Review on Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora...

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, a short 6 Episode Anime which had really high ratings... Of course, i couldn't resist trying out this short 6 episode drama. In the end, i can't say it's the best drama around. But for 6 episodes, It did a Pretty Good Job~! =)

Info on Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora from AnimeNFO.com...
Title : Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora - looking up at the half-moon
Japanese Title : 半分の月がのぼる空 - looking up at the half-moon
Other Titles : HanTsuki
Total Episodes : 6
Genres : Drama, Love-Romance
Year Published : 2006
Studio : Group TAC


What Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora is About...
During the winter, Yuichi was hospitalised due to hepatitis. He would sometimes try to escape from the hospital, but would later get beat up by the nurse. One day, he happened to meet Rika, a girl of his age, in the East Ward. He was fascinated by her beauty, but she was very selfish girl. Although she led him by the nose, he began to be attracted by her. However, when Rika told him about her illness, he knew why she acted so selfish; she didn't have long to live.


Characters...
Since HanTsuki focused on the 2 main characters. Here they are...


Yuuichi Ezaki, a 17 year-old, second year high school student who is hospitalized for hepatitis A. He notices a beautiful girl, Rika, in the east ward of the hospital (reserved for patients with serious conditions) and is later encouraged by the nurse, Akiko, to befriend her. What kind of relationship will form between Yuuichi and a very Selfish Rika?


Rika Akiba, a 17 year-old girl who has just transferred to this hospital and is in the East Ward (reserved for patients with serious conditions). Why was she transferred to this hospital? & What's with her Extremely Selfish, Bossy Personality?


My Review on the Anime, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora...
Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, a Pretty Short Anime with a Pretty Long Name. With only 6 episodes & Very High Ratings, I HAD to try HanTsuki out to see what was sooo great about it. x)

Firstly, the Animation is pretty and well done. Character designs are decent but nothing extremely fancy. Of course, you don't expect extremely fancy-looking characters in a hospital, do you? the sceneries and everything was pretty nice, as expected of a 2006 anime. =)

Sounds? The First time I heard the Opening theme, I felt attracted to the melody instantly. A Very Nice Opening Theme and the melody is still able to control my feelings. The Ending theme is a pretty nice song performed by the same singer as the OP theme... Seiyuus did a GReaT Job. Also a Must Note : Rika is voiced by the same seiyuu as Yamada Ayumi from Honey & Clover. =)

What about the story... The story is pretty different from all the other animes you've seen around. So basically, setting in a hospital and having the main characters as young patients who have sooo much potential in the future. A Not-so-sick Guy meets an Extremely Selfish Girl of the same age as him, and they start to get along despite her eccentric personality. However, it is later discovered that she truly is in a serious condition, and might not have long to live...

HanTsuki starts off with the forming of Yuuichi & Rika's forming of their friendship and perhaps, love? & they have fun, meeting more people, and doing random things, and constantly talking about the literature that Rika has read before. Usually, quoting lines from those literatures and pretending as though they're the characters... Having the Daily-Life Fun & Comedy ...

At the Last 2 episodes, the climax happens, What will happen to Rika? Will Rika Survive and Live On? I have to say that based on the reality of the situation in HanTsuki, it isn't a very happy situation... But the way that HanTsuki had Made the Ending a Happy Ending. It was a Happy Satisfying Ending, in my opinion...

Yuuichi & Rika were both developed quite a bit because they're the two main characters, the supporting characters weren't developed as much, but were there to make the story move along and seem normal. I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be a problem if they had stretched HanTsuki Longer & gave more time for Even MORE Development of the characters and for the viewers to grow even MORE Attached to them...

Basically, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora is just a short 6 Episode Drama Anime that is different from most of the other dramatic animes you've watched, probably. Being a bit Different, but still having some Very Dramatic & Emotional Aspects & Values to make you shed a tear or two...

I Have to admit that HanTsuki is a Gem. I was Touched a lot, even though i didn't cry, though i should. <_< It's not the most Dramatic Anime around, but it's Definitely Worth a Watch & Worth your time if you're into drama animes and you want something short and sweet. =)


My Rating...
9.0/10


Animation: 9/10
Comment: Beautiful Animation. Nice Character Designs. As Expected of a 2006 Anime...

Music/Sounds: 9.5/10
Comment: A Very GREAT OP Theme, a Nice ED theme, Great Job done by the Seiyuus. If ED theme was as good as the OP theme, i'll gladly give a 10. =)

Story: 8.5/10
Comment: A Different type of drama anime from the Usual. With the elements of a good Dramatic Anime. Some Daily-Life comedy & Humour, and the forming of a deep relationship between 2 people in a hospital, and a big dramatic climax which concerns both of their happiness. It's not the Most Dramatic Anime, but it's still pretty good. =) I think they could have made HanTsuki longer and it would boost the dramatic effects of HanTsuki...

Characters: 8.5/10
Comment: Since there were only 6 episodes, there was more emphasis on the development of the 2 main characters, the supporting characters were developed a little bit or not at all, but they were there to provide a more natural and smoother flow to the story of HanTsuki. They did a good job there, & this score would Definitely Increase if there were More Episodes to Develop the characters More. =/

Tear Factor:

Comment: There was Enough dramatic Elements in HanTsuki to make a first-time anime-viewer cry, but for me, I was Touched quite a lot, on the edge of crying, but sadly, didn't. =( However, HanTsuki is Great in this Factor. =)

Comedy Factor:

Comment: There was the kind-of-like Daily Life Comedy & Humour... Not the kind that'll make you laugh your head off, but will make you chuckle a bit. x)

Excitement/Suspense/Surprising Factor:

Comment: It started off a bit pretty cliche. You could tell that Yuuichi & Rika are probably gonna fall in love with each other. But during the last 2 episodes, The Climax episodes, The Suspense Left me on the Edge of the seat constantly, just like in the hospital scene, hoping for the success of the operation, and extremely unpredictable what the outcomes are going to be...

Meaningful Factor:

Comment: Though it does not seem to contain a lot of meaning at first, but the meanings just smack you right on your face during the last few episodes. What is Happiness & which would be the better choice for the happiness of the one you love?

Basically, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora is a Really Good Drama Anime with enough Dramatic Elements to Touch You and even Make you Cry a little bit. It's not the Best, But It's Still Pretty Good & Should be Worth your time as long as you like drama animes. =)

Click Here to See Legend...


Screenshots...
For a preview of the animation, here are a few screenshots. x)



Wooo... Pretty Night Sceneries.... T_T


I Enjoyed Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, but this drama is probably meant for guys. Shonen drama, as the drama isn't as slow as the usual shojo anime. =/ But I Enjoyed it quite a bit anyway. (^_^)

Until My Next Review,
JoeL Un... =)