Anime Sakura Trick - Palette Cleanser

I've realized the solution to my dilemma: by being a lot simpler, Sakura Trick allows me to carry out analysis much more in-depth than something more complicated, and score it accordingly to its failures within its ambitions. So, without delay, and before I get cold feet again, let's go.

Sakura Trick follows Haruka, a school girl who's entering high school with her long-time friend Yuu. Very shortly after, the two develop a romantic relationship, and engage in various comedic shenanigans around the school with their friends.

There's not a real overarching plot to Sakura Trick - it's more of just a series of events, with each episode divided into two little stories. These will typically be connected just enough to keep the momentum going, which I found helped keep me interested in what would otherwise be quite banale little episodes. 

The only real overall momentum is carried by character development, which is surprisingly well-done. Unlike a few other yuri shows where the main romance seems to be there just to be titillating, the romance between Haruka and Yuu feels quite genuine thanks to the few character quirks we get. Haruka is comically jealous and touchy, and has a fare share of perverted moments, whilst Yuu is a lot more coy when it comes to romantic stuff, as well as fairly grouchy. However, it's obvious the two feel for each other a lot more than just as kissing-buddies, despite the late part of the anime establishing they don't consciously realize. Their relationship is full of going out of the way to please or help the other in a very subtle way: Haruka puts a lot of effort into helping Yuu study, whereas Yuu, despite her protests, makes sure that Haruka gets to see her just as much as she wants.

There's a small supporting cast, formed of two other "pairs". There's the rich and easy-going Kotone, who's determined to make the most of her days at school, and is in love with the archetypal shy girl Shizuku. They have an episode dedicated to them early on which works fairly well, but are mostly cast aside to the sidelines after this. My main issue with the two is that Kotone is immensely bland, even amongst such a broad-strokes cast. There's just not enough characterisation for her to be likeable, and the little character motivation that she gets doesn't ever seem to be resolved. The other pair, Kaede and Kuzu aren't in a romantic relationship. Kaede's a quiet girl who loves to play pranks and annoy the people around her, but is surprisingly perceptive, whereas Kuzu is the loud, comically short-tempered one who remains oblivious to the romantic goings on around her. They're both mostly relegated to comic relief, but became my favourite characters simply because of how charming their little quirks are.

The closest the series comes to an overarching plot is with Mitsuki, the head of the Student Council and Yuu's sister, who develops a crush on Haruka shortly after meeting her. This comes across quite awkwardly, and feels forced. Still, Mitsuki is likeable enough in her own right (coming into multiple awkward situations around Haruka, and seeming to very genuinely care about her sister) that it's forgiveable. The conclusion to this storyline is a charming yet somewhat bitter-sweet comment on the childishness of the relationship between Yuu and Haruka, though it's implied that it might blossom into something more real.

The show is visually much like its story and characters - simple. It's done in a nice pastel-colour style, yet with sharply defined character outlines. Everything else is stylized into simple shapes, backgrounds often disappearing when in close-up shots to be replaced with dotted backgrounds. The show also has a penchant for using symbols - often flowers - to comically represent its characters mid-conversation, or when spacial awareness is especially important. For instance, in a scene where Haruka comes up to Yuu, the scene may very briefly cut to a cherry blossom - Haruka's symbol - coming closer to a dandelion - Yuu's symbol.

The thing I least like about the show is the camera's love to focus on character's breasts bouncing and/or their thighs for no seeming reason. It just serves to make me uncomfortable - these are girls just entering high school, after all - and feels like the shameless pandering that the relationship between the main duo so miraculously manages to avoid. It also does this a few times during the opening and ending, which is no less awkward.

The music is there. The opening theme is sort of catchy, but I find the end theme quite dull. I honestly can't remember any music during the actual show - I'm not even sure if it doesn't exist or is just not memorable. What I do enjoy is the sound effect design, which helps the show both be quite a lot funnier and gain a fair amount of personality.

Character and World Building: 7/10

There's really not much here to critique. The world is as bare-bones as it gets, but is still a nice place to be. The characters are also simplistic, but the broad-strokes character development we do get is fairly effective.

Story: 4/10

It's just not there, and what is there is fairly clumsily implemented. Whilst I think Mitsuki's contribution to the show is overall positive, the way her subplot is unceremoniously shoved in for no apparent reason is certainly not.

Presentation: 4/5

It's simple and it's effective. Unfortunately, there's a few quirks that I really despise (mostly involving focusing on breasts), and the music is overwhelmingly forgettable. That said, when it looks good it looks absolutely gorgeous.

Enjoyment: 10/15

It's not an intensely enjoyable show, but that's almost part of its charm. It allows you to simply relax and wind down, without being overwhelmed by that much emotion.

Overall: (7+4+4+10)/40

                25/40

                (6.25/10)

Sakura Trick isn't something that you watch and feel great about, nor is it something that leaves a great impact on you afterwards. It's simply a bite-sized piece of joy, to be consumed, smiled with, and left behind. It achieves this job phenomenally, and I feel it's to be highly commended for it. Whilst I won't be pushing anyone to watch Sakura Trick above anything else, right now, hurry, hurry, I will heartily give it a recommendation as a palette cleanser - something pleasant and good-natured to watch in a couple nights between more serious shows to get over the impact of the last one. It can also be a good way to relax during a stressful period - see exams.

There's not much to Sakura Trick, and Sakura Trick isn't particularly great - but that's paradoxically precisely what makes it so enjoyable.