Sakura Trick anime review! *Spoilers*

Sakura Trick is a 12 episode yuri anime which aired from January 10th, 2014 to March 28th, 2014. This was actually the first yuri anime that I finished watching! So being new to the genre, I was a little skeptical but for what the anime is, I really enjoyed it. Although with that being said, 12 episodes was enough for me.

Synopsis

Haruka and Yuu are best friends who have just started high school. Although, fearful that their close bond will be broken, they decide to start doing something between just the two of them that will make their friendship special...a kiss. This special tradition is continued over and over again throughout the show as the two friends attempt to keep their relationship a secret from their friends and family. 


So basically 12 episodes of anime, high school girls kissing...seems about right.          

My thoughts on the anime  

From start to finish, I enjoyed this anime. Overall, Sakura Trick was a really cute, fun and a light hearted series! And definitely not something to be taken seriously.

 From what I've heard and read myself, the Yuri genre is known for having nothing to do with actual problems/social issues around liking the same sex, which is something that gets a lot of people (And I can see why that bothers people).  

This anime is not a drama. There are no bad guys. There are no real struggles. It's just a slice of life, yuri anime that displays two, confused teenagers attempting to figure out their relationship and sexuality.

Although I will say, that for a yuri anime, this show really delivers! When I see an anime listed as a yuri, I expect subtle hints between the main characters and awkward romance that never really carries anything out. But within the first 10 minutes of the the first episode Haruka and Yuu were in a heated make out session in an empty classroom. Tongue, moaning and all. I wasn't expecting this in the slightest. I was shocked and excited to see, actual girl on girl action! (Or as action-y as yuri anime gets).

But, this anime did have it's weak points. It lacked in action between the two main characters. Nothing really serious happens. It's just more and more and more heated make-out sessions. And I can't believe I'm saying this but, the novelty of two cute, anime high school girls making out had worn off after the tenth time or so. It was a little disheartening but not enough to make me drop the show. But there is no doubt that it is your stereotypical, cutsey, slice of life, yuri anime. But, with lots of kissing. Which is the only thing that separates it from any other yuri anime. 

Each episode is a different little skit of Haruka, Yuu and their group of friends going about their high school life. Of course it's the usual day to day events which can be watched in any slice of life, high school anime but I found it interesting enough to keep me watching until the end. The main characters are likeable but so are their friends! Which is another thing I liked about this anime...

The Gay is everywhere!  

It's not just Haruka and Yuu, but several other relationships and feelings are hinted at throughout their group of friends during the course of the anime! Now, not to the extent of Haruka and Yuu, but you can defiantly tell they are there. Minami and Kotone are an obvious one. These are two of the main supporting roles in the show and close friends with Haruka and Yuu. Kotone ran away from home and has been living at Minami's house for most of the anime. It's a typical Seme and Uke relationship -- but still cute none the less. But sadly this couple barely gets any screen time which I found to be a little disappointing since they had an actual background story! Another surprising relationship (sort of relationship??) involves Yuu's older sister! She also develops feelings for Haruka throughout the show and actually confesses to her in the last episode. Basically everyone in this school is into each other (okay I'm exaggerating a little but still-). In fact it only dawned on me after 8 or so episodes that there were actual guys in the school as well! I thought it was just an all girls school (but of course it's a yuri anime so, what boys??). The fact that liking another girl in the show wasn't shunned upon was refreshing to see and even though everyone suspected Haruka and Yuu to be in a relationship, no one really cared. I was more like, 'Well, there they go again'.  

Lots and lots of kissing...but that's it

  

This is probably the main thing that irked me about this anime. As I mentioned before, the novelty of the yuri fan service wears off fairly quickly. At first, the entire aspect of actually seeing, yuri, in a yuri anime, is new and exciting! For once, a yuri anime with some actual yuri! And I prayed with all my perverted heart that this wouldn't be the end of things. I mean, it's only natural to think that way when within the first 10 minutes of the first episode you're already getting a heated make out session! I couldn't even begin to imagine what episode 8 would be like *winku*. But not even mid-way through the series did I come to the conclusion that this was as good as it was getting. It was just going to be, lots and lots of kissing. It almost became tiring to watch. And by the time the expected kiss scene came around in the last few minutes of the episode you were watching, it just felt a little forced and like it /needed/ to happen. I wouldn't have minded it so much if the story matured or there was more character development. But aside from getting slightly more daring when it came to their timely kiss scenes, neither Haurka or Yuu developed much and neither did their feelings. 

The romance is...sort of there?

"But there's so much kissing!! How do they not love each other?!?!?". Yes, I know. Don't get me wrong, the love is there! But they never really come out and just say it. Until the very last 10 minutes of the last episode, neither of them claim they're anything else but friends nor are there any romantic feelings. In their minds, they're just really close friends...who enjoy kissing each other. It's even said in the anime that sometimes they just kiss because they feel like it. Which is why in my opinion the romance can only go so far. Because they simply are just young, confused and inexperienced teenagers who don't really know what 'love' is. This can be seen by Haruka in the last episode when Yuu's older sister confesses to her. When she confesses to Haruka, Haruka doesn't hesitate in saying 'I love you' back. Which is when Yuu's older sister realizes that Haruka doesn't truly understand what kind of love she is talking about. But this does at least make Haruka begin to question her relationship with Yuu (THANK GOD SOME PROGRESS GEEZ).   

My overall thoughts on Sakura Trick 

In the end, I would rate this anime an 8/10. I really enjoyed watching this anime. Sakura Trick is a good anime to watch if are in the mood for something light, fun and cute to watch! With lots of fan service. Although I would have liked to have seen more character development and more than just copious amounts of kissing. Even so, I still really enjoyed this anime for what it was and would recommend itt. This anime is great for those typical shoujo moments that make you squeal and interesting enough dialogue that makes you chuckle while keeping you captivated. But if you're looking for something that really tugs on your heart strings, then I would look else where.  

Thank you for reading and sticking around to the end!  
   
I'm now watching Yuri Kuma Arashi but ff anyone has any yuri animes they recommend, let me know!! ^^

Fiona and Erin xo