Anime 54856 Horimiya Piece Reviews Filter Check 2

This new season of Horimiya is quite interesting. While the first season technically covered up to the ending of the manga, it left out a lot of content which left a lot of manga readers unhappy (for context, there are 16 volumes of the manga in total). Therefore, the purpose of this season is to adapt some of the chapters that were skipped over in order to flesh out the characters more. That being said, I have very mixed feelings on this season overall due to this approach.

Originally, I really thought this season would be a hit as it was giving more time with the ... characters that we all loved. However, because most of the chapters adapted here were slice of life, nothing of importance really happens. Outside of a few moments in the season which I found to be particularly compelling (namely episode 11), most of the rest was just fluff. While the fluff was well received at first, it became very repetitive as the season progressed and by the end of the season, I was somewhat happy it was over.

One episode in particular left me with a bad taste in my mouth which honestly should not have been included in the season to begin with. It followed a character nobody cares about and took up precious time that could have been used to adapt other chapters that are still not adapted even after this season.
 
I don't want to be too harsh on this anime though. Just like the main show, the animation and music were solid with an amazing OP that I really enjoyed watching. The characters are loveable as always and their dynamics with each other are shown more. I especially like what the season did with Iura and Sawada with the latter becoming one of my favorite characters in the series.

Overall, this whole season was somewhat of a mixed bag. While I enjoyed my time while watching it, it became clear that this was not compelling enough for me to look forward to each episode. Horimiya is still an amazing series to me but I wish that Cloverworks was allowed to make a 2-cour season in order to adapt all of this in order. That would have made the whole experience much more enjoyable and a lot of my complaints would have been null and void. It doesn't deserve to be rated too low but I don't feel comfortable rating this anything over a 7.

A lot of us were confused when we saw Horimiya getting a new season. Hadn't it already concluded? Horimiya rose to immense popularity and it left fans looking for more, especially manga readers who were infuriated by the fact the adaptation only received 12 episodes when it could have easily gotten 24 plus. As a standalone season, the original Horimiya was honestly a great watch if we exclude the fact that they cut out a bunch of chapters. It honestly felt very seamless, probably because they focused specifically on Hori and Miyamura outside of the extensive side cast. That's where Missing Pieces comes in. It ... shines light on the side cast, which I always thought was the strength of Horimiya, but glaring weaknesses are present.

I feel that some of the more casual Horimiya fans will be disappointed by this series. The diehards will love to see their series animated no matter what, but those who enjoyed Horimiya as a romance will be disappointed. I think that you would be very hard-pressed to call Missing Pieces a romance. It's almost exclusively slice-of-life, with comparatively little Hori and Miyamura in comparison. On the romance topic, I want to express one of my criticisms of the series. Nothing happens. Yoshikawa, Ishikawa, Sakura, and Iura, these guys are stuck in an eternal love polygon. There are so many advances, especially with Sakura in the main series but nothing ever happens outside of Remi and Sengoku and Hori/Miyamura. One of my absolute favorite moments in the original series was the exchanges between Sengoku and Remi exchanging books that they thought the other would like. The author chose to keep everything static and while all the characters are constantly frolicking about, laughing and smiling. By no means does it feel satisfying. Missing Pieces is adapting chapters that were skipped, and some of those chapters are from earlier in the series, and it just kinda hurts to see Sakura laughing around Ishikawa when we know that she has feelings for him. When the chapter was originally drawn, we weren't supposed to know about her feelings so it doesn't feel natural. It was moments like this that made me feel like missing pieces was just a cash grab, too little too late.

Knowing that this is a chill slice-of-life primarily, it changes how I would go about recommending it. As mentioned previously, I like Horimiya's side cast, I think the characters are generally really likable. It keeps a good balance of alternating in and out of the school setting. I think the comedy is flat and euphoric though. When characters try to be funny, the voice actors are doing too much and the jokes are often overused, boring, flat, and stale (except the one teacher who likes high schoolers who was funny [I don't condone this], I wish he would have gotten together with the female teacher). I have a problem with the disposition of the characters, they all seem overly happy all the time. To put this in context, you know how guilty people who are bad at lying act overly agreeable and crack jokes a lot? That's how I felt about the cast sometimes. I personally like most of the characters (Remi, Sengoku, Ishikawa, Yoshikawa, Sakura, Iura) even if I don't like Hori and Miyamura that much, which made this for a generally enjoyable watch despite being boring and cringe at times.
Final Score: 7/10

If you take into account the extraordinarily high rates of school romances these days, it is unlikely that any story meandering in that general valley shall find it hard to catch a cavern of eager eyed enthusiasts for itself, so long as there is a story. And, story there was when the original Anime aired back in 2021. Now, with more than a good chunk of two revolutions elapsed, now seems to be the moment ripe enough for a continuation of the said story, or something close to that ball park. This series is more or less that something, close to the ball park-ish.

Plot: As ... the synopsis aptly summaries, this is a collage of side stories, the purpose of which is to give both context and content. Without spoiling anything, the episodes will at times fill the gaps left by the parent series, at times strain on formerly mentioned affairs with a little more detail, and at times provide simple enjoyment without the fuss of relating to something prior.

Characters: If the original remains fresh in your mind, then there is really nothing much to add to it.

Animation: Decent animation resembling the parent story. Just as the original flowed smoothly with finesse, so does this. Nothing really new to embellish or diminish the Anime.

Music: As the Anime is a largely a comic romance, so is the music suited to that form. The OST fits in nicely with what is shown on the screen. Opening and Ending of the Anime are both decent and catchy.

Enjoyment: If you enjoyed the original, there is nothing that'd make you experience anything to the contrary. In fact at times you'd probably enjoy it more because of certain things that are shown here, which not only gives context but also stretches the original and takes it to a new place that often leads to enjoyment.

This is more or less almost identical to what the new Ousama Ranking was trying to achieve, however with much improved consequences. So do give it a try if light hearted humour with a tinge of romance is your forte.

I have a really weird relationship with this show… I really loved the original series and watched it all the way through, when I heard we were getting new horimiya I was excited, when I realized it’s pretty much just 12 episodes of OVAs (yes, I know they’re all manga canon, they’re just unimportant to the plot) I was pretty disappointed. I watched most of this season begrudgingly, forcing myself to watch each episode, and I would always enjoy it enough to have not been mad I watched it. Ultimately I got too behind on new episodes and now I can’t force myself to watch ... anymore. If you DIE HARD love the original, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Horimiya: Piece, but if it was just 1 of the 200 rom com anime you’ve seen (like me), it’s pretty hard to get through. I just don’t care about the extended cast enough to have no plot line.

You'll like it if:
• You enjoyed the comedic aspect of S1.
• You liked the character dynamics in S1 and want to see more of the side characters.
• You finished S1 and you just want more.
• Slice of Life is your thing.

You won't like it if:
• You expect the Horimiya plot to progress.
• You didn't like how the attention shifted from the main couple to the side characters in S1, cause you mostly liked the romance.
• You're not a fan of filler episodes...since this is basically a filler season.
• You couldn't care less about the side characters. ...

Story: Piece is unique in the sense that it's not really a second season, but rather some side stories that took place parallel to the key events of S1. So while there's no actual plot from start to finish, it complements and adds to what we already saw, with the stories themselves are pretty enjoyable.

Characters: While the characters' traits remain the same, we get to see more sides of them in Piece, which fleshes them out even more. I was delighted to see characters who didn't get to interact as much in the previous season share some moments and explore their new dynamics.

Art & Sound: As with the first season, nothing particularly mindblowing. but they serve their purpose well.

Personal enjoyment: Since my favorite thing about the first season was the everyday moments between the cast, Horimiya: Piece was up my alley. Even then, the lack of an overall direction made it occasionally hard to push through with the season. While I overall enjoyed it I would be hesitant to recommend it to everyone who liked S1.

im not a fan of long reviews so im gonna make this short.

so, as we know; the new season of horimiya adapts the content S1 skipped. it was plain boring to watch, and I pretty much forced myself though the eps but I'll admit some scenes were actually funny and I had a pretty good laugh.
the art style was pretty as usual, the show was very predictable and they made it really bland. they also seem to have extended the season too much with almost no progress.

(also the side characters get a lot of screen time)
go watch it if you're into fillers.

3 episodes in and I'm really disappointed. Probably going to drop this.

I really liked Miyamura being the alternative outsider character and the story revolving around that, but now it has changed to ''how to domesticate alternative edgy boy''. Would've liked to see more of the juxtaposition of the two MC's but no, here we have a basic boring romcom with conventionally good looking characters trying to be sad about mundane shit no one actually cares about because they have no real problems. Grow up.

The animation's good as ever and the art style is pretty but it doesn't save the show.

Listen. When I watched Horimiya (2021), I came away satisfied, giving it an 8/10 because of the relationships portrayed in the series, though I felt like it lost focus in the second half. I did not read the manga, nor I had any other knowledge of the story. I picked up Horimiya: Piece now, and I was confused, and wasn't. There was no story, just the random scenes that didn't make it into the anime from the source material, I get it. That meant no storyline, no nothing. I still found myself enjoying the individual scenes, feeling like I know these characters and I'm lucky ... to spend more time with them in this world. Still, after finishing it, I was left craving the story and development of the other version.

So, I went and immediately watched that one as well. What I got was not what I expected. I got the story that I was missing from Horimiya: Piece, sure, but what I saw now was full of holes and hardly a credible line to be found. No wonder I initially felt like the series lost focus in the second half.

Without all the vivid scenes, deepened characters and fleshed out events in Horimiya: Piece, Horimiya (2021) feels like a hollow husk. Without the storyline and elapsing time of Horimiya (2021), Horimiya: Piece feels like a pointless walk to nowhere in particular, a slice of life with no beginning or end.

I truly regret that the series isn't 24 episodes with one comprehensive overhaul, engaging the story over those chapters, but two separate pieces of art, both of them with pacing issues, naturally.

I like it. I like all the characters, the relationships, I have my favourites and I swoon over some. That does not mean, however, that it's a good piece of writing as a whole. Proceed with caution. For me, it was worth it, to get to know everyone. But it's hard watching Horimiya (2021) and Horimiya: Piece one after the other.

Maybe watch some episodes intermittently? Manga readers?

Horimiya Piece Season 2 returns with the same visual flair and endearing characters that made its predecessor a standout success. While the animation continues to impress and the voice acting remains commendable, the decision to confine the narrative within the timeframe of Season 1's arcs somewhat dampens the overall impact of this installment.

First and foremost, the animation in Horimiya Piece Season 2 is nothing short of spectacular. The attention to detail, fluid character movements, and vibrant colors contribute to a visual feast that surpasses the already high standards set by Season 1. The animation studio deserves praise for maintaining the quality and even pushing the ... boundaries further, creating a visually stunning experience for the audience.

Voice acting remains a strong suit for the series, with the cast delivering performances that capture the essence of their characters. The emotional depth and comedic timing are well-preserved, ensuring that the characters continue to resonate with viewers. The English dub, like in Season 1, is a solid alternative for those who prefer it, maintaining the charm of the original Japanese version.

However, the decision to set Season 2 within the same time frame as Season 1's arcs is a double-edged sword. While it provides an opportunity to further explore certain events and character dynamics, it limits the potential for significant character growth and new narrative directions. This choice may leave some viewers wanting more in terms of plot development and progression.

On the positive side, the decision to build upon Season 1's arcs adds depth and nuance to the existing storylines, shedding light on previously unexplored facets of the characters' lives. It also allows for a more in-depth examination of relationships, both romantic and platonic. For fans who cherished the characters and their interactions in Season 1, Season 2 offers a satisfying continuation.

In conclusion, Horimiya Piece Season 2 is a worthy follow-up that excels in animation, voice acting, and character exploration. However, the decision to confine the narrative within Season 1's time frame hinders the potential for a more expansive and diverse storyline. Despite this, the sheer quality of the production and the additional insights into beloved characters make Season 2 a valuable addition to the series, even if it falls slightly short of the excellence achieved by its predecessor.

It is what it is, a DLC xd

It feels somewhat odd to see those scattered bits of the story, like a collage someone put together at school. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it can be a little uncomfortable.

And what can I tell you about the characters? Well, they're basically the same as in the main series.

The opening of the original series is a true classic, and this one is not bad, but there's no point of comparison.

Now, something I should perhaps highlight is that the quality of the artwork in some scenes leaves a bit to be desired, but otherwise, it's not bad.

In ... conclusion: it's okay, I guess, if you're one of those who buy video game DLCs, then you'll enjoy it! But if not, you might fall asleep xdd

It's difficult to watch these episodes because their displaced from their chronological positions within the other episodes. They came out far later than the original 1st season so I have a tough time remembering what was happening at any given time of the episodes from this special.

Because each episode is far different in timeline from the subsequent one, they have no flow between the episodes. It's like watching little 20 minute short films about the character, but in a confusing manner.

If you really like the series, you may enjoy this special season. If you have a list to work off of ... where you watch these episodes interspersed among the 1st season episodes, in the right order, they may be better.

This used to have a plot. Even if the plot was basic af, it somewhat had one that also fit its vibe and artstyle. Now its just a slice of life with slow pacing and no expectations. Watchable but boring and definetely a downgrade from the 1st season.
It feels like it switched to a cutesy route where it just shows daily interactions between the characters in a roullete style not focusing on anyone and creating zero eagerness on what is to come. If that is your thing i guess you will still enjoy it since the characters are all likeable but dont expect anything that ... might wow you or make you want to come back for more. It's just hard to relate with highschool slice of life especially when there is nothing else there like intense romance or drama.