First season deserves 8-10 stars. Second hardly gets 5 on my opinion.
A never ending competition, overdramatic commentary, no storyline most of the time...
A pity.
15 Reviews
Lots of nice classical music, uninspired animation
mariusfunk-541314 July 2019
I'm a huge classical music fan. I play the piano a lot and I love doing so which is why I thought this series will be perfect for me, but I was sadly mistaken.
First of all, I would give the first season 8/10 The good: Fast paced storytelling, heartwarming storys and a likeable protagonist and antagonist (if you can even call him that). Beautiful music and it makes one want to play the piano.
The bad: You can't really enjoy a piece of music since it will be cut of at any second. On the other hand, sometimes they go on for a minute even though you've heard it a lot already just to "show the reactions". This is a big point, in a Manga you can write how it makes people feel but in animation, you should be able to feel that as well. which of course is very difficult, and they didn't really succeed.
The cringe-worthy: The animation. It's a 2D animation with 3D when they play the piano. The movement of the hands is very pleasant and rarely seen in animation, but when the whole body is shown, it looks creepy and unpleasant. But after a season, I got used to it.
Season 2: This season discarded almost everything good about the first and tried to better the cringe-worthiness by removing the 3D. But, they made it worse. Now there are juist still shots shown of them playing the piano. Sometimes they are clearly playing with both hands and the still shows them with one hand in the air.
The fast paced story comes to a halt because the entire season is just one big competition and the animation gets so lazy they use still shots about 50% of the time. Did the budget run out? What happend?
The good: The protagonist is still likeable and the music still good (except that it's now exclusively Chopin, which get's a bit boring after a few hours)
4/10
Overall 6/10 First season is recommendable, the second season not so much.
First of all, I would give the first season 8/10 The good: Fast paced storytelling, heartwarming storys and a likeable protagonist and antagonist (if you can even call him that). Beautiful music and it makes one want to play the piano.
The bad: You can't really enjoy a piece of music since it will be cut of at any second. On the other hand, sometimes they go on for a minute even though you've heard it a lot already just to "show the reactions". This is a big point, in a Manga you can write how it makes people feel but in animation, you should be able to feel that as well. which of course is very difficult, and they didn't really succeed.
The cringe-worthy: The animation. It's a 2D animation with 3D when they play the piano. The movement of the hands is very pleasant and rarely seen in animation, but when the whole body is shown, it looks creepy and unpleasant. But after a season, I got used to it.
Season 2: This season discarded almost everything good about the first and tried to better the cringe-worthiness by removing the 3D. But, they made it worse. Now there are juist still shots shown of them playing the piano. Sometimes they are clearly playing with both hands and the still shows them with one hand in the air.
The fast paced story comes to a halt because the entire season is just one big competition and the animation gets so lazy they use still shots about 50% of the time. Did the budget run out? What happend?
The good: The protagonist is still likeable and the music still good (except that it's now exclusively Chopin, which get's a bit boring after a few hours)
4/10
Overall 6/10 First season is recommendable, the second season not so much.
It's REALLY good, but it definitely has is cons. MAJOR ones.
simplydjames14 January 2022
Tbh I wasn't expecting crazy animation but man this was on PowerPoint levels. It's such a good story and amazing music, it just feels so wrong. It's like the whole budget went to animating his hair as if a fan were in front of him. I knew it wasn't going to be like YLIA, but I expected at least a little arm movement while he was playing. It's such a shame.
Other than that I highly recommend it. I sat through both seasons. Binged it even. It's a captivating story. Moved me to tears a couple of times. You know, sometimes there doesn't need to be mappa, ufotable, or even kyoto animation levels. But it does help.
Other than that I highly recommend it. I sat through both seasons. Binged it even. It's a captivating story. Moved me to tears a couple of times. You know, sometimes there doesn't need to be mappa, ufotable, or even kyoto animation levels. But it does help.
Good story with a poor animation
angelocmartins27 October 2021
Me and my wife couldnt stop watching it until the final episode. It is a beautiful and simple story enriched by the excellent soundtrack you would expect when exploring such a theme - the main character has a sad familiar background but mastered compositions from Chopin in his magic piano.
But the animation here is so poor, there is so many frozen images that I feel embarassed to recommend it to someone else who enjoys animation-style series. It looks like a perfect script lost for the low budged project. I hope some other team work in this script in the future with the proper technical resources it needs, specially because one of hardest things to do in animation is to synchronize and put weight in movements of someone playing an instrument.
But the animation here is so poor, there is so many frozen images that I feel embarassed to recommend it to someone else who enjoys animation-style series. It looks like a perfect script lost for the low budged project. I hope some other team work in this script in the future with the proper technical resources it needs, specially because one of hardest things to do in animation is to synchronize and put weight in movements of someone playing an instrument.
Charming story, plenty of Chopin
slater-marilyn5 July 2019
I loved Season 1 and binge-watched Season 2 of this charming series. It shows Kai growing from poor waif into an accomplished pianist with great generosity of spirit. His teacher Ajino and rival Shuhei grow with him as childhood resistance and rivalry mature into supportive friendship. Meanwhile, much great piano artistry is featured as nearly the entire second season takes place at the Chopin competition in Poland. Other characters at the competition are well-developed and authentic with interesting side-stories. I wept with its poignancy several times. Don't miss it!
A Lovely and Musical Coming-of-age Story
adrianaprsouza-6388610 September 2021
Forest of Piano or Piano no Mori is based on a 2007 animation film also called Piano no Mori. I haven't watched the film but, based on the images I saw, I can tell the first season of the anime covers the story in the movie and the second season expands it. In the first part we watch Kai Ichinose difficult childhood, his connection with the piano in the forest and the beginning of his relashionship with Shuhei Amamiya. It's a simple yet captivating coming-of-age story, with a nice character development and a good narrative. Kai is very likeable and I couldn't help but be curious to know what was going to happen in his life, so I went straight to season 2. There are some differences regarding the two parts. The second has much more music and more characters. If you like piano and erudite music, then you are gonna enjoy this part a lot. It's delightful to watch and, essentialy, to hear the pianists through the 12 episodes of the season, the same amount of season 1. I can't say much about the second phase, cause it would be a spoiler so I'll just say it focuses on a very famous pianist from the romantic era and it's lovely to see the amount of love people from the country where he was born still gives him, through events. Like I said before, there are more characters in this season, what adds a lot to the narrative, that becomes more complex, with more conflicts. There is just one negative thing I gotta highlight in this review: the animation. The drawing is beautiful, but it lacks in motion. In the first season the animators used techniques to give motion to the characters while playing the piano, so it's delightful to watch and hear the piano. But, regarding season 2, there is almost no movement at all, therefore, it relies totally in the beautiful soundtrack. Like I said in the trivia, professional pianists were hired to play for the studio. I don't know so much about music yet I could totally notice the difference in the way each character plays the piano. It's a masterful job. That's why it's crucial to like erudite music to watch this anime, because it's what stands out in it. I loved the music, the landscapes and the energy about the city so much that it became a dream of mine to go there someday and pay homage to the brilliant composer the anime honors.
Amazing, brilliant!!
lizzie_als10 January 2020
I absolutely loved this series. I must admit that the second series drags a bit with the lead up to the finale, but my oh my does it still deliver. I was hooked from episode one and I could not wait to watch all the episodes.
Absolutely fantastic series, with the drama of friendship and love, and the descriptions of the piano which made you feel as if you were in the place Kai and the others were taking you to.
Cannot emphasis enough how great this series is.
Charming, Brilliant!!!
lorenacruztovar-7098422 June 2020
This is the best series I have ever watched. It is not just about classical music, it teaches you many life lessons. They thing is that you need a warm, soft, light soul to go beyond what your eyes see and what your ears listen. Love it!!!
Very moving!
johnmatta8819 February 2020
I not only loved this for the Classical Piano but also how it draws you into the minds of both pianist and audience. Maybe piano competitions and concerts aren't your thing but that's ok because I loved it. I was hoping for a season 3 but no such luck.
Starts of well but drags by the end of it.
mayank0987628 June 2019
The anime is based on a manga focused on a boy named Kai who wants to play the Piano. Having already read the manga and enjoying it quite a bit I was excited to see an anime being released. The coming of age plot although not original or perfect kept me hooked at the start.
I am not much into music and have no idea of Piano or classical music. Initially, I was enjoying a few of the scores, but the repetition of the same does get tiring, the same were easier to browse over in manga format. Others may find listening to music as the highlight but that was not the case for me. The animation itself was good overall but the close up of the characters while they play the Piano is terrible, the art shifts from 2D to 3D, from old style color painting to clunky 3d characters, this was not needed and bought down the overall watch experience for me.
Season One (7/10) The first season of twelve episodes seems more fun and better paced with the background development of the main character.
Season Two (4/10) The second season seems to be a big drag, the focus on other characters and their life only prolonged the already dull storytelling, the repetition of the same music over and over again in a competition didn't help the matter much. Did love the ending but I do feel the anime should have been shortened instead of staying true to the manga.
I am not much into music and have no idea of Piano or classical music. Initially, I was enjoying a few of the scores, but the repetition of the same does get tiring, the same were easier to browse over in manga format. Others may find listening to music as the highlight but that was not the case for me. The animation itself was good overall but the close up of the characters while they play the Piano is terrible, the art shifts from 2D to 3D, from old style color painting to clunky 3d characters, this was not needed and bought down the overall watch experience for me.
Season One (7/10) The first season of twelve episodes seems more fun and better paced with the background development of the main character.
Season Two (4/10) The second season seems to be a big drag, the focus on other characters and their life only prolonged the already dull storytelling, the repetition of the same music over and over again in a competition didn't help the matter much. Did love the ending but I do feel the anime should have been shortened instead of staying true to the manga.
One of it's kind
nimkardarshan1 January 2023
A very beautiful story in only 24 ep. A treat for anime watches little mature ones. The anime is good but not like typical animes. Btw anime is not only for animation. The story is really good it really covers all the aspects a good and proper anime should have it's a treat for ears the music and more Chopin. The main thing is it's very realistic feelings are properly shown and the relationship of a teacher and pupil, the relationship of a mother and son and friends really heart warming I was totally fallen for it. At the end it's a complete masterpiece anime of its own kind a character driven anime rather than plot driven. Not a typical shonen of love or SOL.
A piano born in the forest
WeAreLive14 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Kai Ichinosa is an elementary student who lives with his mother who is a prostitute and is forced to work at a really young age due to being very poor. He discovers this piano out of nowhere in the forest and discovers he has this abilty to play this piano which nobody else could. Then a transfer student comes by the names of Shohei Ayamaya who Kai befriends. They both then compete in a piano contest to see who is the better player.
The first season while it took me at least 2 years believe it or not to finish was pretty welcoming though I do think they should had the first half focusing on their childhood selves instead of turning it into later flashbacks in season while in season two we could have had that time skip with the poland competition arc. As I felt that the timeskip in season 1 came out nowhere. Though they still just about able to keep in even story.
The characters I will admit excluding Kai a lot of them either didn't have much development behind them or were just there for the sake of existing. But I did somewhat like the friendship/rivalry bond between both Shuhei and Kai.
The music was also pretty good I am sure if you looking for a Your Lie In April type anime which just focuses on piano you might like this,
Episodes both dubbed and subbed are on Netflix.
The first season while it took me at least 2 years believe it or not to finish was pretty welcoming though I do think they should had the first half focusing on their childhood selves instead of turning it into later flashbacks in season while in season two we could have had that time skip with the poland competition arc. As I felt that the timeskip in season 1 came out nowhere. Though they still just about able to keep in even story.
The characters I will admit excluding Kai a lot of them either didn't have much development behind them or were just there for the sake of existing. But I did somewhat like the friendship/rivalry bond between both Shuhei and Kai.
The music was also pretty good I am sure if you looking for a Your Lie In April type anime which just focuses on piano you might like this,
Episodes both dubbed and subbed are on Netflix.
Yes.
ham-ma24228 May 2022
Don't come here for the animation, come here for the music, feelings, and stories that will gently swirl you in a pool of cold and warm waters.
Also I'd suggest to watch the movie even though first 4-5 episodes of the series are copy paste from the movie, but rushed through. I watched the movie and then straight up went for the series. Movie is even better once you add the points for animation. But yeah the series are still a great piece, I went here for the feels and I got even more than I asked for. Very nice music too, stories and inspiration is heartfelt.
Also I'd suggest to watch the movie even though first 4-5 episodes of the series are copy paste from the movie, but rushed through. I watched the movie and then straight up went for the series. Movie is even better once you add the points for animation. But yeah the series are still a great piece, I went here for the feels and I got even more than I asked for. Very nice music too, stories and inspiration is heartfelt.
Enthralling animated series
magnoliacream21 July 2023
This animation about a feisty boy, Kai Ichinose, who finds an abandoned piano in a forest and learns to play it by himself, is so addictive I watched the whole 2 seasons, of 12 episodes each, in one sitting.
He rescues a classmate Shuhei Amamiya from bullies and, after finding out Shuhei wants to be a pianist, shows his new friend his piano in the forest. By some magic, the piano only responds to his touch. Shuhei is startled by Kai's playing and starts to harbor a complex emotion of envy and admiration for Kai, an emotion that eventually turns into an obsession to prove his superiority in piano playing.
Kai's teacher, Sosuke Ajino, a once-renowned pianist who got incapacitated after an accident, finds out about Kai's piano and volunteers to train the poor but extremely talented boy who, being the son of a prostitute and raised in a red-light district, would have little chance to better himself.
Season 2 is mostly about the International Chopin Piano Competition that Kai and Shuhei participate in. Side stories about the participants and Ajino add to the delightfulness of the series. The competition is fierce, raising my respect for pianists through the roof for having not only enormous talent but also incredible memory and nerves of steel. The commentaries from spectators add to the excitement about the events. But most of all, the music is exquisite, made more so by the pianists' affinity with it.
He rescues a classmate Shuhei Amamiya from bullies and, after finding out Shuhei wants to be a pianist, shows his new friend his piano in the forest. By some magic, the piano only responds to his touch. Shuhei is startled by Kai's playing and starts to harbor a complex emotion of envy and admiration for Kai, an emotion that eventually turns into an obsession to prove his superiority in piano playing.
Kai's teacher, Sosuke Ajino, a once-renowned pianist who got incapacitated after an accident, finds out about Kai's piano and volunteers to train the poor but extremely talented boy who, being the son of a prostitute and raised in a red-light district, would have little chance to better himself.
Season 2 is mostly about the International Chopin Piano Competition that Kai and Shuhei participate in. Side stories about the participants and Ajino add to the delightfulness of the series. The competition is fierce, raising my respect for pianists through the roof for having not only enormous talent but also incredible memory and nerves of steel. The commentaries from spectators add to the excitement about the events. But most of all, the music is exquisite, made more so by the pianists' affinity with it.
An okay story, but really poorly animated
rimmas13 February 2020
I watched Forest of Piano on Netflix soon after finishing Your Lie in April, which is another anime series with a focus on a teenage pianist. I must say these two animes are beyond compare, and that's not in favor of this one. So if you intend to watch both, I strongly suggest to watch Forest of Piano first and Your Lie in April second. Or, if you want to watch (or have already watched) the better one first, at least do yourself a favor and have a decent break between the two.
The story told in this anime is warm and positive, but it becomes quite dull by the second season, the entirety of which focuses on a single piano competition. Yes, there are occasional minor plot twists, but they're burried between characters just living their daily lives and enjoying (or not so much) each other's piano skills. By the time season 1 ended, I was already watching this series not because I liked it, but just because I wanted to clear my head in the evening and get to the eventual happy ending.
But what's probably worst in this series is the animation quality, especially in season 2. One word: cheap. Much of the time Forest of Piano looked almost like a screensaver: static images being panned around your TV, with a simplistic snow-like effect to hide the total lack of real animation. Actual character movement was very scarce. Even in peak moments, visual aesthetic hardly reached what you'd typically see in other animes. Did they accidentally miss a digit or two when allocating the budget for animation, or something?
The story told in this anime is warm and positive, but it becomes quite dull by the second season, the entirety of which focuses on a single piano competition. Yes, there are occasional minor plot twists, but they're burried between characters just living their daily lives and enjoying (or not so much) each other's piano skills. By the time season 1 ended, I was already watching this series not because I liked it, but just because I wanted to clear my head in the evening and get to the eventual happy ending.
But what's probably worst in this series is the animation quality, especially in season 2. One word: cheap. Much of the time Forest of Piano looked almost like a screensaver: static images being panned around your TV, with a simplistic snow-like effect to hide the total lack of real animation. Actual character movement was very scarce. Even in peak moments, visual aesthetic hardly reached what you'd typically see in other animes. Did they accidentally miss a digit or two when allocating the budget for animation, or something?
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