Overview
This anime gets a lot of chatter, for better or worse. If you're someone who actively watches anime and searches for new ones to find, then Your Lie in April has probably been mentioned to you before. For most people watching for the first time (me included), the only thing they've heard about it is that it is ridiculously sad. As someone who never cries, I needed to test this out for myself. My girlfriend (who cries quite easily) also joined me for this one. Whether or not I cried is something that I'll save telling you all for the last section.
Your Lie in April is about a retired middle school pianist named Kousei Arima. He was actually a very big deal in his prime. Kousei would get first place at every piano competition due to his mother's abusive teaching that made him follow the score to a T. It got to the point where he was called a human metronome (a device in music that keeps the beat). He gives up on piano once he begins to be unable to hear it, this happens following his mother's death. He continues through his young years as a person who transcribes music by ear for piano. However, this changes the day he runs into quite the eccentric young violinist named Kaori Miyazono. Her playing style is unconventional and she barely follows the score. She begs for him to be her accompanist and his life changes as he begins to rediscover his love for music through her.
Finding the Color
(SPOILERS) Ever since Kousei's mother passed away, he has been unable to hear his own playing on the piano. In a way, he believes that it is his price to pay for saying that he hates her before she died. This ghost from his past not only affects his playing, but it affects his day to day life as well. Whether he knows it or not, that is trauma that he has yet to resolve and ultimately he doesn't realize how he had been viewing life until he lays eyes on Kaori Miyazono, where he notices life has gotten more colorful. This is not destined to last, however. She takes him on adventures and inspires him to play, until she becomes sick and bedridden in the hospital. This event mirrors what happened to Kousei's mother before she passed. In a more negative way as well, Kousei's mother was his inspiration for playing. He wanted to make his mother better by winning competitions. Kousei competed in competitions to get those moments on stage with Kaori where everything seemed to come together in a beautiful way. Just like with his mother, the world was taking away his reason for playing. This time, however, it was different. As he performed his piece in front of a crowd while she was on her deathbed instead of breaking down at the piano like he did last time, he remembered who was all in the crowd supporting him. He played the best he's ever played and while playing, he reminisced on the times he and Kaori shared. I believe that this serves as a message to the audience to find those things in life that make it worth living, even in the most hard times. He's learned to find the color within himself, even when losing the one he believed to bring that color into his life. When he played, the crowd all saw new colors as well.
Why You Should Watch
This anime is definitely good for any human being. I am not the kind of person to watch romance anime, but you'll understand this show if you've ever felt love or grief. The music is incredible, and I don't know a single person who has not felt moved by Kousei's story. You do not need to be a piano prodigy to understand. The emotional highs and lows speaks to everyone with an open ear. I'd recommend this anime to anybody, regardless of your preference in genre.
Final Thoughts
This anime is indeed sad, without a doubt. My girlfriend cried (as she does) but I shed two tears as well, so know that the ending is hard to get through without feeling anything. This show speaks to anybody with a heart, and I feel that it can be relatable for most people who have lived a little life or loved. It's hard to put into words how much this show moved me.
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