A series very seldom deviates from the stereotype that its genre has created for it, and even fewer distinguish themselves from one another. With Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, this is the situation. It takes all of the traditional shoujo romance plot elements and clichés and turns them on their head to give us a very satisfying and innovative romance.
The plot of Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You initially drew me in even before I saw the first frame of the movie. Sawako, our protagonist, is a kind and kind young woman with an awkward demeanor who has a striking similarity to Sadako from The Ring. Despite her desperate desire for understanding, her classmates dread and avoid her. All of this changes when she meets Kazehaya, a boy who is the first to really get to know her, and she gradually starts to come out of her shell. The rest of the story follows Sawako as she discovers who she is and feels love and companionship for the first time.
I genuinely think that you had to have already experienced at least a dozen or more of Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You's shoujo contemporaries in order to truly understand how exceptional it is. The usual worn-out clichés are absent. Sawako isn't the innocent, vivacious heroine out to win over a man who treats her badly or ignores her. She is not a harem of bishounen pursuing her in a frantic attempt to pick between them, nor is she seeking retribution. To put it mildly, Kazehaya isn't a dick.
The scenarios and emotions that are shown to us are strong and genuine without being unduly exaggerated. Nobody has a terrible background, a tormenting family life, or any other circumstance that always seems forced to produce drama when it may be better achieved with wonderful characters and compelling narrative. The pace is leisurely, the principles are straightforward, and there are plenty of the obligatory blushes and aw shucks moments. Similar to its tranquil artwork and color scheme, Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You is the kind of show that will make you want to kick back and forget about all of your day's troubles.
This is not to argue that it is without flaws. Although almost every aspect of the show was amazing to watch, the final eight to ten episodes have seen the already slow pace of the show slow down even more. Even though I still thought they were fantastic, I think some viewers will probably grow impatient with the story's lack of development or action. Furthermore, the manga is still in progress, so maybe we are being set up for a continuation at some point, but the conclusion was not very satisfactory.
One of my all-time favorite characters is Sawako herself. It is impossible not to love her since she is so utterly pure and sincere. She develops into so much more than just a socially awkward, shy, and moe girl, even though her character concept isn't all that original at first. From a character development perspective, the person she becomes by the conclusion of the series is so amazingly different from her beginning that it's simply amazing. Everyone can identify to her. But in spite of this significant transformation, she never truly goes beyond her inner self. She has come a long way, as seen by her final monologue at the end of the show.
An uncommon breed for a romance series is the Kazehaya. He is the sole romantic interest, to start. This isn't a novel that wastes time or enrages the heroine with a harem of reverse bishies. He is particularly distinct from other leads in television shows like Clannad or Kanon since he is one of the few who feels and looks like a real person. He is never shown as a parody of young ladies' hopes and desires. He does not come from a well-known family, is extremely wealthy, or is a well-known athlete.
Although Kazehaya and Sawako appear to be very different individuals on the outside, they each have the same perplexing sensations and anxieties about their respective feelings for one another. The two have a very unique and beautiful interaction. Remarkably, I never truly lost patience with them or yelled at the television, "Oh please, just give her a kiss already!"
The supporting cast of Kimi is also outstanding. Ayane and Chizu, Sawako's new best pals, are the clearest example of this. You would never have imagined that these females would end up being her pals from the beginning of the story. They had almost written "villainess" on their features, so it was a welcome surprise to watch these two grow into what may be the greatest shoujo best friends I have ever seen. It is quite remarkable that they are friends given how drastically different they are from one another. Chizu is the athletic, butch type, and Ayane is the lovely, stylish tempter. Their responses to Sawako are similar to how the public will view her.
Even though they come and go, other characters have an equal impact on the plot. Kurumi, the sole genuine adversary, makes brief appearances throughout the narrative and, although she may be considered the series' antagonist, she never comes off as a bad person in my opinion. Surprisingly, Sawako's family life is also very typical; neither her father nor her mother have a terrible home life, and they are both devoted and typical parents-to her as well as to one another.
Kimi is incredibly talented. The artwork and gentle hues nicely complement the story's tenderness and beauty. Every episode is visually appealing and makes you grin, thanks to the clever blending of funny art and stunning surroundings. This is enhanced even further by the outstanding musical score and cast. Mamiko Noto appears to be a natural for this part. Although it's a common character type for her and something we have heard from her frequently, fans will remember this for a very long time. I have no words to describe the OP theme; its animation is amazing and I fell in love with it right away after hearing the first chorus.
All things considered, Kimi ni Todake is in my favorite 5 shows of the past ten years. I found it very engaging in the first episode, and I am really sorry to see it come to an end. Anyone who enjoys the romance genre in the slightest should not miss this; this is how more romantic programs should be made. There aren't many things that compare to this one.
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