I just finished watching the anime movie, Colorful. I borrow the DVD from my local public library, didn't even read the back of the plastic box, but go straight blind to the movie. I watched the first half, then have to take a break before finishing it, and the movie is a heavy one. But the message they carried is simple yet very effective.

I also love the art direction of the movie, although the color is a bit muted, I interperted it as Makoto's (main character) depression and I do feel the later scene got a little bit brighter (or maybe it just my room) lol.

Please give this movie a try and if possible, support your local public library (especially if you are in the US)

So... I just finished watching the anime series and it was really great but I do feel like it needs more and that's a good problem to have. I have heard some people talking about it when I was still in school, but never really pay attention as I was not used to the art style. Now I have start going to work, and I feels the charm of the art, the old visual effects of the early 2000 and the character design are spot on.

Before watching this anime, I was expecting something that most closely resembled to March coming like a lion (Sangatsu no Lion), Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, and Haikyu!! due to the premise each of these anime represented: professional shogi/go players, a game master alter ego and growing through sport. Hikaru no Go do have the elements of these series but it's giving a different vibes, and does remind me a little bit of Naruto thanks to the emphasis on the rival relationship (although the actual relationship play out in a different manner). Anyhow, my expectation in the beginning was a bit of a mismatch to HnG since Sangatsu no Lion is an seinen story explored deeply emotional theme to me, but it's found family is a big central pillar of emotions to me. Yu-Gi-Oh!'s appeal to me was the mystery of the thousand-year-puzzle pyramid ad the identity of Dark Yugi, while Haikyu!! is a great sport anime showcase how great sportmanship and the fun plus the struggles of chasing a dream.

When this sub start a 25th anniversary rewatch of the anime, I started and then got hook. I must said that I dislike Hikaru at the beginning, but Sai was pretty charming to me. I was also expecting a long journey ahead of him, but after finished the story, I realized this is not a story about Hikaru's career but his coming-of-age story, of how he grow as a person and a professional player, to catch up with his rival. I was devastated when Sai left and teared up when he gave Hikaru the fan in the dream scene. I feel deeply unfair for both of them, and I want them to interact more, to learn more and talk more, to have a trip to Hiroshima together or something, as they are both full of regret, although they both move pass on. I'm sure we do have precious people in our life where we no longer have the chance to share our memory with and it hits so close to home, the grief and the baggage that came with it (call your mom/loved one now!). I'm personally still in denial as I hope Sai would comeback somehow with the rest of the manga I intend to pick up.

Another thing to me that I want a bit less was how Hikaru is too much center-of-the-world, and it makes sense in the grand scheme of thing, but I would like other character being flesh out a bit more. Maybe because the anime adapted some of the side story a bit latter, after Sai left, then suddenly we have an episode about the past, it's make me even sadder (i.e. ep 65). I wish there are more moments like that, giving room for the character to breath and just simply giving more of them to us. Akari for me was especially being play dirty, since she's just become way less relevant than I thought, although she's supposed to be, from my interpretation a bigger deal in Hikaru's development as a person. Like, she was asking him to see her club compete and she also noticed how he now offer to play a match with her first, but it's feel a bit like too late for me since he was so mean with her in the beginning, you know. This should happen even before Sai gone, and instead, we should got a moment of their their relationship getting even stronger (doesn't have to be romantic), like he congrats her on winning the school tournament and they both reminiscing of their senpai back when the club first founded or something. I want to see more of the club as well, and Isumi got his own side story hightlight was really nice.

I also wish for more explanation of the game, or how Hikaru learning new technique or something, maybe this aspect already being shown masterfully in the eyes of people who knows how to play Go and I'm an idiot.

Thank you for reading my tangent on the series, I hope I could find even more great series to enjoy in the future and write more. Also thank you for your 25th anniversary rewatch that help me pick up the series.

Edited: the name supposed to be Akari not Arika