Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi

This anime is exactly what it says on the tin, although based on a gal game it’s surprisingly well behaved.

This show is one of those simple harem style anime, where you have that standard plot based around standard characters. Nothing exciting particularly happens but you do get that massive feel good sensation when the inevitable conclusion to the plot occurs. In regards to what’s bad about this anime it’s hard to say, because nothing really stands out, the whole anime is rather average so there aren't really any high expiations to start off with. It’s the kind of thing you would watch whilst waiting for the next episode of (in my immediate case) Shingeki no Kyojin to come out. It’s a bit of fun, but it’s nothing special.

I suppose the main problem with this anime is the characters and plot, because everything else is actually quite good. The plot is that basic “A handsome guy moves out the country side and suddenly Girls! Girls everywhere!” I mean seeing as the anime is based on a gal game you can’t really expect more, but I digress. Although the plot is basic and relatively boring you do find yourself getting attached to the characters somewhat. This is probably because the anime does a fantastic job of centering the large chunks of the episodes on the feelings of the girls involved. The same girls that happen to be going after the previously mentioned lucky b*****d that somehow managed to move in to “hot single girl central” oh Japan we love you. Aside from this, however, the characterization is lacking a tad also. The girls presented are the usual line up of fetish, the quiet one, the strong one etc… The anime had been made well enough for it to want more but it has been bent rigidly around the harem, gal game, genre resulting in some of the characters coming across as forced. I’m aware, by the way, that that’s kind of what it’s supposed to be but the anime, at points seems to want to be more than just a tacky standard harem anime, and it could have been.

Now regardless of the fact that there is no way this anime could even be compared with the giants like Gurren Lagann, or Cowboy Bebop, in terms of my personal enjoyment, and to some affect production quality, it’s done pretty good for itself. To this extent I mean the animation is actually pretty good, it’s not Guilty Crown blow your face off good, but it’s not bad. The music of the entire thing fits quite well too, so it makes you feel the right things at the right time. Overall I rather enjoyed this short little piece, it may be a standard one of a thousand anime that are all basically the same, but it’s a bit of fun you know?

On a final note because of the spectacular averageness this anime has managed to achieve it’s difficult to say much more about it, so I apologise for the short review. This anime is by no stretch of the imagination a really good anime, but neither is it really bad.

Premise: 5/10

The idea this anime is based around is incredibly mundane and has been done a thousand times before, but it manages to pull it off in its own way.

Plot Development: 6/10

The plot development is okay, but not brilliant. It’s slow going and you only start to feel that the anime is progressing in the final few episodes. But those final few are very entertaining indeed.

Animation: 7/10

The animation for this anime is surprisingly good considering its roots, however because of a lacking of any times where the animation could be put to the test there is no real proof of it’s worth.

Characters: 7/10

The characters in this anime is one of its strong points because it manages to fit in the usual line up of boring harem figures and then puts a slightly different spin them and even explores their personality allowing you to become somewhat attached to them at times.

Character Development: 6/10

The character development in this anime is surprisingly good, because the anime manages to start off with the staple line up of characters in the beginning and end up with a group of characters you’re emotionally attached to; having said that it’s incredibly slow going and only seems to work on one character at a time.

Fluidity: 7/10

This show flows quite well; there are no dodgy jumps in the story line, and you’re never really left feeling like you’ve missed something.  

Music: 8/10

The music is very good but not very diverse. The correct thing always seems to be playing at the right time, setting the scene perfectly. But at times you feel like it’s the same few tracks being played over and over again.

Intro: 8/10

The intro for this anime is fantastically done and it possibly one of the best features of this anime. Everything from the music to the animation seems to fit very well and puts you in the perfect mood for watching the episode.

Outro: 6/10

The outro is quite disappointing compared to the intro because nothing really happens; it’s just a series of credits and pictures, having said that the music is upbeat and very nice to listen to.

Personal Enjoyment: 7.5/10

I enjoyed watching this anime rather a lot, and the ending is quite nice. I only wish it was a bit longer and had a more in-depth story-line seeing as it has a lot of potential.

Total: 6.8/10 (Fine)

Stuart Macdonald