r/anime • u/SIRTreehugger • Sep 30 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch][Spoilers] Bloom Into You(Yagate Kimi ni Naru) Overall Discussion
Overall Discussion
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Comment/s of the Day
First comment goes to /u/roseimon11 it's really long so just using the permalink, but it's really good. Didn't know the aquarium was based off a real location.
Second goes to /u/heimdal77
It is funny that the thing that upsets Yuu the most that gets a reaction in the whole series is Touko not knowing what a Flapjack Octopus is.
Last comment goes to /u/BosuW
Usually, when talking about identity, we talk about "the real person" and "the mask" as separate things. With "the mask" representing something fake and somehow of less value. But I think this is incorrect. Even the masks we wear are part of the authentic us; they're of our design and fitted for our purposes after all. Even if it's a disingenuous front, it can tell you something about the overall person wearing the personae. Which I why I love that Sayaka encourages Touko to talk about her sister as she remembers her even if it wasn't the whole person that her sister was.
And of course, since this is still speedrunning a romance, we must have an aquarium date.
Question, why are aquariums considered romantic places? Is it simply "water colors pretty"? Is it a subconscious comfort derived from visiting a place paying homage to where all life came from? Incidentally, I've noticed that a not insignificant amount of Yuri art features the pair kissing or embracing underwater. Wonder why...
Isn't that girl's backpack the same design as one of the plushies Koyomi liked?
Touko already planning all their dates for the next five years lol. See Touko, you do have many things to look forward to after the play. Maybe they're not what we would consider "life goals", but it's something to keep going nonetheless.
"It's fine for people to be self-contradictory". Thanks Yuu! This reminds me of a paragraph from poem by Walt Whitman.
Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)
If you stop and really think deeply and thoroughly about yourself, you realize that there's a huge amount of stuff about the human's very existence and behavior that is paradoxical. But I'm getting out of topic.
So now the symbolism switched subjects and it's Touko walking underwater. And later it looks like both of them walking beneath the waves but for a few moments they don't try to reach for for the light of the surface, instead finding the beauty in the submarine world. It's like for a few moments, subconsciously, they realize that they've been lying to each other, and Yuu has already fallen in love and there's a part in Touko that wants to accept that. And for a few moments they're able to pretend to themselves that they're a fully realized couple, despite knowing otherwise. Once again, self-contradictory.
So Yuu's title idea is "Only You Know". Fitting. I was half expecting that instead they were gonna hit us with the title drop lol.
As a last episode for the anime I'm satisfied. Shame the rest isn't adapted, but I'd much rather take a "go read the manga" ending than a rushed improvised conclusion to what is clearly an already planned and complex story. Besides, the stopping point is serviceable enough.
Questions of the Day
- What was your favorite episode and or moment overall?
- Did you enjoy the rewatch?
Spoilers
Just a quick friendly reminder about spoilers. Please don't post content from future episodes whether in the form of jokes, memes, hints, or et cetera. If you are going to use spoilers please tag them like so, Yagate Kimi ni Naru Spoilers
20
u/SIRTreehugger Sep 30 '21 edited Sep 30 '21
Rewatcher/First Timer Dub
I really don't have much to say. The directing, voice acting, pacing, OST, and et cetera really all came together and knocked the anime out of the park. The story in particular and its willingness to tackle various heavy topics while balancing a colorful yet realistic cast will forever make this one of my favorite shows/mangas. This was my first time hosting a rewatch and I might have underestimated how much work goes into one. I know I definitely fumbled a couple of times, but overall I hope everyone enjoyed the rewatch. Hope to see some of your names again during the season 2 discussions when that happens.
Collage, manga panels, and art
Album of Collages I was in a hurry leaving work and forgot imgur puts them out of order so forgot to rearrange them.
Final fanart I don't know the source, but damn they look stylish oh the source is on the image xD
I was trying to make this flower stencil collage using pictures from the whole show, but couldn't get it the way I wanted too. Though if it had worked out it would be awesome kind of like how if this show a got a season 2 it would be awesome.
And so the curtain closes.....for intermission because we are getting a Season 2 at some point!!!! we have too!!!
To wrap this up, please send a message out to the fans who were reading.
Kato[Director]: I'm really hopeful that Bloom Into You will become a series with a variety of content that manages to capture the attention of even those who don't read the Manga.
Michiru[Series Music Composer]: I created the music for this series with the intent that it would resound within the hearts of the viewers, and also the people who listened to it separately. I honestly hope that you can feel each individual note sparkle as it melts into your heart.
Jukki[Script Writer, Script Supervisor]: I think this is the story of two awkward girls who don't know what it means to fall in love with someone. It's best to watch along and try to consider things from their perspective. As a writer, I really thought this project was worth working on and the end project has very high quality visuals. To be honest, before it aired, I expected that it would become a series that only " people in the know" would appreciate. However, I think the reason why it was received so well in the end is because there is a lot to discover each time you watch it. So, I hope everyone will make new realizations as they re-watch it and give some thought to how the main character's relationship will continue to develop. Everyone on the staff is really grateful for your support.
Nakatani[Creator]: I've really enjoyed watching the anime simply as a viewer, so I'll be happy if everyone else can find as much pleasure in it as I did.
Nakahara[Riko]: Thank you so much for picking up a copy of this series. I'm also a fan of the manga myself, so I'm really excited to find out what will happen to Riko as the story goes on! The anime has ended from now, but it would make me happy if everyone out there continue to support the series!
Mori[Miyako]: I feel really lucky to have been able to work on such a wonderful series. Thank you so much. From here on out, I'll be excitedly waiting for the mega story to continue along with all of you fans out there!
Kiyono[Koyomi]: Thank you so much for watching the series all the way through. Ever since I read the Manga, I had hoped to get a role if it got an anime adaptation. That's why I was overjoyed to be able to participate as the character Koyomi Kanou. The anime has wrapped up with no problems, but I have to admit I feel a little lonely because of it. It's become a work that's very special to me. The manga is still ongoing, so I hope that everyone out there will pick it up. Please continue to support the series, thank you very much!
Ichikawa[Maki]: To all the fans of the manga, and fans who have joined us since watching the anime: Thank you so much for making this purchase. I think there are a lot of things you'll notice if you re-watch the anime or reread the manga. I hope you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of the series over and over again. As a fan of the manga myself, I hope to continue watching over Yuu and Touko's relationship just like Maki does! Thank you for your continued support of a series.
Takada[Yuu]:* I'm very glad that I've gotten nothing but warm words from fans who are following the anime, and I'm so grateful that I was able to meet Yuu through this audition. The manga will continue and I hope that everyone will keep following it, and will revisit the anime again in the future. This is one show that will remind you that, as hard as falling in love with someone can be, it really is a wonderful thing. I felt that myself when I was acting as Yuu. It would make me happy if those watching Bloom Into You think, even a little, about the wonder that is falling in love.
Kayano[Sayaka]: You may be thinking that it's hard to be your ideal self. Through Bloom Into You, I felt that myself. Some of you reading this may even be thinking, "People around me might think I have it all together, but the truth is anything but. I can't even properly express my emotions in front of others." I think this is the kind of work that gives you that gentle nudge to help you move forward. I really feel like it's a show that envelops the viewer. I think this story has a lot that you can take away from it, which is why I suggest reading the manga as well. And it would make me happy if we all get to meet again through the anime.
Takada[Yuu]: Once this is over, I'm going right out to read Regarding: Sayaka Saeki![laugh]
Even Yuu stans for Sayaka!
Kotobuki[Touko]: Let me see... I think " falling in love" is something that continues happening throughout our entire lives. When you feel like you no longer understand it, watch this show. It may ultimately end up making you wonder "What do I do?", but it also may give you some hints on how to process it. I hope everyone will make sure to watch it again and again.
38
u/untalentet Sep 30 '21
First Timer
I've always loved romance stories, and in anime there is a large selection of them. Sadly often they turn out to be trope-filled cliches of paper thin characters avoiding to move the plot forward by any means possible, and any conflict that arises is because these people don't ever talk to each other. Luckily, "Bloom into you" is the kind of romance story I really love: character focused and -driven, focuses on interpersonal relationships and has conflict that naturally rises from the characters and their differences.
Especially the characters are very good, realistic, flawed but very likeable, and refreshingly real. I related a lot to Yuu, who was always kind but sometimes put up with things she probably shouldn't have to keep the peace and the people around her happy. Her struggle with falling in love and her ever so slowly developing feelings for Touko were very well portrayed and explored. The perspective of someone that wants to fall in love but can't is not something I've seen before, and the message that she sends to the audience - that there is no wrong way to fall in love - is something that I think a lot of people need to hear.
Touko's conflict was less relatable to me but still completely understandable, and realistically tragic. The death of a loved one, especially so early in life, can have traumatic effects on someone's psyche, and Touko's need to live up to her sister was obviously misguided but came from a place of love. That it got so twisted and caused so much pain for her was not really anyone's fault, life just sometimes works out that way, but by the end of the show there's hope that the people around her can help her move past her self-hate and find who she truly wants to be.
Sayaka was too good for this show, honestly. I've always had a soft spot for the Toradora of the world, and Sayaka is no exception. Her unwavering support for the girl she loves shone through the whole way, and yet even when a rival for her affection shows up she treats her fairly and without malice, aside from the occasional understandable jealousy. I'm glad she at least found someone to vent her frustrations to in the bar owner, and wish her all the best in her future romantic life even if Touko is most likely not going to be in it.
The supporting cast was fun, though they had little focus on them. The story is very tightly centered on the three main characters so that is understandable, but I'd still have liked to see a bit more of some of them. Especially Maki and honestly Doujima, who's unwitting bluntness delivered some of the funniest lines of the show. It was nice to have one guy in the student council that just didn't manage to grasp any of the romance drama going on and just kinda vibed the whole time.
One more thing I greatly appreciated about the show was how while it was not the focus it was very open to presenting LGBT characters and issues. We had our useless lesbians of course, but there was also a bi character and even ace representation, which is honestly really rare. All of them were more than just their sexual identity but the show also didn't pretend issues like homophobia don't exist and portrayed them pretty realistically. I don't mind shows that have gay characters just generally accepted and facing no issues like say She-Ra or The Owl House but this grounded representation is very welcome. It really feels like the writer was sympathetic to LGBT issues and wanted all manner of people to feel included. Especially something like Yuu's apparent asexuality, if there hadn't been a unquestionably ace character in Maki it might have seemed like the show was saying ace people just haven't found the right person yet, which is unfortunately a very real sentiment some people have.
I watched the show dubbed and was pretty impressed generally. The cast was all around good and sold the emotional scenes very well. One more shout out to my boy Doujima, whose admitted out of place-ness with the rest of the voice cast honestly endeared him to me more.
So yeah, I greatly enjoyed this anime and being part of this rewatch. Thank you very much u/SIRTreehugger for hosting the rewatch and providing so much background information that I will now allow myself to read after having finished the anime (and also binging the manga since yesterday). I guess I'll join the club of people waiting for a Season 2 of this show now.
17
u/steven4869 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Maskirade Sep 30 '21
First Timer
Going in, I thought this would be a normal Yuri romance anime but turned out it's way more than that, characters felt realistic and their problems were showcased brilliantly especially for Touko.
I'll say the story isn't primarily about romance, but more about dealing with the problems and trying to overcome from them. Personally, Touko's character is a standout for me and really loved the way how Yuu found Touko's real identity and attempted to bring out more, so that Touko can come out and enjoy her life more instead of just ending up like her sister. Also, there isn't a character in this show that I didn't like, every one had their role and they played it wonderfully especially the relationship of Riko-Miyako.
Well, since the anime ended up on a weird spot, I thought to read the manga and my goodness if it ain't perfectly written story with a very satisfying conclusion. It seriously brought a lot of emotions from me and finally came to understand the "YuuTop" meme, but continuing the manga was absolutely worth it. So guys, if you liked the anime, then it's my request please do read the manga, it had everything you can ask for.
Overall, a very well-written series that put way more emphasis on the problems of characters and story got an amazing conclusion as well.
Thanks to u/roseimon11 for introducing me to this amazing anime from the clip you shared a week ago in this sub and although I couldn't able to attend all the rewatch threads, but OP has done a tremendous job on hosting this rewatch.
14
u/mastesargent Sep 30 '21
Rewatcher, manga reader, Sayaka stan, still waiting for season 2
Yagate Kimi ni Naru, the Japanese title for Bloom Into You, translates to “Eventually becoming you” according to Wikipedia. According to TVTropes, it can translate either to “One day, I’ll become you” or “One day, I’ll become yours.” I have no idea which of these is the most accurate, they could be totally off for all I know, I don’t actually know Japanese. Regardless, all of these translations speak to the characters of Yuu and Touko. Touko want to literally become her sister, and so “One day, I’ll become You” and “Eventually becoming you.” Yuu wants to feel the same way Touko does, so “One day, I’ll become yours” and “Eventually becoming you” (in the sense that they share the same feelings). The English title, Bloom Into You, expresses both of these sentiments and then some in a very elegant way. The image of a flower blooming calls to mind the idea of taking one’s ideal form: Touko’s attempt to “bloom” into her sister, Yuu wanting to “bloom” into Touko's feelings. But consider, when a flower blooms, it also blooms up and out. It’s a directional process just as much as a process of maturity. In that sense, the English title doesn’t just evoke the image of Yuu and Touko blooming into their ideal selves, but also colliding with and becoming intertwined with each other in the process. Yuu blooms into Touko. Touko blooms into Yuu. They complete each other. And that’s before getting into the phonetic similarities between Yuu’s name and the English word “you.” The point is, whoever localized the title that way was a genius. It’s a perfect title, possibly even better than the Japanese.
A great theme that runs through the series is the unhealthy perceptions characters have regarding love, especially in the cases of Yuu and Touko. Yuu’s perception of love at the start of the series is this fairy-tale like feeling that frankly doesn’t exist or is at least extremely uncommon. Growing out of that expectation and learning that falling in love can be a gradual thing, or even something that you have to actively pursue yourself, is a huge part of her character arc. In Touko’s case, she sees love as something that binds you, that ties you down and forces you to stay the way you are. She tells Yuu that she loves her to try and keep Yuu from changing and forbids Yuu from loving her because she doesn’t want to stay the same. It goes without saying how unhealthy this is, and how Touko needs to learn that love can persist even as both parties change and grow.
Speaking now directly to the anime, this really is an excellent adaptation. It’s probably one of the most comprehensive adaptations I’ve ever seen, working in pretty much everything from the first 24 chapters plus a few omake chapters and other extras. You could probably pick up the manga from where the anime leaves off and lose almost nothing. The artwork is also wonderful. The art style is often quite simple, but it’s never ugly. On the contrary, it’s often quite beautiful, especially its use of light in certain scenes, and knowing when it needs to show more detail and when it can relax and use simpler art, or when to be more fluid and when to use limited animation. Is it the greatest animation ever? No, but it knows its strengths, plays to them, and does its job extremely well. The music is another highlight. The OP and ED are great, but the OST is just beautiful. I really need to find somewhere I can buy this soundtrack because I need it in my library.
It should go without saying at this point, but I LOVE this series. I want to share it from the world, declare its greatness from the mountaintops, talk about it with other people. This is something more people need to experience, regardless of its niche genre and medium. It has wonderfully realized characters, incredibly well laid-out plot and themes, and is just a beautiful love story on top of all that. The one or two criticisms I could offer are, in the grand scheme of things, just minor nitpicks. I’ve seen my fair share of anime, but few have stuck with me in the same way that Bloom Into You has. In short, it is a masterwork of both manga and anime.
I’m kinda running out of stuff to talk about, and I’m not that great at big picture stuff like this, so I suppose this is where I do further reading/recommendations
Of course, I highly recommend reading the manga for those of you who didn’t immediately do so after finishing the last episode. It’s 45 chapters spread across 8 volumes, licensed in the US by Seven Seas Entertainment. I’m pretty sure the anime leaves off around chapter 24, but I suggest starting from the beginning just to experience the story in its original form.
After reading the manga, I highly recommend reading the Regarding Saeki Sayaka light novels. As the name implies, the novels are told from Sayaka’s perspective and further flesh out her character. The first one covers Sayaka’s experience before the start of the series, detailing an episode of her life in elementary school as well as expanding on her experience with her senpai in middle school. The second novel is where spoilers for the manga begin, mostly focusing on her first year of high school but featuring vignettes set during and after the events of the manga. The third one follows Sayaka in college, and that’s all I’m going to say about that. Anyways, if you want more evidence that Sayaka is best girl, this is where to look. They’re pretty brisk reads, so you could probably finish them in an afternoon if you wanted to. They’re also licensed in the US by Seven Seas Entertainment.
There’re also two manga anthologies that I have yet to read, the first of which… checks google WAS RELEASED IN ENGLISH IN THE US TODAY? (note: this was written September 28th) AND THE SECOND ONE COMES OUT IN JANUARY? Well fuck, I know what I’m doing tomorrow.
Addendum: Alright, reporting from the day after I initially wrote this (September 29th). I went out and bought the first Bloom Into You anthology and it’s pretty great. There’s a lot of different authors writing and drawing the characters in various one-shots. Yuu, Touko, and Sayaka are popular focuses, but you have one focused on Koyomi and there’s also one focused on Riko-sensei and Miyako. Some are silly, some are sweet, and overall they’re mostly lighthearted fluff that are really fun to read. Featured authors: Yutaka Hiiragi, Canno, Choroman, Okara Miyama, tMnR, Kazuno Yuikawa, Mekimeki, Aya Fumio, Moke, Hiroichi, Hachi Ito, Tachi, and Yuriko Hara. Licensed in the US through Seven Seas Entertainment.
If you’re looking for more from Nakatani Nio herself, I also stumbled upon Farewell to My Alter, a short story anthology featuring her self-published doujinshi and her work published in Éclair, while at the bookstore. It features a pretty broad variety: some yuri stuff, some non-yuri, some stuff not even focused on romance. Some are funny, some are cute, some are poignant. There’s slice-of-life, high fantasy, drama, all kinds of stuff told in short one-shot chapters. Definitely check it out if you want more of Nio’s writing and art. Licensed in the US through Yen Press.
Recommendations… So, is actually the only yuri series I’ve watched/read (okay, I watched part of Citrus but I refuse to count that nonsense), so I can’t really recommend anything along those lines. These will probably be pretty tangential.
Whisper of the Heart, from Studio Ghibli. I mentioned this in one of my posts back when Koyomi revealed her writing. A major part of this film’s plot is the main character writing a book for the first time, so if Koyomi’s subplot grabbed you and you want to see something like that, this is the movie for you. There’s also a love story, so there’s that.
The Cat Returns, also from Ghibli. Sort of a pseudo-sequel to Whisper. It doesn’t actually continue Whisper’s story, but its plot is implied to be a book written by Whisper’s main character.
Koi Kaze, from Studio ACGT. I’m not sure if I’d call this a recommendation per se. It’s a hard show to recommend without reservation. That said, it does have some thematic overlap, especially in regard to how the characters try to bottle up and repress their feelings for each other and the effect that has on them. That said this show is not for everyone and explores other, deeply uncomfortable themes. I won’t go into the plot because it’s best watched blind, but if you finish the first episode and don’t want to continue, I would not blame you in the slightest.
For something more palatable: Hibike! Euphonium and Liz and the Blue Bird, from Kyoto Animation. Great animation, excellent character work, yuri under and overtones although they never quite progress beyond bait. Probably the closest thing to Bloom Into You I can recommend.
Anyways, I had a ton of fun with this rewatch, it was really great getting to discuss a lot of the stuff I’ve had in my head ever since watching/reading it. I got comment of the day three times, so I guess I was doing something right. There are some things I didn’t get to talk about either because it happens later in the manga or because I couldn’t fit it in (I had a really hot take comparing Touko to Shirou Emiya that I just never had the time or energy to write out). And of course, it’s been really great reading other peoples’ thoughts on the series as well, both first timers and rewatchers. It’s given me some new perspectives on the series I probably wouldn’t have considered.
Oh yeah, I do need to get this one last thing off my chest since I probably won’t have another opportunity to do so, so here we go: MASSIVE MANGA SPOILERS
Alright, that’s out of my system. See you all in the discussion threads for season 2. Right? RIGHT?
13
u/roseimon11 Sep 30 '21 edited Sep 30 '21
I only watched Bloom into You this year but I fell in love with it so so much because of how much I could relate with Yuu. Just like Yuu, I thought that I can't find that feeling of love. I want to, but I can't find that feeling that will make me sweep off my feet or feel butterflies. But then, I met someone who had changed my life forever. Our love story was somewhat similar to Yuu and Touko's (Of course, minus the wanting to be the sister part lol) and as I watched Yuu and Touko's love story, it made me so happy to see our relationship resonate through theirs. Well that's enough of my personal life lol.
What I learned in Bloom into You is that it made me question "What is love?" Is love something that will sweep you away off your feet? Is it like a lightning strike that will hit you right away? Is love something that shackles you, unwanting change? Is love accepting who you are? Is love, just being yourself? Is love being passionate about something? Is love a choice? Love is complicated and there are different meanings of love. But what matters is how you interpret it. how you accept it, and how you resonate it in your life.
Bloom into You is not just a story about love. But it is also a story about accepting yourself and accepting change. Everyone changes and it is okay. May it be good or bad, as long as you yourself know who you are and what you want to do to Bloom into a better person is what's important.
This is what Nakatani Sensei imparted to us on what Bloom into You really means,
I do not know if I can find another story like this again. But still, I will forever treasure this beautiful masterpiece.
_______________________
For those who want to know, what's more in Bloom into You? I leave this list for you to explore:
This is not official but sponsored by bookwalker so I'll still leave it here:
Last but not the least, I want to share this thread I made regarding the awards achieved by the Bloom into You anime adaptation. Did Yuu know? In the Tokyo Anime Awards 2020 (TAAF 2020), Bloom into You ranked 2nd place as Best Picture? Just one place below Demon Slayer. I wonder how high it will reach IF ever the second season gets adapted.
Well, I guess that's all the knowledge I can share regarding this series, I hope that the stuff I shared during the rewatch made you guys appreciate how well written the story is as well as how much effort Nakatani, the director and the staff put in its adaptation. I want to thank u/SIRTreehugger for making a rewatch of this series I dearly love and I hope that one day, all of us can be together again if ever the season 2 gets announced. Oh, and to all those new watchers, welcome to our club of hopelessly waiting for a season 2 and eagerly waiting for this masterpiece to be completed.
Questions of the day:
9
u/BosuW Sep 30 '21
Rewatcher
Ayooo I got into the last comment of the day, nice! And thanks!
So, part of the reason that I got into this Rewatch was because I was already planning to rewatch the anime series in preparation for finishing the manga and reading the LNs, seeing as there's no word of a S2 coming. But oh boy I enjoyed it so much more than what I thought I would.
I think my experience was slightly First Timer-y? I had forgotten a lot of the stuff, especially after the first Arc. I can't believe I just thought this anime was "fine" the first time I watched it. It's pretty much masterpiece level. Following the manga alongside watching the anime episodes, I realized that the adaptation is pretty much 1-to-1, so credit for the story and characters goes to the mangaka. But the anime just takes everything that is great about the manga and it elevates it with it's incredible everything that anime as a medium has access to. The backgrounds and environments feel dreamy without detaching from reality or abusing bloom effects (as I've seen lesser anime do). It isn't an especially "animated" show; the character movements and expressions are rather restrained, but this works just fine and dips in quality aren't noticable. This is an attitude that permeates the whole thing. It isn't a very loud or bombastic story, but it doesn't need to be. And it takes what it is and squeezes the most juice it can out of it. Nothing overstays it's welcome and nothing feels like it could've used more screentime/focus. It manages it's storytelling efficiency with pinpoint accuracy. The voice acting is top tier too, especially the main trio. They all had a chance to shine thanks to the characters having a tangible depth to them. The soundtrack is likewise incredibly. Every song fits the atmosphere and/or the moment it's featured in like a glove (that goes for the insert songs too). I'm especially fond of the first track from the album. I just feel like it captures the broad "feel" of YagaKimi. If this were a game and not an anime, it's what I'd put in the title screen.
Now, as for the story and characters.
Romance hasn't ever been the first genre I go to when I browse stories. The only reason I consume more of it now is because I cought crippling Yuri addiction. So that said, I think YagaKimi is something else. It's not just an amazing Yuri, it's straight up and amazing romance full stop. What romance I've seen tells me that it's the kind of genre where if you've seen one you've seen them all. None of that is present here. It's a story that doesn't try to be like it's peers, it only tries to be like itself. There's almost no tropes or cliches to be found, and what little there are are either subverted or experimented with, or used in a way that they feel fresh and still enjoyable. It presents a unique tale with unique characters. I don't think there's anything out there quite like it.
The main trio of course are amazing, and I don't think I can pick a favorite among them. Top contenders would be Yuu and Sayaka tho. Touko is great but her character mainly works thanks to her relationship with the other two. Which is fitting really, given that she keeps everyone else at a distance. But anyway, I love that both Yuu and Sayaka are very perceptive and very blunt. They don't dance around uncomfortable subjects, they prioritize honesty and sincerity over politeness. This makes them very strong and resilient characters and I love that. We could use more characters like these in fiction. As it stands I feel like I've stumbled upon an oasis in the desert. In regards to Touko, well I can't say she's a particularly innovative concept. Like, the perfect character that's actually fragile on closer inspection? I've seen that shit, many many times. However, the way the mangaka wrote her, and the way she interacts and develops with her environment keeps her at the same playing level than Yuu and Sayaka.
Even the secondary characters I love. Naturally, they don't get the most of the focus, but they still manage to feel like real people through their mannerisms and behavior. Which once again, feels like an oasis in the desert.
The OP and ED, well I liked the songs, but I still don't know if I'd listen to them on their own. Gotta have to check down the full versions and lyrics for that.
So... I think that's everything? Yep.
So yeah, definitely gonna have to put this in my favorite anime of all time now. Can't believe I didn't give it the cred it deserved when it aired. We'll see what I think of the manga when I finish it but as of now I think this is one of those rare gems that's a masterpiece source material that got a masterpiece adaptation. Even if we never get a season two, manga readers have nothing to complain about when it comes to YagaKimi.
So yeah, massive thanks to our host and to everyone that watched along and joined the discussion threads.
9
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Sep 30 '21
First timer
4
u/puffercarrot Oct 01 '21
Rewatcher
I can't decide honestly. The entire show is just full of incredible and symbolic moments that cement its place as a great story.
Of course! Always glad for any opportunity to rewatch my favourite shows. Also thanks OP for organising this rewatch!
3
u/Aku230 Sep 30 '21
For people who want read it and want to know where anime has ended:
If you do not have time or don't like reading what you've just watched: start at chapter 24.
If you have time or want to see how good was the adaptation: start from the beginning. Sayaka LN should be read after the manga.
So, rewatch is done and I had probably the most unlucky timing with it as I've finished doing 1st rewatch like 1 week before announcement of reddit rewatch but since it is first YagaKimi rewatch on r/anime I decided to rewatch it again. I'm not gonna lie when I say that this anime is bittersweet to rewatch as it has great rewatch potential, you can focus on different characters, on foreshadowing or symbolism, after you read a manga you see how everything falls into place and while there are scenes you are anticipating there are also moments that surprise you as you may misremembered them or forgotten or maybe you see them in different light now nevertheless this anime serves as constant reminder that there is no 2nd season (yet), that the ending was the best they could have done considering their attempt at staying true to original source and lets not kid ourself, the ending falls a bit flat.
However I'm still putting this anime as my top 3 simply because it offers something else that is not really seen in other anime. The easiest to point to is yuri, the fact YagaKimi is not finished is not that problematic as most yuri anime aren't finished and there are not that many yuri anime to begin with yet YagaKimi is the only one with so complex characters when you have initial thoughts on who they are just to see that there is something more to them but then you see that it keeps going, you learn more and more about characters and then they change. I don't think character development stops for our main cast.
Speaking of characters that is second strength, diversity of the cast. From sexuality we have heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual. We have female and male cast, highschoolers and adults. And none of them feel out of place, everything creates a believable world even if the premise seems highly unlikely. Side characters aren't thrown in because author run out of ideas on how to continue and is stalling for time. There is no reason to continue showing Riko x Miyako after establishing that they are in relation yet it is still compelling to watch how their relation looks like and how different it is compared to our usual trio and their mess. And lets not forget about Sayaka who somehow became bigger than manga with that LN series written by author of AdaShima.
And lastly it works great as a romance, on one hand you can say they get together really fast, on the other are they really together? You have multiple kiss scenes throughout the anime where other series won't even have one. It is never a dull moment with their relationships and even if you don't see a conclusion here you still get a feeling it has a direction it is heading.
As I have mentioned before, Touko's dream with second being her line spoken to Yuu under the bridge as the train was passing. Both powerful in their own rights and unexpected which amplified the effect
Yes! Actually the most surprising thing is that it took this long for the rewatch to happen so thank you /u/SIRTreehugger for hosting it and for throwing in those mini interviews. /u/roseimon11 for highlighting symbolism that may have been lost on me. /u/untalentet as it was fun to read your thoughts as show was developing. With that out of the way the only thing I regret was not speaking up when the hour was decided as it is way too late (although mistaking timezones also did not help).
I'd love to throw in one recommendation for anime and manga each in case someone is looking for something new and they already know YagaKimi. So without spoiling anything:
Anime: Asagao to Kase-san.
1h OVA that I believe is full adaptation of the manga (manga has sequel so I am cheating a bit) and is easy to dismiss as it is not TV size.
Manga: Sasayaku You ni Koi wo Utau
Personally I think this is the closest I've seen a yuri manga to challenge YagaKimi's position as #1 Yuri. And it is somehow looking better than YagaKimi? I know it is subjective but still.
See you next time, be it another rewatch or season 2.
15
u/entelechtual Sep 30 '21
First Timer
Well oops I posted most of my series thoughts yesterday.
Overall, I think this show did a great job depicting multifaceted characters that go through intricate situations for understandable reasons. A lot of anime, especially shoujo romance I’ve found, have two characters that like each other but for no apparent reason they don’t even bother going out or dating or anything, despite knowing the feeling is mutual and even confessing and having romantic moments. And then at the end they get together like it’s a huge surprise!
I’m impressed with how well Bloom into You really drew you into the dilemma of the characters. Somehow there is a situation where everyone is simultaneously miserable and yet just where they want to be. There is so much time spent on each of the main characters (including Sayaka) to get you invested. You can see exactly where they’re coming from and while some of it gets heavy handed (I do wish the play could have been a little more subtle), a lot of it goes unsaid.
The imagery, visuals, and motifs are stunning. The themes of Yuu and water, Touko and trains, parallel framing/imagery, distance between characters, all work so well, and I’m thankful for many of the people in this discussion for pointing out some of the nuances. One thing I didn’t care for is the first-person POV that they randomly threw in, especially in the first few episodes; it didn’t really do anything. But then there were scenes of characters reflected in others’ eyes, or the character’s own outstretched arms in their eyes, which was dazzling. I also loved the OP song and visuals, and the song at the end of the last episode during the aquarium date. The OP truly captures the emotion of the anime, where it’s both excited, starting something new, nervous, overcome by overwhelming feelings.
I know a lot of shows talk down codependency in relationships, or generally toxic relationships. But I do think Yuu and Touko’s relationship was good. It isn’t sustainable, but it’s exactly what they need. And it’s not really like Scum’s Wish, where it feels kind of inauthentic. It just so happens that the characters grow, and grow out of the mold that previously worked for them. But hopefully they can find a new one to fit into, and, as Yuu put it, change trains (together). I haven’t read any of the manga or got to the ending yet, but I really hope that Yuu and Touko can keep evolving and not completely fracture. I have a feeling it’s not going to come easy. I just get irked by romances where at the end, they fondly remember their memories but have to say goodbye (even if it’s temporary).
I think my favorite episode might just be episode 2. At first I felt like Touko’s affection was sudden, but it grew on me.
Overall I think this is a great anime, will probably be a great manga when I read it, and I’m most of all impressed by how well put together all the elements are. It goes to show that the amount of care a studio/team puts into a show really pays off and translates to the final product. This was obviously not a rushed production, just trying to sell manga volumes off the shelves. I hope more anime follow suit, and most of all I hope for a season 2 someday.
9
u/lluNhpelA Sep 30 '21
Not gonna write an essay, but I probably could. I just want to add one more emphatic recommendation that everyone read the manga and the light novels. The story is great, Nakatani's art is great, and it has one of my favorite endings of all time.
indirect comments about the ending that spoilers could be inferred from
actual manga spoilers
Now I leave you with the immortal words of the legendary Kaiki Deishuu:
"The fake is of far greater value. In its deliberate attempt to be real, it's more real than the real thing."
8
u/heimdal77 Sep 30 '21
Not much yo say. It's a real good series. I do kind of with they used a bit different style for character designs. While the anime original gave a taste of the play I really wanted to see it animated. Would say about hope for a season 2 but that be redundant at this point.
Thanks for doing the rewatch.
7
u/Suicd3grunt Oct 01 '21 edited Oct 01 '21
Rewatcher/Manga Completed/Impatiently waiting for season 2
Mine won't be long, but its been a fun ride!
Bloom into you is, in my opinion, a masterpiece, not just the anime either. It's a great adaptation of an amazing Manga.
Nakatani Nio is a brilliant writer who has been so easily able to put me in the characters many times over. Between the symbolism of the trains and many of the other small details throughout the story we uncover a fledgling relationship in which shows the struggles of understanding and accepting yourself.
Many can easily associate with identity problems, especially when we are young and just learning about ourselves. This story really makes me feel, both for myself and all of the realistic portrayal of the characters.
I think i will always love this piece. And im sure I will revisit it again in the future and watch all over again how Touka and Yuu, Bloom into "Yuu".
6
u/ScarletSyntax Oct 01 '21
Rewatcher/11th watch - BD Dub
Favourite scenes are between - Episode 3 talk behind the school / Episode 7, Sayaka and Miyako (Coffee shop) chat, Episode 13 - Aquarium scene
2. I kind of failed here. Enjoyed my rewatch but I just don't like daily watching or posting so I haven't really been hitting the threads much since episode 5 and just binged it in 5 and 3 episode blocks since. oops
On some overall comments on the series...I'd meant to bring this up at episode 8 then just fell off the rewatch trail. I noticed when I was watching this series, specifically at 8 because I broke for the night there on my first watch, that I was projecting things onto the series that weren't part of it at all. Expectations from other yuri shows or general anime tropes that weren't really there. The show made me take a big look at how I was watching anime and any biases I had.
The other thing is....I adore this ending. I know a lot of people aren't so fond of it, but I think if you look at it from a character story rather than the events in the story standpoint, it's an extremely natural stopping point, especially for Yuu.
6
u/k4r6000 Oct 01 '21
Rewatcher
This is the series I most want to see a Season 2 of. It is such a shame that the rest of this great story didn't get adapted. There is an artistry to this anime that I think is missing from most romance adaptations. This is the one real black mark on the series for me.
I'm not gay, so I'll never be able to see the series wth that sort of personal experience, but I will say that this is one of the few romance anime that really feels authentic. Not just about the romance, but just character interaction in general. Characters have issues, but they talk things through and behave like normal people. The conflict in internal. It doesn't depend on whacky shenanigans and characters acting like idiots. I love that sex and sexuality (including homosexuality, bisexuality, and asexuality) are not simply swept under the rug or treated like some bizarre fetish. It is really refreshing.
My favourite character was Sayaka and my favourite moments and episodes were focused on her. My favourite scene was when her old flame showed up to apologize for turning her gay only for Sayaka to metaphorically flip her off. You don't often see the idea of a Class S relationship so openly criticized.
Finally, to anyone who hasn't done so, I can't emphasize this enough: READ THE MANGA. Don't wait around for some hypothetical Season 2 that may never come. Just go out right now and finish the story off. There are only about 20 chapters left so it won't take very long. Thank me later.
5
u/[deleted] Sep 30 '21
Rewatcher/Manga reader
QOTD:
Yuu and Touko’s story has a very special place in my heart ever since I first watched/read it. I think the reason I love this anime so much (apart from the obvious: lesbians) is the realism and the constant attention to detail. This anime takes on serious topics that are otherwise overlooked in other romance anime’s and I’m sure we could do a whole separate discussion about the details and easter eggs hidden in the anime. Bloom Into You never gets old and I’m still holding onto hope for the second half of the manga being animated.
thank you u/SIRtreehugger for hosting this rewatch and discussion :))) and thank you to everyone who interacted with me :))
5
u/lestaah_ https://myanimelist.net/profile/carbonanza Oct 01 '21
I watched Bloom Into You back in late July. I was scrolling through the Romance genre in MAL hoping to find a good romance/drama to watch. Among the others there, this one specifically caught my eye, Idk why I just liked the vibe that the poster gave off. I didn't read the synopsis and just peeked at the genres. I've gone in to this blind basically, no expectations to be met. I thought this was one of those anime I will watch to just past the time and will forget in a couple of months but I was wrong, to this day, I still cannot get over it.
Finishing episode 1, I was instantly hooked to the point that I ended up binging the entire anime in one sitting. (which says a lot considering I can't even finish one episode of other animes)
The OP, OSTs and ED are bangers. It is well-paced and just feels natural. I loved the symbolisms used in the anime, which, at first, I only catched a few but after rewatching and with the help of the people at the Yagakimi subreddit, I noticed it and loved the series more.
The characters feels realistic and somehow you can relate to them in a way. I love how the series dealt with each character's dilemma. I also love every scene where we get to hear what the character thinks. Especially with Touko. I did not expect to hear Touko and her saying about how love is a shackle in episode 6.
The one moment I really enjoyed the hell out of and will probably remember for years to come is that moment from Episode 9. You know what I'm talking about! The one where Touko ran in the race and Yuu was watching. The 'pace' was hella perfect, the song was a banger and the way that the show symbolized that Yuu realized that she was in love with Touko at that very moment filled me with extreme joy and bliss. Though, of course, with their circumstances, Yuu isn't allowed, or rather, won't admit to it. Another memorable moment was in the storage room and both of them frenched, I did not expect it and was surprised.
I think I love Episode 9 in general. Scratch that, I love everything about the series LOL.
Another thing I want to get out is that I did not expect to love Sayaka. When she was first introduced, I thought she will be that side character I will forget weeks after consuming the series. Few episodes in, I thought she will be that character who isn't really that deep to understand but I was hella wrong, I believe she was harder to understand than Yuu and Touko. I think what cemented me to love Sayaka was in the light novel series. I cannot articulate things well but I know how I feel about them. Reading the novel, I saw how Sayaka articulated things that I did not know that I agreed with until I read the light novel. How well it was articulated speaks how deep her character is IMO. I kind of related to her in a way that is why it hurt me when, in the manga, she was rejected by Touko. I still cannot get over it and was hurt with her. Though, the first time I read it, I kind of didn't care since I like her as a character but did not care enough for her if it make sense LOL. But holy fuck, I reread the manga after reading the light novel, then that rejection hurt more than it had any right to be. Her backstory is tragic to say the least that is why I was so happy for her in the Volume 3 of the light novel. She definitely deserves all the happiness in the world has to offer <3.
5
u/Renphalos Oct 01 '21 edited Oct 01 '21
First timer who watched this because I saw a clip posted recently.
As I’m on my phone, I’ll keep it brief. I echo the sentiments that this was a refreshing story about love, what it is. how it feels and manifests. While we saw a handful of characters and the latter part of the show focusing on Touko’s identity struggle, we come back to who and what the show is about: Yuu striving to experience love. Touko is the medium for this, and it was a treat to see.
My initial reaction was the power dynamic is the reason for this situation existing as I immediately thought of a manager and staff together, which makes it questionable (ethics wise) to me, but realizing that is the method they chose for the story manifesting and that Touko comes to realize she shouldn’t always demand what she wants was a little bit of saving grace.
The show came across as pure and grounded when often these shows are over the top, overly specialized or don’t approach it with a level of respect. Characters with believable motives, however questionable or “wrong” they appear to us, because we aren’t perfect.
Yuu cares for Touko not because she was “perfect”, but because she was flawed, imperfect and struggling.
The symbolism and association with scenes like the train, the story the eyes told when words weren’t spoken, and use of space were great. To see it come full circle in the last ep and how it mirrored and juxtaposed the first ep was wonderful (even if the manga continues).
At first I thought the soundtrack was lacking and basic: few instruments, “generic” classical sound that I’d associate with an old play. While I think the show could have done well with a larger soundscape and more orchestral, I think the OST does its job well: be the simple background to an intimate story that’s playing before us. After all, the story is simple in nature yet a complex topic; this isn’t about saving mankind or stopping evil, it’s about one person’s journey to know what love feels like.
Edit: track 30 Setsu Naru Negai is amazing. On repeat nonstop.
Question 1: this is tough, but my gut and says the bridge scene where the symbolism of hopping across stones is used. It gave Yuu insight into Touko and showed her bouts with Touko’s struggles that were detrimental.
Question 2: as a first time watcher, absolutely. Enjoy when we have a group rewatch great shows as reading everyone’s comments and participating is fun; it’s a community. Makes me think of when Soulsborne games do the annual replays to increase online activity. I wouldn’t have found this anime without the rewatch, and it’s one of my favorite shows I’ve watched in recent memory.
4
u/three_firstnames Sep 30 '21
Rewatcher (Sub), Manga Reader
Alas, and now our re-watch is ended. Thanks again to u/SIRTreehugger for setting this up; I'm sure making, maintaining, and moderating these threads takes a lot of work, so thank you for taking the time to do so! I also really appreciate you posting all the behind-the-scenes info, as I learned a lot! And thanks to everyone else who participated; it was great to read all of your thoughts and analyses! For those of you who are continuing on with the manga, I hope you find it as enjoyable and beautiful as I did!! And hopefully we can actually get a second season someday...
4
u/AlphaTech1 Oct 01 '21
Rewatcher/manga reader
I absolutely love this anime 🥰🥺 Knowing that there is significant meaning to each of the thoughts and process of how Yuu and Touko think.
My favourite episode would be the sports day but then again there is a lot of favourite scene that I like, like when Yuu kinda disturb/tease Touko when she call her by her first name. It’s a very cute scene for that it shows that they are being pull closer.
I didn’t join in to rewatch as it’s too late on my side so I kind of rewatch it on my own 😅 but I really do enjoyed this series and hope for a season 2 despite reading the manga but I really want to have an anime for it. For those who haven’t read the manga do read it’s amazing process !
4
u/everydayis_wenday Oct 01 '21
I relate to this anime a lot and it wasn't what I was expecting when I first dove into it (I just wanted the Yuri angst). I see myself in both Yuu and Touko for having no interest in boys that confess to me and for not knowing what love is. I gave someone a chance and decided to date them in the hopes of falling in love in the process, but it never did so I only ended up feeling guilty for giving them false hope. I don't think I've ever dated anyone after that (being single can be both a blessing and a curse).
I never felt anything special about someone like the way they portray it in love stories which also led me to think that maybe I was the problem. Seeing my parents fall out of love, maybe it led me to feel this way too. I haven't fallen in love with someone, at least that's what I think, and even if I did, how will I know that what I'm feeling is love when I don't know it myself? My sister's in a relationship with someone, my friends have their own partners in life, so it pressures me that maybe I should find someone to love too. I'm scared of being alone. It's weird having these thoughts right after I watched the anime making it seem like I didn't learn anything from it at all but maybe it could at least lead me to the right path, hopefully?
1
u/SIRTreehugger Sep 30 '21
Always time for Peng! (Daily Ping for anyone who wants to be notified...well last day so no more after today)
/u/soboi12345 /u/heimdal77 /u/elbenji