ahmedr-58825
THE GOOD:There are some very well developed characters in this show and some serious themes such as consent/rape, competition, and responsibility. Some people interpret the show as promoting objectification of women. There are scenes where the main character is being measured, gawked at, and even recorded for the pleasure of the love stricken best friend. To some this may be out of the ordinary, but as an adult who is a veteran anime watcher I recognize this as the typical pervy shenanigans done for comedic effect. The characters that do push the boundary of consent for the most part face consequence and the show explores the guilt of the perpetrator as well as the trauma of the victim very nicely. There are a lot of filler episodes which can sometimes feel pointless but ultimately lead to the final 6 episodes that are jam packed with twists and turns. There are a lot of likable characters in this show and there is a typical prince/princess subplot intermixed with the main characters tragic love story. This show at it's core is a drama and knows how to pull at your heart. It will compel you to finish it, even if you are unpleased at what's going on. The music fit the scenes well and SOME the art was very well done. THE BAD Now onto the bad. The music was really repetitive and I usually don't notice songs in animes but it seemed like not a second could pass without the same classical piano piece blaring in the background. Also the artists had no idea how to draw legs and any scene that was a few meters away showing the characters full bodies was an absolute disaster. Personally I think most people will walk away from this show ultimately unsatisfied because the final pairings objectively suck. I don't understand why Hikari is obsessed with Amane. Especially considering Hikari's roommate Yaya is absolutely gorgeous and hilarious, whereas Amane is essentially emotionless and completely adored by everyone for no reason except that she rides horses? This is kind of my beef with the show in general. The main characters are all kind of overrated and the side characters who are more interesting are merely tortured by unrequited love. The competition surrounding Etoile evaporated way too quickly as Amane's rival just gives up for some reason out of the blue. And Amane is forced onto the responsibility of running.
Shizumi is also an extremely unlikable character. Mainly because she changes so often in this anime. In the beginning she is a mystical mysterious entity that just wants to pounce on Nagisa...then she is broken and grieving...then she goes through this weird period of angst. Also whenever anything goes wrong Shizumi disregards all her responsibilities and faces no consequences other than her best friend scolding her.
Also one of the characters in this show is mentioned to be depressed because she is forced to marry her fiance. But the show never mentions that again. Totally weird. It's as if the authors forgot they wrote that in or something.
FINAL VERDICT
It seems like all the best friends in this show get the short end of the stick and that's what makes me give this show a 6 instead of an 8. There are tons of good qualities in the show that put it above the typical Yuri. Although the show is interesting and entertaining the ending is so disappointing and empty. Overall I would say to watch it, but not expect much.
Irishchatter
I am so glad to find another brillant lesbian anime series. I love the fact they made the characters different from one other just like some Yaoi anime. I love the fact Shizuma is this weird girl who just is so laid back and really in love with Nagisa. You would think in girls movies that they b*tch around to each other but she was so different, that is so much what I like about this series! I literally melted that whenever she saw Nagisa, she would always nearly kiss her but like, in front of the whole school. Who would not also admire Nagisa? She is literally adorable and just so motivated to get the schools going. Like Sena from Love Stage!!, they both are truly angels lol! I even liked the other lesbian couple (cant think of them at the top my head) in the end, they should've been recogised more as well with Nagisa and Shizuma. They also looked cute together.I give this 9/10 cause its just a wonderful anime, I'm pretty much speechless and not making sense here lol!!!!!!!!
kevinxirau
Normally, I'm someone who watches sci-fi or action series such as "One Piece" or "Attack On Titan", but once in a while I'll try something beyond the range of my personal taste just to see what it is like and that's what brought me to this little gem. Strawberry Panic started out as a series of short stories before being adapted into a manga and then an anime and is part of the Yuri genre, which, for those of you who don't know, focuses on lesbian relationships. If that makes you uncomfortable, then I won't hold it against you but if you don't mind such a thing, than you'll definitely get some enjoyment out of this romantic-drama series.The primary focus of the story is Nagisa Aoi, who had just transferred to Astraea Hill, home to the three Catholic schools Miator, Spica and Lulim, the first of which she attends to. Upon arrival, she meets the alluring but mysterious Shizuma Hanazono, who quickly takes a liking to her. Shizuma also happens to be the so-called Etoile ("star"), an admired representative of all three schools who must perform certain duties. As she makes many new friends along the way, Nagisa learns more and more about the schools' customs and history as well as Shizuma herself, both of whom start developing strong feelings for each other. Those feelings, however, will be put to the test by various obstacles and tragic twists of fate.Definitely the meat of Strawberry Panic is its drama and character development, both of which are executed greatly. Almost every character is very likable from Nagisa's loyal best friend Tamao to the stern yet understanding Miyuki and many of them undergo some kind of change that feels both welcome and not at all rushed. There are plenty of moments where things get serious and the emotions that run through these scenes are quite effective, so much so that I was actually moved and even surprised by all of it. The back-stories, the relationships, the trials faced, and the interactions are all done in a truly heartfelt manner. This is balanced out by some surprisingly good comedic moments, a majority of which got me to laugh. At the center of it all is the romance between Nagisa and Shizuma, which is done exceptionally well. Nagisa's outgoing personality and kind heart make a great character and Shizuma is fantastic in the sense that she is not only tricky to figure out at first but she also has this dark torment within her that once it's revealed, it makes her pretty complex and sympathetic. The two complement each other in an amazing way. There's also another well-done relationship going on between a soft-spoken and shy Hikari and the strong-willed Amane, which acts as an interesting parallel to Nagisa and Shizuma.Other aspects of the show are also good. The art style is very pretty, lots of bright colors during the more positive scenes and dark and atmospheric ones in the more serious moments, effectively bringing the right moods when necessary. The character designs are all good, ranging from cute to downright attractive, and they can be easily told apart. The animation is good, though nothing grand since there really isn't any action going on, not that there needs to be. The music is also a nice touch, consisting of classical music and one of the most soothing choirs I've ever heard, perfectly complementing the more dramatic moments. The overall story is nice and compelling with a few filler episodes that expand on this world and its characters. Now, there is some fanservice with some fairly explicit content, but no nudity is really shown and these moments are brief and have a small purpose to them, so they don't distract from the overall story and keeps the emotions and drama behind them intact.Overall, I was pleasantly surprised how Strawberry Panic pulled at my heartstrings. Its story, characters, romance, animation, music, drama, and small amount of comedy all blend seamlessly together in a coherent fashion. Some anime fans have already compared this to other Yuri series out there, but I wouldn't know since I've never seen them, but as a show in of itself, it's worth the watch from beginning to end.
