Aoi Hana is fairly simple for a yuri series, unlike the others that I am usually accustomed to (e.g Marimite, Strawberry Panic). However, if your in for the ride for full girl-on-girl action and fan service, this is probably not the series for you. The furthest action we can see is simply a kiss between Fumi and Yasuko that is handled tastesfully. Its lack of a perfect ecosystem consisting of lesbians is also what sets it apart from the other shows in the terms that everyone is not a lesbian and there are elements of heterosexual relations present. It is this simplicity and the length of only 11 episode that makes the series enjoyable.
Compared to Marimite, this show has a small cast and the relationship between are the characters are fairly straightforward. It revolves around the romantic life of Manjōme Fumi and her unknown feelings for her childhood friend Okudaira Akira. This journey of rediscovery of their mutual is beautiful and touching.
Fumi unlike the other characters is true to her own feelings for members of the same sex, being not afraid to show this to her friends and those around her. Being true to herself, she slowly develops a beautiful strength with her experiences in the show and becomes a much better character towards the end.
An interesting character is Sugimoto Yasuko, who is the typical popular cool upperclassman in the series, however it doesn’t simply stop there. Despite, being the one with the most advantages in the series, she does not seem to be able to get over her love for her old teacher, who was about to become her brother-in-law until the very end of the series. This lead to her going out with Fumi and eventually breaking up, but however spurring Fumi to realise who she really loves. However, she is also described as a Happy Prince at episode 10, this could be a reference to the distance between the prince and his subjects, that (s)he is out of touch with them and only see things from her own point of view.
Kyōko Ikumi,Misako Yasuda,Miwa Motegi and Yōko Hon’atsugi
The rest of the cast does their roles perfectly well, offering a relief from the heavier relationship that takes center stage.
The music of the series is pleasant and sets the mood for the ongoing drama. The OP suitably named Aoi Hana is certainly one of my favorite for this particular season of anime (though my watching schedule is particularly skewered).
Thus I would like to give this series a 9/10 for being a very enjoyable Yuri/Shoujo show. I would strongly recommend this to any Yuri/Shoujo genre lovers.
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