Episodes: Season I 26, Season II 12

Year: Season I 2005, Season II 2006

Status: Complete, Recently Licensed by Viz Media

Official Honey and Clover Site (Japanese)

Rating: Awesome

Reviews: The setting is an art college and the story revolves around Takemoto, Mayama, Morita and Yamada who are all art students in Tokyo. Their personal lives and friendship is forever changed by the introduction of Hanamoto Hagumi – cousin of their sensei and close friend, Hanamoto Shuuji. Hagumi or Hagu-chan is a shy, petite, pretty girl with almost child-like features, but an immense amount of artistic talent. As she become friends with everyone, crushes and love triangles slowly emerge. As the story develops we see a range of situations and emotions that the characters go through as they try to understand themselves and others.

Before we plunge into why this anime is a must-watch classic, I’d like to make clear that the review here pertains to both seasons of the anime. While some opinions on the anime differ from the first season to the second, my review here encompasses the entire series in its completeness.

Honey and Clover is a first-class piece of storytelling. The first season introduces the characters and their lives and has a good mix of humour and drama as we get acquainted with the group and their relationships. The story really shines in its character development which is done steadily and realistically with great attention to detail. I personally felt like that the series had its viewers emotionally invested in it right from the beginning - sharing Yamada’s frustration and pain with Mayama, Takemoto’s dilemmas, and Mayama’s own with Rika. The second season, taking on a more serious and dramatic tone delves head on into the drama and emotional issues developed by its predecessor. Honey and Clover maintains a bittersweet quality to its story throughout, perhaps bringing it emotionally closer to reality than your average romance story. And thats just it, the story isn’t just about love and romance - but more about these characters finding themselves as well.

The music in Honey and Clover is worth mentioning since it really brought to life much of the story. Apart from YUKI’s music in the series (which I shall not say anything more about), the music in the series was good. I especially liked an insert song provided by the J-pop band “Spitz”. Perhaps my only complaint with the series, if I were to have one, is that Hagu was drawn too much to look like a child. I’m not quite sure if this is a real criticism since that’s one of her characteristics - but she really did look five, and I thought perhaps that was a bit much.

Honey and Clover makes it to my list of “The Best Anime of All Time” and is brilliant enough to be considered a classic in the anime world. It is an anime to which I will return over and over again through the years, and will be moved to tears every time.

Liked Honey and Clover? Then you might you like:

Nana: Like Honey and Clover, Nana has many of the same things that make it a great anime to watch: especially good music, deep character development and a storyline that follows the trials of love and relationship of Komatsu Nana and Osaki Nana.

Bokura ga Ita: Contains many of the same slice-of-life elements as Honey and Clover as well as a strong focus on romance and relationships. In addition to this, it keeps with the bittersweet/sad climaxes throughout.
Nodame Cantabile: While Nodame is much more lighthearted in nature, it is similar to Honey and Clover in dealing with life in Music school and Nodame’s feelings for Chiaki.

Paradise Kiss: Another high school drama about Yukari’s transformation from being a studious high schooler to walking the high road of fashion.