her, his top priority, the one individual he wanted to see and spend his time with, and then all of a sudden, he almost forgets her. The process rinses and repeats like a cycle. Neither Mei Tachibana nor Yamato Kurosawa did their role as the main protagonist justice, not even decently so, which is why the score they have received is so long. It would have been even lower if Mei Tachibana's introduction wasn't so solid. This aspect of Say 'I Love You' was yet another factor that made this anime so disappointing. Enjoyment - 3 / 10 Alright, I will admit it. I don't usually watch shoujo anime. Yes, I have seen a lot of excellent shoujo anime, and I have seen a lot of completely gagworthy shoujo anime. Say 'I Love You' to me is just a mediocre, soap opera fling. It is a decent anime to watch if you want to completely turn off your constructively critical brain, and just enjoy a romantic comedy. But that does not forgive the English bran muffin of a storyline, and the disastrous characterization. Say 'I Love You' has done everything that has already been done, and if not worse. I certainly did NOT enjoy this anime, and this is coming from a female adolescent, which I believe is Say 'I Love You' 's target demographic. It claims itself to be a romantic comedy slice-of-life. But I did find the relationship that Mei and Yamato shared to be romantic, but more awkward, prepubescent, and coming-of-age. The most that Mei and Yamato did was hold themselves in an uncomfortable embrace, or a sudden kiss here or there. In my opinion, an adolescent attraction is not what love is, and if you haven't noticed already from its' title, is what this anime is trying so hard to emphasize. It claims itself to possess comedy, and will promise laughter. But the jokes that were displayed only put a halfhearted smile on my face, because well, I can't put it anymore bluntly than it wasn't funny, and definitely didn't provide any entertainment for me as the audience. It does what it's supposed to with its' slice of life genre, which isn't all too interesting to witness anyway. You have your high school, identical uniforms, and handsome/beautiful boys and girls. Nothing ever happened, nothing ever happens, and nothing ever will happen. Say 'I Love You' just wasn't for me. And with that, I give it an overall score of 4 / 10. Sorry. :/ 4 of 13 episodes seen
This anime brings a serious problem to our attention in a modern way taking a quite complicated school life as an example. Not becoming an outsider or being bullied means being nice to everybody, wearing designer clothes, accessories, make-up, as well as keeping your mouth shut, when someone gets hurt. So much effort to survive in school. Do I really need to be like everybody else? It’s difficult to be an individual in this school. Having fake friends is better than having none, you would think. None of us likes to be betrayed, but at the same time you cannot rely on yourself only. Some might prefer not having friends like that, others cannot understand it at all. I can quite correspond to the main character’s choice. Opening up after being hurt is always difficult. Why did the best looking guy at school choose this particular girl? Why not me, when I sacrificed everything to look that great now? Expectations. It may be painful, but love at a first sight is possible, which most of the people do not understand. Its above all these things like looks, money or having many friends. It saddens me, that because of a peer pressure at school some of the students fight over boys or girls, just to have sex with her/ him. And having sex with someone popular or handsome at school means I will become popular too. At some point, many do not understand or will never experience what is like to be loved, so why not try and ruin other people’s luck? Will our first love and relationship overcome all these obstacles? Am I strong enough to cope with all that? I am impatiently waiting for another episode to find out. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Sukitte Ii na yo (Say 'I Love You') was an anime I knowingly walked into as the new love story of the year. Except it surprised me, in the best way possible. The story seemed to rush into the love story at the beginning, I didn't really expect anything more than that. Except the story took a new twist. The story took a deeper path, by looking at the background of almost every character, the things that had happened to them. Basically their dark secrets. For each one it was either being a bully, or being bullied. The story turned from this silly love story, into watching people overcome fears, battle their pasts, and learn to trust others. If there was one thing I took out of this anime, it was this: Everyone has a story to tell. And the way people act now, is because of something in their past. And if you never learn about that past, then you don't know the real them. A quote from the anime: 'But there's nothing wrong to worrying. It's like a wall you need to overcome, to make it to the next level. If you're running up against that wall, it means you're moving forward. I wonder how many walls I've broken up until now, but if you wont move yourself, you will never get anywhere.' I recommend this anime to anyone. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Sukitte Ii na yo or Say 'I Love You.' is an anime mainly about trying to manage a relationship with THE most popular dude in high school with you being the unpopular 'emo' girl, while at the same time is about making and sometimes find out what a true friend is. Now people have told me that, to be blunt, my reviews are sometimes a bit shit so I'm going to try a different formula and see how that goes. THE GOOD: The characters in this anime are great, and you really need them to be because, this is a high school romance anime, if the characters are uninteresting or poorly done, no one is going to care when the drama rolls in to shake everything up. That being said the two key characters that you're going to be following for this entire anime are anything but uninteresting. First you have Mei Tachibana a social exile for lack of better wording, who, when she was in elementary school, was blamed for killing the class rabbit by her 'friends' and after that point she didn't make another friend until she ran into... or rather roundhouse kicked the most popular dude in her high school, one Yamoto Kurosawa, who, for some odd reason, is instantly interested in Mei right after she kicks him off a staircase. Now Mei might come off as a predetermined tsundere once she opens her mouth, but she's actually rather shy and timid. While Yamoto is the silver-tongued-suave-lady killer, who's loved for being a nice dude at school... and apparently he's handsome.... No comment. But because these two MC's are pretty much polar opposite it (at first) felt like Yamoto was a cat chasing after a ball of yarn, Mei being the yarn, but after the second episode you realize that, no, Yamoto does in fact what to be serious with Mei affirmed by the line, 'You are mine.'.... *Whispers* I think he's a dominatrix. On a side note, the characters as a collective actually talk like they're in high school, they talk about sex and porn and boobs as, you know, actual people do/would. The sound design, for the voices, was done to what I've come to expect as standard really, no one had an annoying voice and no one felt let the person voicing them had just woken up and wanted to go back to sleep, it was fine. Standard. Par. Good Enough. Alrig- Okay I'll shut up now. The music and sound queuing on the other hand was a little bit better than standard, at least at the start, the constant cutting of piano with the rapid editing of the visual blended really well, and I'll admit I actually jump a little with the scene featuring the train in the first episode. So the sound was all-round solid, nothing else to mention really. The art and animation didn't do anything to make me go, 'OMG MY EYES!!!!!' in you, is was pretty much on level with the sound, on scene from the first episode sticks out because Mei was screaming and waving her hands around and the camera is solely focusing on her face and everything in the background is blurred instead of a standard shot where everything is in focus and still. THE BAD: The thing that this anime arguably lacks, personally I think it just doesn't really need it, is a plot. You can argue that it's about Mei learning to trust people again, but really the only thing that's driving all the events is the relationship, not that there's anything wrong with that, it'd just be better if something else would be happening apart from the Mei/Yamoto relationship and the various dramas unfolding because of that. One thing that felt really forced by this show was the message of 'everyone is the same, regardless of what they seem like' and this show really beats you over the head with that, ALL of the named characters have some sort of emotional or physical scar from the past that they somehow tie to Mei. Somehow. this aspect might be realistic, because there isn't a person on this planet that doesn't have some sort of damage like that, and if you're that person whose reading this saying, 'Nah not me.' 1.Bullshit 2.Wait a little longer, then get back to me. Another thing that personally annoyed me just a little bit was the final episode, episode 13, you could've ended the anime on episode 12 and nothing would've changed, I feel like they had the project done, but then realized that they needed something to do with all the time they had left and someone just put up their hand and said, 'How about another episode?' That guy then got promoted. THE VERDICT: Sukitte Iinayo is a good anime, it's nothing outstanding, but it does it's job properly, it shows you what you came for and nothing really apart from that, no hidden meaning (FRIENDSHIP IS A LIE!!), and some pretty nice characters that have normal conversations, instead of straight avoiding those blasphemous words and acting all embarrassed and innocent when someone hints at it. Say 'I Love You' won't pry those words out of my mouth, but it will get me to take it to dinner and walk it home. Goodbye my brethren, see you in the next one. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Even without an external plot, the emotional plot alone carries this show far. The animation is really sick too: The lines are sharp and everything from backgrounds to people is finely detailed. Both the guys and the girls are attractive to the eye but not overtly sexy. I can't emphasize enough how much I liked the art – oh, and the music! Both the intro and the end theme are amazing and I loved hearing them every time. The only problem with this show is its lack of a plot. Especially unnerving is how watered down the love triangles are. Every crisis is resolved way too easily, some of them almost instantly and without any actual developments. The good thing is, by the time you start feeling disappointed, you've already reached the ending. The strong points for this series are the characters who have tons of personality and historic background. The show deals with plenty of social themes, mostly focused on the brutal side of social life, such as bullying, eating disorders, self-esteem issues, etc. These themes could've used far more in-depth exploration. I have not read the manga, but I get the feeling like most of my problems with this series are related to the hiccups which materialize when you adapt hundreds of pages of manga into 20-minute episodes. I love romantic fiction, but I also have a very personal beef with it. I know there are young people out there who build their ideas about relationships from fiction. The story of Romeo and Juliet is the perfect example of how retarded and self-destructive young love can be. I'm not saying people can't enjoy fantasies, but they need to recognize pandering bullshit. 'Sukitte ii na yo' is smart because it avoids one of the grave sins of romantic fiction: Instead of falsely implying that lack of social skills makes you hot, the story actually digs into the theme of disparity in social stature and its effect on a relationship. The author clearly has an idea what she's doing and it´s too bad the story doesn't reach the heights it could have. I really hope that some day there will be a second season for 'Sukitte ii na yo', because I definitely feel thirsty for more. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Sukitte Il Na Yo, or Say I Love You, builds upon that premise with an added twist: what if the first person you begin to trust is your first love? This is quite a daunting situation because trust, as well as listening to each other, and spending time together, is an important element to a healthy relationship. It is similar to being forced to run before learning how to walk. You just can't do it without knowing the first steps. This is the situation that our main female character, Tachibana Mei, is in. Having been bullied and excluded by friends during her childhood, Mei has withdrawn herself into her own cocoon as she enters high school. One day, the most popular guy's friend, named Kenji, pulls Mei's skirt, provoking her. Extremely pissed off, she ends up roundhouse kicking Yamato, who is the most popular guy in the school. It seems that her kick struck a chord in Yamato and he ends up seeing Mei as a love interest. I can't speak for all guys but, to all girls out there, kicking us guys, if we don't know you, will probably not make us fall in love with you. Anyway, 'Say I Love You' follows a pretty typical shoujo plot: girl has problems, girl meets prince, prince changes girl's life, girl falls in love with prince. But this is not an anime where they get together and head off into the sunset riding on a white horse at the end. In fact, Mei and Yamato get together very early in the anime. What this anime shows is how they come to understand each other while being in a relationship. The situations that the couple was placed in were very interesting, especially the first couple or so, because given Mei's lack of trust in general, you get to experience her emotional turmoil as she struggles to understand what it takes to be in a relationship. However, as the anime approached the end, the situations were falling more into the generic Shoujo situations of misunderstandings and the like. While the primary storyline of the anime is the relationship between Mei and Yamato, there are a few subplots running about, especially near the end. I had a little bit of a hard time figuring out how those plots tied into the main story but they tie into the bigger themes of bullying, trust, and friendship. I would say the anime does a good job of weaving these small stories into the anime without having them end up feeling like fillers. There is a relatively large cast of characters and unfortunately, most side characters don't get much development. I would say Aiko and Asami get a gradual development over the course of the story while the others seemed to just get a quick exposition and no more development afterwards. This is not a bad thing since I am seeing Sukitte for the action between Mei and Yamato but at the same time, the side characters were pretty interesting people that I wanted to understand more. Aside from the side characters, our two main characters are pretty good. Out of the entire cast, Mei is my favourite. Mei starts off as a really insecure character but as she grows in the relationship and climbs out of her cocoon, she reveals herself as a really good and passionate person, and in my opinion, a great girl for any guy to have. Yamato is a decent guy. Like most other shoujo anime, he is a heartthrob who can claim a girl's heart simply by breathing. Although he can go overboard with his desire to help everyone, he loves Mei with all his heart. His development is mostly stagnant throughout the entire anime and he mostly serves as developing Mei's character. The artwork in Sukitte is very good. It takes a more realistic approach with, of course, the usual characteristics of a shoujo anime: long armed and tall guys and (much to a guy's dismay) flat-as-a-board female MC (anyone get the reference to another great shoujo anime?). The colour palette showcased dim, perhaps even washed-out, colours. I thought it complemented well to the relatively quiet nature of the entire anime. The animators deserve a lot of credit as they depicted the facial expressions of the characters very well. I recall in one scene where there was little dialogue but the facial expressions and body language effectively conveyed the tense and confusing atmosphere of the situation. The sound was well done as well. Although the soundtrack doesn't reach epic status, the music in each scene was well selected. I also enjoyed the relatively quiet OP as it complements Mei's personality and perhaps her relationship with Yamato as well. The voice actors also did a very good job. Mei's voice actor, Kayano Ai, was also the voice for Menma from AnoHana and Ibara from Hyouka while Yamato's voice actor, Sakurai Takahiro, was the voice for Matsuyuki from AnoHana (nice complement there), Suzaku from Code Geass, Jin from Sakurasou no Pet, and (for laughs) Tentomon from Digimon. Props to both of them for bringing great chemistry to Mei and Yamato. Say I Love You is a decent anime. It is not just a story about love but also about opening up to others. Sometimes, just putting yourself out there can do wonders. Definitely give this anime a watch if you are romance fan or looking for an anime where you see how the relationship develops throughout the course of the show (rather than simply seeing the couples get together at the end)! Let me know what you think of Sukitte Il Na Yo! I would love to hear from you! 13 of 13 episodes seen
Story (3) I didn't find anything particularly interesting about the story, and sometimes it was ridiculously predictive. Just your typical high school setting, except that there was nothing interesting about it in the slightest. Art (7) I would say the art is the best thing about this anime, even though it's not really my type. It is quite beautiful at times, but it's nothing spectacular. Sound (5) Not much to say here. Character (2) The thing I find most exciting about television is the characters. When they're all complex and interesting, they're almost a family, and each has their own strengths and flaws, and when you want to get to know them. This anime had none of that. I didn't find any of the characters interesting at all, each were painfully stereotypical. The female lead was interesting to me in the first episode - she seemed shy, lonely yet strong - but after the first episode, she became extremely bland, and everything she did was frustrating and boring. The other character, her love interest seemed so over-'perfect' that it was annoying and uninteresting. Also, the way that he fell 'in love' with her seemed ridiculous and rushed, and it made no sense to me. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout the entire show. Some of the side characters had interesting back stories though, but that's about all. Enjoyment (3) The first episode was enjoyable, I can admit that. It showed a lot of potential and it got me interested, which is why I kept watching. Sadly, it just went downhill from there. I felt no emotion towards any of the characters. However, I stuck through the show in hopes of a decent ending, which never really came. Overall: There's absolutely nothing fun about the plot, story, anything. Isn't love supposed to be enjoyable to watch? Not painstakingly boring and cringe worthy? I wouldn't recommend it. I've seen plenty of other romance animes that are way more enjoyable than this one, with characters you can realistically relate to, or fall in love with all the same. Not this though. Sorry :( 13 of 13 episodes seen
Oh, sure, the art was pretty good, but that's all. The only reason this anime was eye-catching was because of the artwork, IMO. However, I did enjoy the soundtrack. It matched the anime and feel of it. Very little character development. She was basically a loner, never doing anything or having any friends. He was a classical hot-popular guy with floods of girls who has a soft side for the mysterious girl who has painful self-esteem. (which is irritating as the series goes on.) I did enjoy at first, but that didn't last long. Just horrible. Overall, I watched this a long time ago and I was so disappointed. I hear about how amazing it is and it baffles me. = _ = but, I guess it's just not my taste. There was nothing interesting about this anime. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Please note due to the nature of this review I will reveal a very 'slight' spoiler, not of great importance and revealed about two episodes into the series anyway, however; please be cautious before reading on! Story - First of all, let's start with what I believe this anime did right in terms of its story line. As I'm sure you're aware most romance anime show the two main protagonists slowly coming together near the end of the series. Unlike this, 'Sukitte Ii na yo' has the two main characters come together near the very start of the anime, thus showing how they develop as a couple rather than developing into a couple, this makes for a fun and new change of pace for romance genre lovers. Art - I was a great fan of the artwork, I believe in general there was great simplicity, though I found the portrayal of the characters was fantastic! The characters were drawn in a way that almost gave insight into their characteristics: shy; naive; confident or so on, almost allowing the audience to foreshadow later events. Sound - I have little to comment on the sound other than, having personally watched the Dubbed version, the voice acting was strong and representative of the characters. I'm unaware what the original voice acting sounds like however. Character - Naturally, in the genre of romance; characters are very important, especially when it comes to the main male and female protagonists. I want to avoid any further spoilers so will avoid telling of how these characters change the direction of the story, but will however comment on how their range of different characteristics allow the anime to have an edge, keeping the audience intent and interested with the story. Enjoyment - I found great enjoyment within this anime and believe it has high 'rewatch' value, I was content with the ending and didn't feel the need for any further story. The anime truly ended on a good note whilst also providing fan service. Last notes - Let's end this review in a conclusive manner, is 'Sukitte Ii na yo' worth a watch in my own opinion? Yes, the anime excels its expectations, providing a chilled, fell good and more over a enjoyable experience! 13 of 13 episodes seen
The art and music is presented with emotion that heightens the story. The anime's ED features Suneohair, who has also made EDs from other romances such as Honey and Clover and Arakawa Under the Bridge. In addition, the voice cast works hand and glove with each other, conveying the character's feelings that feels fit towards each person. Having said that, the character development is left with silly misunderstandings and overwhelming drama that depicts society as a dismal place to live in. The supporting cast's lack of depth and main heroin's constant troubles overcloud the story into becoming more fictitious and far-fetched that believable. All the running gags and complications of a romance are shown in full effect, and while other anime such as Seto no Hanayome can pull this off with ease, Sukitte Ii na yo falls short. This can leave the audience yearning for more depth with Kurosawa and Tachibana (the main characters), but also shows the inconsistencies this anime possesses. In retrospect, sukitte Ii na yo provides a refreshing breath of the romcom genre with ambitious strives and leaps, however falls short with its lack of character development and its display of having a non-memorable storyline. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Story: It's your typical popular boy falls for shy girl romance blooms. However this is probably one of the most realistic romances I've seen in a while. Mei falls for Yamato but that doesn't mean everything is perfect between them. She's still painfully shy around him and sometimes says things she doesn't mean because she doesn't know how else to react in that situation. Sure there's lots of cliché jealousy but that happens in real life. There's just something so sweet about this couple you want to keep watching more. Art: Not much to say, I really liked the animation of it. It's quite refreshing and smooth. It has clean lines and crisp colors. There's a watercolor-ish feel to the background as well. Music: The opening and ending songs are a bit annoying a first, but by the end of the anime I came to realize how nicely they fit in. Very sweet and slow. As far as the background music I thought it fit in nicely with the anime but nothing spectacular. Character: Mei, well at first she seems to fall into the Mary-sue trap but once you understand her character I think she's wonderful. She's very easy to relate to and root for and all her reactions to the situations are realistic. She's painfully shy at points but slowly begins to open herself up and make friends. Along the way convincing and helping other people as well. Yamato kind of comes off as cocky jerk. Which is true for the first couple of episodes. But you can tell he genuinely likes Mei and being in a relationship with her changes him. You can tell he's gotten all he's wanted all his life, and now he has to work to keep Mei. (Mei also has to work to keep him.) Enjoyment: I just really like this anime. It's by no means perfect but their relationship is so real. I came to genuinely care about the characters and when they cried I cried. The show also touches about a lot of important topics. Examples: How important is beauty, trusting people, bullying, how people view you, and most importantly being yourself. Overall: If you love romance then you'll love this show. There isn't much action but it's a sweet anime. I'd recommend giving it a shot. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Pros: -The romance itself is quite good. It's interesting to see the different sides of each other they bring out. They make one another less boring and have a truly touching love story, as sudden and maybe even forced as it was. They have heavy chemistry and you can understand why they love each other, even if seems that they fell in love rather fast. -That being said, Mei's character isn't your regular happy, cheerful, submissive girl (well...), but she's interesting in that we can all relate to her pain and loneliness. She has had some tough experiences that were a bit dramatized and probably are...uncommon...but possible, and the pain she felt at being rejected by her classmates and being hurt over and over by her friends, is something we can all definitely relate to. -There is no annoying waiting. The main love interest tells her he likes her quickly, and they don't take ages to get together, which is refreshing. They are also surprisingly honest with each other, which is nice to see and helps the romance come at a faster, better rate. -The art is absolutely beautiful. -The story is familiar, but it has some new elements that make it interesting and very unique. -The romantic interest isn't a cold jerk to the girl for once. He is the cliche popular, rich, perfect player guy, but he is actually very kind, considerate and warm towards Mei, which is refreshing and interesting. -They have a very balanced relationship. He is considerate towards her, and Mei is honest with him. There is no one person dominating the other. They have one of the healthiest relationships I've seen. Cons: -The romance is good in terms of chemistry, but it happens way too suddenly, way too fast. You blink, and they're in love. He's nice to her, sure, but at the same time, she doesn't come off as the type to be so trusting and loving right away after all she's been though.... -Talking about Mei, she goes off character many times. She goes from a cold, prickly girl to a moe, kawaii blushing cute girl in the span of four seconds. It's just uncharacteristic to change so fast. It's not character development, it's just conveniently changing her with no reason to make her cuter, more appealing, and better for the romance relationship. -I can't stand the music, but some may, so I rated it average. -The main male romantic interest is boring. I've seen him in nearly every shoujo anime - arrogant but kind, perfect, good at sports, good at academics, rich, popular, every girl loves him yet he chooses the loser girl, player....yeah. Been done before, and there's no development or even backstory for him. He's kind and a great boyfriend, but beyond that, very hollow, shallow character with little interesting things about him. -A lot of the obstacles seem very forced, cliche, overdone and overdramatized. They take the smallest thing and blow it up to be some huge, mindblowing issue. It's just not that great story-wise. The plot is forced and kind of blind, despite some good themes it brings in. 13 of 13 episodes seen
----------- The story of this anime was very interesting, especially the beginning. It really gave us a lot of tension between Tachibana and Kurosawa, and seeing Tachibana learn the ways of talking to other people and learning who her true friends were was very interesting. Although, the ending was a little bit disappointing to me. I for one rarely find anime endings that are ever good. I was hoping for something romantic in the last episode. [ART] ----------- The quality was very good and clear, so there isn't much to say about this topic, although the scenery was kind of bland. [SOUND] ----------- I never watched the dubbed version of this anime (if there even is one), but the subbed version was fantastic! The voice actress for Tachibana really showed the character's emotions as being shy very well. Although, there wasn't much background music, and the opening and ending didn't really suit my style. Of course, this is only my opinion. [CHARACTER] ----------- I for one really liked Tachibana, because she really reminds me of myself. She always looked shy and seemed to have social phobia as well. Both Tachibana and Kurosawa were great characters. As for the others, like Kitagawa, she was one of the characters that really annoyed me, but it was only because of the plot, so she had to fit in with the story, but she was a real.. well.. jerk? [ENJOYMENT] ----------- I really enjoyed the beginning of the anime. Again, it brought a lot of tension between the two main characters, but the ending was a disappointment to me. I did watch the sequel (Sukitte Ii na yo.: Dareka ga), but it didn't really explain much about what happened. I guess most anime just like to end with something that wants the audience to be creative and imagine what happens next themselves. Not bad! FINAL SCORE: 7/10 because of a disappointing ending 13 of 13 episodes seen
Story: 8 I know what some of you might be thinking. Here we go with a 'Cant Hardly Wait' style setup or one from a number of teen movies where the popular guy remakes the plain jane girl into a stunner, but that does not happen here, not in that sense. The main character, Mei, is awkward, introverted, and very distrustful of everyone, yet the popular guy that falls for her helps her open up her life, come to terms with the pain of her past, and grow as a person. There is no shallowness in the setup like I was very worried there could be. Another fear to be assuaged I think is that the popular guy really does love Mei, and remains in love with her throughout the series. No 'hit it and quit it' type mentality. There are even a few times when two of the guys talk to each other that features actual emotions and are not full of toxic masculinity, which in my mind is a huge relief and a joy to see. We have enough caveman chest thumpers, time for men to get real about how we feel and realize that's not 'gay' or 'girly' to have emotions. Of course, this being set in high school, there's more than enough jealousy and elitism to go around when the hot guy from class starts making over the mousy, plain girl. The couple are beset by jealous girls, subjected to schemes and rumors, and have just about everything a nasty set of teenagers can throw at them to break them up. Mei also has to come to terms with the guy's popularity, the fact he's gone out with, and kissed a large number of girls. He has even been sexually active. This is hard for Mei to process, and one of the hurdles the story leads us through that moves this from another trope-ish show to something with a bit more weight. Another positive point is there are redemptive arcs to be found all around. There are other characters that grow, change, and become better people for what they go through. We see old enemies become friends, we see non-primary characters break down, and we have all of this framed around the primary relationship, so it never seems to stray, story wise, but offers more than a singular focus on just two people. This gives the series a more dynamic feel, and explains the various characters' motivations far more clearly than other romance anime. However, even with this praise, there are flaws. This is a romance anime for sure, so you should be aware of that, and know what you're signing up for. There's going to be girls that try to come between the couple, there's going to be guys that do the same. There's going to be drama over miscommunications, there's going to be self doubt and worry. And let's be honest, this isn't really a spoiler but love triumphs in the end, which in itself is totally predictable. There is a lot more angst in this series than most others I've seen, save for maybe Kids on the Slope. Many times Mei is at odds with her feelings, thinking she should give in and break up with the guy, or that he can't really love her, or that loving him and getting close to his circle of friends is just a way to be let down. She really is addled with self doubt, and while she grows and moves forward, the series does not put her past these feelings. Even in the last episode she is neurotic and freaking out over trust issues. To me, this makes the anime a little different than most, but not always in a good way. The guy repeatedly makes gestures of true feelings for Mei, and she constantly doubts him and herself, and it can get old at times. Not so much to break my enjoyment, but enough there are moments when you just wanna kick her in the ass because her guy is clearly into her in a huge way. But those problems, faced with the lover boy's intense support makes it all come together and worthwhile. He may be the pretty boy in school, he may have kissed nearly every cute girl, but he's not a player anymore, and devotes himself purely to winning Mei's heart. He's a former playboy that basically sees Mei, and gets his shit together because he's smitten at first sight (which involves some physical violence, strangely enough). Art: 8 I loved the way the series looked. I must admit that it is hard, I think, for most anime to draw 'plain' characters, especially females. Mei, and all the bitchy girls in school, are continually saying that she's not good enough for the lover boy, that she's too plain, not cute enough, etc. Yet her appearance is adorable, with wonderful eyes and a great art style. The various cast members change clothes for different events, and they are all distinct enough to be identifiable. Since this is a romance drama, there's not a lot of hardcore animation to be done like a battle anime, so I didn't notice any rough spots. Sound: 7 This didn't make an eight because of Mei. As I said, she does moping, moody teen very well, but there are times she sounds almost bored with the role. When it comes time for the more romantic and positive things to be said, she just doesn't pull it off as well as she does the pessimistic. The lover boy's voice is well done, and the nerdy guy friend is perfect sounding. The other girls all sound good, no squeaky ten year olds to be heard anywhere. The background music caught my ear, swelling up in emotional scenes and moving to dark and brooding as Mei despairs over different issues. It was well done, and I think the experience was better for it. And that's what the background tracks are supposed to do right? The opening theme is fitting, and very pretty, but the ending theme is just a horrible match to the show's style. It's a little more upbeat, more 'intense' which is at odds with the major cliffhangers the show tends to end on. I was hoping for a sweeping ballad or something similar, and get this kind of upbeat music instead. Not what I was expecting, and something I quickly began to skip when it started. Character: 8 As I have said, Mei carries such mistrust and isolates herself so much that it's painful to watch her at the beginning. She slowly opens herself to the idea of friends, and is better for it, but it's a long hard road for her. Honestly I identify with Mei on many counts. I'm very much an introvert in real life, and I too once dated a girl that was considered by everyone around us as 'out of my league'. That girl chose me, and gave her all for the duration of the relationship, and no one, not even I, could figure out why. But the heart wants what it wants. I have few friends in the real world (though many here thankfully!) and I fear opening up to people because of betrayal and the fact some people just use you and toss you aside. So Mei's apprehension makes sense to me. Might be a point lost on you more confident viewers, but perhaps lover boy might be a character you can feel an affinity for. The lover boy is honest, and really gives his all to Mei, regardless of what others think of his choice. He doesn't care if she's not in his 'social circle' or that she's the class oddball or what have you. He's a stand up guy, he doesn't use her, and he doesn't take advantage of her. Unlike we see in real life and even sometimes in anime, he does not pressure her into anything, though their first kiss was somewhat out of the blue. He realizes Mei is the girl he wants to be with and puts his days of being a player behind him all for her. He's almost too good to be true. There is another notable cast member, a girl that tries desperately to break up Mei and lover boy. She is a model, and at first a super bitch. She even gets lover boy to do modelling shoots with her, trying to lure him away, but his devotion never wavers. She's particularly interesting because after spending most of the series being such a mega bitch, she has her own redemptive arc and comes to understand herself and realize her own flaws. She grows from this and becomes another soul saved by the light. The supporting cast of friends are all fun, the nerdy guy falling in love with the silly girl and them dating, the other guy and gal jabbing at each other. They come to truly care for Mei as well, being true friends to her, something she's not used to having in her life. They are interesting enough not to be boring, and bring an important element in Mei's growth to light. Enjoyment: 8 I did truly enjoy this anime. It's just different enough from the other romance dramas I've seen to hold my interest. And when you add in a character that I can relate to so well is just a huge bonus. Mei learns to have confidence, and all us introverts and loners should too. Life isn't all about abuse, and there are those out there that truly care for you, even if you don't know it. Not everyone is an asshole. Promise. And the ending, the last line of the show was just perfect. I can't think of any better way to wrap it up than the method they use. And if you've read any of my other reviews, you know me finding endings I like is fairly uncommon. Best Girl: Megumi. Mainly because of her transformation arc from super bitch to real person. If she had stayed evil, I wouldn't have picked her, and when she was in her 'celebrity mode' I couldn't stand her. But when she came to see who she really is and what she really needed to do, she won me over. So there you have it. I gladly say I love you to this anime because it was a wonderful ride with characters that weren't just horndogs or vapid airheads. It's almost like an anti-School Days in a way. Its nice to see characters that have morals and values and stick to them. Wish there were more people in the real world with such guts. As for the RTLR wall, Mei and lover boy Yamato bump off a superhero and gain a spot. Give this one a chance, you might just fall in love too. 13 of 13 episodes seen
It's kind of hard to fairly judge romance stories in anime. A lot of their basic premises are so similar, a lot of people will write them off as being 'cliché' or 'unoriginal'. But what makes each individual romance story unique is its execution. Say 'I Love You' attempts to break through the cage of unoriginality by presenting us viewers with characters that actually accept the fact that they love and care for each other. No big misunderstandings. No cockblocks. No elaborate schemes by side characters to bring the painfully obvious couple together. Just pure, unadulterated romance. The way it should be. Despite loving the realistic way the show presents itself at the beginning, I have some major complaints about some of the directions the plot decides to take and how certain events unfold. It left me feeling dissatisfied and, at times, a tad frustrated. In the same vein that the story left me feeling dissatisfied, the main set of characters are a rather mixed bag as well. Tachibana Mei is your run-of-the-mill shoujo protagonist. She has no friends and looks and acts average in every way possible. A prefect slate for most of the show's viewers to place themselves into. Kurosawa Yamato, on the other hand, is your run-of-the-mill shoujo love interest. He has loads of friends and looks and acts cool in every way possible. A perfect character to have the show's viewers romanticise about. And thus a beautiful romance was born (?). Joking aside, the characters do have some quality to them. Tachibana's slow progression from having no friends to realising that she has people she can rely on is incredibly heartwarming, and the way that Kurosawa helps her achieve this is very cute. She is a very flawed person that can make you mad or even cringe at times, but that's just what makes her such a strong character. Kurosawa is the opposite. His flaws aren't what make you angry, but instead, his supposed lack of flaws. His over-confidence and easy-going attitude make him, at times, detestable. However, he is not always awful. His devotion to Tachibana and his realisation of his (many) mistakes make up for his blandness. Despite the main characters' lost potential, it's hard to call either of them 'unlikeable'. I wish I could say the same about the supporting cast. Barely any of them are interesting in the slightest, and those that are don't get enough development to become anything memorable. It seems as though almost every character has bullied or has been bullied, and we should feel sorry for them either way. By the end, I didn't care for any of them (except maybe Kai). The standout feature of Say 'I Love You' has nothing to do with story or character but is instead its sound/art design. It may not be masterful, but they did a pretty fine job with the animation. Every character moves as they should do and nothing feels out of the ordinary. Both songs are excellent, despite being somewhat typical. And, the voice actors did a great job capturing the emotions of each character. Say 'I Love You' is the exact same romance story you've seen hundreds of times over, but with the help of likeable protagonists, fantastic pacing and endearing relationships, it manages to stand head and shoulders above the flooded see of mediocrity and becomes something worth your time. 13 of 13 episodes seen
Howeverrrr, I rated this show a 3 because despite the terrible characters, cringy dialogue, awful writing and ridiculous pacing it DOES have some positive aspects. “Say ‘i love you’” has some genuinely nice moments as well, It’s just a shame that those moments are almost instantly ruined by something stupid happening. But because I am such an uplifting positive fella, i’ll review the best parts of the show first. The Music (7): Easily the best part of this show. The soundtrack has a slow, uplifting vibe which offers a similar ambience to actually good shows like Mushishi and the Aria series. Quite often the only background sounds are birds chirping or the sound of feet tapping on the sidewalk which honestly is pretty neat. The relaxing, feelgood vibes always set the ideal mood when entering scenes. The OP/EP are both excellent as well. Unfortunately it takes more than a good soundtrack to make a show any good, so it’s all downhill from here im afraid ;) The Art (4): The art and animation isn't awful, I mean, it's not good either. The drawings are quite often noticeably bad, eyes pointing in weird directions, triangle boobs, literally a rectangle to draw someones entire body.. But for the most part it's not awful? Characters (3): Lets start off with my least favorite character, Yamato.. His literal only character traits is that he is popular, good looking, creepy, hypocritical, self centered, probably even a sociopath.. oh an he's kind, sometimes? Almost half the show is about him pressuring Mei into sexual favors all the while claiming the opposite. 'lets take this slow' as he forces himself onto her whilst just assuming she wants it 'cuz im popular, duh'. Later in the show he shows himself up to be one of the more hypocritical characters i've seen in anime, all to add a lil bit o' that drama. Next up we have Mei Tachibana. Her character in the first few episodes was actually the one redeeming quality about the show. She had integrity, was honest, had her own character (as raw as it was). Unfortunately her character actually regresses and loses personality the further into the show you go. Take note all, if you get a BF you're supposed to have your entire life revolve around him and lose all of your character traits so you are a literal walking drama-doll. If he talks to another girl? DRAMA! If he forgets to text you? DRAMA! If he doesn't show up to school because he's sick. OH SHIT, DRAAAMAAAAA!! the other two main characters (Yamatos childhood friends/GF) show up out of nowhere.. Guess what their entire purpose for being there is? Yep, DRAMACLOCK. Sadly, these two characters are probably the MOST DEVELOPED CHARACTERS IN THE ENTIRE SHOW. Story (3): ehh.. I think my character discussion kind of explained the entire stories structure. The end goal is accomplished in the first two episodes, the rest of the show is just adding unneeded melodrama in order to 'develop' their relationship. Fortunately there are some genuinely well written moments in this show. There will be moments you feel bad for characters, feel pity for them, even feel like you understand them. Unfortunately those moments are very few and far between. Dialogue (2): Jesus, where to start.. This show has the worst dialogue I have ever seen. I'm not even joking. Na you know what, the dialogue is the best part of the show. It gives you something to laugh at. There you have it, fellas. 'say 'i love you', A modern masterpiece. I highly recommend this show to everyone. |