Adventures in Anime #3: Snow White with the Red Hair

Adventures in Anime is a collaborative feature I have with Alexa Loves Books! The idea is simple – we watch anime together and then we answer 6 questions about what we enjoyed most. We'll do our best to keep it spoiler-free but we will be mentioning our favorites so keep that in mind!

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The first time I watched Snow White with the Red Hair, I randomly stumbled across it and then ended up binging the entire two seasons in a single weekend. I just fell so in love with it and couldn't stop thinking or talking about it. So when Alexa suggested we rewatch it for Adventures in Anime, I immediately said yes. And once again, this series had me laughing, grinning and flat-out swooning through it all. If you are in the mood for a feel-good anime, seriously look no further than this show. It's about Shirayuki, a herbalist from Tanbarun, who's known for her vibrant red hair. It usually attracts unwanted attention, which is how the show kicks off and is also a common plot line. Prince Raj hears of her beauty and orders her to become his concubine. Rather than to submit to his wishes, she cuts off her hair and flees to the neighboring kingdom of Clarines. It's on her journey there that she meets and befriends Prince Zen and starts a new life. But it's not without its obstacles and of course, Zen and Shirayuki start to fall for one another despite their differences in social status. I loved how her journey evolved, the secondary characters that get introduced along the way, and the growing relationship between her and Zen. If I had to name my top three anime, this would most certainly make the cut.

For each of these posts, we will answer these questions!

Favorite character(s)
Shirayuki is not only one of my favorite characters on the show but quite honestly, she's my favorite anime heroine ever. She's intelligent, resourceful and has never needed saving. She's also just so earnest in her feelings, kind, and mature. I can't think of any other heroine who has started off a series that way. Then Zen is definitely my other favorite on the show, for more or less the same reasons. I love his honesty with his feelings (not to mention the ability to act on them!) his respect for Shirayuki, and his determination to make his own choices regardless of being a prince.

Favorite episode
Season 1, Episode 10, "Inexperienced Heart, Going Deeper" -- I love when shows give the people what they want. But mostly throughout the entire series, the pacing was perfect and unexpectedly so. With some anime, you wait multiple seasons before pivotal moments happen but not here! And when I got to this episode, not only was I happy for shipping reasons but it really solidified for me how great the storytelling was and I couldn't wait for more.

Favorite scene 
There's a moment with Shirayuki and Zen at the end of Season 1, Episode 11 that is the epitome of everything I've said in the previous two answers. I was just blown away by the maturity but also how heartfelt and it was. I mean, it's like impossible to watch this show without smiling.

Favorite quote
"Red is supposed to be the color of fate, right? Even if it’s annoying now, it might connect to something good when you least expect it." - Prince Zen Wisteria, with the swoonworthy quotes from the start.

Favorite setting
The palace in general but I have a soft spot for where all the herbalists hang out, including the greenhouse.

Bonus! Favorite kiss
I mean, they're all my favorite but if I have to pick I'll go with the first one.

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So fellow anime fans, have you watched Snow White with the Red Hair?

And if so, what did you think?