Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku

Storys and presentation are truly important. How one presents something, but also, how one sounds while doing so. Such can bore someone to death. While in other case, it'll capture you in, drag you kicking and screaming, locking you in for the ride of your life. This is what Hana wa Saku truly showcases such.

Story and characters: 8
While the story presents itself as such, there is such underlining details that truly make it stand out as something more. Which throw in characters which one may say 'Oh they look like normal and generic' but when you get under their layers, and see and discover what ... they truly are, and how deep them themselves goes, it really opens up the anime in a whole new light. Which makes characters that look and seem like normal characters fitting an anime set in the school, have more flavor, have more interest and depth to them. Which only makes getting to know them much more pleasant for the viewer. Making it more in case of watching to see for yourself, and let them come into your life, to let them express themselves, rather than reading words on a screen.

But going back to the story, it really captures the watchers interest, as if there is way more than one realizes about it, and that we're in for more twists and turns as we go along. As if the title has flower in it's name, as if we're waiting to see this flower bloom into success, or failure. Keeping us on the edge of our seats throughout. As if taking such a simple idea, and presentation, and going about it, in the most creative way.


Art and sound: 9
For me, this gets the highest of grades, as while you may look at it at points, and think there is nothing special about it, they did a great job, it looks great, you don't need to spend a whole section going on about it. But given what the show represents, and how it's delivered and so. I feel like it's way more important then one may realize. As broadcasting takes a lot of effort and passion, there is a drive about it, and through this show, and how it's told, it's as if there is a magic about it. But it's not only the sense of that, being able to tell a story, to capture a reader's interest, to have the talent and creative passion. That can add a whole different element to it, and the way this show captures that through it's beautiful flowing animation. It's really charming, and lovely to see. Matched with great sound to boot.

Like seriously. I do love how they make it so you'll basically hear nothing in a moment, but then flow effortlessly into a different kind of track that naturally flows really well together, transitioning in a well mannered, and great way.

Hana Wa Saku certainly is a treat, and is a very good show to sink your teeth into for many reasons. I'd be watching for sure.

Flower of an Asura is about Hana, a girl from a tiny, remote island who grew up mesmerized by a recitation performance she saw on TV as a kid. She never had the chance to chase that dream since she was stuck far away from the mainland, but everything changes when she starts high school. She finally gets the opportunity to pursue her passion after being scouted by the Broadcasting Club.

The anime heavily leans on its voice acting to deliver its charm, focusing on recitation as an art form, which makes sense since it’s a medium that relies so much on sound. At first, the ... performances are okay but nothing special—until Hana steps up and recites the same poem she heard on TV when she was a kid, standing alone on the beach. That scene blew me away. Her voice—just her intonation, pitch, and raw emotion—completely captured my soul. Even if you don’t understand the language, you’ll feel it. It’s incredible how much her voice alone resonates.

On top of that, the sound design and music are phenomenal. Every little detail, from the crash of the waves to the background score, is done with care, easily making it one of the best-sounding anime in years. And while the animation isn’t flashy, the quality during the recitation scenes is noticeably better than your average show. It’s subtle but powerful—perfect for the kind of story it’s telling.

If you enjoyed something like Kageki Shoujo!!, where voice acting is such a big part of the experience, this show will definitely be up your alley. It’s a beautiful and emotional ride that’s worth checking out.

Japan’s ability—and eagerness—to turn the most mundane things into anime never fails to impress me.

For starters, this anime boasts stunning animation, especially when compared to the average shows airing in recent years. The sound design is what I’d describe as movie-quality—the wind, the waves, the water, the vines—every sound feels meticulously crafted and cranked up to the max. You don’t just hear it; you feel it. The same goes for the theme song. It’s beautifully composed and perfectly complements the anime’s tone.

Now, as for the story—it’s slow. Very slow. It follows your typical slice-of-life structure, where conflicts exist but never escalate ... into anything grand or soul-shaking—just the everyday antics of school life. There’s also a smidgen of CGDCT ,shoujo ai, and romance elemenr. A smidgen, mind you—so don’t expect too much in that department.

That said, there’s really nothing bad about this anime or its production. The only real downside is a matter of preference. Some people might find it excruciatingly boring, and I can’t blame them. But if you, like me, have a tragically declining attention span, this show might actually help rebuild it—one slow, comfy episode at a time.

A couple of tips:
- Watch this with headphones or a good surround sound system to fully appreciate the audio design.
- Avoid watching it late at night unless you want to pass out—because this anime is basically the equivalent of a bedtime story from your ma.