Adventures in Anime #6: Your Lie in April

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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I typically only watch anime that's fantasy or has some sort of magical element to it but the image of Your Lie in April always piqued my interest every time it popped up on Netflix. So when Alexa suggested we give this a try, I immediately said yes! And I'm so glad I did. It's a "slice of life" romance that I found incredibly moving and led me to cry a whole lot of tears. It follows a young pianist prodigy named Kо̄sei Arima, who loses the ability to hear the piano after his mother's death.  Two years later he meets Kaori Miyazono, an equally talented violinist, who refuses to adhere to any rules other than her own. Which is a stark difference from rule-abiding Kо̄sei. He's immediately drawn to her vibrant personality and she refuses to let him run away from the piano. Together, they truly carried the entire show. I loved the two of them so much! They have such a great back and forth but as individuals, they also have strong stories to share. But their circle did include two of Kо̄sei's friends who played significant roles too (although I'll be honest, I preferred when they weren't around!).  This was definitely a series I thought about long after I finished it. 

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

Favorite character(s)
I'm cheating and naming both Kо̄sei and Kaori. Although if I was really forced to choose, I'd say Kaori. The way she felt the music and how much she loved the violin was equally parts moving and inspiring. 

Favorite episode
Can I cheat again? (I'm going to say yes.) It's a tie between the 4th episode, "The Journey", and "Spring Wind" which is the finale. 

Favorite scene 
My favorite scene is the first time Kо̄sei and Kaori play on stage together. It starts off as a total disaster but soon evolves into something beautiful. 

Favorite quote
"By exchanging notes, you get to know one another, to understand one another. As if your souls were connected and your hearts were overlapping. It’s a conversation through instruments. A miracle that creates harmony. In that moment, music transcends words." – Kaori Miyazono

Favorite setting
Doyro Bridge aka the Courage Bridge! There are two scenes that happen here between Kо̄sei and Kaori that I loved. Plus I just love the idea of bridge that inspires people to find their courage. 

Bonus! Favorite kiss
Spoiler alert! This is a kiss-free anime (which I normally would be unhappy about but it works here!)

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So fellow anime fans, have you watched Your Lie in April?

And if so, what did you think?