Looking up at the Half Moon

Summary: >

Yuichi is stuck in a hospital with little to do with his spare time. Also in the hospital is Rika, a bratty girl who doesn't get along with anyone. Yuichi is of course put off by her behavior, but feels oddly drawn to her. Can he break through her tough exterior?

Thoughts: >

If you want bittersweet romance, then Looking Up at the Half Moon delivers, although in a very sloppy way. The basis of the story works well, but it's not put together especially well. Past that, this anime kinda grew on me in a way I didn't expect.

Characters are what sets this anime apart, but in a very strange way. The head nurse is a mix of a tough exterior and kind heart. She's ideally suited to push and encourage Yuichi to befriend Rika. On the other side there is an asshole doctor assigned to Rika, who isn't professionally distant as he should be - Including a part where he kicks the shit out of Yuichi. I guess health care in Japan is pretty hard core. Get better.. or else. Then there is Rika.

Rika is a character who is very hard to like, and likely a turn off for most viewers, however she's intended to be frustrating to watch. While I felt the same, I think it's a strong point of this anime. She's not a tsundere trope, she's sincerely difficult to deal with. Yuichi's struggle to break through her shell is a hard battle which takes time, patience and is a step by step process. The anime never diminishes this by simply flipping a switch at a given point. It makes Looking Up at the Half Moon feel sincere about the story it's trying to tell, and I really liked that.

Is it a great anime? No. Maybe not even a very good one, but I feel it accomplished what it tried to do well enough. The odd quality in the characters that make it feel a little different compared to most anime. If you can forgive the messy way it gets things done, and want a bittersweet kind of romance anime, Looking Up at the Half Moon might be something to consider.

Screen Caps: >