Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku 2x40d

Storys and presentation are truly important. How one presents something, but also, how one sounds while doing so. Such can bore someone to death. While in other case, it'll capture you in, drag you kicking and screaming, locking you in for the ride of your life. This is what Hana wa Saku truly showcases such.

Story and characters: 8
While the story presents itself as such, there is such underlining details that truly make it stand out as something more. Which throw in characters which one may say 'Oh they look like normal and generic' but when you get under their layers, and see and discover what ... they truly are, and how deep them themselves goes, it really opens up the anime in a whole new light. Which makes characters that look and seem like normal characters fitting an anime set in the school, have more flavor, have more interest and depth to them. Which only makes getting to know them much more pleasant for the viewer. Making it more in case of watching to see for yourself, and let them come into your life, to let them express themselves, rather than reading words on a screen.

But going back to the story, it really captures the watchers interest, as if there is way more than one realizes about it, and that we're in for more twists and turns as we go along. As if the title has flower in it's name, as if we're waiting to see this flower bloom into success, or failure. Keeping us on the edge of our seats throughout. As if taking such a simple idea, and presentation, and going about it, in the most creative way.


Art and sound: 9
For me, this gets the highest of grades, as while you may look at it at points, and think there is nothing special about it, they did a great job, it looks great, you don't need to spend a whole section going on about it. But given what the show represents, and how it's delivered and so. I feel like it's way more important then one may realize. As broadcasting takes a lot of effort and ion, there is a drive about it, and through this show, and how it's told, it's as if there is a magic about it. But it's not only the sense of that, being able to tell a story, to capture a reader's interest, to have the talent and creative ion. That can add a whole different element to it, and the way this show captures that through it's beautiful flowing animation. It's really charming, and lovely to see. Matched with great sound to boot.

Like seriously. I do love how they make it so you'll basically hear nothing in a moment, but then flow effortlessly into a different kind of track that naturally flows really well together, transitioning in a well mannered, and great way.

Hana Wa Saku certainly is a treat, and is a very good show to sink your teeth into for many reasons. I'd be watching for sure.

Japan’s ability—and eagerness—to turn the most mundane things into anime never fails to impress me.

For starters, this anime boasts stunning animation, especially when compared to the average shows airing in recent years. The sound design is what I’d describe as movie-quality—the wind, the waves, the water, the vines—every sound feels meticulously crafted and cranked up to the max. You don’t just hear it; you feel it. The same goes for the theme song. It’s beautifully composed and perfectly complements the anime’s tone.

Now, as for the story—it’s slow. Very slow. It follows your typical slice-of-life structure, where conflicts exist but never escalate ... into anything grand or soul-shaking—just the everyday antics of school life. There’s also a smidgen of CGDCT ,shoujo ai, and romance elemenr. A smidgen, mind you—so don’t expect too much in that department.

That said, there’s really nothing bad about this anime or its production. The only real downside is a matter of preference. Some people might find it excruciatingly boring, and I can’t blame them. But if you, like me, have a tragically declining attention span, this show might actually help rebuild it—one slow, comfy episode at a time.

A couple of tips:
- Watch this with headphones or a good surround sound system to fully appreciate the audio design.
- Avoid watching it late at night unless you want to out—because this anime is basically the equivalent of a bedtime story from your ma.

Flower and Asura is an anime that does not stand out for anything in particular. The story is very simple, the characters are very simple, and the only element that stands out is the animation. Regarding the theme of voice acting, the only thing that moves you is the visual representation—nothing in the performances truly adds to the story or engages the viewer. The anime never explains what makes a voice interesting, what nuances intonation can bring, or why it matters. Then, suddenly, the story decides you need to know the past of every character in the series.

So, the anime starts delivering one character’s backstory ... after another, with the incredible coincidence that, just as their past is being revealed, some event directly connected to it conveniently occurs—wow, very impressive! These elements of the story feel like unrelated pieces forced together. There isn’t much drama, and nothing justifies the time spent on these revelations. The anime misuses its pacing and fails to convey emotions effectively. Ironic, considering that its core premise revolves around the reading of works by some of the most important and renowned Japanese storytellers.

Flower and Asura is a perfectly fine show. In fact, for what it is, it is an exceptionally good show. The animation is striking, the voice actors are incredibly talented, and the plot is meaningful and makes complete sense. However, there's something about it that is just a bit...boring.

If I have to put words to it, it's a disconnect between me and the concept. The whole concept of Flower and Asura is a high school broadcasting club striving to compete in the national broadcasting competition. Most of the plot revolves around dramatic readings of various texts. These readings are obviously deeper in their meaning, ... and often pair with the characters' own feelings. They also are artistically adapted to convey the emotion of the reading.

However, there's a problem. The VAs are already so talented that, from the get-go, the readings sound fantastic. In other words, whilst the show is meant to show the progression of these characters, they feel perfect from the very beginning. The MC, who is a likeable "Mary Sue" type character, is depicted as imensely talented but not refined, yet by Episode 12 she shoulds virtually the same as always. Sure, her confidence certainly grows, but her actual readings are about the same. In fact, the only person who's readings I actually resonated with was Mizuki, who had immense power and emotion to her voice. Everyone else felt just like professional VAs reading a script, too perfect for their depicted characters.

Now, this by itself doesn't make the show bad: it's perfectly good! But, if I'm being honest, the premise is already a bit boring, so when 95% of these spoken poems are presented with scant emotion and flawless pronunciation, it makes everything feel so...bland. Strangely enough, despite the medium, I actually feel like this is likely better in the manga, as the written form allows for a little bit more imperfection.

Forgive my rambling, but if I had to boil down my long-winded point, I'd say this show played it way too safe, and while its perfectly fine to play it safe, it also hinders it from its true potential.

Flower of an Asura is about Hana, a girl from a tiny, remote island who grew up mesmerized by a recitation performance she saw on TV as a kid. She never had the chance to chase that dream since she was stuck far away from the mainland, but everything changes when she starts high school. She finally gets the opportunity to pursue her ion after being scouted by the Broadcasting Club.

The anime heavily leans on its voice acting to deliver its charm, focusing on recitation as an art form, which makes sense since it’s a medium that relies so much on sound. At first, the ... performances are okay but nothing special—until Hana steps up and recites the same poem she heard on TV when she was a kid, standing alone on the beach. That scene blew me away. Her voice—just her intonation, pitch, and raw emotion—completely captured my soul. Even if you don’t understand the language, you’ll feel it. It’s incredible how much her voice alone resonates.

On top of that, the sound design and music are phenomenal. Every little detail, from the crash of the waves to the background score, is done with care, easily making it one of the best-sounding anime in years. And while the animation isn’t flashy, the quality during the recitation scenes is noticeably better than your average show. It’s subtle but powerful—perfect for the kind of story it’s telling.

If you enjoyed something like Kageki Shoujo!!, where voice acting is such a big part of the experience, this show will definitely be up your alley. It’s a beautiful and emotional ride that’s worth checking out.

Flower and Asura — a recital that's best further explored to see if its weight holds up.

I love exploring niche topics when it comes to just about any medium of content derived from the sources that it stems from that's full of awe and intrigue to find out what goes on behind the trait that just works. So, in this Winter season, courtesy of the musical maestro that is author Ayano Takeda and her globe-transcending franchise that is Hibike! Euphonium, let's explore the road less travelled with her rather peculiar story about finding your voice and the incantations that are pretty much the vocal life ... of literature: Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku a.k.a Flower and Asura.

If you're coming into this show and thinking that it'll be a masterpiece like Hibike!, then I'm sorry to say that you're going to be disappointed, since HanaShura doesn't have much of the weight attributed to it as compared to the former series. Instead, it explores the less ventured nuance of literature and, importantly, recitals/speech and storytelling, which Japan has no lack of such exquisite fine practices to help boost its literacy into something special. If you love shows like Summer 2021's Kageki Shoujo!!, then this will be your mojo, just in a different aspect.

Meet Hana Haruyama: the girl who lives on the small island of Tonaki-jima with a sizable population of just 600 and has an interest in storytelling by reading to children. That has been her life at least since the one influence that brought her to the same degree in her youth, until she attends school on a normal basis as a fresh new sophomore and gets noticed by the Senpai of Mizuki Usurai when she starts speaking affluently to scout her into the Broadcasting Club and try out her articulation, which confirms her position in the rather small club. Along with other prolific of the Broadcasting Club, Hana's journey into the realm of recital literature begins.

Right from the get-go, HanaShura leverages the anime medium in one single fine thread: the aspect of sound through voice acting. It's never easy for VAs to get their articulation right, and when they do, they create some of the most iconic voices that have resonated with us throughout the years (e.g. Yusuke Kobayashi for Re:Zero's Subaru Natsuki, or any character that's voiced by Kenjiro Tsuda). It's the same application here in HanaShura, where the VAs drowns the surroundings until one decides to step up to the plate and showcase their talent, to which sound engineers will enable vacuum chamber-like settings to showcase their talents in clear-cut clarity and stereo voice. It's an art that, though, has been explored before (as in last Spring's Seiyuu Radio no Uraomote a.k.a The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio), but not to this height of composition that enables one's voice to have so much power and feel that when he/she takes the lead, it's just that engrossing. It's for this reason that if you want to enjoy this show all the more, please use headphones or a good surround system to fully appreciate the sound design for the anime.

The Broadcasting Club has no lack of eccentric characters: some like Hana who are in the club for fun or others like Mizuki who've been climbing up the ranks between the various competitions against other high schools vying for the same glory and reputation. Obviously, the 2nd-year students of president Mizuki, vice president Ryoko Totonoi, Setaro Hakoyama and their advisor of Hiromi Kichijoji are experienced when it comes to competitive recital, enough to give the new faces of Hana, rivals An Natsue and Shudai Toga, as well as their meditator of Matsuyuki Akiyama to prove their skills, this becomes all the more important to distinguish what's good (in the comfort sense) and what's better (in the competition sense), because good is never enough, if you're not putting your own skills to the test, which if going by the symbolism of the series' name, Hana (as in the flower) and Shura (as in Shura Saionji, the person who inspired Hana to take on recital storytelling in the first place, or more appropriately as in the Buddhism demigod of war Asura) aptly creates the scenario of people falling into situations in which they have to fight an endless war against their own comfort zone, in a relentless and inhumane manner, if it means earning the fame that they're known for.

how Studio Bind was created between White Fox and production-cum-planning management company Egg Firm just to focus on Mushoku Tensei alone? Well, after 6 years of operations, you can clearly tell where the studio is at thanks to Egg Firm separating it from White Fox to "allow us to move forward with the project in a continuous, long-term, and systematic manner." That's not to say that works from the studio from now on will become less varied, but they still show potential in their production, as does HanaShura here. It just needs to amplify what's needed, and that's as much effort to give the great effect.

Other than the incredible sound design I just mentioned earlier in the review; Masaru Yokoyama's OST also is solidly sound. There's not much to it, but whatever it does have, it's done to delicate balance and knows its centrepiece all the more. I'm also fine with Shishamo's OP and Sato's ED songs, though it's not something that is noteworthy, unfortunately. Props to rookie AiPri VA Minori Fujidera for her performance; the now 18/19-year-old VA easily fits Hana's character very well.

Ayano Takeda certainly wasn't lying when she made Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku a.k.a Flower and Asura, because while it tries to hinge on the massive success of her prior series, at the same time, it's branching out to be its own work as well, which takes a unique audience to understand the brave complexities of vocals and sound in a captivating manner. They say, "a picture paints a thousand words," and I believe that the art of storytelling turns the quote upside down to give its own take on a long-standing rhetoric that shines best in silence.

For sure, HanaShura's a unique experience; just don't expect too much from it (especially if you're going into it with a Hibike! mindset) and let the series just resonate its wavelength of stillness, coupled with vocal harmonics that'll leave you wanting for more.

Written by Ayano Takeda, who's also known for Hibike Euphonium and adapted by Studio Bind, the studio behind the modern classic isekai Jobless Reincarnation.

One of the best shows airing this season and it's about broadcasting club and all they do is read books out loud, which at first sounds simple, but the production quality and stellar voice acting seem to elevate the concept into a rich, engaging experience.

I love how they bring each paragraph to life by creating a vivid and immersive atmosphere, giving life to the words and making them feel more than just text written on pages of some book.

And the ... books they show in this anime also exist in real life, for example Ten Nights of Dreams by Natsume Sōseki.

From the master of yuri-bait herself, Takeda Ayano, comes another series that’s sure to leave us fuming at the end after teasing a lesbian ship for years. In all seriousness, Hanashura might be a different type of series than Hibike Euphonium, but Takeda-sensei brings the same sort of energy that made her famous Kyoani project so beloved. A school club setting, loveable characters, an MC that’s lost in life and trying to find her place and finding solace in a new hobby club, cute girls making lifelong bonds that totally aren’t lesbian coded, etc., but Hanashura also manages to forge its own path ... as something unique. The focus on broadcasting and bringing literature to life is truly one of the coolest things I’ve seen. This show takes the meaning of the phrase “a good book is a portal that can take you anywhere in the world” to new heights. If you are at all interested in literature and the impact that spoken word can have on people, please give this a chance. It’s a different sort of anime, but retains many familiar things that’ll make it a very enjoyable watch for most CDCT fans!

Coming into this show, I had no idea how much went into broadcasting. I mean, as a content creator myself, I knew the importance of enunciation and some basic things, but the intricacies of the craft were fully revealed to me in this show and blew me away. The way the characters in this show use recitation to express their emotions, to change how others see the world and as an art form is just.. beautiful. The studio captured the emotion of broadcast readings very well through the use of these really powerful transformation sequences where the characters and world are turned into things that reflect the book or poem’s subject matter. It’s really cool because it shows us how the listener feels and how they’re transported(not literally) into another world as the reader is reciting. I know it seems a bit nerdy and might not seem very interesting at first, but if you watch the first episode, you’ll see what I mean. It’s a really different type of sports anime which I appreciated because I learnt a lot watching this. Always a plus when you have fun and get educated when watching something.

Given that it is a sports anime, you have a lot of the same tropes you’d expect. Rivalries, MC being really talented, but lacking refinement, standoffish tsundere on the team who ends up becoming besties with the MC, the senpai that the MC strives to be like, inter-school competitions, it’s actually crazy how much overlap exists with sports anime and how much of that is present in Hanashura, but the execution was great and it’s thanks in large part to the cast. This cast is amazing, it’s a big and diverse lineup from a variety of schools, just like Hibike and while ittedly not all of them got fleshed out in the first 12 episodes, most of Hana’s team did. There’s this really wholesome family dynamic going on at the school where everyone looks out for one another. I loved it! If anything, these first 12 episodes really felt like a teaser for what’s to come in this story. There’s a ton of different characters and they all have their own unique personalities which impacts the sort of recitation style they have and the proverbial image they paint to listeners. There’s this key theme of the story that there’s no right or wrong way to appreciate recitation. It’s all about the picture you want to paint for your audience and that drives our MC forward as she learns to embrace her own unique style.

I really could ramble on and on about this show forever because I loved Hana, I loved the ing cast and I found the art of recitation so novel and interesting. It’s something that might seem minor until you see all the work and effort that goes into it and the impact it can have on people. Once you do, you’ll see it’s just as real as any other sport and this series will leave a mark on you. Hanshura gets 9 out of 10

# Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku: A Masterclass in Atmospheric Storytelling

## Recommended - Rating: 8.5/10

As someone who's watched a fair share of club-based anime, I was initially skeptical about "Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku" (Flower of an Asura). A broadcasting club where students read literature aloud? It sounded, quite frankly, like it might be dreadfully boring. Yet what I discovered was one of the most surprising and captivating viewing experiences of the season.

Let's address the elephant in the room – this is not an anime about giant robots, supernatural battles, or heart-pounding action. The very premise might turn away viewers looking for more ... immediately gratifying content. But therein lies its unique strength: "Hana wa Saku" turns something as seemingly mundane as recitation into a profoundly moving art form.

## Story and Characters (8/10)

The story follows Hana, a girl from a remote island who s her high school's broadcasting club after being scouted by her senior, Mizuki. I've noticed some reviewers criticize the pacing as "very slow" or even "excruciatingly boring," and I understand where they're coming from. This isn't a plot-heavy series with cliffhangers at every turn.

However, I'd argue that the deliberate pacing is precisely what makes this show special. Rather than rushing from one dramatic moment to the next, "Hana wa Saku" gives its emotional beats room to breathe and resonate. The slow build of Hana's confidence might span several episodes, but when she finally delivers that perfect recitation – standing alone on the beach, her voice carrying across the waves – the payoff is immensely satisfying precisely because we've journeyed with her through every hesitation and setback.

I've seen complaints that the show spends too long focusing on one aspect of character development, but I find this approach refreshingly realistic. Growth isn't a straight line, and watching Hana wrestle with the same insecurities in different contexts feels true to life rather than repetitive.

## Art and Animation (9/10)

Studio Bind has created something visually stunning here. While some might find the overall aesthetic unassuming at first glance, the true artistry emerges during the recitation scenes. The animation quality noticeably elevates, creating imaginative visual metaphors that perfectly complement the spoken words.

What might look like "nothing special" in screenshots reveals itself to be thoughtfully crafted in motion. The subtlety is the point – this isn't about flashy sakuga sequences, but rather about creating a visual atmosphere that enhances rather than distracts from the voice performances.

## Sound Design (10/10)

If there's one aspect where "Hana wa Saku" achieves undisputed excellence, it's in its audio presentation. The sound design is nothing short of phenomenal. Environmental sounds – waves crashing, wind rustling through leaves, the creaking of old wood – are meticulously crafted to create an encoming sensory experience.

But of course, in a show about recitation, the voice acting takes center stage. The performances are extraordinary, demonstrating how a skilled voice actor can transform written text into something that byes intellectual understanding and connects directly with your emotions. When Hana delivers that poem she first heard as a child, standing on that beach – I felt it in my soul, regardless of language barriers.

The musical score deserves special mention too, with its ability to subtly underpin emotional moments without overwhelming them, often transitioning "effortlessly" between silence and sound.

## Where Some See Flaws, I See Purpose

I've read reviews criticizing the show for following familiar club/competition anime structures and tropes. There's some truth to this – we do have the shy protagonist, the determined senpai, the seemingly antagonistic rival, and the looming competition.

But I'd argue that "Hana wa Saku" isn't trying to reinvent the wheel structurally – it's using a familiar framework to explore an unfamiliar subject. The conventional structure provides an accessible entry point into the specialized world of broadcasting and recitation. Besides, the execution of these familiar elements is handled with such care and authenticity that they never feel clichéd.

Some reviewers have noted a "Director problem" or suggested that the production budget could have been better allocated to improve the story. I respectfully disagree. The meticulous attention to audiovisual details isn't separate from storytelling – it IS the storytelling. In an anime about how voice and sound can create worlds in our minds, every carefully recorded footstep and perfectly modulated voice performance is as crucial to the narrative as any plot point.

## Final Thoughts

"Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku" isn't for everyone, and that's okay. Its focus on an art form that may seem obscure to non-Japanese audiences, combined with its contemplative pacing, means it won't appeal to viewers seeking high-octane entertainment.

But for those willing to attune themselves to its wavelength, it offers a uniquely rewarding experience. This is an anime that understands the power of silence as much as sound, of stillness as much as movement. It's a love letter to the art of storytelling in its most fundamental form – one human voice reaching out to others, painting pictures with nothing but words and emotion.

If you're looking for something different from the usual anime fare, something that might change how you think about the power of voice and sound, give "Hana wa Saku" a chance. Let it wash over you like those waves on Hana's island shore. You might be surprised by how deeply it resonates.

Another anime about high school clubs? Yeah. Have goosebumps with the intonation of a seiyuu? HELL YEAH.

I thought the first episode would be an average anime, one of those that you only watch when you don't know what else to do but the end of the first chapter was AMAZING. The tone, the animation, the sound that surrounds the entire scene takes you to another world.

In recent years there have been more animes related to literature, but I think that broadcasting has not been one of them and never from this point of view.

Yes, it is true that it has the same structure as other ... club/sports animes, in which there is a competition, there is an "enemy" within the same club, etc. but in this anime the readings are GOD, which animate them as if they were another completely different anime.

If you like these school animes, this is your anime.

On the other hand, if you are not sure whether to start it or not, I recommend that you watch the first episode (which is what got me hooked)

HanaShura is an anime that understands the interplay of audio and visuals perfectly and uses every tool at its disposal in order to telegraph beauty. The voice is the ultimate instrument, a tool with unlimited potential for expression. With it words become paintbrushes capable of overwriting reality and taking control over the listeners perception of the world around them.

HanaShura is at its best when it comes to sound. Even discarding the main premise of vocal recitation, the anime simply sounds good. BGM is rarely used but in its place comes extremely deliberate noise. Footsteps, chalk, clothing, animals, people, everything has a noise and that ... noise is made as high quality as possible. If you don't think about sound all that often that might seem confusing so I'll try to explain. The difference between high quality noise and low quality noise comes with its capability of expression. Low quality noise blends into its environment without contributing to it, in that its addition or absence plays no significant role in the greater feel of the atmosphere. This is most evident in works which feature either too much noise, which causes it all to mesh together, or unpolished noise, which causes it to lack impact. In HanaShura's case, the general output of noise is low while the quality of noise is high which creates a far more full and deliberate experience. This tangent is important because the core premise of the show revolves around vocal recitation and thus if this is the attention of detail paid to inconsequential environmental noise then it naturally leads you to believe that the performances will also be high quality.

And high quality they are. At first I was worried because Hana's seiyuu (Minori Fujidera) is a greenhorn and so having this be her first major role might have been too much for her to chew. Luckily, she nailed it. From Hana's first performance it's evident that you're dealing with a show of higher caliber. Ignoring the visual representation, her words alone resonate power as she channels Asura's bitter rage and casts it out into the world. The rest of the performances follow suit. While none reach the overwhelming power of Hana's initial performance each character clearly has their own performance style and their words resonate deep within the minds of their listeners. While recitation and dramatic readings are two different things there's still adequate room for individual expression and simply allowing their words to wash over you makes this evident.

Of course, this isn't a podcast, there's visuals as well. For the most part HanaShura operates with a moderately higher budget than you might expect for a slice of life kind of show. The sceneries are very pretty, very nice usage of color and the characters look clean. The main showstopper lies in the performances. The moment one of the of the broadcasting club starts reciting something you're pulled directly into the world of their words. Every representation is perfectly tuned to whichever work is being read. Ryouko's loneliness takes shape as she stands on the beach under the clear night skies, waiting for her lover. Mizuki's anger manifests as she tears herself apart to a foundational level until there's nothing left of her. Hana's potential manifests as a unrelenting force which she herself is not yet able to fully control, tempesting and crushing all those who fall before her. Most of all is Shura. Her performance matches the potential that the show has attributed her. Her raw talent suffocates the viewer as an endless barrage of her words rain down upon you forcing you into a natural state of submission and you're forced to bear witness to pure beauty. The audio and the visuals work in perfect synergy to create art. I could keep writing but this is something that can only be experienced not described to you.

Unfortunately, HanaShura isn't without flaws. The core cast ends up being a little lacking, especially when compared to Takeda's previous work. Hana is good, she exemplifies the very shy but kind girl that's still breaking out of her shell trope well. This is very much aided by her seiyuu who, just like with the recitations, does a wonderful job maintaining a very timid demeanor through her voice. She comes into her own a bit more by the end of the show which is nice to see but she lacks significant presence. Hana's two main pairings: Mizuki and An are alright. Both receive a little bit of backstory and development but aren't focused on enough in general to comment on in depth. The main issue that all the characters have is simply a lack of points that stick out. To be a bit meaner: they aren't very memorable. They interact well enough with each other, Hana and Mizuki's relationship is quite nice, but not enough to push them into long term memory.

Additionally the show falls victim to having an unsatisfying ending. It's another one of those shows that nails it for the first three quarters and then pushes drama into the final quarter instead of sticking with what works. Rather than doing this they could have easily dedicated more time towards pushing those character relationships forward instead of the fairly awkward episode and a half of nothing that we ended up with. The episodes prior worked well at establishing each of the of the broadcasting club, giving them each an adequate backstory and motivations, all they needed to do was build off of those a little bit more and it would have made for a much more wholly satisfying experience. While the ending does naturally lead into a sequel, it comes at the cost of a more seamless experience which sours the final impression that it's able to give.

While it does end up stumbling every now and then, HanaShura is undeniably a beautiful anime. It's filled with ion for artistic expression and understands the relationship shared between sound and the mind and how to best translate that onto the screen. Whether you like it or not, you will end up being dominated by the experience as its stories weave their way through all of your senses. If you've never experienced awe, this is a good place to start.

Highschool girls or just highschool kids in general working hard together to reach their dreams and be a better version of themselves isn't a rare view in anime, from the likes of Bocchi The Rock, A Place Further Than The Universe, Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight we now have Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku or HanaShura for short.

Unlike the animes mentioned peviously HanaShura has a more niche topic at hand which is reciting and announcing as apposed to Bocchi The Rock's playing in a band or A Place Further than the Universe's going to Antartica. Therefore watching this show we're then thrown into this very ... new and unusual side of things, despite listening to announcements every day I never really thought of the process and the hard work put behind it and with the addition of the world of recital this is surely a very unique story for an anime to be tackling.

With the anime revolving around announcing and reciting the quality of voice acting is crucial for the general enjoyability of the show, and I could safely say that theres not really any problem with it. Although I say that it's not like as if I could really feel the raw immense emotions that the characters in the show are shown to be feeling when listening to some of the recital done in the show. Everytime there's supposed to be a good recital the characters that listened to it are often times shown to be utterly enchanted by the beauty of it, the animators also did a lot to show it by adding a lot of imageries and changing the background to fit the story that's being told.

So just to be blunt, I can't seem to really understand the beauty of it. Well this is probably just a "not my cup of tea" kinda situation but I bet most people relate to this. More so because a lot of the stories being recited uses a lot of hard unusual words and a ton of metaphors that are just simply to hard to keep up with which is probably my skill issue. Therefore, even if I personally can't feel what the characters are feeling or the emotions that they are supposed to be bringing I still kinda enjoy parts of the show.

But ultimately I think that this show is meh, with a very niche topic at hand its hard for me to really be engrossed in the stories nor the characters so I'd give it a 5 for average.

The combination of beautiful visuals and music used to represent being pulled into characters' readings was very well done. The characters themselves feel genuine and fun, and despite the relatively short run, there is demonstrated growth. I think it's an enjoyable "sports" anime with some serious slice of life vibes.

However, this might be rated higher if a big part of the climax wasn't spent on one character's family drama. Also, the resolution to that drama ultimately felt too convenient, rushed, and unearned to be truly satisfying. It would have been a good character event if it didn't feel like it delayed us from ever getting ... to the competition they've spent most of the season preparing for.

🟢New anime early NO SPOILER review
Story: Hana is a newly struggling freshman at Sumomogaoka High. Away from school across the sea, she living on an island with a population of 600, mostly younger to her, as result she has no friends, but her hobby is to read stories to the Island's kids. One day Mizuki, a senpai of her at school, sees Hana during one of her's reading sessions with the kids. Impressed by her, Mizuki then introduce herself to Hana at school and start pushing on recruiting her to the school's broadcasting club. Hana who just reads for fun, meet the other , experience ... many "firsts", face personal obstacles and discover more about herself as the national broadcasting competition is coming closer.

🅾️🅿🅸🅽🅸🅾🅽:
This is might not be a choice for many and go underrated due the choice of concept used here, reciting. Reciting means a lot in japan, so for Japanese people this probably beautiful, but for the rest, they might find it boring. Reciting is when a person reads a phrase/story/poem with voice tones and pauses that make the audience that hears it, actually visualize what they said in their head.

Before you decide to dodge this one, when i heard this anime is about a school drama with reading competition, my first reaction is no thank you, sounds boring, not my thing, i'm skipping this one. Yet Anime already proved to me in the past, that it can make a concept i don't give a single f*** about, interesting and entertaining. It happened to me with Volleyball (Haikyuu) and Concert band (Euphonium). So if you like S-tier character development, character writing, drama writing and school setting and willing to explore something new, you should try this slice of life because the Author is really good (read more about it below).

🔥HOT BONUSES!
1. Speaking of "Euphonium", the biggest reason why I'm watching this anime is because the Author who did Euphonium, Ayano Takeda also did this. Indeed this is her second adapted manga work and I'm hoping the same drama writing delivers again.
2. Leave it to Anime to make any boring topic like reading books to have a tournament arc and be as the dramatic as the most popular fighting shows are LOL, some of the scenes animations when they recite are like daaaamn! The Voice actors also had fun with this one.

⚠️: I will edit this review at the end of the season with my final thoughts with no spoilers at my "Anime List" on my profile, i will NOT delete this early review. If you want to check the season review or other anime reviews i do, you can check it here: https://myanimelist.sitesdebloques.org/animelist/Ron014

Flower and Asura is a slice of life show about recitation in a high school broadcasting club.

Story:
Hana lives in a small remote island, goes to school by a ferry and was recruited to the broadcasting club by Mizuki. With this simple description, this story is very unique compared to others. The overall is written pretty well, but not perfect.

Animation:
The animation looks great with the character designs, the background, etc, but it's nothing spectacular.

Characters:
The characters are great to the story and viewing experience as they are significant to the overall story including the side characters. The one noticeable flaw that I noticed were the lack ... of emotion that some characters have which can feel unsettling.

Overall it's nice to see Flower and Asura being a part of the variety of anime in the Winter 2025 seasonal. Some may find this show to be boring, but it's a great relaxing watch for those who are a big fan of slice of life.

8/10

Right of the bat, the production is absolutely stellar. No two ways about it, from the backdrops, subtleties in it's animation, sound design, and especially the voice acting which I guess should not be surprising given the subject matter (Then again, there have been so many subpar adaptations over the years so it's worth mentioning).

Story is on the slower side but at no point did it feel draggy. Flower and Asura has an uncanny ability of keeping your attention in the quiet moments whether it's coming from it's sound design or just the right amount of silence to ponder a sentence. I appreciate the ... thought, intention, and execution behind it. It was a nice touch from a direction standpoint. It really is beautifully done.

After 3 episodes, I find myself looking forward to this show the most every week. And now 5 episodes in at the point of me writing this review, I can say that has not change and am even more intrigued with where this show and it's characters are going. My opinion might change when the season ends, but for now, I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

For what it's worth, it is the first anime this season to truly make me feel and I think that counts for something.

So if you find yourself interested in the premise even a little, I say just go for it. It might surprise you.
And if you're not interested in the premise, give it a shot anyway :)

Hana wa Saku, Shura no Gotoku tells about Hana Haruyama struggle to find herself and to getting better at recitation.

While the plot may be a bit too common in it's developements, it still is generally good.

The animation on the other hands it's superb especially during the recitations parts.

The Characters instead are exactly what you can aspect from this type of anime, with most of them having a darker part of their past influencing their current behaviour, not so original isn't it?

And the seinyuus? they are fairly in the middle, again their best performance are during the recitation parts.

In the end it is a fairly good ... anime, not exellent per say.

Flower & Asura was surprisingly a very well done anime about recitation of famous poems/short stories and brings them to life. The
metaphors between the stories and the characters themselves were wonderfully showcased. The production alone for this show was stellar in my opinion and really elevated the story.

Overall Sentiments:
- The first half of this show was absolutely wonderful and WAS going to be my Anime of the Season HOWEVER at some point during the second half I felt it was lacking a little bit. It didn't feel as engaging as the first half. Also, the introduction of new characters kinda took me out of ... the experience as I wasn't a fan.

- Animation and Art were nice and clean. Studio Bind's animation style is nice and pleasing to the eye so it made the
series a nice watch.

- What stuck out to me the most was use of Classic Literature as I'm a giant book/story/fiction lover so I definitely felt this show was catering to me. The visual metaphors were SO good and really made this show what it was. The transitions were clean too. Really well put together.

Overall, I struggled whether to give this an 8 or 9 but ultimately settled for an 8 as the second half wasn't as strong but still enjoyable. This was a wonderful show though, let that be known.

- Written while listening to Drawing the Line by Royal Pirates

Anime, being a Japanese form of media, contains entries portraying some of the finer elements of Japanese culture that may not easily appeal to Western audiences. Flower and Asura is one such title, spawned from the mind of Ayano Takeda, who also wrote the Sound Euphonium series. There are some story similarities but such comparisons will not be directly covered in this review. While Eupho resides in a more accessible realm of classical music, this entry's main focus, surrounding literature and public speaking, is more of a specific niche. Some of these types of anime can easily end up being lost in translation, but some ... of them, through their storytelling and visuals, are able to break the mold. Does this one do so? This review will have a gander at that question. Let’s begin.

Per the synopsis, this is mainly a coming-of-age story centered around Hana and her time in the Broadcasting Club. In of things that actually go on, there really is not that much. The character interactions are what move things forward, and they do so at a slow pace. To be frank, the story here will not turn a lot of heads. There is little to nothing in of plot twists or long-lasting drama, but this is not a story meant to really capitalize on such devices. This is a story about the process of discovering one’s calling, a type of narrative easily translatable to our human society. In this anime, Hana’s arc involves her realizing that her talent is actually something she can use to better herself, and it’s a slow process that not even these 12 episodes cover completely. First impressions of her may vary somewhat. Her insecurities and hesitations can feel a bit overbearing at the start, and it’s by design that they never really go away, but seeing her chip at it piece by piece is what makes her arc worthwhile for those willing to invest into her character. Her given talent for reading and presenting as well as her necessity to improve her talent are both displayed effectively from the beginning, helping set the tone early. As mentioned, it’s a gradual, realistic maturity on display.

The main angle that this anime chooses to attack Hana’s dilemma of giving meaning to and honing her craft is that of competition. While the front half is more slice-of-life with a more episodic feel, a lot of the club’s time together in the back half is spent preparing for reading recitals. As mentioned, the art of public reading is a deeper niche (at least it is here in the States so pardon my cultural biases), so seeing it being the dominant focus like it is here makes for a unique experience. At face value, it is a bit boring and not the most creative approach to the subject matter. In addition, a lot of meat is left on the bone when it comes to the actual competition itself. That said, the grounded approach is consistent here as well. Though Hana is talented, she is still only a first-year who has never competed in her discipline. Some aspects of that come as rude awakenings for her, which fit her character and the general tone. The mantra of “someone out there always being better than you” is practiced and demonstrated often in those scenes, not only when it comes to Hana, but some of the other club as well.

Since the Broadcasting Club is a small group, there is enough time to give at least some decent depth to every member. Hana learns and grows with the club as she learns about the other club ’ talents, some similar, some a bit different, as well as some of their own hardships. The varying circumstances and mindsets of the other club drive Hana’s developments forward, as she picks up hints of wisdom that her club mates leave for her. Hana not being the only club member with visible vulnerabilities also helps viewers get more in touch with the other club as well. It almost feels like a ‘band of misfits’ gathering, but none of the characters’ backstories are so grandiose. None of them are the most likable viewers will ever meet, as not all of the interactions are wholesome (but most of them still are). Tensions fly and mistakes are made sometimes, but the writing is good in that each ’ flaws and the moments they can clash feel more like growing pains tied to the characters as opposed to any sort of writing shortcoming.

Since many of the key moments in this show involve speaking and reciting, it is fair to expect a good amount of detail went into the sound design. The voice acting cast is mostly fresher faces that have yet to hit their highs. For the most part, it is very good given the wider lack of experience. Minori Fujidera turns in her first-ever MC role as Hana, and she does a good job of portraying Hana's insecurities and demonstrating each single step she takes growing out of them. I personally don’t know Japanese at a depth appropriate to break down the finer details of the language that this show gets into, but the show is written nicely in that viewers like myself can still learn something about those details and potentially make out some of them as they are acted out over time. The voice acting also helps with this, as characters going into ‘reading mode’ have distinct, clear transitions in the voice actors’ inflections and pronunciations. Since the attention went into the voice acting, the music feels mostly like an afterthought, but it doesn't take away from anything either. The OP is catchy and colorful too, which helps.

Visually, it feels middle-budget but it has some nice effects. Even though this is a contemporary setting, this is a nice balance of color. The school the anime takes place in is in the southern islands so there’s a lot of summer-y backdrops. Many key scenes take place during sunset, and the lighting really pops nicely in those moments. There is one unique device that elevates things though. Whenever a character goes into ‘reading mode’, the visuals of those scenes display the internal mental imagery of the listener. The intensity of the images often matches the intensity of the reading, which is a nice execution that gives the effects decent variety. The final time it is used at the very end of the show is also particularly memorable. As effective as it is, some viewers may find it gets a bit repetitive, since it is pretty much the only distinct element that the visuals really work off of. The character designs do not have much detail but have good depth of color, are all relatively realistic, which is what matters the most given the type of story this is, and also have good variety given that approach.

In the end, while this show will not really grab many people's attention because of its subject matter and intentionally slow pacing, it is easily enjoyable. It checks the boxes for the good foundation of a coming-of-age story, the most important being a higher complexity of characters and scenarios. As pedestrian as it may seem, the main narrative here is consistently presented to be realistic and mostly relatable. The ending is underwhelming, but the final arc does a good job summarizing the greater themes of the story. The visuals and sound both hold up decently, but neither have enough to truly stand out. This is an easy recommendation for those looking out for more unique motifs and/or for comfy coming-of-age stories, but it will fail to impress much otherwise.

Okay, for this one, i really enjoy it from beginning as it was very promising, and underrated as well.
It was a classic drama school slice-of-life anime with club activity and tournament as the main plot. For a very familiar genre like this, u need a very good story and characters quality to be more than just regular school anime.
Story wise, it was pretty basic tbh, but kinda promising with its main character. And each character has their own backstory that makes them interesting. But the problem is, it wasn't maximize and executed well enough, so there's like something missing. Hana, mizuki, and akiyama are ... interesting character but their stories aren't maximized enough. But i think the main problem is the duration. It needs at least 24 episode or 2 cour, bcs 12 eps isn't enough to explore the story and characters. Due to the short eps, the relationship dynamic between each character is only start being explored towards the end of the show.
But aspect like graphic and sceneries are really in a very excellent quality, it was really mesmerizing my eyes. Scoring also pretty good.
Well, if this was 2 cour anime, surely it can reach higher score. But i already give a high score of 8.5 bcs the graphic are really amazing and plus point for shishamo as the singer of the opening