waelchi.korbin - 2014-11-30 18:16:38

This is one of my all time favorite anime. I loved all of the characters and the story and it all felt very real to me. I've never seen an anime quite like this one. I fell in love with Yamato and Mei and watching their relationship blossom was very beautiful. I've watched the anime and read the manga more times than I can count. I would recommend this anime to anyone who enjoys romance anime.

lucienne42 - 2014-11-19 08:51:44

I am conflicted. 

Not because the anime was bad or anything, far from it. I am conflicted because its like the anime version of my very own lovelife several years ago. It has something to do with the troubled main girl got her life upside down for the better. In my case, I just made it worst for her. But bleh, enough about me and lets talk about the show shall we? 

Sukitte li na yo (or more locally known in our country as Say "I love you") is a bare bones romance drama flick set in high school. Something that is always shoved in a typical seasonal anime lineup, because reasons. What sets it apart from other 'shoujo' romance flicks? Nothing much, really. You have your bog standard main protagonist girl with issues, your prince charming main guy with issues, and their relatable friends, all with varying degrees of personal issues. But what made this show stand out, is that these issues are amplified as the show progress and it reflects on some common social issues regarding the youth nowadays. Nothing too heavy like teen pregnancy or suicide, more on topics about pressures of fame and the looming topic of self preservation. 

You have Mei Tachibana, a very introvert girl who seclude herself from others simply because of a childhood trauma. Her life changes when she met the dream boy Yamato Kurosawa. How did he change her life? With a kiss. Yeah, fairytale level cheese in this one. Care to add witches, dragons and a bunch of redneck dwarves while we are at it? Ranting aside, I think this is a really stupid way to advancing things. I have watched so many shoujo romance animes and most of them does not even include a single kiss. I know it tries to up the ante a bit but Yamato's way of barging into Mei's quiet life is kinda off the charts. Sure it dramatically improved her character as a whole as the series moved along, but damn, its really uncomfortable come to think about it. 

Add to the fray are Yamato's friends and acquiantances who got involved in all the drama in their lives. As if Mei's life is not one big chore to begin with we are given drama from the perspective of people we are forced to care about. Good grief. 

Now problematic story and characterization aside, this is quite a worthy watch. The production value is okay. Nothing too sporadic like sudden jolts of comedy (there are still some but they are barely noticeable) or needless action scenes. Its pure shoujo goodness and its consistency to the theme can be a good thing. Music is nice, nothing noteworthy, but still nice. Art is quite clean and enticing, no needless exaggerations or heavy colors. Overall quality of this show is quite top notch, even the voice acting.

Overall pretty average but a good addition to the library of frequent romantic anime watchers. Nothing more to say.

Now why I consider this relatable to me I will no longer tackle. Go find me in the forums or PM me or something if you are curious.

theron.green - 2014-07-08 05:18:35

I've read the manga a few years ago, though I hadn't continued with it because of school. I was so glad when the anime came out (though to be honest, when I started watching this I really didn't remember much about what happened in the manga even if I was already far ahead). I'm pleasantly surprised with the adaptation. First of all, the animation is cool (but maybe a bit too generic). The characters are all gorgeous people, and I especially love the eyes. It reminds me a bit of Vampire Knight.

The plot isn't new, but I love the way it started. It would really make you want to go on watching. But as the story progressed, I daresay it wasn't as interesting anymore. From then on, the story delved more deeply in the characters - their back stories, their relationship with people, and so on. Probably what's nice about this is the story isn't merely about romance, nor is it merely about two people. It's a web of interconnected tales that would meet at one point - that is, towards Yamato and Mei.

Well, it's nice and refreshing to watch a love story where the two people are so in love you can't separate them from one another. At least, there aren't much of those over-dramatic plots to keep them apart, or some unpleasant triangle. Also, it's refreshing to watch two people trying to discover love for the first time, though in different perspectives. It's filled with drama, but not too much. There are ounces of comedy once in a while as well. Try it out, shoujo and romance enthusiasts!

daniella.lubowitz - 2013-09-13 01:38:56

I Love You is a powerful phrase. That phrase along can make or break a friendship, along with it holds the dear ideas of both sides of a love that should happen. Suki-tte Ii Na Yo (Say, I love you) is an anime that holds such an idea for me. I can also say, unlike many romance anime that I've seen, the romance actually goes somewhere, and that means a lot.

Story: 7

The story is nothing groundbreaking. Mei Tachibana is a school introvert because of reasons who happens to catch the eye of Yamato Kurosawa (the most popular boy in school) and he falls in love with her. What really made this anime pop at the beginning is how Yamato answered an incident that completely frightened Mei to death. I won't spoil that part because that is the best part of this anime in my opinion.

Follow those events Yamato and Mei have a thing, but don't seem to be on the same page, but that is ok because this allows for the story to bring character development because of this. How? All the episodes after the first episode aren't really about the relationship, but the characters themselves, and it brings along full rounded characters that you can really connect with. Then it all comes full circle in the end: Say "I Love You".

Animation: 7

I personally didn't see anything in the animation depart that was truly spectacular because it is simple enough. I don't think this anime needed more than what was given because the story gave this anime life, and the animation gave it a good background.

Sound: 7

The sound department for this anime is pretty substandard. When you listen to the anime, I don't anything is going to pop out. The only thing that I could say that might pop out is the opening song because it is beautiful, and really encapsulates the distance between the main characters. Other than that, there is nothing worthy of noting.

Characters: 8

It might confuse people why I gave this an eight when this story gave them great depth that could connect people. Well, that is true, but it doesn't mean that characters are good themselves. They are really well done, but it kinda lacks the punch that really will make them stand out. They all get episodes about some adversity that they tried to overcome, and the results of what answer they chose. But even with those episodes dedicated to them the characters were nothing special, Mei herself is a pretty boring character herself. The only person who was somewhat enjoyable to see was the hyper-active Asami Oikawa (not because of her fanservice) because she seemed like a genuinely real person that you would find in real life. Other than her, nothing too spectacular when it comes to characters.

Overall: 7, Stream It

Say, "I Love You." is definitely one of those romance anime that are almost cookie-cutter, but are saved by good story writing, and characters that you can relate to. But since it is almost cookie-cutter there will not be many things that you have not seen beforehand. I do think that this is worth the watch because it is so short, and you will watch things in here that you will relate to, but I don't think that it really breaks the mold, it did an amazing try though.

gibson.josefa - 2013-08-18 23:45:44

I am a lover of shoujo anime, and I have watched quite a bit, enough to recognize the typical clichés and tropes that are fun the first times you see them but get old with time. Sukitte il na yo is a typical shoujo-- you've got the handsome, popular male that falls for the gentle -hearted outcast, we've seen it a million times. However, I really liked this particular outcast, Mei Tachibana. Although shy and awkward, Mei is honest and caring,but also very strong. She has greater guts and spirit than our male lead, Yamato, who was a rather typical shoujo protagonist.The best parts of the anime for me weren't the scenes between these two, but the interactions between Mei and everyone else she meets as she opens up to the world --from Yamato's little sister to his ex-best friend--all of whom have been hurt in someway or another, and find in Mei not only a kindred spirit, but a friend.

Overall, Sukitte il Na Yo was worth watching, solid in itself, though remaining simply another shoujo anime.

bailey.lucinda - 2013-07-20 17:39:06

I started to watch this one night to pass the time and not expecting much from it. Its actually kind of adictive!

I think I went to sleep at 3am that night lol

Its a great series and has a solid story! The art style is unique and its thoroughly enjoyable!

Its a typical love story but that doesn't stop you from stil enjoying it. If your looking for a new take on the Romance genre then this isn't going to be for you. Take it as what it is and trust me, you will enjoy it!

sydney.nolan - 2013-07-20 03:03:24

Not quite your typical romance,

Wonderfully done show. Characters act very naturally for their age, show is written VERY well. Animation is good, not great(SAO). Sound is pretty well done. Climaxes to music queue well with the rise of plot. I enjoy watching this anime. I will DEFINITELY rewatch, and that is certain.

aufderhar.daisha - 2013-07-15 11:44:30

Sukitte Ii na yo was my first romance anime to watch and I decided to write this review in order to convey to you all of my thoughts about it. Well, when I was watching the earliest episodes, I thought it was really underrated. There are many out there that don’t really like it (and I’m talking about girls certainly) and that was always leads it to be given really unfair ratings.Well that’s exactly the problem with romance animes. Their stories redound to become mainstream and that’s why they don’t appeal much on their viewers, so that makes them complete them without considerate them as a big deal. But here we have something special. A HUGE deal, actually lol. So, let’s start from the basics.We have our typical social-awkward girl and the popular hot guy who falls in love with her. Of course I was like “awww” when hearing the typical love words and stuff like “you’re my everything”, but what I liked more was the participation of the other characters in the story. I mean, watching a couple doing stuff all over the anime is totally boring. But here, you will see development in the characters. They will narrate their different pasts, their different stories and reveal sad truths and facts about them. So, there were some life lessons as well. Trying hard to be accepted by the others -so much that you harm yourself, overcoming your fears, the meaning of friendship, be envy of the others, isolate yourself. All these applied on the characters making you enjoy the show as you see how relations between them are being developed. And I think that was actually what made me curious about the next episode, watching it right after the previous ‘cause I just couldn’t wait at all :P What I also liked was the way that characters showed up in the show, leaving you more curious and making you wanting to “explore” their personalities and find out their connection to the rest of the characters, as well (which was an another strong point of the anime).So, about the “romantic” side, I have to say that I really liked it. You can clearly see what love really means, what love really is just by how the relation between the two main characters is developed. And this anime taught me that love has to do with completing and dedicating completely to each other. Hahah, and I’m putting aside the cute main character, our loving Yamato. Overall: 8Sukitte Ii na Yo was a decent romance anime. Not too girly nor boring and totally NOT stupid at all. It can keep you stuck to it until the end through its great love story, the shapely art, the variety of the characters and the zestful relations/connections between them.

weimann.edgardo - 2013-06-28 20:22:22

Sukitte Ii na yo is a cute anime to watch when you need a quick shoujo fix. At 13 episodes in length, this anime tells the story or two unlikely people at the beginning of and during their relationship. Mei Tachibana is a quiet girl who doesn't care for people very much. Yamato Kurosawa comes into her life and shows her that all people aren't the same, and he tries to gain her trust. Their first interactions are sweet, and it will probably make you swoon over the lengths that Yamato goes to show that he cares for Mei.There are several times throughout the anime where I found myself lost. I feel like certain plot lines were opened up and then quickly closed. This caused confusion and after wondering for awhile why something had happened I just had to let it go. The growth of their relationship was rather slow, but I appreciated how Yamato was willing to be a gentleman towards Mei and not rush her into anything that she did not wish to do. Because of this I hope there will be a second season because right now their relationship is not to the point I expected it to be. While the plot is rather slow and somewhat confusing at times, I still found myself rushing back after classes to continue watching them grow. It was a short, sweet shoujo anime and I hope this isn't all we see of Yamato and Mei.

mayert.icie - 2013-03-16 17:30:40

The series at a first glance seems like a very stereotypical shoujo title. An odd, somewhat of an outcast girl falls for the perfect, rich, most popular guy at school. Nothing new there, big whoop. The first episode or two might even cement that impression in your mind but don't be fooled, it develops into something so much more. Picture this way:

You're an individual who has a troubled past. You have been ostracized by various circumstances and nowadays, you don't give a damn what anyone thinks about you or your life. That is till you meet one of the hottest student at schoolwho takes an interest in you. Your heart pounds and for the first time in your life, you give a damn about your life and those around you especially regarding that student. That, my friends, is where Sukitte Ii na yo shines. It's a discovery and it's a classic.

Sukitte Ii na yo (also known as Say "I Love You".) is an anime series adapted from the manga written by Kanae Hazuki. The animation studio, Zexcs handles its production which is already known for some of its past works in the romance department such as Da Capo, Fortune Arterial, and H2O: Footprints in the Sand. The series fits within the romance and drama side as opposed to a pure romantic comedy because of the story involved. 

Like I mentioned before, the series is a classic for those into the shoujo medium. It is like a breath of fresh air to watch especially with the lighthearted backgrounds presented. For those into some school drama involving the typical high school life, it's like a journey all over again. 

The series kicks off with a girl named Mei Tachibana. She is nothing special although she used to get well along with others. Unfortunately, it seems that events in the past has shut her down and made her an unsociable person. In fact, classmates who knows her describes Mei as a girl who keeps to herself with little words and a person stuck in her own little world. Yet at the same time, we can see Mei as an honest girl who is caring, loyal, and willing to help others when the time calls for it. But time isn't always on her side especially during a day when she bumps heads to heads with the most popular student at school. 

Here's where the drama kicks in and his name is Yamato Kurosawa.

Yamato is one of the most popular guys at school and his name may even suggest a male version of Yamato Nadeshiko (no pun intended). He meets Mei in a very unusual way at school and later on so helps her with a problem involving a stalker. Yikes! Now, from there on and out, the two forms a bond despite Mei's stubbornness. 

Now, the duo seems to very incompatible at first glance. I mean, Mei is one of the most plain looking girls at school with a plain way of dealing with her life. On the other hand, Yamato is the most popular guy at school who is idolized by many of the students. Sounds like living on the opposite of the world, right? Yet, what these two individuals share in common is their willingness to take on life itself with their ways of helping others and discover themselves. It's a pleasant watch and a rare gem we don't see too common in today's shoujo theme series. Later on, Mei and Yamato forges a relationship that seems to get quite the attention. 

I honestly think the duo are quite compatible that balances out each other. We know that Mei is a plain looking girl who is clumsy yet very honest with herself and with others. Yamato often goes out helping his classmates as well by putting others above himself. We can see that he dislikes people who just likes him for his appearance. When Yamato realizes that Mei likes him beyond just his physical appearance, the two becomes quite compatible. Although loathed by some of the other students at school, they are a good match. 

The other characters also plays their roles in the story as well that often brings forth new surprises and obstacles to the couple. That brings for the drama into the series. 

On the male side, we have Kai Takemura who has very similar circumstances with Mei. Both of them had a past they wish they can forget but they manage to move on. After their encounter, Kai becomes part of the love triangle between Yamato, Mei, and himself. It's drama to the D especially when we see Yamato's jealous and defensive side. On the female side, there is Megumi Kitagawa. She is seen as an idol on similar status with Yamato and is possibly what Mei wants to be: popular and beautiful. Yet, we see behind that outer shell is a very insecure girl who seems sweet but is only aiming at her own goals, aka Yamato. The three of them is a love triangle that makes Mei once again examine herself and the relationship she forms.

The overall execution of the series follows that typical shoujo theme ways of portraying its ways, settings, and backgrounds. As such, expect some cliched and predictable moments especially between the duo of Mei and Yamato. Even from the pilot episode, it can be easy to tell where the direction the two are heading. The misunderstandings and some of the drama are also easy to see through especially involving Megumi. It's no surprising either that in high school, all sort of situations happen and love is may just be one of them. The series takes that love between the duo and drives it throughout each episode as obstacles and events are presented. It shows how much they discover themselves and how much they can change when they understand each other.

The artwork of the series is quite realistic and portrays the backgrounds with the school life setting. The various classrooms, playgrounds, and characters are real and needs to be in that way to convey to the viewers what high school is all about. Yuka Hirama (the art director) does a wonderful job of that crafting the characters. Mei is painted as a plain looking girl. Yamato is painted as cool looking guy. Megumi is painted as a school idol with a beautiful figure. Kei is painted as a guy that used to have a rebellious nature. It is all there and the audience can see how each of them fits within their boundaries within the artwork department.

Similarly, the soundtrack of the series is lighthearted. Although not too well known, Yuuji Nomi engineers the series' music with his skills to create a sense of being there. It's nothing too special because it mostly is lighthearted and hardly noticeable at times. However, it is a sweet melody that depicts the settings and the characters especially the opening song. "Friendship ~ for Sukitte Ii na yo" by Ritsuko Okazaki is a very lighthearted song that gives off that melody of sweetness which depicts the duo's sweet relationship. Similarly, the ED song follows the same suit to match the lightheartedness of the series.

All in all, Sukitte Ii na yo is a pleasant series to watch. The relationship between Mei and Yamato is quite warming and realistic to what some of us may have experienced during our teen years. It's heartwarming, sweet, and at the same time has drama to it especially involving the other characters. It is also a shoujo that fits within its boundaries without going over heels or trying too hard. Ultimately, it's a rare little gem that deserves praise for its beauty.