Reviews for Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo (6.41) 4r6lg

Sakurasou shares many similarities with other shows in the past. It has a protagonist who is close (for better or for worse) with cats, a soft-spoken heroine with unimaginable talent, and a lively group of people living together in a dorm/residence. However, it has a unique mix of elements and execution that far sures the majority of average shows and, in my opinion, ends up easily as one of the best shows of the season. While there is a bit of unnecessary angst at times, this is truly a great story about bonding and relying on friends to overcome challenges together. If you've been waiting for a show with strong character bonds as in Ano Hana, a relationship graph as deep as Hatsukoi Limited, and an engaging, exciting plot line then this is the show for you. If you're doubtful, I recommend taking a "leap to outer space".

Animation:
My expectations for animation quality have increased quite a bit in recent years. However, JC Studio has outdone themselves here in producing something that is truly beautiful. There were moments where I literally paused episodes so I could fully take in the eye candy whether it was a stunning, picturesque sunset or Mashiro in a pink summer dress. The show has absolutely gorgeous shading that is most apparent in outdoor scenes, and utilizes coloring effects and even weather to accentuate the mood at particular instances. There is a bit of annoying CGI at moments (especially with Nyapollon given how it was supposed to showcase Mashiro and Misaki's animation) but overall this was completely overshadowed by the rest of the work.

Given how character-centric this show was, a great amount of detail went into the actual characters themselves. This is not your typical one-outfit per character show; expect a full wardrobe (including mascot cat suits) for all the main characters. Furthermore, expect a lot of convincing facial animations to match the VAs' superb performance. Not to say that any of the other characters aren't well drawn, but Mashiro with her glowing, amber red eyes is definitely worth looking forwards to, even more so than her supposedly beautiful artwork (which I think less highly of).

There is one or two action/fight scenes in this show but don't expect any laser beams or large explosions. This is a fairly realistic show about the consequences of one's choices and actions (just ignore a lot of unrealistic driving). There is also a fair amount of fan service as well in this show. However, I found the fan service in good taste compared to many other recent shows. Most of the fan service centers around the craziness of Misaki or the innocence of Mashiro and thus is a perfectly natural fit.

Sound:
The two OPs and first ED are fitting, light-rock pieces that don't particularly catch my attention. The second ED is a slightly darker piece that fits with the heavier mood in certain episodes (though watching the characters sort of makes my neck hurt). The BGM is outstanding as it s just enough when it needs to and then disappears when it doesn't. In particular, the piano solos, such as when Mashiro first appears are very good.

There is a substantial amount of drama in this show. There is a lot of shouting, a lot of crying, and a lot of laughing. The VAs combined to make this a believable and engaging piece of work. Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, the main protagonist from SAO, does a great job of conveying a wide range of emotions. Mariko Nakatsu, a relatively unknown VA, does a great job as the ever-so-slightly tsundere Aoyama. Natsumi Takamori gives a remarkably boisterous performance for the wildly outgoing Misaki. And Ai Kayano does an absolutely perfect job giving Mashiro an innocent and soft voice that complements her personality and appearance. Overall, this is a stellar performance from a very good cast.

Story:
Sakurasou is about a group of supposed misfits who live together in the run-down dorm Sakurasou. Each of the six student residents are special in particular ways and each of them have incredible aspirations considering their age. The story follows the group as they learn, grow, and fail together. It's a great story about nurturing bonds and about coping with one's position in life.

Our protagonist, Kanda, is an average student in practically every way except that he takes care of stray cats (and thus cannot stay in a regular dorm). He finds out that a new resident is about to Sakurasou and is sent to pick her up. He is literally shocked to find a bijin sitting underneath a sakura tree waiting for him. She happens to be Mashiro, a world-famous painter who seems to excel professionally wherever she tries. However, he soon finds out that she is literally unable to take care of herself and lacks any practical knowledge whatsoever (how to dress, how to behave in society, etc.) and is placed on "Mashiro Duty" by the rest of the dorm residents.

Throughout the show, residents of Sakurasou do their best to bond with each other while trying their best to achieve their goal, whether it is to be a voice actor or game designer. Unfortunately, real life is hard and not everyone is granted instant success. Furthermore, some dorm residents are forced to cope with their failure in light of the utter ease in which the other dorm seem to achieve success. Characters are also forced to confront their relationships, even when it seems to be at odds with their professional goals.

The story is very well told overall and excels at balancing exposition, comedy and, drama. Each of the characters has their own plot thread that intertwines with those of other Sakurasou residents. The show isn't easily classified as either episodic or arc-based; it rather follows various plot threads (mostly from Kanda's viewpoint) as characters have to cross hurdles and barriers. The story takes a bit of a breather near the 3/4 mark and dedicates a few episodes to further character exposition before hurling into the huge, final climax. The one-episode long conclusion is both fitting and satisfying (thank goodness). Some of the more emotional viewers may want to have a few tissues around for the last few episodes as it does approach Ano Hana levels emotionally.

Character:
While I may not like some of the characters personally, I have to it that the series does a very successful job of drawing the viewers to them. Some of the characters are a bit crazy (Misaki) but overall the characters and their emotions are very believable. Not only do you get drawn into their problems and relationships, you really end up rooting for their efforts. The characters here definitely do not feel like cookie-cutter characters, each one has ample depth and exposition and have to go through tough, realistic choices. Mashiro, in particular, felt like an extremely unique character. Her strength artistically is perfectly contrasted with her fragility due to her lack of societal exposure. It was very interesting to watch her as she learned to cope with feelings such as jealousy and love, things she never previously thought about as a professional painter.

As for character development, expect it in hearty, wholesome chunks. Throughout the one year time frame, all the characters grow and change as they learn to deal with each other and their own unique situation. Very few series have been able to foster this many dynamic characters successfully; all the development feels completely natural. Furthermore, there are a lot of deep relationships (and relationship strain). While some of the relationships don't surface immediately, the series spends ample time exploring each one in just enough detail; they don't spend so little time as to sideline it as in Photokano, but don't extend it so far as to become boring as in Shana 1-3.

Value:
Sakurasou was a very enjoyable series to watch. It is, in all, an uplifting, entertaining work with an excellent story and believable characters. It does have some crazy moments but these worked wonders to balance out some of the more drama-heavy moments. And yes it does feel like a bit of a harem at times, but the other characters all have motives besides just Kanda. If you are tired of shallow character development and shows with action that goes nowhere, definitely give this a shot.