7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Kitahoro High's second term is coming to a close. After dealing with dark rumors and finally confronting her inner emotions, Sawako knows the feelings she holds for Kazehaya are romantic in nature. She has grown more confident thanks to the true friends by her side, but will they be able to remain together even when school is out? Will she be able to tell Kazehaya how she feels?
Starring: Mamiko Noto, Daisuke Namikawa, Yûko Sanpei, Miyuki Sawashiro, Miho MiyagawaAnime | 100% |
Foreign | 94% |
Romance | 26% |
Comedy | 25% |
Comic book | 22% |
Family | 9% |
Teen | 9% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Japanese: LPCM 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (2 BDs, 2 DVDs)
DVD copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
When last we left the mismatched pair of erstwhile lovers in Kimi Ni Todoke - From Me To You, outcast girl Sawako and ultra popular boy Kazehaya had moved from mere friendship—in and of itself something of a miracle to Sawako, who had never been part of Kazehaya’s starry social circle—to perhaps something more. This gentle, kind hearted anime (based on a popular and long running manga series) is a slow and steady small scale work that doesn’t offer much in the way of bombast or even very convoluted plot mechanics, but which sways somewhat persuasively, probably appealing most to those who have ever felt they’re on the outside of some exciting activity or clique. Sawako has been branded with the nickname Sadako, after the vengeful spirit from The Ring, and she’s thought to be able to (in best M. Night Shyamalan fashion) “see dead people”, though she is in fact just a sweet, shy young girl who can’t quite understand how she’s become such a pariah at her high school. Enter Kazehaya, a Big Man on Campus, who reaches out to Sawako and slowly draws her into not just his group of “in crowd” denizens, but also draws Sawako out of her inherent introspection and uncertainty. As the first half of the first season came to a close in Volume 1 of this NIS America release, Sawako had borne the brunt of some vicious rumor mongering and outright jealousy, especially on the part of another female character, Kurumi, who also has eyes for Kazehaya, but as the second half of the first season gets underway, Kazehaya and Sawako seem to suddenly understand that, as incredible as it may seem, they are meant for each other, leading Kazehaya to drop the bombshell that he wants to officially date Sawako, sending the girl into a flustered tailspin.
My comments about Kimi Ni Todoke - From Me To You Volume 1 are equally true for this second volume. Kimi ni Todoke – From Me to You is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of NIS America with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This is yet another really pretty offering from NIS America which once again shows what exceptional work Production I.G (there's no period after the "G") often provides anime fans. Colors are exceptionally vivid, though they tend to quite frequently be on the pastel side of things (especially with regard to some of the lovely backgrounds, which almost resemble traditional Japanese silk screened illustrations at times). Line detail is very sharp, and character designs, at least in close-ups, are quite complex and well rendered. As is typical with most animes, midrange shots tend to feature characters only in the barest outlines, with virtually no facial characteristics. This series also tends to dabble in chibi more than most, with characters "devolving" into these forms at the slightest emotional provocation. The design aesthetic here isn't especially innovative, but it's quite pretty and very enjoyable.
Kimi ni Todoke – From Me to You features an uncompressed LPCM 2.0 audio in the original Japanese. There's really not much to "wow" audiophiles here with, as the bulk of the show really revolves around smaller dialogue moments and Sawako's omnipresent narration, which fills in a lot of each episode. Fidelity is excellent and the show's score also sounds fine in this lossless rendering. The best news here is that NIS America has made the English subtitles optional, instead of encoding them into the video. All of this label's releases that I've personally reviewed up to Kimi ni Todoke – From Me to You have had mandatory subtitles, something that makes just sitting back and enjoying these usually spectacularly presented animes harder to do, but with this release, the subtitles can be turned off for subsequent viewings. And let's face it, the dialogue here isn't exactly literary in quality.
While there are no supplements per se on either of the Blu-ray discs included on Volume 2 of Kimi ni Todoke – From Me to You, this is yet another handsomely packaged "Premium Edition" from NIS America which comes enclosed in a sturdy slipcase and offers a nicely illustrated hardback book in addition to the two slimline cases which hold one Blu-ray and one DVD each. The book, much like in Volume 1 of this release, is full of character illustrations and brief recaps of each of the episodes included in this volume.
Kimi ni Todoke – From Me to You may be an acquired taste, as it's resolutely quiet and mild mannered. It may well appeal more to females than to males, but the series is touching and extremely good natured, without any epic pretensions or overly hyperbolic emotional elements on display. The series may well be too quiet an uneventful to those who like their anime outings brisk, full of action, and with over the top dialogue. But for those who want a very nice looking, "kinder and gentler" approach to a romance anime, Kimi ni Todoke – From Me to You has a lot to offer. This new NIS America release is awfully sparse on supplements, even taking into account its deluxe packaging, but it offers nice video and audio, and, like Volume 1 of the release, comes Recommended.
Premium Edition
2009-2010
2009-2010
Standard Edition
2009-2010
2009-2010
2009-2010
Premium Edition
2011
2011
2011
(Still not reliable for this title)
Standard Edition
2011
2008
コクリコ坂から / Kokuriko-zaka Kara
2011
2008-2009
2007-2008
Classics
2006
Season 3
2012
2015
2011
耳をすませば / Mimi wo Sumaseba
1995
2010-2011
13 Episodes & 4 OVAs
2012
Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! | 中二病でも恋がしたい! | Collector's Edition
2012-2013
小鳥遊六花・改 ~劇場版 中二病でも恋がしたい!~ / Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions the Movie: Rikka Takanashi Revision
2013
中二病でも恋がしたい! 戀 / Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren
2014
アオハライド / Ao Haru Ride
2014
2013
海がきこえる / Umi ga kikoeru
1993
らき☆すた
2007-2008
우리별 일호와 얼룩소 / Ulibyeol ilhowa eollugso
2014