AO HARU RIDE

DESCRIPTION

CAST

MANGA ComedyAo Haru Ride
OVA RomanceAo Haru Ride PAGE.13
OVA RomanceAo Haru Ride: unwritten

REVIEWS

• 

  StupidWeeaboo

  41/100
  Vanilla ice cream without the sprinkles

  FIRST EPISODE:
  The series starts pretty strong, with it establishing the focus characters as well as the intrigue in a clever and cohesive way. The conflict in the episode wasn’t so serious that it was out of place for a first episode but was a good enough catalyst to allow for the show to present scenes that would not only set up the character dynamic for the two focus characters but also the intrigue for the audience. I liked that it told the audience directly, but not so direct that it was a shove in our faces. This show seems like it shows potential and I will be looking forward to what it will show.

  REVIEW:
  Turns out this anime is pretty run of the mill. Though it started strong with its subtle character development and various interactions that hint at a bigger picture. Whether the anime had been hard-pressed by its smaller 12 episodes or the development cycle was a bit rushed, this anime felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped in terms of both character development and in the dynamics between the various characters. There is a total of 5 characters, 2 of which are the main ones. I feel as though introducing all of them at once in the adaptation was a stupid decision on behalf of IG Production Studio since the 12 episodes weren’t nearly enough to even develop the 2 main characters let alone all 5. What remains is 3 characters I really don’t have a connection with, with the later interactions suggesting that they know each other so well that they can just act very very casually around each other. I know that leadership camp was supposed to be the catalyst for the characters to start liking each other and bond to form their main group, but it was severely underwhelming of a catalyst and as a result the group dynamic just appears rather than being developed over time. It would have been a better decision to focus on the two main characters for the anime adaptation, though judging by the ending of this anime, it was anticipating a season 2 to no avail. Anyways, in terms of the plot it’s a really typical shoujo scenario: the mysterious guy, the energetic and pushy girl, the subplot love story and drama on the side (though this is not developed at all really). Despite these seemingly typical and generic features, I felt as though this anime could have done a lot more with its characters than it did, Futaba in particular suffered the most from this. Initially, she had interesting motivations and was developed throughout the first few episodes making her quite a good character to follow. After establishing herself in the group however, her personality quickly changed. I know that was a part of the series itself, but in itself it just made the show very sluggish following in the mind of this generic kind of school girl that appeals to every kind of shoujo fan. As a character, she does have some moments where she shines but they are few and far between. On the other hand, Kou is initially really kind of a douche, which does follow the typical shoujo formula. Douchebag + mysterious = nut ofc. Anyways, during the last two episodes is where the show itself starts to get interesting, because we as an audience get to experience the pain felt by Kou himself as we watch his mother slowly die in front of his eyes. This explains his personality throughout the series and we are shown his character arc. This in itself is probably the best part of the anime itself, but it is also representative of one of its biggest downfalls.
  With shoujo anime in particular, I think that the most important thing is balance. Balancing the two main protagonists so that the audience has a chance to bond with each character and appreciate their relationship as well as their motivations behind certain actions. From this, the side characters must also be developed, so that the show is padded with some other things to care about as well and to sometimes be the catalyst for the main characters to interact. Ao Haru Ride, I think, does a bad job of balancing all aspects of what I just mentioned. Futaba is developed in the first half, Kou is developed in the second. Although chronologically this is correct since its in the persecptive of Futaba, it just makes it imbalanced in terms of development. We as an audience are given very little reason to want to cheer for the couple to develop romantically. The pace just becomes too slow with that stupid Yuuri loli coming into the mix and adding in useless filler drama. I would have much rather liked it if the anime were to focus on the main couple themselves. Whilst watching in fact, I realised that by the end of the series Kou was a much more interesting character to me, with his motivations and backstory helping to develop his character beyond the mysterious asshole he was in the majority of the series. Futaba receives no such development, instead she is given a personality to appeal to the lowest common denominator and just comes off as your typical shoujo protagonist. Though it is a part of her character arc to change in such a way, they just do nothing with this change and as a result it feels a bit wasted. Anyways, just a lack of development throughout gave me no motivation to care about the characters for most of the series, until the last two episodes where the character development is probably at its strongest. Furthermore, I feel like when the characters point out the most obvious connections the anime is treating the audience like they’re idiots. They make it really clear when things link when it can just easily be seen regardless, so I really disliked that it had to be so on the head with those revelations.
  Now, for the art. I think that the art is reminiscent of Bokura ga Ita (a better shoujo) which was charming in its own right, but with Ao Haru Ride it seemed a bit more generic when compared to Bokura ga Ita. It was cute at times, but really ugly at others. I think that it’s fine. What I liked in particular though were the flashbacks. Production IG could have easily just added a filter and changed the colour pallet a little, but with the flashbacks in Ao Haru Ride, using watercolour and a lighter colour pallet is really enjoyable to look at and I appreciate it.
  The music was servicable, just your normal piano music. Worse than Kimi ni Todoke, but not too far behind. Nothing special about it really.
  Overall, this anime would have been better with Kou as the MC since Futaba is so ughhh by the end of the series. Though they do link the characters with their backstories and makes it sort of heartwarming by the end of it, just the whole middle-section of the anime makes it very hard to give this anime more than a 6. The underdeveloped side characters in combination with weak motivations of the main characters make this kind of a sluggish watch but at the same time it does kind of redeem itself slightly by the end. I think that Production IG was relying too much on a season 2 for this anime and maybe that’s why it just felt both rushed and incomplete.

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• 

  makunochi

  36/100
  Tries to discover depression in the eyes on an innocent vibrant girl but epically fails.

  “But I think it’s natural that not everything you try will go well, right? So, I’m gonna start again from scratch.”
  -Yoshioka Futaba

  Depression is hard. Grief is difficult.
  Its patients are not easy to deal with, there's no easy way around it, no shortcuts. People don't suddenly turn from careless and down to bubbly and happy.
  That's why I respect what the anime tried to do. If I'm trying to watch this show just to kill time, Kou will just be another stuck-up selfish brat, but in truth he's a very realistic character.

  The series is in the point of view of a rather naïve and bubbly girl. We see the world through her eyes and how much confusion the guy she loves -Kou- brings her. All her feelings are that typical of an innocent teen who hasn't been through any hardships in her life. Which is pretty fine, and not something I mind. On the contrary, it shows how difficult it is for a person to get close to someone who isn't doing very well.

  Or it tries to.

  Story: 4/10
  See, this is where the problem arises. You can see what the show intended to be like. You can see the potential, and you can also see the extreme boredom. Nothing really much happens in the show. We don't get to see Kou's personality or dive into what he's going through. We have to wait for 12 whole episodes to see anything going on. I understand the intention, it was to show us that you can try and try and try again and you still won't be let in. But there was so much lazy work it cannot be overlooked.

  Like how being class representatives was just a plot-device used to make the characters in the show forced to be friends. I don't know what kind of 'training program' it is that is just some sort of a treasure hunt. Or the very unnecessary cheap love triangle that started because one of the girls was treated like a human. The show is just not trying even though the idea could have been very well executed.

  Characters: 5/10

  Yoshioka Futaba is a very realistic character. Most of the girls barely out of middle school think like she does, and are equally as sensitive. She's a very hard-working teenager when it comes to her human relationships, whether it's friendships or romantic relationships. Having been shunned out, she starts becoming a people-pleaser because there's nothing worse than loneliness, but shortly afterwards looks for another change. There's something admirable about her, she's persistent, awkward and emotional. The show gives her lots of depth, the only headache you can get is that being in a 15 year old's mind isn't very easy, but I believe the show made a great job portraying this character.

  The secondary characters is another thing the show falls short in. They are so goddamned bland. You have a typical actually stuck up teen who hates everyone and everything (don't ask questions, we don't end up knowing anything about her) a shy girl with a baby's voice and a loud guy. That's pretty much all there is about them. They were plain accessories used yet again as a lazy method of showing the journey about caring for Kou.

  Tanaki Kou Depressed clear as day since the very first episode. Difficult and hard to deal with but easy to relate to, at least for me. I can see how I could be seen as Kou by my family and some of my friends, I've been through a phase like this and to this very day I try my best not to fall into what Kou was falling into. I've seen many reviews bashing how Kou should be left alone and that he's an ass, but clearly anyone who says so hasn't dealt with depression, a few hours into the show you can see that Kou deeply care and does not want to, unlike many 'assholes' in different anime shows, Kou is neither trying to be cool nor trying to hurt anyone. After a difficult incident he has lost his will to do anything and that includes friendships.

  My main problem is what follows:

  The Romance: 2/10
  It's not that there isn't much of a love story. It's that it felt more like a mentor and a mentee relationship. I might as well have called him Kou-sensei, the Life Coach! All through the series, all the guy does is throw some life-coaching advises and continuous criticism for the way Futaba lives her life. I again understand that it was intended to show his indirect care towards her, but that came off as regular teaching sessions.
  But what downright pissed me off the most was a scene where Kou literally pins down Futaba and tells her he could rape her if he wanted to as a way to warn her not to be reckless.
  This is NOT, in anyway, okay to even think of. There are so many ways you could warn a girl to be more careful than this.

  Sound and Art 6/10
  The opening and music were very sweet and fitting for the anime's aura. I didn't particularly adore the characters' design but the backgrounds were quite beautiful.

  Enjoyment 3/10
  Welp, cannot help this, I got really bored.

  Overall: 3.6/10, the show tried.

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• 

  veemon23

  80/100
  Winter comes now, but Spring will soon arrive

  Well I figure I'll write a more positive review since the other two are more on the negative side of this show. I have nothing against their reviews, I just figure I'll write one that shows the good quality of what made me enjoy this show. And I will say it's not for everyone, as it tackles a topic that some won't understand or appreciate as much as others. And I'm not talking about the relationship aspect of it, but more with dealing with death, loss, and depression.

  So with the not spoiler free review lol... here we go...

  Blue - often can stand for many things. As we look at the ocean or sky, we see how open it is, representing freedom and life. As we know there is more life in the deep blue sea there anywhere else in the world. But also at the same time, we know blue can also stand for sadness or depression (feeling blue). Blue Spring Ride, depends on how you see it, I feel like it capture the two, as they are off the same coin.
  We open up with the two lead character in a very beautiful scene. We also see how it is raining and you know what color usually represent rain, blue. And rain often represent either new life (mainly spring) or sadness (tears). As the character grows and goes through different trails in life, as they face different issue, either with dealing with letting go or finding new friendship.

  First let's get the friendship part of it out of the way. I don't really want to spend too much time on this part of it, though not saying it isn't important.

  

  Basically we start the series with Futaba having these friends who you can call "friends." Where she just wanted a place to belong and fit in. And anyone who's been too high school will know how hard it is to enjoy school by yourself. But this never felt genuine as she can never really be sincere in this friendship. She just tried to belong and fit in but when she finally show how she really felt, she loses her "friends." It isn't until after this that she befriends Yuuri who she really can be herself. Building a true friendship, one where she can be sincere.
  There's more you can talk about the friendship part of it but I'm not really in the mood to say much about it. As I often talk about this too much I'm just too lazy to write it out, so my apologize if I am sort of not fully writing out my whole thoughts on this part of it.

  Romance

  

  Honestly there isn't much to say about this part beside, if you really want the romance aspect of it, it's best to pick up the manga. As the anime barely even touch the surface of it. As it just gives us sort of, "will they or won't they." I mean I don't hate it, but I'm just saying, don't come in here expecting a romance anime where you are left with feeling satisfied. So that's all I really have to say about this. And the other romance subplot is just kind of there.... I feel like that if I was to say is a negative... sure I guess? Since it kind of got introduce but didn't really go anywhere. But no I'm not complaining about it lol... I'm just stating the obvious fact.

  Loss, depression, and letting go... I feel like this is more of the core theme of the show.

  

  You only know what loneliness feels like once you feel what it is to be loved. When you no longer see the person you used to see, no longer hear their voice, knowing they no longer are around. Everyone person deals with loss differently. Either that is a friend who moved away or a love one who has pass on. No matter what, it is a painful experience. But the thing about life is that it is always best spent with others and never alone.

  "Even if death will eventually tear you apart, it’s better to meet someone than not meet them."

  Frederica (from the show 86)

  I feel like Blue Spring Ride really capture this more as it's core theme then anything else. Overcoming depression is something that takes time and each person deals with it differently. One thing I do believe is that it is often best with those who genuinely care about you. A burden is lighter when we all carry it together. Some people will shut themselves out and sometimes it's up to us to knock down that wall/door to get to them. As this seem to be the main theme of the show.
  As winter will come and everything seems to freeze in time and place, we know that Spring will come soon after. It may be the end of one journey but it will be the beginning of a new one. We want to look forward by having so much ahead of us that we don't have to look back. Our past is meant to be there, but it is a part of who we are. In helping shape you and your future, to helping you grow, learn, and understand that there will always be struggle... but with them comes memories we can cherish. Those friends you have now, one will too be gone, but does not mean they weren't important.

  I'll end with this beautiful quote

  "All these moments will be lost like tears in the rain."

  Agree to disagree with me but thanks for reading to the end. It was a beautiful ride with great visual and a unique cast of characters. A great OP and ED, each setting up and ending the anime beautifully. It's worth a watch, but as I stated if you really want a romance... you have to pick up the manga. (Sorry if there's grammar issue or anything since I'm too lazy to proof read and I just write it all in one go - whatever pops to my head lol)

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