A Review of Kimi Ni Todoke
By Arya Amritansu
To start it off, I did not expect Kimi Ni Todoke to be as good as it was. I have come across several anime of the same genre, and after a while the “Shoujo” genre feels as if it keeps repeating itself. To be completely honest, I started this anime for the heck of it. This series is not that well known. I found it through MyAnimeList and decided to watch it considering it had a good score. Despite this, I kept it away for a long time because the story did not really seem to be my type. However, I am really pleased to say that Kimi Ni Todoke went beyond
my expectations and provided a really pleasant watch.
The plot is not the usual generic narrative you find in your average Shoujo anime or manga. It is not about a girl trying to win the heart of some guy who is not into her. It is not about a harem of girls fighting for one guy who likes the one girl we all know he is eventually going to end up with. Kimi Ni Todoke on the other hand is original and it feels relatable because it’s simply about a girl who’s trying to socialize with her classmates, but she can’t because there has been a rumour that designates her as the girl from The Ring, Sadako. Her classmates are afraid of her and tend to avoid her despite her charming and pleasant attitude.
I am sure most of us have gone through this point in life — just trying to make friends and getting to know people around you. This aspect of the story is so beautifully developed that I couldn’t help but smile whenever the main character, Kuronuma “Sadako” didn’t know how to behave around people due to the lack of interaction she had had, or when she got into an embarrassing situation because of her shy and nervous personality.
Nothing in Kimi No Todoke seems forced. There are no over-dramatic characters, no troubled and depressed main characters, no bat-shit crazy parents, and no traumatic past for the main character. Yet the story progress effortlessly through its humour and commendable character development.
The characters fit into the story flawlessly. Kuronuma Sawako, who is called Sadako instead due to her resemblance to the girl from the ring is an average high schooler. Pure and simple, Sawako is likable. This is portrayed when her two best friends, Chizu and Amane realise that she isn’t what the rumours depict her to be. They eventually learn that she is a sweet person, with an air of optimism about life unlike what they had previously imagined. Despite being side characters, they are developed wonderfully as the story progresses. The male lead Kazehaya, is secretly in love with Kuronuma. Kazehaya complements Kuronuma’s character perfectly and is often the reason for developments in her character throughout the show. Kazehaya’s lovable and humorous personality alongside Kuronuma’s clueless and oblivious self makes for several light-hearted and wholesome moments in the show. Kimi No Todoke has some of the best set of characters I’ve come across in anime of this genre.
As for the art, to be honest, I didn’t like it at first and it was one of the reasons I procrastinated on watching this anime for so long, but trust me, it’ll grow on you after a few episodes. The music wasn’t exceptional, but it wasn’t entirely bad either. I never skipped the Opening and the background music was satisfying for me as well.
The only fault I that found within this anime would be its slow pace. Personally, I love anime with a really fast paced story and a lot of drama. Most slow-paced anime bore me to death, but the uniqueness of Kimi Ni Todoke was what kept me on board and I’m glad I didn’t stop watching after a few episodes. Despite this minor fault, I am really looking forward to binging season 2 and I hope it does not disappoint.
So, do I recommend watching it? Well, if you like this genre and are bored by the monotonous narratives of other anime from this genre, then sure go ahead and watch it! I am pretty sure you will not be disappointed.
Final Rating: 8/10
