Story & Characters
This is a review of Honey & Clover II and may contain spoilers for both this and the first season.
The second season of Honey & Clover takes place shortly after the first, starting with a summery of the first. If
you want to know what the first season is about, I recommend that you read one of the reviews found here at
Minitokyo.
The story has no real goal found in many anime, like finishing of the bad guy or rescuing someone. Just like the first
season, Honey & Clover II follow the lives of the main characters Takemoto, Yamada, Morita, Hagumi, Mayama as well
as Rika and Shuuji. The problems and thoughts from the first season are still there, which is why watching the first
season is warmly recommended. If not, you won't be able to fully appreciate the anime.
Like the first season, the anime goes deep into the human emotions of those who are around the ages of the character,
i.e. 18+. To fully appreciate it, an understanding and relation need to be established. Being 20 myself, and in
University, I can relate myself to not only one character, but in each and every one of them. Each character has their
own problems; Yamada is still in love with Mayama, but the only person who has a key to his heart is Rika. Instead of
embracing him, she pushes him away, afraid of hurting him, as well as herself, if she gets to close to him. Takemoto
thinks of the future, and wants to work with the people he met during his trip around Japan, yet he can't find
himself leaving Hagumi. He wants to be close to her, but he wants to fulfil his dream as well. This is just a few
examples of the problems faced by the main characters in Honey & Clover. Is there an answer to every question? Is
there such a thing as "the right thing to do"?
Honey & Clover II doesn't contain as much comedy as the first season. A lot of background story to Morita, who
stood for much of the comedy relief in the first season, is being shown this second season and we get to see that
he's not always that cheerful. Even he has his moments of depression. Nevertheless, you will still see come comedy
and they usually come at the right time and places. Now that the story has become a lot more serious, they are
definitely needed and appreciated.
Rating: 10
Art
The art and animation are kept and we get to once again experience the soft colours and texture found in Honey &
Clover.
Compared to other anime, the art in Honey & Clover may seem pale but it's really in a category of its own.
It's not top notch with CG or anything, instead the producers and animators have chosen a different path, keeping
it true to the manga, making it feel sketchy but at the same time not.
In comedy scenes, the characters facial expression changes, fitting the comedy, enhancing it.
The background is, like the characters themselves, very soft in colours. It has a lot of textures and shadings, but at
the same time not too much so that it will draw your attention from everything else.
Rating: 9
Sound
One special thing about Honey & Clover is that it contains a lot of insert songs, many of them sung by Suga Shikao.
His serene voice blends in and enhances the emotions in the scenes in question. Most of the times, they are sad
feelings, or feelings of hopelessness. Suga Shikao is not alone in contributing with songs, though, Spitz also has a big
part and to be honest, I don't know who was singing while I was watching, but that doesn't matter because
Spitz does an equally good job.
As for the seiyuu, they do an excellent job. I can't imagine any other voices for the characters. Rika (Sayaka
Ohara) has her calm, collected, quiet and kind of hurtful and sad voice which matches her character and background
perfectly. Hagumi (Haruka Kudou) sounds young, on the boarder of childish, but that's what makes it so good because
even though she's a young woman, she is still a child in both mind and body. One particular seiyuu that deserves
extra credit is Yuji Ueda who gives his voice to Morita Shinobu. Ueda is able to perfectly match the energy and
craziness that is Morita, but at the same time, whenever needed, he's able to pull out the seriousness.
Rating: 10
Presentation
Honey & Clover II is a must for those who have seen the first season as it doesn't cover it all, especially
when it comes to Morita's character. Much that is left unexplained in the first season is explain in the second.
And also, this season gives a final closure to the anime and it ends just wonderfully, in my opinion. It left me
breathless, and even though I wouldn't mind seeing more, I feel satisfied with what it has given me.
Honey & Clover is a realistic anime, covering and discussing many topics that will cross a lot of people's
paths. Deep and emotional, it speaks of friendship, joy, sadness, love, determination, decisions and much much more. If
you're looking for something different for a change, something different from the average world-saving-anime, then
Honey & Clover is for you, that is, if you're 18+. Children will most likely find this anime boring, but for
those who can relate to the characters, I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating: 9
Final Verdict
9.5000 (excellent)
Reviewed by Kori, Oct 08, 2006