Image from: https://myanimelist.net/anime/30895/HaruChika__Haruta_to_Chika_wa_Seishun_suru
Name: HaruChika ハルチカ
Status: Completed
Episode: 12
Release date (for eng subs): -
Summary:
Chika Homura begins her high school career with a goal: to develop a "cute girl" persona. After quitting the volleyball team despite her all-star status, Chika decides to join her school's underrated Wind Instrument Club and play the flute, believing it to be the most delicate and feminine instrument. For the first time in nine years, Chika reunites with her childhood friend and total opposite, Haruta Kamijou. Unfortunately for Chika, Haruta is not fooled by her efforts to become more endearing. But this does not deter Chika, and she develops a crush on the band instructor, Shinjirou Kusakabe—but so does Haruta!
However, Chika's high school life just won't go according to plan, as mysteries begin appearing around her and her friends. The club members must work together to solve the mysteries plaguing the school, all while trying to find more members to compete in musical competitions.
However, Chika's high school life just won't go according to plan, as mysteries begin appearing around her and her friends. The club members must work together to solve the mysteries plaguing the school, all while trying to find more members to compete in musical competitions.
Summary by: MAL Rewrite
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Personal Ratings: 2.9 / 5
Idea: 4 / 5
This anime combines mystery, music and school activities together. Just based on idea alone, I think that it's really unique, and also something that no one would think of, which is what made me really curious about this anime, because I just couldn't really imagine those 3 genres combined together.
Basically all the characters who are to join the club or in one way or another related to the club, is shrouded in mystery. But in the end, they didn't quite mix the 2 different genres together, and was quite a led down.
Basically all the characters who are to join the club or in one way or another related to the club, is shrouded in mystery. But in the end, they didn't quite mix the 2 different genres together, and was quite a led down.
Execution:
Development: 2 / 5
The development of the story and execution was, sadly, just not there. I feel that this anime has a lot of potential to do well, but because of the lack of development and depth in each mystery, it just didn't stick together well.
Most of the mystery in this anime just don't really seem to have a complete closure or a little 'afterword' that most mystery anime has. Although the mystery itself is really creative, and actually have a lot of fun to it, I feel that it just lacks that depth that it needs for it to reach it's potential. Mainly because many of the mystery actually needs more time for development, but they try to end each mystery within 1 episode each.
Also, I felt that they could have show signs or hints of the other mysteries in the front few episodes, to actually make each mystery more relatable, and not feel like they just suddenly jump into it.
One example would be the radio program. Instead of suddenly having the main characters listen to the radio, I thought that showing some character (probably the main character) listening to the radio from time to time since the beginning of the anime would add a nicer touch to it.
I also felt that certain scenes felt very abrupt, and didn't play much impact as it should have. Example - when dealing with Maren's case, there was a scene when he opened a suite case, to read a letter, during which he was suppose to show us his 'emotional' and 'sad' side that relates to his past. However, the scene ends by him just trashing the mail back into the case and him just going back to normal within a second. I felt like they should have just fade the scene out with him looking at the letter, to make it look more natural, and also for the viewers to ponder about it. During the whole anime, there were also many other scenes that were just as abrupt, which just brings down the whole quality of the anime.
Most of the mystery in this anime just don't really seem to have a complete closure or a little 'afterword' that most mystery anime has. Although the mystery itself is really creative, and actually have a lot of fun to it, I feel that it just lacks that depth that it needs for it to reach it's potential. Mainly because many of the mystery actually needs more time for development, but they try to end each mystery within 1 episode each.
Also, I felt that they could have show signs or hints of the other mysteries in the front few episodes, to actually make each mystery more relatable, and not feel like they just suddenly jump into it.
One example would be the radio program. Instead of suddenly having the main characters listen to the radio, I thought that showing some character (probably the main character) listening to the radio from time to time since the beginning of the anime would add a nicer touch to it.
I also felt that certain scenes felt very abrupt, and didn't play much impact as it should have. Example - when dealing with Maren's case, there was a scene when he opened a suite case, to read a letter, during which he was suppose to show us his 'emotional' and 'sad' side that relates to his past. However, the scene ends by him just trashing the mail back into the case and him just going back to normal within a second. I felt like they should have just fade the scene out with him looking at the letter, to make it look more natural, and also for the viewers to ponder about it. During the whole anime, there were also many other scenes that were just as abrupt, which just brings down the whole quality of the anime.
Emotions: 1.5 / 5
The emotions were not quite as there because of the shallow development and abrupt scenes, even though there were quite a lot of sad stories in there (almost all the cases were pretty sad).
I think that they way the 2 main characters react to the situations also play a part in the lack of emotions, mainly because the 2 of them seem to be cheery most of the time, and even during the cases, I couldn't feel any sorrow / regret / pity in them. It just felt like they were facing a problem that they have to solve, and they are only looking at it as a problem sum.
If there were more character affection between the characters themselves, I feel that it would have been a much better anime.
I think that they way the 2 main characters react to the situations also play a part in the lack of emotions, mainly because the 2 of them seem to be cheery most of the time, and even during the cases, I couldn't feel any sorrow / regret / pity in them. It just felt like they were facing a problem that they have to solve, and they are only looking at it as a problem sum.
If there were more character affection between the characters themselves, I feel that it would have been a much better anime.
Planning: 3 / 5
Planning was pretty good, I could see how the cases stack on top of each other, and how some of them are inter-related. Though I really wanted to see a stronger connection between the cases and also more hints of Kusakabe-sensei's case dropped around the whole of the anime, to give the viewers more anticipation.
Though I also felt that certain episodes were put at the wrong timing. Especially the first episode (were a note and a code was left in the club room), and also episode 9 (where Kusakabe-sensei fainted, and they had to solve the mystery as to why the other school's band's teacher was suspended).
In the first episode, where the viewers don't really know much about Kusakabe-sensei, I felt that it was a little weird putting that kind of case there, mainly because that case holds a very strong connection to Kusakabe-sensei, and I feel that it would only make more sense if the viewers know what type of teacher Kusakabe-sensei is and also how he deals with students who falls for him. Knowing that would add that extra depth needed in that case. But I'm sure they only place it in front of the anime, due to the time constrain - this case has to occur in the beginning of the new school year.
I feel that episode 9 should have been placed right after the episode where they had a joint practice with they're neighboring school, either that or they should have changed it such a way that the teacher was a lot more memorable. The problem with this case is that, when watching this episode, I couldn't recall how this teacher was like - how he was perceived by his students, and how he acted towards his students. Which actually left a big hole into understanding his actions and the situation itself. Though Haruta did mentioned in the episode about how he felt about the teacher.
Though I also felt that certain episodes were put at the wrong timing. Especially the first episode (were a note and a code was left in the club room), and also episode 9 (where Kusakabe-sensei fainted, and they had to solve the mystery as to why the other school's band's teacher was suspended).
In the first episode, where the viewers don't really know much about Kusakabe-sensei, I felt that it was a little weird putting that kind of case there, mainly because that case holds a very strong connection to Kusakabe-sensei, and I feel that it would only make more sense if the viewers know what type of teacher Kusakabe-sensei is and also how he deals with students who falls for him. Knowing that would add that extra depth needed in that case. But I'm sure they only place it in front of the anime, due to the time constrain - this case has to occur in the beginning of the new school year.
I feel that episode 9 should have been placed right after the episode where they had a joint practice with they're neighboring school, either that or they should have changed it such a way that the teacher was a lot more memorable. The problem with this case is that, when watching this episode, I couldn't recall how this teacher was like - how he was perceived by his students, and how he acted towards his students. Which actually left a big hole into understanding his actions and the situation itself. Though Haruta did mentioned in the episode about how he felt about the teacher.
Main Character Development: 3.5 / 5
Main character development went pretty well, but I have a problem with the characters themselves. I feel that Haruta and Chika's personalities are way too similar with each other, and that they feel as if they are the same person with different abilities.
Because this anime focuses a lot on Haruta and Chika (as the name of the anime suggests), their character development can be seen since episode 1 all the way till the end.
I really wanted more development on Haruta's character, especially about their childhood, and also how Haruta was like in middle school [I would love to have a OVA special just on that]. I always find myself wondering about how Haruta came about to be the 'detective' in middle school. And also, since this anime rides a lot on how Haruta and Chika are childhood friends who seems to be very close back then, I really want a little short sneak peak into that.
Because this anime focuses a lot on Haruta and Chika (as the name of the anime suggests), their character development can be seen since episode 1 all the way till the end.
I really wanted more development on Haruta's character, especially about their childhood, and also how Haruta was like in middle school [I would love to have a OVA special just on that]. I always find myself wondering about how Haruta came about to be the 'detective' in middle school. And also, since this anime rides a lot on how Haruta and Chika are childhood friends who seems to be very close back then, I really want a little short sneak peak into that.
Side Character Development: 1.5 / 5
The side character development was pretty crappy, and was probably the main reason why this whole anime didn't turn out as good as it can be.
As stated above, I find that the personalities of the characters are all very close to each other, and most of them give out the same aura.
I feel that they didn't quite show the development stage of the side characters, and they all felt like they were one person before the case was solved, and another person after the case was solved. There wasn't that gradual transition in between.
Also the biggest led down, I felt, was that they didn't actually really play apart in the anime after their cases were solved, and it just felt like they were shoved aside (except for Serizawa).
There wasn't enough emphasis on Kusakabe-sensei too, whom, I felt, actually plays a huge role in the anime. I feel that it's weird that Kusakabe-sensei always seem to solve the cases in a second, and then after which he just walks off after giving them some 'advice', and I just feel that it doesn't quite make sense.
As stated above, I find that the personalities of the characters are all very close to each other, and most of them give out the same aura.
I feel that they didn't quite show the development stage of the side characters, and they all felt like they were one person before the case was solved, and another person after the case was solved. There wasn't that gradual transition in between.
Also the biggest led down, I felt, was that they didn't actually really play apart in the anime after their cases were solved, and it just felt like they were shoved aside (except for Serizawa).
There wasn't enough emphasis on Kusakabe-sensei too, whom, I felt, actually plays a huge role in the anime. I feel that it's weird that Kusakabe-sensei always seem to solve the cases in a second, and then after which he just walks off after giving them some 'advice', and I just feel that it doesn't quite make sense.
Seiyuu: 4 / 4
I really loved every single voice actors used in this anime, and I totally felt that everyone was in character, and they all sounded really natural. Really amazed by the voice actors, and I feel that they couldn't have picked any better.
For the most part, I was really shocked when I knew that Hanae Natsuki was picked to voice act Kusakabe-sensei. Mainly because Hanae isn't known for doing mature roles, and he usually voices for younger characters. But he did an amazing job in this anime.
For the most part, I was really shocked when I knew that Hanae Natsuki was picked to voice act Kusakabe-sensei. Mainly because Hanae isn't known for doing mature roles, and he usually voices for younger characters. But he did an amazing job in this anime.
I actually really like the script, and I felt that it isn't just your normal high schoolers talking among each other, but there is something more. The script is really fun and I felt it added flavour to the anime itself.
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Art Ratings: 3 / 5
I actually really like the animation - it was really smooth despite having many big movements, it all flows really well.
I also really like the character design - I feel that they really show cases what little personality they have, and also fit really well with the voices.
I just didn't quite get the weird drawings under the eyes, which just destroys everything.
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Similar Animes:
Hyouka is probably the anime that comes close to HaruChika. They are both deal with high school mystery. While HaruChika has a lack of explanation that draws up their conclusion, Hyouka focuses on their train of thoughts and allows the viewers to think with them. The nature of their cases are also really different - Hyouka's cases has things to do with your everyday life occurrence, while HaurChika's cases are close to that of an out of the world extraordinary cases.
Hibike! Euphonium:
Hibike and HaruChika are only similar because they both are related to the brass band club. Hibike heavily focuses on the music and club itself, together with a little touch of aesthetic and play on the 'artistic' side of it. Whereas HaruChika just gives you a little glimpse of the club.
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Recommended for:
Gender: Both
Age: 13 and above
My Ratings: PG
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