Looking Up At the Half-Moon - Recommendations

Himitsu says...

Hantsuki and Iriya no Sora are both enticing and drama-filled anime. The main female character is strong, but at the same time weak. Both anime gave a longing feel for the ending and left similar impressions. Iriya was an interesting character because of the neat science-fiction deals.

Cythraul says...

Both Hantsuki and Iriya no Sora have a similar format and pacing, and they place emphasis on similar themes when it comes to romance.

Hantsuki has a little more comedy, while Iriya no Sora has a science fiction spin. Despite the comedy, Hantsuki isn't really "lighter" than Iriya no Sora: the shared idea of tragic love in spite of severe illness precludes that. So if you liked the romance in one show, you should like the other as well.

abunai says...

There is a certain bittersweet tinge to all good romances, in that dramatic style requires the lovers to be tested by circumstances -- they must prove to the audience that their love is true. This much, nearly all romances have in common.

However, sometimes the nature of the trial is beyond the normal. Sometimes, the romance is faced with such a weight of doom and tragedy that it seems impossible to bear. This is the case with both Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora; with Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu; and with Saishuu Heiki Kanojo. In a sense, these anime form a triad of tragic love stories, each of which is sure to be appreciated by anyone who likes the others.

Without a doubt, HanTsuki is the most upbeat of the three, and SaiKano the heaviest. But the overall principle of the story applies -- a romance burdened by more pain than anybody should have to bear.

Ran says...

Both Hanbun no Tsuki and Iriya no Sora are bittersweet love stories in which a boy has to take care of an ill girl, and tries to save her, or at least do his best to support her.

AngryJellyfish says...

Although the circumstances are very different in both anime, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora and Kimi ga Nozomu Eien are bittersweet tales of romance and tell of how an accident or illness can affect a relationship. And both series also have some funny moments too!

wolfangel87 says...

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora and Kimi ga Nozomu Eien both deal with romance and tragedy. They both end up with people in the hospital in which that venture effects the lives of all the characters in the series. The accident or illness can even affect the relationships of the main characters and the trials and tribulations that they have to go through to keep their relationships going.

apursansar says...

Kimi ga Nozomu Eien and Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora deal with the desperate search for love in unfortunate circumstances. Apparently desperate situations, misunderstandings and the inability to communicate oneself adequately play an important part, as well as the consequences of permanent psychological strain. Both series are excellent tragedies which never decline into stereotypes, creating a rich atmosphere of profound sadness.

JSai says...

At first, it might seem that these two series have nothing in common but the genre of romance. I actually think that these two have the same melancholy feel into them. They are both very emotional and makes you sympathize with the characters. Both are tearjerker animes, too.

Merryberry says...

Both series enjoy the main character getting to know someone through their daily lives and eventually become attached to them, helping them to experience things they normally wouldn't be able to in their confines of their lifestyles. The relationships that develop are both well thought out and even when the series are both over, you still want to know what happened next.

wolfangel87 says...

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora and Ef ~ Tale of Memories are about characters developing relationships through the things they do on a daily basis.  The viewers also get to see how the characters themselves develop and change based on the relationships they make.

signed222 says...

These are both very nice love stories with likeable characters and the theme is quite similar because both female protagonists have limited time in a certain point of view and the male protagonist knowing this still stays by the side of the girl.

abunai says...

There is a certain bittersweet tinge to all good romances, in that dramatic style requires the lovers to be tested by circumstances -- they must prove to the audience that their love is true. This much, nearly all romances have in common.

However, sometimes the nature of the trial is beyond the normal. Sometimes, the romance is faced with such a weight of doom and tragedy that it seems impossible to bear. This is the case with both Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora; with Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu; and with Saishuu Heiki Kanojo. In a sense, these anime form a triad of tragic love stories, each of which is sure to be appreciated by anyone who likes the others.

Without a doubt, HanTsuki is the most upbeat of the three, and SaiKano the heaviest. But the overall principle of the story applies -- a romance burdened by more pain than anybody should have to bear.

rdnetto says...

Both are serious romance/dramas where the couple must endure hardship. Hantsuki has better characters IMO (Rika has much more depth to her than Chise), but Saikano's ending is more powerful. Both have bitter-sweet endings that remind the viewer that life, whatever the trials, may still bring happiness.

XXOSSISXX says...

If you like Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora then i am pretty sure you should find "Air" rather interesting because They both have to do with conditions of health thought Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora plot takes place in the hospital and while Air Takes place outside these two animes should be rather similar ways both have  a beautifull ending

signed222 says...

both of these revolve around life and death in a cute and sad way, but in the end the characters don't regret that they have to face such hardships because it is all the part of what we call life. Both made me shed a tear after the last episode

Natalie3girl says...

They both are about love, but the main characters have hardships that are similar. They both have a bitter-sweet ending but many cute moments in between.

sneakycat says...

Both involve teenage love in the face of one of the partners with a serious, life-threatening illness. Both explore the growth of characters as they prepare for a possible future without each other.

Kemirroria says...

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora has a similar theme to Full Moon wo Sagashite. Like Mitsuki, Rika is seriously ill and is fated to die from her disease. While Rika does not sing like Mitsuki does in Full Moon wo Sagashite she is a very likeable character, as is Yuichi. It's a short yet sweet anime, easily worth watching. 

Tonttu says...

Both anime tell a beautiful story about overcoming obstacles for the ones that are precious to us. Their poetic narration is very subtle and touching. Hanbun no Tsuki and Totoro are anime at their best, and will give you hope. 

abunai says...

It's been said, so frequently that it has nearly become a cliché, that all love stories are simple and stereotypical. Not so, as any connoiseur of the genre will tell you. Yet there are some stereotypes that prevail, because they are such useful backbones on which to hang a story. Perhaps the most predominant of these is the story of the "star-crossed lovers", two people who are meant for each other, but separated by cruel fate. The story of their overcoming this adversity (or tragically failing to do so) is what drives the audience's interest.

Of course, anime love stories have their own stereotypes. Because they are often catering to a niche audience, they tend to have a rather similar type of protagonist -- a male character whose demeanor can most charitably be described as "spineless".

On the rare occasion when this is not the case, the result is invariably an anime of more-than-average entertainment value, simply for the pleasure of watching the protagonist take charge of his life and follow his passionate devotion to its ultimate conclusion.

Here, then, are two anime, with long titles abridged to HanTsuki and YoakeNa by their fans. In both stories, the male protagonist and his lady love are strong-willed, determined individuals, who remain true to their love, no matter what nasty surprises Fate throws at them. It's a pleasure to see, and I guarantee you that, if you enjoyed one of them, you'll enjoy the other.

Merryberry says...

If you enjoy the serious storylines and the comical ones present in either series, then you'll no doubt enjoy them in the other. While we can enjoy the characters longer in Honey and Clover, you still get to feel the same emotional and sometimes strange lifestyles that these characters display in Hanbon. Both make you fall in love with the situations of each character and their well defined lives.