It's kind of hard to take Honey&Clover seriously with how Hagu is depicted with mannerisms and looks of an actual child - should I drop it?
I watched 3 episodes of this classic and it does seem to have some interesting themes that make it worth watching.
Please, no spoilers, but Hagu-chan's is not only the height of a child, but also drawn like a child and has a childish VA who says really simple sentences, again in a pattern similar to children. When children are introduced or referenced in a dream, she is drawn and acts exactly the same as a 8-10 year old, in a show with fully grown adults going through fully grown adult emotions.
It just completely takes me out, they all talk seriously and then there is this doll with what seems like the emotional maturity of a literal child thrown into all of these situations. It's weirding me out.
Should I keep watching or maybe drop it if this is an issue for me? I kinda feel like this part isn't really going to improve.
Please, no spoilers, but Hagu-chan's is not only the height of a child, but also drawn like a child and has a childish VA who says really simple sentences, again in a pattern similar to children. When children are introduced or referenced in a dream, she is drawn and acts exactly the same as a 8-10 year old, in a show with fully grown adults going through fully grown adult emotions.
It just completely takes me out, they all talk seriously and then there is this doll with what seems like the emotional maturity of a literal child thrown into all of these situations. It's weirding me out.
Should I keep watching or maybe drop it if this is an issue for me? I kinda feel like this part isn't really going to improve.
Commentaires
In some cases people say that certain things are not going to change, so if that's a big issue, drop it. In others, they say the issue becomes more marginal or even negated later on, so it's worth it to stick with the show. Others say this remains an issue, but if you can bear with it, the show shines brightly in other aspects so it's still worth it.
Depending on exactly what the consensus is and how it's described, I can make an educated decision at episode 3, before committing to watching a total of 36 episodes.
Hope that answers your question :)
Depending on exactly what the consensus is and how it's described, I can make an educated decision at episode 3, before committing to watching a total of 36 episodes.
In some cases people say that certain things are not going to change, so if that's a big issue, drop it. In others, they say the issue becomes more marginal or even negated later on, so it's worth it to stick with the show. Others say this remains an issue, but if you can bear with it, the show shines brightly in other aspects so it's still worth it.
Hope that answers your question :)
Depending on exactly what the consensus is and how it's described, I can make an educated decision at episode 3, before committing to watching a total of 36 episodes.
In some cases people say that certain things are not going to change, so if that's a big issue, drop it. In others, they say the issue becomes more marginal or even negated later on, so it's worth it to stick with the show. It changes by the show and the issue.
Hope that answers your question :)
Shit that stuff didn't even register with me when I watched it. I guess I was also around 14 when I watched it.
S1 still one of my favorites
The very depiction is of a child, despite being surrounded by adults - I wonder if you'd watch it now if you'd feel more that that's an issue.
All dramatic moments gets treated with seriousness despite most of the characters being pretty damn goofy in the regular story.
Lots of exaggerated tropes in that show tbh. Beyond S1 it gets a bit too comical for me actually. All characters concerned.
> It feels like such a dramatic clash that it kind of takes me out of the scene (in a way bursting the suspension of disbelief) because it's not just how she's drawn, but also how she acts and talks. The college students are really articulate and show complex emotions, while she barely connects more than a single simple sentence if that (sometimes just making cute noises or saying a single word).
On every scene you suddenly have this child-like character who has a VA that could very easily filled in a 8-year-old role - it just breaks the immersion of the show that seems to deal with pretty serious themes in general. That one guy seems in love with her seems even weirder and hard to take seriously.
She's like she is, she has value and her world view has value... maybe there's something you could learn from following her story?
It sticks out too much, especially considering she's a love interest in the show, not just an interesting character.
some people develop later than others, some never develop in parts (autism can cause that) but can be highly intelligent in others (art, music) etc...
People are DIFFERENT. We're not a monolith.
Have you actually met Japanese people? I had a friend who had a thing going on with a Japanese exchange student once, they were both 25 and he came to me at some point during the beginning phase of their thing and told me that it really bothers him, since she looked like she was 8 years old... but she was an adult. Short in stature, small and high pitched voice compared to use Finns... and that he struggles with it a bit because his idea of an adult is different...
People are different, weird and wonderful and we're all better off for it.
But do they talk like they are 10? Are their voices like literal children? Their speech patterns? Their excitement and withdrawal to stimulation? Or just their look?
By the way that's extremely unusual - something that happens for 1 in 10,000,000 people, so it's kind of amazing you personally know two 40 year olds that look like they're 10. If it was more common it would probably be less of a sticking point.
That's just who they are. And nobody should be dismissed like that based on what they look or sound like.
If it bothers you, sure, drop it. But I personally think you shouldn't dismiss it so readily or make assumptions what's "normal" or what's "acceptable"... Just watch the story and as again afterwards was it worth it or not... it might change your view... or it might not...
just, don't judge or dismiss so readily based on your assumptions.
But when you actually watch the show in real time, she isn't just a petite woman or exceptionally small. They literally - literally - draw her and voice her identically to a 8 year old, putting them side by side for a joke. And like you've mentioned, her responses are short, primitive, and appear based on raw, simple emotion (from happiness to sadness). Everything about her - physically, emotionally, verbally - is the depiction of a very young child, not an adult.
I think I would have been fine with it but it's a freaking ROMANCE anime. To me, that's insane, because she's physically and mentally developed like a child, and if you are attracted to it, that's not normal. They have full grown adults there with romantic feelings towards her. It feels unnatural.
It's a problem that is unfortunately quite common in anime ;^(
It kind of baffles me that so many people are giving you a hard time with this concern... It is an odd implication to have a college-aged dude in love with someone that is functionally 8 years old... In appearance, mannerisms, etc. I highly doubt it would enter into anything too strange. I am here because I also just started watching and I wanted to see why... I think it would go better over to illustrate she's sheltered just by behaviors alone, and to see some duality in her character.
It makes sense that someone would ask if the direction of the anime, despite these odd features... is still good and meaningful.