Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day - Recommendations

kargarus says...

How do we move on when loved ones have passed away? Do our memories of them and their lingering spirits still affect us today?

These are central questions at the heart of both these series. They focus on how people react, change and grow as a result of losing someone dear.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai focuses on an adolescent group of friends while Natsuyuki Rendezvous has an adult cast and more mature romantic leanings. Despite the differences however, both take us on an intriguing journey through the lives of the characters, their experiences and explore what resolution may be in store for them so that they and those that have passed may finally be at peace.

Bronia says...

Both shows focus on characters as they try to move past the death of a loved one. This loved one, in both shows, is visible to one person and causes this person trouble.

The theme in AnoHana focuses heavier on friendship whereas Natsuyuki is more about romance. AnoHana is set with younger characters, but the overall maturity of the casts are equally grown up.

If you liked one, you can't miss the other.

Yobmaz says...

Another ghost related story, a little bizarre, but, recommendable. The mix of situations of people who continue living after a relative passed away, and when this ghost, don't accept a normal life for his living wife and refuse to go "heaven", produce feelings of angry and in  sometimes, in a little parts of the serie, of simpathy.

chii says...

How a dead person deals with being dead is quite something and these 2 shows try to dive into that question. How the living people deal with that persons death is equally as interesting. If you are interested in feeling a little melancholy both of these shows will probably do so check them out.

Karasune says...

How does one overcome the death of someone dear to them, especially when that loved one is still lingering around as a ghost? AnoHana centers around a group of childhood friends in their high school years and a ghost from their past, a ghost only one of them can see. Natsuyuki Rendezvous deals with a young man named Hazuki and a widow named Rokka, who's husband still watches over her even after death, and Hazuki is able to see him. 

Both shows deal with a lot of drama, saddness, regret, guilt, and are overall heartwrenching. If you liked one, you should give the other a try. They're pretty memorable.  

snivets says...

Similar plot themes link these two shows. Specifically: what happens when a ghost appears to only one person and not to those around that person? And, how do we deal with the promises we made with those who have passed on?

eaper says...

These series both focus around a group of friends with hidden love interests plaguing them as they attempt to mature. Mixing together a lot of drama, romance, and comedy, these series are both a good watch that will leave you on the verge of tears but extremely satisfied.

megalith says...

Both focus greatly on the theme of unrequited love and bitterness, between the closest of friends.

Both shows also have a focus on growing up and transcending personal barriers.

Haru from Honey and Clover and Menma are similar in the aspect that both of them have a loli-esque feel to them (lovable, innocent/naive and physically small), although both of them are tecnically adults at the time of the show.

Jinta is also very similar to Takemoto, in their role in the story, personality and role as narrator.

heykay15 says...

Well since Anohana came afterwards, I can say no other anime has reminded me more of Honey and Clover than Anohana.  I have discovered there's a special place in my heart for anime that emphasize the sort of bitersweet, natsukashii, and just longing for an earlier time.  I suppose I like the heavyhanded foreboding because it adds an extra layer to all the actions characters take in the present.  I think drawing styles are similar, but just watch you'll get the same kind of bittersweet longing in both series.  Also, both series are charactere and relationsihp driven, yes both have drama, but what pulls it off is the strength of characters and how they are developed.  Other series I consider to the same longing feeling them to are, Nana, and FMA.

THanks for reading.

cahbayb says...

If you like story lines revloving around a close group of friends and love triangles within these are for you. They are really great slice of life animes and will make you bawl your eyes out, maybe.

lungcancer says...

The tones of these two animes are very similar. Both have alot of soul searching, unrequited love and they both are very moving.

TrigIII says...

Although the two don't share as much a likeness in art-style as their general themes, a catastrophic event that ties all those related from completely moving on (or at all) and friendship, both are sure to bring the similar teary-eyed moments or emotional drama required of a great "slice of life" anime. In the interest of not spoiling too much, Anohana and Kiminozo both provide viewers with the "conflict of interests" scenarios in anime that dare to ask morally difficult questions. They are both tied to a reality we're familliar with; those we like/love, and choosing between them, one's future, and/or one's social commitments. Moreover, if you like to see before and after stories, great flashbacks, chances to analyze character development, make character comparisons, and like all great slice of life anime, recall similar experiences in your own life you may, or may not, have wanted to have done differently, these two provide those criteria.

sothis says...

KGnE is far more of a 'guy has to choose between two girls' sort of a deal than AnoHana, but both are heavy titles that deal with adult feelings, loss, etc and are very melancholy.

MonkeyZerg says...

Ano Hana and Kimi ga Nozomu Eien are both heavy emotional dramas that delve into themes such as love, loss, memory, and living with it all. I must admit, both shows were very powerful for me, and looking back, they had such a great effect on me for similar reasons. I'm sure if you're a fan of one, you'll love the other.

Airotia says...

KgNE ranges much further on the dramatic scale and has fewer 'light-hearted' moments, but they are similar in overall plot. A tragedy occurs to one of the members of a group of friends, which causes the group to split. The people within the group grow and change, and then... the person who left the group because of the tragedy randomly comes back.In AnoHana the 'coming back' was less devestating for the group and served as a 'social glue,' but in KgNE, the 'coming back' is almost as devastating as her leaving. While AnoHana is more of a story about friendships, KgNE is a dramatic love story. However, if you liked the general plot, you'll probably like one as well as the other.

invalidname says...

AnoHana and Kimi ga Nozomu Eien / Rumbling Hearts are grounded in the idea of a tragedy that happens to a member of a group of childhood friends, and how they move on after that. In each case, most survivors of the group have made a mess of their lives, and the reappearance of the victim (Menma's ghost versus the post-coma Haruka) forces the characters to come to terms with their guilt and the decisions they've made. There's a tonal difference, with Anohana mixing a supernatural twist and somewhat slice-of-life pace, while Rumbling Hearts is firmly grounded in the real world and lays on the angst heavily (it's also worth noting that the animation in Anohana is absolutely lovely, while Rumbling Hearts is utterly bare-bones). Of the two, I kind of prefer the seriouness of Rumbling Hearts and its acceptance of its highly-flawed characters, who are put in no-win situations where every option involves hurting someone. But don't get me wrong, they're both great. If you can withstand the feels, watch 'em both.

pinkparfait says...

Though they both have very different stories, Hana-Saku Iroha and Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai are both anime with beautiful animation, deep stories and characters, and touching moments. They are not your average run of the mill "moeblob" anime. Instead they are both anime with unique stories that will both make you laugh and think about your own life.

mesugo says...

Though they have very different storylines, the characters really touched me in the same way. This made me cry more than Hanusaku Iroha, but I really, really enjoyed it. 

Madoka says...

Though both are somewhat differant there is some simularites.

For starters there both quite Unique, Hanasaku is possibly one of a kind Slice of Life whilst for a Drama Ano Hana is also very out of the ordinary.Both anime's deal with characters dealing with emotions and life its self. Ohana is left to figure out her feelings for her childhood friend and how new life whilst understanding the concept of work and conflicts which may come with it whilst in anohana Jintan is left to deal with the death of his childhood friend who is now in front of his very eyes, and he must figure how to let her truly be put to rest in peace whilst facing other friends and there feelings.

Both anime are very thourough in character developments and both have a strong impact of emotion left behind. Both also feature a strong feeling op or ed. And during the start of Hana-saku you will find your self feeling very sorry for the character whlst a simular emotion will arise in Anohana early on and around the mid point. I think its a assured thing if you like one of these you should enjoy the other.

Worosei says...

I'll add into the recommendation.

I'm not sure if it is just because they aired in the same year, but both is about the characters coming to terms with who they are and what they want to do with their lives as they are all forced to interact with each other. 

Both dealing with this in a slice-of-life manner and having a focus on romance without being romance animes. 

freppo says...

Both anime have beautiful animation and the stories center much around friendship and love. They also share a strong story telling that really let's you in on each character and their feelings.

Qplayer says...

Both anime deal with themes of returning to the memories of childhood. Both also feature a character that is searching for something, but does not know exactly what. Both have superb animation and intriguing slice-of-life plots and characters.

canvballstar says...

Both anime titles deal with comparable emotional situations in dealing with a lost friend. This includes the themes of both miracles and memories in which both Male leads go through.

Darkhallows says...

A lot of people seem to draw similarities between Ano Hana and Clannad. I disagree. While both are wonderful series, and similar in a few ways, I personally think Ano Hana and Kanon are much more like each other. I don't want to spoil much, so I can't go into detail. But both feature main females with a similar history, and both focus on rediscovering the past. If you liked one of these great series, odds are you'll like both.

cahbayb says...

Both are similar with a childhood romance and the fact that they have to overcome their disappearance. Both are very sad but leave you with a good feeling.

MonkeyZerg says...

Can you handle the EMOTIONS!? Well, if you managed to remain stone-faced and rock-hearted watching Ano Hana, I challenge you to watch Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 without wailing like a grieving drama queen after the death of her favourite rockstar. Challenge: accepted?

zerak says...

they both share that sad five that drives you to think about whats important to you, it sets a king of mood that makes you enjoy what you have and apretiat it.

soulvom33 says...

Though the relationship between the some of the characters may be of a different nature...there are many aspects that give these two animes the same overall feel. Both protaganists lose someone very imoportant to them and tend to act ambivalent and often get quite annoyed with the character in question (in the case of Tokyo Magnitude 8.0...Mirai's younger brother). They also both are the only ones that see their loved one as they help them get through a difficult period in their lives. I loved this anime almost as much as "Anohana", and I do strongly feel that if you enjoyed it...you will too.

Madoka says...

Both series tackle real life more sad situations which could happen to anyone in the world. They are both very sad and emotional series which will have you tearing at the eyes, the focus of each series if slightly different, from dealing with a old friends death to being in the center of death as a earth quake strikes, both series has a big focus on grief and make you get the emotions rolling. If you liked one of these you will surely love the other as they have a lot in common with the sad emotional factor and how we connect with characters.

oninosweeney says...

Friends find their relationships tested when supernatural forces make their lives exceedingly difficult.

One series deals with their past relationships being put to the test, while another is put to the test in present time, both make the hard choices about life and death and love and what happens next.

The drama is high and you'll end up asking yourself if you really know your own friends as well as you think you do.

LoveMeMember says...

Both stories revolve around a group of friends trying to resolve differences and grow up. If you liked one, you're sure to like the other. It is important to note, though, that Ano Hana's supernatural themes are slightly different from Kokoro's supernatural themes. One involves a ghost girl, the other involves... a weird being. 

djayp says...

These animes are really similar because they both involves a group of friends growing closer due to a supernatural issue. They both have their drama and light hearted moments.

GrnEydDvl says...

In both of these shows, a supernational phenomenon forces a group of friends to confront who they are, who they want to be, and what they mean to each other.  Both shows are quite serious in nature (though they both definetly have humourous moments) and are drastically different from standard school life animes.  These shows are very similar in nature and in feel, and if you liked one you will like the other.

KrisDFC says...

Both series follow a group of 6 friends (3 boys and 3 girls) that, as children, they spent a lot of time together. It changes when one of the girls died and, then, the group broke up. Some years later, the girl reappears to the main character.

There are many similarities with the characters. The main character feels guilty about the girl's death and he has became a little anti-social. One of the girls has feelings for the main character and she felt jealous of the dead girl when they were children. One of the boys has feelings for the dead girl and he blames the main character of the girl's death. One of the girls has glasses and has feelings for the previous boy.

Conclusion: Shichisei no Subaru = Anohana + SAO

Jayage says...

These two are pretty much the same anime the charachers are the same, the plots are the same, the love triangle is the same, the only different between the two is Seven Senses of the Re'Union takes place in a video game well Anohano takes place in the real world. Seven Senses of the Re'Union is basically a mix between SAO and Anohano.

Gabzukun says...

The story is basically the same especially in terms of love. The only difference between the two is that the genres are different on being an action-adventure and the other being a more of a sad slice of life romance.

20200 says...

Dead girl comes back to life to rebuild the friend group that broke up after she died

Ryuuhei says...

In both animes, there is a ghost of a dead girl who can be seen only by main hero and noone else. Even if these titles are different, because Tasogare Otome x Amnesia is slight horror, artistic and mystery while AnoHana is somehow slice-of-life and romance, they resemble each other in aspect of "dead girl wandering around as a ghost". If you're looking for something like that, you'll like each other!

Zumbody says...

They both have normal, male main characters in love with a dead, female character that needs to do something in order to move on. And both dead, female main characters don't remember something important. 

Larkawolfgirl says...

Both series revolve around the male protagonist being able to see the female protagonist's ghost. Dusk Maiden has comedy, but both are dramas. The focus of each differ slightly, since Anohana is about dealing with someone's death, while Dusk Maiden is about accepting your own death.

jazzykk says...

Erased and AnoHana are initially quite similar. Both anime center around a group of childhood friends, where one of the girls died. In Erased, the main character goes back in time to try to save her. In AnoHana, the main character can see her spirit and tries to help her rest in peace. Erased will give you a very nostalgic feel as an adult in a child's body revisits the past. AnoHana has great character developement as the group of friends, who are now teens and have grown distant, deal with the resurfaced grief of losing their friend. Erased is more thriller whereas AnoHana is closer to slice of life. I would recommend both to anyone who liked the other.

Maranee says...

In both anime the protagonist remembers his childhood and friends while trying to save a deceased female friend (using time travelling to change the past or wanting to fullfill her wish).

bollweval says...

Both have a back in time feel, it actually happens in ERASED and happens through memories in anohana