IF YOU LIKE... '13 REASONS WHY'
Orange.
Available dubbed on Funimation and subbed on Crunchyroll and VRV.
One Season:
13 episodes. One continuation movie.
Status:
Complete.
Orange is an interesting mix of slice of life, sci-fi, romance and drama. Much like 13 Reasons Why, it centers around a group of high school kids. Their lives are changed forever by the introduction of transfer student, Kakeru Naruse.
Synopsis:
After a meet up to celebrate the life of their friend, Kakeru Naruse, Naho Takamiya decides to write a letter to her former self, in hopes of reversing the tragic suicide that would change the lives of her and her friends.
Similarities:
Like 13 Reasons, Orange deals with heavy topics such as teen suicide, budding teenage romance and friendship. Naho struggles with feelings for Kakeru, as well as how to help him when it becomes obvious that something is wrong. She is very much the Clay of the series—confused about growing up and unsure how her romantic feelings play into her friendship with Kakeru. Orange illustrates how difficult it can be to help someone who is trying to come across as if nothing is wrong. Elements of depression and guilt round out the deep relationships and motivations of this intimate group of friends.
Why You Should Give It A Chance:
Orange definitely has a similar subject matter and tone to 13 Reasons. Still, there are a few things that set it apart and make it its own unique experience. A sci-fi element sounds strange in an anime so heavily focused on depression and mental health, but it gives this anime its own voice. I did manage to get one of my non-anime watching friends to check it out simply based on the idea that it was similar to 13 Reasons. Let’s say she was pleasantly surprised by how much she liked it. (She binge-watched it in two days).
Orange has a strong theme of guilt and the characters are often driven by the idea of fixing the past. Naho is as skeptical as anyone when she receives letters from her "future" self, but she soon realizes there might actually be some truth behind them. The futuristic element adds a whole new layer of depth, as the viewer sees not only what has to change in the past, but what these characters are giving up in the future to save the life of their friend.
The cast of friends and side characters are also an incredibly memorable part of this anime. Along with being crazy loyal, they don't come across as stock characters who are there for classic comic relief. Each character has a role to play, and to this day, all I can say is that Suwa might just be one of the best anime friends of all time (don't sleep on the guy with the glasses though). Much like Jeff in 13 Reasons, Suwa deserved so much better.
One Season:
11 episodes.
Status:
Complete.
Anohana is only something you should watch if you're prepared to cry—like red faced, dry-heaving, ugly cry. It's a painful look at what it's like to grow up, grow apart from your friends, and how hard it is to handle grief as a child.
Synopsis:
A group of childhood friends drift apart after one of them dies in a tragic accident. Years later, Jinta Yadomi, the leader of the group with a once promising future, has become a depressed, withdrawn shell of his former self. In a surprising, supernatural twist, the ghost of his childhood friend, Menma, appears, asking him to help her grant a wish so that she can move on to the afterlife. The problem is, granting the wish requires the help of all of their old friends. Not only has Jinta not talked to his friends in years, but he’s also the only one who can see Menma's ghost at all. Convincing them to help him is just as hard as convincing his former friends that Menma exists at all.
Similarities:
Much like 13 Reasons, Anohana deals with the aftermath of the death of a friend. Jinta's demeanor will definitely give you Clay vibes. His emotional struggle to finally move on from what happened is painfully easy to relate to.
Anohana offers a well-rounded cast, not all of whom are kind or supportive. Some are rough around the edges, weird, or even downright cruel at times. Like everyone who was featured on Hannah Baker's tapes, everyone in Anohana has a different way of dealing with their grief and some surprising backstories. From parents to friends, there is no shortage of character development and growth as you watch these people finally come to terms with a death that's been haunting them for years.
Why you should give it a chance:
Why You Should Give It A Chance: While Anohana doesn't deal with suicide, premature death is just as hard regardless. Honestly, this anime left me screwed up and thinking about it for several days after I finished it. It has an interesting supernatural element to it with Menma's ghost as a main character. Her relationship with Jinta will seem reminiscent of Clay and Hannah's, as there is obviously a strong connection there.
What sets Anohana apart though, is the sense of closure that comes along with watching the series. These characters are hurting and have been for a while, but it's almost worse watching them get over that pain. Anohana offers viewers a raw look into depression, unresolved issues, and growing up. There is no shortage of emotion in this anime and in just 11 episodes, I found myself questioning how I viewed grief and death entirely. If you're looking for an emotional roller coaster drama, this is definitely one to add to your list.
Anohana: The Flowers We Saw That Day
Available subbed on Crunchyroll and VRV, subbed and dubbed on Netflix.
