(This article contains no spoilers. However, viewers who would prefer to have no advance information about the series are advised not to read this article.)

Your Lie In April was originally a manga. It was later made into an anime, and is set to have a live action feature film released in September 2016. The anime run was completed in March of 2015, but even now, it is still trending on various social networking services. The animation is produced by A-1 Pictures, makers of Blue Exorcist, Sword Art Online, and other well-known series. The animation for Your Lie In April features beautiful watercolors which make for a stunning product on-screen.

I must say, I watch a lot of anime for my job. If I were asked what my favorite anime was, there’s obviously no way I could narrow it down to just one, but Your Lie In April would have to be up there. It’s great enough that I want to tell people about it. Both the anime and manga are great. So let yourself fall for the hype a little bit, and give it a shot. I’m sure you’ll find it interesting!

After watching the series, I wanted to go and listen to classical music, and to work toward becoming a better person.

I’m already over 30 years old, but even I found this an emotionally moving story.

What is Your Lie In April?

Classical Music and Romance in the Springtime of Youth

Kosei Arimal, 14 years old, had won several piano competitions, and was known as a piano prodigy, until his mother’s death three years ago. His mother’s passing led to a mental breakdown and he can no longer hear the sound of a piano, even though his hearing is perfectly fine otherwise. He sees the world in black and white, in more than one sense of the expression.

One day, Kosei meets a 14-year-old violinist named Kawori Miyazono. Her playing exudes innocence, fantasy, and a fighting spirit. Kawori’s style does not fit the traditional mold of a classical violinist. Instead, she plays freely, and this attracts the woeful Kosei. Kawori’s music begins to put color into Kosei’s world, and he starts to take his first steps toward recovering himself.

Classical music? Sounds dark and difficult.

Is that perhaps your initial reaction? If so, we’d probably make good friends because I thought the exact same thing. Yes, classical music is an overarching theme of the series, but you don’t need any classical music knowledge to enjoy this series.

What kind of people are pianists?
How do they face a performance?
What goes on in their heads when they perform?

This series explains all these things to us non-musicians in a very easy-to-understand manner.

For those of you who think you won’t like this anime because it involves classical music, I suggest you watch the first two episodes, in which a couple of music competition scenes appear. And I’ll make you a promise: By the time you finish the second episode, you’ll want to go and listen to some classical music yourself!

Romance and the Springtime of Youth

These two points are also important themes in Your Lie In April. Just as important as the music. Two key characters are Kosei’s childhood friends, Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryota Watari. Particularly in the ‘daily life’ scenes, these two play important roles in the story.

The young lives and romances of these boys and girls are depicted beautifully, and even poetically. In the anime, every emotion and feeling is expressed and represented.

This extends beyond just Kosei’s childhood friends, to rival pianists as well. All the characters’ feelings, and how they are presented, is one of the highlights of this series.

Every character is fascinating, and the series will make you wish your own youthful days were like theirs.

Parents Can Enjoy It Too!

Got children of your own? Kosei and Kawori’s parents are important characters in this series. I’m going to guess that you won’t be able to get through this series without shedding some tears. Particularly in the first half of the anime, Kosei’s mother plays a large role.

A parent’s feelings for their child.

Before her death, Kosei’s mother’s feelings toward her child, and likewise Kosei’s feelings toward his own mother, are beautifully written and drawn.

After Watching

Enjoyable Echoes

I would recommend listening to the classical music that appears in the series on your own after watching.
A selection CD of the pieces performed by Kosei and Kawori is available for purchase.

Echoes after watching the anime. I really don’t know how to express that feeling. Your Lie In April is just one of those series that reverberates in your heart long after watching it.

Listening to this CD after watching the series brings back various scenes. It really is a very soothing way to enjoy the after-echoes of the series, so I highly recommend it.

How To Enjoy ‘Your Lie In April’ From Within Japan

There are various locations in the Nerima district in Tokyo that appear in the anime. The Nerima district tourist association publishes a map of these locations.
http://www.nerima-kanko.jp/kimiuso

This blog compares screenshots from the anime to shots from the real locations.
http://anitabi.net/blog/2014/11/kimiuso.html

A Google Map of Your Lie In April locations is also available.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zlZiOItqQZ24.k0wqLHNw-v_Q

The sweets shop that Kawori’s family runs also exists in real life (although apparently it has moved since the anime was created). They sell canéle!
http://arcachon.jp/

The next time you’re in Japan, be sure to check out some of these sites!

Keywords to know for a YLIA discussion

• Black Cat
• The novel Ichigo Doumei
• Snoopy
• Night skies
• A mother’s magic spell
• Tsubaki’s love life and personal growth
• Kawori’s determination, love, and lie
• Kosei’s state of mind and performance in Episode 21.
• The letter in episode 22.
• The image on Watari’s cellphone in Episode 22.

Final Words

So? Do you want to watch this anime yet?
It’s such a fantastic series, I’m afraid however much I tell you about it I will never do it justice.
I would love for all of you who watch the series to start posting in the discussion below! Leave your comments!