Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April)Your Lie in April is centred on three high school students; Arima Kousei, a former piano prodigy who can no longer play publicly; Tsubaki Sawabe, his childhood friend and Kaori Miyazono, a violinist he met in April. As the story unfolds, it’s easy to see that it’s a love triangle.
Kousei and Tsubaki are like brother and sister, taking care of each other since they were kids. Together they form a clique with high school football captain Watari, who happens to be a Casanova. Kao, an exuberant blonde schoolmate of theirs, is introduced to the group by Tsubaki after Kao confesses that she likes Watari.
Thus begins a journey of self-discovery that Your Lie in April is all about. Kao forces Kousei to confront his inner demons by making him play the piano in public again while Tsubaki discovers some things about herself as she watches Kao and Kousei become closer. I liked this anime for one reason only. It subtly but powerfully discusses heavy themes. One which stands out especially in the first couple of episodes is the trauma inflicted by parents on their children. Kousei is haunted by the ghost of his deceased mother. She made him into a perfect pianist, a ‘human metronome’ by sometimes physically abusing him. Later, it is revealed that she was spurred by fear that he wouldn’t have the necessary skills to provide for himself when she died. Another theme that stands out in the series is loss. Loss of skills, loved ones, and friendship.
Verdict
I didn’t completely enjoy Your Lie in April. I was probably looking for a distraction when I watched it, but it didn’t fill my need. There are only twenty-two episodes in the entire series, but it felt longer than that. Although the series centred around classical music and anime can make anything exciting, I only felt excited very few times. Then it took the position of the first and only anime I’ve watched to have a sad ending.So if you are a fan of action anime like Kimetsu No Yaiba, Attack on Titan, or Assassination Classroom, this might definitely not be your cup of tea.However, if you like classical music, tears, and you enjoyed Kimi no Na wa (Your Name), then this might just be right for you.
