Anime/Manga [Review] Say "I Love You" (Spoiler-Free)

[SirBoglor]

I'm back, and this time I'm going to attempt to add a little polish to my review. Hopefully you'll enjoy!

Say "I Love You"

What do you get when you take a romance designed for clichés, yet it perfects what they truly mean? You would get this story. The story of Mei Tachibana and Yamato Kurosawa. I have always tried to be open towards romances, no matter how unimpressive they may seem. It would be boring to watch, if it wasn't for the great attention to detail and pure effort put into making this show. With that being said, I am very happy that I picked this story up. Say "I Love You" illustrates the purest of love, and just how hard it can be to say that daunting trio of words...​

• The Plot

As already mentioned, the plot of this show as a whole is very cliché. Just your average "girl meets boy, they fall in love, blah, issues, etc." But this show looked at that issue, and spat in its face. It doesn't care, because truly great entertainment doesn't need a very unique story to tell. As long as it is a good story and everything else is done properly, it won't matter. Say "I love you" delivers greatly in those regards. And as for the romance itself, the purity of their love rings throughout the show and brought a smile to myself many times.​

• The Characters

Mei Tachibana and Yamato Kurosawa are your average contrasting pair of characters. Mei is shy and introverted, while Yamato is the likable popular guy. Opposites attract, right? In this case, absolutely. While their characters seem average and have a lack of uniqueness at first, their personalities are greatly fleshed out throughout the show. I became very attached to them as characters, and consider their overall development to be very well done. They are a couple more than deserving of the spotlight.
I can't really discuss the supporting characters too much, but they are all given background and development throughout the show. There is also likability to them as well. Not much else to say in those regards.​

• The Artistry

Last on the list, I want to touch on the artwork and music. There are so many vividly stunning sights to see in this show. The lighting, setting, and backdrops are beautiful and can take your breath away at times. And the music is just as good. Both the intro and outro songs are fresh, original, and pleasant to the ear. The set pieces have a way of illustrating the mood just right, giving a great deal of immersion. The artistry of this show is much, much better than many other animes that I've watched.​

In Review​

Say "I Love You" has a very unique charm for the viewer. The romance between our couple feels very real, and pure. I feel like the word "pure" best describes this romance. And I don't use that word lightly. While there are darker, sometimes sexual themes at times, the acknowledgement of those themes makes it feel pure. You can't have purity without some dirt to compare, after all.

If you're looking for a fresh, new story of romance, I admit that this show may not be of interest to you. But if you're simply looking for well-told a tale of love regardless of any clichés , this show will not disappoint you at all. In my opinion, this is a definite must watch for you romance lovers out there.​