Honey & Clover

How far away can we go without looking back?

Name: Hachimitsu to Clover | Honey & Clover

Year: 2005-2006

Type: TV, OVA

Status: Completa

Episodes: 36 + 2 OVA’s (2 Seasons)

Duration: 23 minutes

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Josei, Romance

Synopsis:

Honey & Clover tells us the story of five friends that study at an arts and architecture school, portraying themes of the daily-life such as friendship, choosing a career, unrequited love and maturing.

Review

Honey & Clover is a very special anime for me for several reasons, that I will develop more ahead. The story of Chika Umino adapted to anime presents us five students and their lives during five years. Morita, Takemoto and Mayama are three boys that live in the same apartment and study in an art school in Tokyo. Yamada is a young talented friend and colleague of the three boys and loves Mayama since the beginning of college. One day, they are introduced to Hagumi (or Hagu), niece of their favorite teacher, Shuuji Hanamoto. The appearance of Hagu will change the group’s dynamic a bit and unleash self-discoveries in some of the members.

Appearing in the beginning as just an anime filled with love triangles and funny moments, Honey & Clover reveals itself to be much more than that. With rich and complex characters, we watch each one of them struggle on the inside with major themes at the gates of adulthood. Every character has a different personality, which gives a very diversified and interesting take to the narrative, during which we get to see them maturing. Even though they are all relevant characters to the story, Takemoto is the protagonist and is the major narrator during the several episodes. I confess that I personally identified best with him, since he is a shy and tender character that ends up going through the same issue that I did during college.

Throughout the anime, we get to know the life story of each one of them, through dramatic and incredibly funny moments, each episode leaving an impression of relaxation at the end. I believe it is due to the soundtrack that is simply phenomenal and that slides through the episode, engulfing the spectator into what is being told.

Regarding the graphics, they are beautiful, full of vibrant colors and, sometimes, surrounded by a dream like effect.

As for the ending, this was one of the aspects that I enjoyed the most since it was realistic. It is not the typical “And they lived happily ever after”, for there is no such thing in real life, yet in some way that’s how you end up feeling when we finnish watching the two seasons, besides being certain that it could not have been another way.

Whisper of the Heart

Honey and Clover is an anime adapted from the manga written and illustrated by Chika Umino. As I mentioned before, through the thoughts and events that happen in the characters’ life, we are led to reflect on several themes, such as the awakening of love, the unrequited love, the moving on no matter the situation, the struggle to adapt to the changes that may occur in our life, the intellectual, emotional maturing, etc. Even though it is an anime that makes you think, I can’t say that it gives the answers. In fact, I think the author’s goal is to make us reflect on those themes, leaving it up to us to decide which is the best outcome for each subject.

Honey & Clover was an anime with which I can relate to several of the situations that are described and maybe that is because when I first watched it I was still in college, with a long path ahead until I could finish the course. I can say that it is an anime that, as many times as I can watch it, it always makes me think and feel intensely.

I chose it for the topic “Anime about College romance” for the Ecletic Heart 30 Post Challenge. However, it is much more than that.

To sum it up, Honey & Clover reflects life itself. It’s one of the few that hold a special place in my life and the only one that makes me feel alive!

When I was still little... One day, riding the green bike I always used to ride, I thought... "How far can I go without turning back?” (Takemoto, Honey & Clover)

Rating - 🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉🟉 (10)