Step on cat shit!!! Anime Review: 君が望む永遠 (The Eternity You Wish For) (2003)
(Shoddily titled "Rumbling Hearts" for the English release)
I knew nothing of Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien prior to watching it, only that it was ranked #3 on the top 200 anime ongoing poll at AnimeNfo, and that it had something to do with high-school girls (as shown on its Wikipedia page). It is not a sci-fi, fantasy, or magical anime. It is a story of normal people living in Japan. Upon seeing the first half of the pilot episode, most American viewers would probably exclaim, "This is gay." I expected it to be more humorous, or have some gratuitous fan service…. I did not expect it to be as mature as it was. The story is as real and believable as something I may have experienced in my own life, and may very well be based on a true story. While watching, I often found myself reflecting on my life and the situations that have brought me thus far. The characters are believable, intelligent and well-meaning. Seeing this, I realized you don't have to have crazy characters in order to have an intensely captivating story. This is the most mature anime I've ever seen. In fact, it has become one of my all-time favourites and breaks into my top 3 all-time anime series:
1. Shinseki Evangelion
2. Sailor Moon OR Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien (I have not yet come to a decision)
(4. Slayers
5. Super Dimension Fortress Macross
6. Elfen Lied
7. Cowboy Bebop
8. Rurouni Kenshin: Reminiscence OVA
9. Death Note)
(This is unprecedented, considering I haven't had any series break into my well-established top 3 since 1998, when I finished watching Evangelion)
(Additionally, I am a little flabbergasted that Fullmetal Alchemist is still #2 on the top 200 anime poll…. While it was good, it really wasn't that good.)
I highly recommend this anime to any mature person.
(PS: I don't recommend the "Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien: Next Season" OVA. It does not enhance the original series, nor is it a worthwhile story of its own.)
Rating: 9.5/10
I knew nothing of Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien prior to watching it, only that it was ranked #3 on the top 200 anime ongoing poll at AnimeNfo, and that it had something to do with high-school girls (as shown on its Wikipedia page). It is not a sci-fi, fantasy, or magical anime. It is a story of normal people living in Japan. Upon seeing the first half of the pilot episode, most American viewers would probably exclaim, "This is gay." I expected it to be more humorous, or have some gratuitous fan service…. I did not expect it to be as mature as it was. The story is as real and believable as something I may have experienced in my own life, and may very well be based on a true story. While watching, I often found myself reflecting on my life and the situations that have brought me thus far. The characters are believable, intelligent and well-meaning. Seeing this, I realized you don't have to have crazy characters in order to have an intensely captivating story. This is the most mature anime I've ever seen. In fact, it has become one of my all-time favourites and breaks into my top 3 all-time anime series:
1. Shinseki Evangelion
2. Sailor Moon OR Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien (I have not yet come to a decision)
(4. Slayers
5. Super Dimension Fortress Macross
6. Elfen Lied
7. Cowboy Bebop
8. Rurouni Kenshin: Reminiscence OVA
9. Death Note)
(This is unprecedented, considering I haven't had any series break into my well-established top 3 since 1998, when I finished watching Evangelion)
(Additionally, I am a little flabbergasted that Fullmetal Alchemist is still #2 on the top 200 anime poll…. While it was good, it really wasn't that good.)
I highly recommend this anime to any mature person.
(PS: I don't recommend the "Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien: Next Season" OVA. It does not enhance the original series, nor is it a worthwhile story of its own.)
Rating: 9.5/10