Akagami no Shirayuki-hime

Now, let me tell you why Akagami no Shirayuki-hime stole my heart: Story-8: Now, I may be biased because I love this anime, but the story really isn't bad. The female lead isn't useless and the male lead isn't perfect, and their romance is something else. I must applaud the script writer. This anime is the definition of my perfect romance. Shirayuki flees to another kingdom to escape marriage to a selfish prince. And on her way she meets Zen, second prince of Clarines. But the thing is, Zen doesn't try to swoon in and steal Shirayuki, and Shirayuki isn't crazy in love with Zen. Their romance is something I've never seen. It's so realistic, yet such a child's fantasy. It's perfect. Art-8: The art is beautiful. It's not stunning, but beautiful. The town is so whimsical, but still practical. The characters and their attire are proportionate and not too revealing or impractical (you know what I'm talking about). It's great. Sound-6: The only thing that wasn't phenomenal was the sound. The voices of the characters were practical, nothing super annoying, and the nature sounds (tree rustling, birds, etc.) were accurate. But the music in general wasn't anything too great. I enjoyed the soundtrack in the intro and outdo, but otherwise it could have been better. Character-9: I am very emotionally attached to the characters. As the story progresses you learn to love every single character, even if they're the bad guys. Not to mention the main characters are super 'human.' Meaning, they portray their emotions just like us. There isn't any crazy super powers or drama queens. Enjoyment-9: I would say it's pretty obvious that I really enjoyed this anime. I am definitely planning to re-watch this anime and read the manga. Overall-10: Outstanding by all means. This anime is my ideal romance with everything a anime should have.

This Review Applies to Both Seasons of Akagami no Shirayuki-hime It is rare that I stumble upon a genuinely light hearted but also entertaining romance story. Especially when the Romance story is set in medieval times, and it found itself to be one of the more enjoyable and interesting show even though, not much happened. (The video review is up on my channel, here is the written) Story - 7/10 Once upon a time, there was girl with beautiful Red Hair, which is considered to be very rare and very special in this world. The girl, Shirayuki gets asked to become the prince’s concubine. Shirayuki of course uncomfortable with the idea and knowing will pursue her, she runs off looking for a new life. Along the way she meets Prince Zen from the Kingdom of Clarines. After a shaky a start with the Zen, the two hit off off and begin to respect each other. But neither one of them wants to feel like a burden or give off the wrong impression to each other. Shirayuki begins to live in Clarines and she becomes a Herbal Medicine Doctor in the Kingdom in order for her to stand on equal footing as Zen. While Zen on the other hand, makes sure he does his job responsibly, to make sure Shirayuki doesn’t get the wrong impression of him. And you can probably tell where the Romance in this story is already. I really like the stories of Shirayuki and Zen and their friends, most are really entertaining and interesting to watch. I kind of wish I knew where the story was going at the start and was hoping for a little more focus on the actual relationship between Shirayuki and Zen, because at times you wouldn’t really know where they are in their relationship. This show is basically broken into a lot of arcs that is all about the characters building chemistry with each other. But with a lack of overall plot goal and ending, you really don’t get into the story that much. But that doesn’t mean that the setting of the show and the whole world building and the general story isn’t interesting, because it is. Even though it has little focus, it is still interesting, and that is because of the character dynamics. Characters - 10/10 Speaking of characters, Shirayuki is the main protagonist and just some fun trivia, ‘Shira’ means ‘white’ and ‘yuki’ means ‘snow’ so you get the idea where the name Snow White comes from in this show. Shirayuki gets quite the development considering the show is involved around her. She learns about her new life and realises she needs to earn the respect in order to stand on equal footing with the prince. She doesn’t want be portrayed as a typical damsel spoilt princess, that doesn’t suit her. So she works hard to gain respect from everyone. Of course along the way she changes those around her especially when it came to Obi, her bodyguard and surprisingly Prince Raj, from Tabarun the country she ran away from. As the show progresses she starts developing feelings of Zen, and I would’ve love to see more in their lovers relationship. Zen is other character in this relationship. Zen is a the Prince of Clarines. Zen on the other hand is considered to be a well-respected Prince, although he doesn’t show that much enthusiasm to his role, that doesn’t stop him from doing his job when needed. Due to him giving off the wrong impression on Shirayuki when they first met, he actually starts trying harder to gaining Shirayuki’s respect, so she doesn’t get the wrong impression on him, because he knew how she saw how up themselves royalty can be. Zen, like Shirayuki develops with others around him and starts learning more how he can become a good respected Prince, of course as well he himself starts developing feelings for Shirayuki. Obi, is Shirayuki’s bodyguard and Zen’s messenger. Although Obi starts off completely on wrong foot trying with both them, with him being ordered to threaten Shirayuki and losing Zen’s trust at first, he probably gets the most development in the series. He starts learn about his friends and grows as a person who is trying to fix his old habits and genuinely shows concern to all the other characters. This while being the best third wheel, anyone can ask for. What I think is the best aspect of the show is the characters in general, and even the supporting cast get enough time and development, so we genuinely show much more interest in them as well. Mitsuhide and Kiki, Zen’s bodyguards actually get backstories of how they all came to be, which is a really nice added to touch to make us care about these characters. And I wasn’t even expecting this, even, Prince Raj, who Shirayuki ran away from initially, gets amazing development during the second cour. All the supporting characters are interesting and get enough growth for you to genuinely take interest in them and they all play with each other so well. Their interactions are really well done. Animation and Sound - 8/10 6/10 Being made by studio Bones, I usually would expect quite top notch animation. And it definitely shines in this anime. The scenery in this medieval fantasy world looks gorgeous and the colours are amazing to look at. Each character has unique designs, so it’s easy to tell each of them apart. What I love about the animation, is that even though its mostly light hearted, so you don’t see too much action, but when they do, it’s generally pretty subtle and good, which fits with the show. Except for one noticeable scene where Obi was fighting. If there is one thing they done perfectly is, get Shirayuki’s hair done right, because if having Red hair is special in their world, you better bet that the red hair is beautiful, which it is. It’s really refreshing to look at. As for the soundtrack you get a pretty standard tracklist of classical music. Really mellow most of the time with nothing really standing out too much. It does feel like classical orchestra, but in honesty it kind of sounds all very similar. Even for the more intense scenes, it just feels like they’re playing it faster. The Opening songs are really nice to listen to. I like the light hearted upbeat vibe or the first opening, whereas the second opening really sounds like something for an adventure anime. Oh yeah and the voice actress of Shirayuki sing the opening. The ending songs, aren’t really that special, it’s ok, but rather forgettable. Enjoyment - 8/10 For me this was one of the surprising shows I’ve watched. I genuinely wasn’t very interested in watching something like this, but as it went on, it caught my attention and I started loving it. Because the characters are all amazing and their interactions with each other a really well written. Add that with the fact every character is trying to achieve something of their own, makes it worth watching, because it’s interesting to see where they go from where they started. The show is a bit slow to start off with, as you don’t really see much focus during the first cour, however during the second cour, there is a lot more happening to leading to more exciting storylines to follow. Verdict - 8/10 As near towards the end of the review, I give the story a 7. Even though the overall story seems a bit lacking with not much focus, the individual arcs are interesting enough to watch, while the world building is done very well, to keep us engaged. For the animation and sound, I give it a 8 and 6. The art style looks wonderful, it’s beautiful to look at. It really showcases the fantasy world the characters are in. Some of the animation is inconsistent, and the action scenes aren’t really exciting. But they completely nailed Shirayuki’s hair colour. The soundtrack uses good classical music, although it can get repetitive. The openings are great though, they really bring out a nice adventure and light hearted vibe. For the characters I give it a 10. I loved how every character was fleshed out and not many characters were left behind. Each character got surprisingly good development. And the chemistry among the characters are a joy to watch. Shirayuki and Zen’s re…

Snow White is the oldest Disney’s princess fairy tale, it portrays a woman characteristics that is weak, good-for-nothing-except-house-chores. It is indeed a fairy tale, where you were saved by your stranger prince from your evil step-mother, but it does not tackle woman’s ability of self-independence. Here in Akagami no Shirayuki-hime, Shirayuki is an herbalist, an independent, intelligent and skilled woman. She is wise, dependable and mature way beyond her age, as she supports her living by herself. The story would be fantastic if only it was been discussed properly. It is absurd that people will go crazy too much just because one person was born with such rarity. It’s okay that people will go on talk about it everywhere; I understand that, but to kidnap one? To offer such social status just for that is a complete nonsense. The story itself is too fast-paced, wherein too much events are occurring at the same time, which results in poor deliberation of proper storyline from the beginning to the end. Most of anime only have 12 episodes, which most anime released nowadays are poor with the development no matter how much the idea; the structure of the story is magnificent as our favorite fairy tale unicorn. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime has joined the bandwagon of poor anime; no matter how much potential I can see if only it was portrayed professionally. The relationship and self-development is the main reason for its destruction, it was too sudden, and then it was not. The character’s development is deadly confusing; it has no path where it’s headed to. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime can have both turn of events: with or without having climax. Climax is very important in every art because it brings heaviness- more depth to the portrait it wants to deliver. Which more reason why Akagami no Shirayuki-hime is such a “bummer” for being wasted when it has such a lot of potential, there’s no many anime that can give out both options of with or without climax. If there are in these 12 episodes, you can certainly not see it, as if it was being transparent to half percent which is not good, because an excellent story should be absolute. This anime was not executed as it meant to. If there’s one thing I’m sure of this anime is that Shirayuki is so loved by everyone. People love and go for her is because of her unusual hair color, which all the reason why she ran from Tanbarun, her specialness from her red hair is what prince Raj of her country wants her to be his concubine, which is why she cut her hair and flee away from home, only to run to the second prince of her country’s neighboring kingdom. What a coincidence! She threw her life in Tanbarun, her beloved home, where all people adore her, just because prince Raj wants to pamper her like a wife without actually marrying her. She could have a talk to the prince or when the tables have been turned, she could have escape from prison and be her own superhero. Zen saved her, which has been instantly become her ‘special friend’. What mostly annoys me is that feelings between Zen and Shirayuki developed too suddenly, too fast, too rushed. I could already feel from the second episode that Zen and Shirayuk have feelings for each other, too obvious. They should have self-development first, building relationships with each other, to bring a castle of proper shoujo romance. Instead of watching a dove wrapped themselves like a heart-shaped in the pond, I’m watching instead a 3-year old boy and girl telling themselves they are in love. I can find the proper development to Obi when it comes to love, slowly but absolute. Curious to wondering, Obi is slowly approaching to find what affection is, carefully but surely, Obi has captured me to raise my hand in volunteer to be his “shoujo” instead. I’m not a picky eater, and that goes same to graphics and sounds. I actually don’t care if the transition of the graphics is too much or too little because I believe that animation is not important, the story, the character development and the enjoyment should be the standard of judging whether or not the anime is worth the hype. Although there are few things to comment, like the at the first episode when prince Raj is panicking when Zen revealed himself as the second prince of Clarines, instead of watching a defeat, I’m watching instead a gag because of prince Raj’s face. It would be also great if they would add more music, give more intensity while events are happening. The enjoyment of this anime is… meh. Not boring but not exciting. I did quite enjoy this anime because for the reason I keep on wondering and searching when this anime will have a character development, which later revealed that there’s no such thing. Turns out my hype over it was good for nothing. I honestly enjoyed the hug and kissing scene other than that, no more else. Glad those scenes are unexpected and surprising. There’s nothing about Shirayuki’s life that is a problem. She was happy before and she is happy now. She passed easily the test for Clarines’ court apprentice herbalist, there’s nothing hard for Shirayuki’s life, she stood up for herself before, and same goes for the present time too. This is just a story of protagonist’s life being simply perfect at every corner, which there’s no reason why you don’t need to tell it anymore to anybody. There’s no meaning if there is nothing to stake, like I’ve mentioned earlier, this would be a potential anime if there is really a struggle and growth of characters, but it doesn’t exist here. There’s so much story to tell about Shirayuki and the people around her like Zen, Raj, Kiki, Mitsuhide and Obi, but it didn’t happen. Thus, this anime became a supposed-to-be-a-great-potential to a shame.

So because I just finished this anime and everything is still fresh on my mind I thought I'd write a review for it since it's been a pretty popular this year for romance anime. Starting off I just want to put out there that while the title is Snow White with the Red Hair the story has very little relation to the original tale of Disney's Snow White. Like maybe the first 2 episodes and a little later in the series play to similar story aspects. So don't expect 7 little men and a beautiful heroine being poisoned by a witch only to be brought back with a kiss. This anime pretty much is a story of it's own and it's like they just threw references to the original in across the series and went with it. Frankly, I think I'd think this would have been more creative if the name of the series was different and it had the references of snow white kept in it. It would have gotten a few more points from me if that was the case. Anyway, with that aside this series is very popular for a fairy tale story concepts of princes and princesses falling in love, and with having that sort of concept I must say it's not that bad of a story. I don't think some people reviewing or talking about this anime are really considering that this is mainly targeted and popular amongst adolescent girls. I mean it's somewhat based on the original snow white so by default it's going to be very cheesy and cliché. Some flaws I did find aside from the cheesy and cliché concepts were the triangles of love and this odd heroine appeal that continue up into season 2. This girl is a red haired beauty and I guess it is weird to have apple red hair but if she's going to have that sort of hair and it be centered around why she's so unique then why doesn't everyone have normal hair color where it stands out even more? Most of the characters do have pretty normal hair colors, but one of the guards literally has greenish blue hair. Like why is she special and not him? Aside from that the love triangles, for which I'm holding back details to prevent spoilers, are sort of nonsense. Like it's okay if it's between two princes or something but most every man she knows sort of likes her on the side. It's to the point of reverse harem even though it's obvious she only has feelings for one guy. Which even if you like that sort of thing it's sort of like they cut the romance down a lot. There is 2 seasons of this anime and there really isn't a ton of development between the romance between Snow White and Zen, who from the first episodes is obviously the main love interest. It's kind of consistent on they like each other but sort of just like best friends who occasionally kiss, but if you like that gentle sort of slow progressing romance then that probably won't bother you as much. I just expected more I guess especially since from reading up there won't be another season. On some things I liked, I enjoyed the humor in this series for it keeps things more light and not so dry. Also most of the characters I really enkoyed their independent personalities and the sort of direction they give to advancing the story. You can really see the connections to the characters and how they grow in response to others. The main character, while the epitome of someone with first world problems, is also not that dull and boring because she's very determined and strong. She's not a typical ditz and she doesn't let a relationship with royalty affect determination she has. I find it interesting she's a healer in this story too because I think it shows she's very intelligent and all though this sort of perfection and courage might not be appealing I actually enjoyed it. The story was okay I think personally this first season was a little bit better in my taste, but that's a preference thing on what kind of story elements you enjoy. As far as the second season I think more could have been explained or progressed but still that's my opinion. The art was very beautiful and the color of the imagery really stood out because the scenery is so bright and detailed. As well as the music which stayed true the type of time period elements as well as being very graceful and pretty. Overall I thought this was a good anime, thought a lot of things could have been better executed, but for the most part it wasn't bad. This is something I'd probably more enjoy like 3 years ago or maybe someone younger who likes fairy tale romance might like. If you're older this is obviously probably going to bore you or you might think this anime is lacking so I'd say if you want to pass it off go for it but be aware of target audience. It's not my favorite of the year but I think it holds it's own.

Ummmmm anonymous person dared me to write a review on this, so here it is :D Story- Solid ass, red hair chick gets captured by the badass prince of her town (i think), she escapes somehow( forgot how) and then she decides to chop her hair? maybe she cut her hair before she ran away idk forgot lel (still didnt really get y she cut her hair? she wanted to be a badass? easier to run away with short hair? or maybe she just wanted a hair cut? tell me plz if u guys no) she then meets prince zen, falls in love with each other and stories after that is just them trying to over come obstacles so they can be come husbando and waifu, thats what i think the story overall is Arts- really good, out ling of characters is very thin/precise, overall colour of anime is whitey/pale and pretty bright volours Sound- music is good, VAs are nice Character- like holy shit shiraiyuki (red hair chick) is a badass, a guy pointed a sword at her and told her to stop moving, and she was like "na aint scared of that metal sausage u got their", i guess this is whats special about her, brave/aint scared of shit, determined etc Enjoyment- Not as enjoyable compared to some other animes, but its nice watch the relationship between zen and shiraiyuki grow Overall- pretty good, if u into romance u should watch it, if not, calling it, ur gonna be forever alone

Snow White with the Red Hair tells a romantic fantasy story that focuses less on political intrigue and more on personal independence, kindness, and the quiet determination of someone trying to build her own future. Without following the typical fairy-tale formula where a heroine waits to be rescued, the series centers on a young woman who actively shapes her own path while gradually forming meaningful relationships along the way. The story begins with Shirayuki, a skilled herbalist known for her striking red hair, a rare trait that immediately draws unwanted attention. Living in the kingdom of Tanbarun, she works diligently as an apothecary, quietly helping people with medicine and herbal knowledge. Her peaceful life takes an abrupt turn when the kingdom’s vain and irresponsible prince, Prince Raji Shenazard, becomes fascinated with her appearance and demands that she become his concubine. Refusing to allow her life to be decided by someone else’s whim, Shirayuki cuts her long red hair and flees the kingdom in search of a place where she can live freely. Her escape leads her into the forests bordering the neighboring kingdom of Clarines, where she encounters Zen Wistaria. At first Zen appears to be an ordinary traveler, but it is soon revealed that he is actually the second prince of Clarines. Their meeting becomes the foundation of the story. Instead of forming a typical royal romance built on dramatic rescue or destiny, their relationship develops slowly through mutual respect. Zen admires Shirayuki’s courage and independence, while Shirayuki is drawn to Zen’s sincerity and sense of responsibility as a prince who genuinely cares about the people of his kingdom. Determined to stand beside Zen not as someone protected by royal privilege but as someone capable in her own right, Shirayuki chooses to remain in Clarines and pursue work as a royal court herbalist. This decision shifts the narrative toward her personal growth as she studies medicine, assists the royal pharmacy, and gradually proves her abilities through dedication rather than status. Alongside the central pair, the story introduces several supporting characters who shape the atmosphere of the series. Mitsuhide Rouen and Kiki Seiran serve as loyal retainers to Prince Zen, providing both protection and emotional support. Their presence strengthens the sense of camaraderie within the group and adds warmth to the narrative through moments of friendship and humor. The plot progresses through a series of smaller arcs involving herbal research, local conflicts, political tensions, and the occasional threat surrounding Shirayuki’s unusual hair color. Rather than relying heavily on large-scale action, the story builds tension through interpersonal dynamics and quiet character development. Many episodes focus on Shirayuki’s efforts to solve medical problems, assist villagers, or navigate the complex etiquette of royal life. Visually, the anime produced by Bones embraces a soft and colorful fantasy aesthetic. Natural landscapes, castle interiors, and seasonal changes create a warm atmosphere that complements the gentle pacing of the story. Character expressions are subtle but expressive, emphasizing emotional sincerity rather than exaggerated drama. The soundtrack also supports the calming tone of the series. Light orchestral pieces and soft melodies reinforce the romantic and peaceful atmosphere, allowing emotional scenes to unfold naturally without excessive intensity. Despite its charm and emotional warmth, the narrative does present several limitations. One of the most common criticisms involves the relatively low level of conflict throughout the story. While occasional dangers appear, many situations are resolved quickly, which can reduce dramatic tension compared to other fantasy narratives that rely on larger stakes. The pacing may also feel slow for anyone expecting a more action-driven plot. Because the story prioritizes character relationships and everyday experiences, long stretches focus on personal growth rather than major turning points. For anyone seeking constant narrative escalation, the calm structure may feel somewhat uneventful. Another limitation lies in the scope of the political world surrounding the kingdom of Clarines. Although hints of larger political structures and royal responsibilities appear throughout the series, these elements are rarely explored in great depth. The story remains largely centered on Shirayuki’s personal journey rather than expanding fully into broader geopolitical intrigue. Some supporting characters also receive limited development beyond their primary roles as companions or protectors of the main cast. While they contribute to the warmth of the narrative, their individual backgrounds and motivations are not always explored extensively. Even with these imperfections, Snow White with the Red Hair remains a refreshing entry within the fantasy romance genre. Instead of relying on dramatic destiny or grand heroic battles, the story highlights the quiet strength of independence, mutual respect in relationships, and the idea that meaningful connections often grow slowly through patience and trust. Anyway, keep in mind that no opinion is ever purely objective, and every perspective remains open to discussion. Even so, each viewpoint still holds its own value. If you happen to see things differently, simple mutual respect is more than enough. That same respect is the spirit behind this reflection as well. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.

A nice anime to watch if you want something chill with beautiful and peaceful scenes and with nice characters. You won't find here action, adventures, absurd "school plot twists" out of nowhere, and other cliches specific to most anime. Yes, because Shirayuki is disliked by almost no one, the plot feels a bit forced. The relationship between Shirayuki and Zen also feels the same because of how flawless it was all the time. On the other hand, not having random jealous characters like in shōnen anime feels more natural and more pleasant to watch. Maybe we just got used to having always some kind of drama in anime and life?! Shirayuki has some specific traits, a reason why she is liked by many. Some might think that there is too much attention paid to her red hair. Well, if we'd lived in a world where no one had natural red hair, we'd probably do the same as all characters when seeing Shirayuki for the first time. Don't forget, it's not the reason why she is at the center of attention. It's her character, her kindness combined with a strong will and the ability to be independent. In almost every episode she's working hard to help people, finding ways to help when others gave up. At the same time, she's not overpowered with knowledge or skills. There are herbalists more knowledgeable than her and yet younger, and there are people stronger than her. This makes the anime feel more natural. The side stories are also nice to watch. It's not a masterpiece, it's not an anime that would bring something new to the genre, and yet it's a very well-done anime that many would enjoy watching. 7.5/10

TL;DR: If you like a story that resembles a Disney movie, romantic cliches, heartwarming romance, and like having everything go your way in terms of story, give this a watch. If you don't like very stereotypical shoujo romance anime, I wouldn't suggest this anime in particular, but give it a go. Having been a fan of the manga for a while and not being aware there was an anime adaptation the whole time, I was ecstatic beyond belief to begin the first episode in the two season series we've all come to know and love. Personally, the premise of the story reminded me of something that would come from Disney; though that didn't bother me at all. The basic synopsis of the anime, is that Shirayuki (Snow White), known for her apple red-hair (oh, the irony) and her expertise in herbalism, is chosen to become a concubine for the prince in her home-country, Raj Schenazade. In an act of defiance, Shirayuki decides to cut her hair, essentially quit her old life as an herbalist in Tanbarun and crosses the border into a neighbouring kingdom, Clarines. From there, she has a fateful encounter with a white-haired boy roughly the same age; and from there, the two develop a long-lasting relationship filled with adventure, romance, and well; more romance. The story was something that felt very straight-forward and linear; following a path other anime of the similar demographic have taken. Though that may be true, something about the simplicity of the story and the smooth transitioning as well as the development of the different relationships in the anime made it very magical, or maybe even Disney-like, per se. The art throughout the anime; the different scenes involving the castle, the city, the environment in general; I have to give it to Bones, the art was something I really appreciated for its exquisiteness all throughout, and was something that felt really soothing to me as I continued to watch. The quality of the art was very consistent and accurately displayed the mood, whether it be warm and fuzzy, or stone-cold; showing no visible drop in quality throughout the series. Heck, I'd even say the quality got visibly better between the seasons. The selling point in the anime for me would've definitely been the music. Other reviews I've seen haven't really talked about the music in particular, but the soundtracks played throughout the anime at pivotal moments made it all the more heartwarming, giving me an "Awwwww.." feeling as I continued to watch in delight. It's been a month since I downloaded some of the soundtracks on my phone, and I still give it a listen when I feel like reliving those warm moments from the anime. All in all, the character development between the two would probably be, fairly linear to say the least. It feels like everything was set to follow the most stereotypical shoujo cliche possible, but reluctantly I'd have to say that even then, Akagami no Shirayukihime is one of the better shoujo animes out there. I'd definitely give this a watch if you want everything to go your way and not have to worry in the least about any obstacles the two lovebirds face. To conclude, I just had to give this anime a 10/10 for enjoyment, and a 9/10 overall. It was something I was able to follow along with without much effort, and the characters, the art, the sound, and the story all mixed in were very enjoyable and very heartwarming to watch. I would DEFINITELY recommend this to anyone who enjoys shoujo anime / manga and is looking for a good, cliche, heartwarming relationship between two lovers.

Honestly, it's not for everyone. I myself have a few complaints in the way of how bland Zen is for a majority of the first season and the sheer amount of time Shirayuki falls down (literally, I mean). I don't really think it's super unique, either. Here are the things Akagami no Shirayuki-hime does right, in my opinion. 1) It doesn't lead you on. You see the relationship, you know it's going somewhere, and it does. 2) Shirayuki actually works to stay by Zen's side. It's easy to have a story line where seemingly unimportant girl meets prince, falls in love, realizes the social gap, and then some unforeseen circumstance turns her into someone who can stay by his side. Shirayuki doesn't have that. 3) Not all bad guys stay bad guys, not all good guys act like good guys, and not all girls are evil. This general hallmark of shojo romance is annoying and I'm glad it could be subverted here. 4) Zen doesn't absolutely detest his position. It happens so often, you have a prince who doesn't want to be a prince and, without any consideration for his actions, runs away. Sure, Zen acts more freely and has some conflict about being a prince, but its justified in story and he still takes his status into consideration even when Shirayuki is involved. Not saying it's perfect, or original, or that everyone should like it, but I think it's pretty good.

Despite what harsh anime critics may try to argue, sometimes enjoyable shows can just be FUN. Simple as that. Going into something called 'Snow White with the Red Hair' odds are, it's not going to be some overly complex story. It's a love story, a fairy tale to an extent (minus any fantasy). This show is just straight up cute, fun, and enjoyable to watch. It's easy. And using words like "fun" and "cute" probably sound uneducated and silly, but I assure you that isn't the case. There are different forms of art for different people, different moods, and different mindsets. Sometimes we want dark and twisted stories, sometimes we want comedy, and sometimes we just want easy. This, is one of those shows. The animation is beautiful actually. It's very clean cut and in my opinion, significantly more enjoyable than other anime styles I've seen. It just feels natural and clean. The music isn't my favorite, I'll be honest. Theme songs are usually a big deciding factor to me on if I'll like an anime or not. But not this one. The theme is frankly... just boring. But, the show is still good despite it. I guess it's just as they say, can't judge a book by it's cover. So I guess it's: can't judge an anime by it's opening theme song. Characters are kind of run of the mill, nothing about them is exceptionally new. But guess what, no art is original. There is nothing wrong with recognizing characters easily. They are still just as likable, regardless if you've seen other similar characters in past shows. Zen is charismatic, handsome, and constantly aims to better himself. That's a good quality for a main character to have, regardless if it's original or not. And Shirayukiis is an exquisite female lead. I always have a soft spot for strong, independent female leads, and this one is no exception. Shirayukii obviously has feelings for Zen from the get go, but she doesn't let this make her a weakling. She has been kidnapped and been the "damsel in distress" but never does she ACT like on. Even when in a bad situation with no escape, she is headstrong and thinks for herself, never one just hoping for her savior prince to come, even though he always does. She also, is the hero many times. That characteristic alone, is quite refreshing and makes the show immensely more enjoyable. This show kind of has a bad wrap on here, but it really shouldn't. Simple and fun does not mean bad. It means simple and fun.

In this season we meet a main character that runs away from all she knows to start a new life in a strange country because she didn't want to be a prince's object of lust. She's smart, brave, dedicated and filled with quiet determination. You go girl! Of course she captures the heart of another prince and then we get romance. Of course the author knows fuck all about court politics, intrigue or What A Royal Does (it involves signing papers maybe??? ¬¬), but we can let that go because it's a chill anime. Slice of life in a secondary world. There is a skilled main character, a prince with a female bodyguard, very little damseling and a kick ass scene about how a knowledgeable human can escape imprisonment by being brave, resourceful and, well, running. This is a series I can get behind. Let's hope the second season keeps up!

I am pretty new to anime, but I have seen a few. This is the first anime I have watched all the way though, and it is BY FAR my favorite!!! I cannot remember enjoyed a TV (anime or not) show so much in my life!!! I love the twist on the snow white tale, I love Prince Zen and Shirayuki, I love the characters, the art, the story, the romance, the adventure, the EVERYTHING!!!! I find it a wonderful choice to start out with. It is very appropriate, a little bad language, mild violence, but on the whole, it is probably the most appropriate anime I have found, great for kids with high morals!! The romance is squeal worthy and the plot is great! I really, really enjoyed this anime and would recommend it to anyone!!! :D

As someone who has delved into writing romantic stories and relationships, I can say with experience that it is far more difficult than most other forms of stories. Creating a believable, likable, and fun relationship that progresses and evolves both characters is something commendable and very difficult. And that is easily the greatest success of Snow White with the Red Hair. Even a big fan of the show like me can admit that the story is nothing all that special, it mostly just follows the characters on their endeavors and explores their relationships. But, it does it's job without feeling complicated or holding the show back. The best part of the show is the characters. First is Shirayuki, who is a very likable main protagonist. I like how she is mature and mostly independent, feeling the need to solve things without help. She's kind hearted, sweet, and well rounded. Zen is also a great character. He's a very well spoken individual who can be pretty awesome when he wants to be. He is a bit rebellious, but also cares about his people and does his best to be a good prince. His two aides of Kiki and Mitsuhide are also fun characters, who have a fun dynamic with both each other, as well as Zen and Shirayuki. I especially like the dynamic between Mitsuhide and Zen, they feel like genuine friends. The last main character is Obi, who I find hard to explain, but nonetheless, he is a ton of fun. The music and the animation are both quite good, while not exactly being too noteworthy to explain in detail. They do their jobs just fine. The romance between Zen and Shirayuki feels alive and well written, as the two have a lot of great banter and genuinely sweet moments that help build them as characters. They don't just say they're in love and kiss a lot, they actually act like it, by doing whatever they can for the other. They talk about their feelings, their worries, what they like about the other, while making it all still interesting. And this, like I said before, is the strongest element of the anime, and what helps make both of these characters stick out to me. While the anime might not be anything unique, it still shines as a great example of romance and characters done totally right. It brought me a lot of joy and good feelings while still having great substance. It also gave me a lot of Spice and Wolf vibes, which, if you enjoy this anime, you should see that one, and vice versa. It has risen to be one of my top 5 favorites for good reasons.

-Plot and Story Line- For a twelve episode long anime, the story line is pretty solid and even tough you get the feeling that the plot is a little bit forced and rushed it actually fits pretty good. I loved the fact that they did not only concentrate on the relationship between Zen and Shirayuki although it is the main story line. There were a couple of side stories, a couple of background stories and some little extra story lines that supported the main one. Most important thing for me, there were no plot holes and the story is pretty interesting too. I also had to laugh hard a couple of times. This anime is awesome if you just want to relax and forget your problems for a couple of hours. It makes your heart melt a couple of times but it doesn't cause any stress and that kind of stuff. My recommendation, watch it over the weekend after a hard week and you'll feel much better right after. One thing that'll made me remember this anime is definitely the, let's say, character trend in anime. The thing that Sakura did in Naruto or Yona in Yona of the Dawn is actually better known in some cartoons as Mulan and The legend of Korra. The main character cuts her long hair to show that she is a new person now and that she is taking another, stronger and more independent path than before. I personally loved that move, because I love independent and strong female characters, but seeing it a couple of times now, it got a bit boring. I don't thing it will fascinate me in another anime again, but we shall see. True the anime is cute but I don't think I could watch the second season. At least not now. There is too much cliche romance in it and I found that a bit annoying. But, I am not a great romance fan, meaning it is actually my subjective way of thinking. If you like romance, you'll love Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. Still, the anime is not perfect which is why I rated it as a 8 on MAl. One reason is the lack in background information about Shirayuki's life. Where are her parents? What did she do all her life? Where does she come from if her hair was so unusual? Not sure if the second season tells us more, but the first one left a huge question mark in my head. In the end I gotta say, I wouldn't have mind if there were a couple of episodes more between the beginning and the highlight of the first season. The show was cute, nice to watch and interesting. Thumbs up! -Characters- The characters are the second reason I rated this anime with an 8. They are too perfect to be good cahracters. I always say, characters with flaws are better because they have sth to work on when it comes to their personality. That's what makes them interesting. -Animation and Style- If there is one segment of this anime that deserves a higher note than 10/10 then it is the animation. It is really awesome and beautiful. I can't remember any anime that had such a good animation. Truly amazing. Bright and colorful settings, detailed characters and backgrounds and amazing details. When it comes to the style of Akagami no Shirayuki-hime, there is nothing much to say. Just like the animation, it is flawless. I loved it and will definitely from now on use this anime as an example of amazing animation. One more thing. While watching the first episode I actually thought of quitting because I found it a little bit stupid in the beginning, but I continued because of the animation. I couldn't miss such a great animation work being someone that hates and usually skips anime with bad animation. -Conclusion- If you had a really thug week and you need an anime just to relax and forget about the world for a day, watch Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. It will take you on a little journey, to a different universe where everything is nice, cute and perfect. It will melt your heart in a couple of scenes but you will survive it. I liked the anime even though it was annoying in some moments but you can get over it. The animation and the character and background looks will please your eyes like no anime before. Give it a try and if you decide to watch the second season too, tell me how it was. Your AnimeGirl <3

I’m please to say that going into ‘Akagami no Shirayuki-Hime’ I had expectations and they were fulfilled to say the least. I loved this anime. So what can you expect if you decided to give it a chance? First of all –and very crucial- it is a Fairy Tale. Which means it is very romanticized and cutesy. Not that there isn’t some action! Like regular fairy tales there are parts with swordfights, damsels in distress and evil people that want to harm said damsels. The Characters are good! And Shirayuki is not a damsel really. But due to her hair colour and connections to the prince does get herself involved in all sorts of situations. She’s a bit blunt at points but the anime is a shoujo fairy tale, so I can’t really complain knowing that. Would I preferred her being a bit more kickass? Yes. And is she a little too perfect? Yes, again. I will admit that. But, it never reached a point where she made me sigh in exasperation and say ‘ok, now you’re just messing with me!’ She does talk back and runs into action when she needs to. Zen is also a fairy tale prince. For anyone who has seen ‘Kaichou wa Maid Sama’ reminds me a lot of Usui. He is a bit too perfect as well. But, like Shirayuki, that character aspect never really did annoy me. He can get carried away and has a tragic past –as all Shoujo manga/anime boys should have apparently- but I never hated him for that. On the contrary he is sweet and caring and that is totally fine in my book. Something that really pleased and I will sound immature for saying so but, I’m an otaku woman and I appreciate that in anime, were the rich palette of guys. Good, evil, sweet, mischievous; there are types for all kinds of preferences. From the first episode I understood the feeling of this anime. It’s very relaxing in general. Even if there’s conflict throughout the episode it never tires the viewer. At the same time, whatever conflicts are taking place, they are resolved by the end of the episode. By the end of the anime –and I don’t really think I’m spoiling anything here- everything is resolved and we get our happy fairy tale ending. Well, not really ending, as there is a sequel. An anime I immediately compared it too is ‘The World is still Beautiful’ a.k.a. ‘Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii’ If you like that Anime I recommend watching ‘Akagame no Shirayuki-Hime’ and vice versa. In conclusion, it’s a beautifully drawn anime, with interesting ( a bit too perfect sometimes) characters and good plot that never tired me. If you are into hardcore action, this anime is not really for you. If you want a light adventure, that contains a bit of humor and romance with cutesy moments then ‘Akagami no Shirayuki’ just might be for you.

I'm not a veteran of romance stories, especially not romance anime, but I still feel confident in saying this was a good show. At first glance, It didn’t *succumb* to the more harmful tropes of the genre, but they were still there. It flowed naturally, kept good pacing and focus throughout, had interesting conflict that tied directly to the character's development, even if the story does not feel complete. There's a second season coming, so we can't judge it for that. The story focuses on Shirayuki, a young herbalist girl with rare bright red hair. She draws the attention of a sleazy local lord, and in her attempt to escape, she runs into Zen, the prince of a neighboring country. The parody on the Snow White fairy tale is brief and clever, complete with a poisoned apple. Zen rescues her, and she eventually finds her way to his castle to study as a court herbalist. They develop a close friendship, and while it is obvious from the beginning how Zen feels and where the story is going, it doesn’t feel rushed. The world doesn’t bend over backwards to accommodate their budding relationship. Typical romance clichés are sidestepped, but not avoided. I was interested to find that many of the typical tropes I disliked so much were there: the misunderstanding, the love triangle, the shock of one towards the other’s feelings. However, they were all handled well. The love triangle was handled as if both men involved were mature adults who wanted the best for her. One stepped aside without making it an issue, while the other never noticed (very much like Sydney Carton). The way Shirayuki reacted to Zen’s kiss was natural. It didn’t feel written. The misunderstanding is treated more as Shirayuki trying to sort out her feelings rather than either one being unreasonable (or stupid). Unlike in other stories, this flows naturally into the resolution, and doesn’t come to a halt and jerk into the opposite direction. This story was impressive because it felt real. It felt like someone were actually recounting a romance between to real individuals. Their reactions, their motivations, their weaknesses, their decisions: it all seemed reasonable and human. So often I find that elements of the story or the characters themselves are exaggerated, and I’ve always found that unnecessary. This story proved what I believed all along: a real romance is exciting and vibrant all on its own. Seeing two people fall in love is something we love to watch in real life; why not leave it that way when telling a story? The romance transitioned so smoothly out of their friendship, but if I had to nitpick, Zen seemed to pop up everywhere. I thought he seemed a little clingy because of this, even though it wouldn’t have seemed that way to the characters. What we see as day by day may be weeks for them (still, the author is aware of this, so…). Also, the situation seems a little too perfect. The character are never asked to give up anything, but I can only assume that's because this is the beginning of a longer story. For that reason, I can overlook the lack of a deeper story arc. It’s a great story. It begins well and ends in a satisfying way, which is rare enough to appreciate.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what anime is among the most romantic of them all? Could it be one where the protagonist is a girl with hair the color of apples, and she falls in love with the second prince of a country that is not her own? Oh my, I'd say that's very romantic! How could I have encountered it other than it being among the July 2015 anime I missed out on and deeply regret doing so? More importantly, now that I've watched it, what do I think of it? Well, you shall find out by reading my review of season one of Snow White with the Red Hair, known in Japanese as Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. Snow White with the Red Hair follows a girl named Shirayuki (meaning snow white), who is an herbalist with bright red hair. She ends up catching the attention of Prince Raji, the prince of her country of Tanbarun, and he tries to make her his concubine. Shirayuki responds by cutting her hair and escapes to the neighboring country of Clarines. She ends up meeting the second prince of Clarines, Zen, and his two aides, Mitsuhide and Kiki, and she ends up being saved from Prince Raji by them. It is then that Shirayuki decides to become a court herbalist for Clarines. As Shirayuki aims for a new life in Clarines and Zen tries to become a worthy prince, they support each other, and a romance blossoms between the two. I should start by saying the animation is among the most beautiful I've ever seen. Bones has done great animation before, like in Space Dandy, Noragami, Ouran High School Host Club, and more, but the animation in Snow White with the Red Hair is definitely up there with the best. I've fallen completely in love with the opening theme, "Yasashii Kibou" by Saori Hayami, and the ending theme, "Kizuna ni Nosete" by eyelis, is a very good song, too. I watched this anime's English dub, and I'd say that Funimation has nailed yet another dub. The voice actors had performed very well, especially Brina Palencia as Shirayuki and Josh Grelle as Prince Zen. The story was quite an easygoing one, but it definitely provided a lot of character development. Speaking of characters, this anime had a lot of great characters. Shirayuki is a strong protagonist, and it's admirable how she always works hard. Zen is equally as likable, if not more; it's clear that he really cares about Clarines and its people. I honestly didn't know how to think of Obi, who works for Zen, at first, but I eventually grew to like him. There are also a lot of interesting side characters, but I think the side character that stood out to me the most was Mitsuhide; I really liked his friendship with Zen. What could be the best part about this anime, though? Well, it doesn't take a detective to figure out that I'm talking about the romance between Shirayuki and Zen! They had a very strong bond as friends, but whenever they would have those tender, romantic moments, I just can't help but smile. This is probably going to be a bit of a spoiler, but the best part is that they actually confess their feelings for each other instead of letting it drag on for too long! ....Okay, I lied; it was very late in the season when they confessed. Hey, thank God for the currently-airing-at-the-time-of-this-review season two, right? This means we'll actually get to see them as a couple, albeit in a different season. Overall, Snow White with the Red Hair is off to a fantastic start. I'd recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for a great romance anime. Be warned, though, not to bite into the apple that makes you think it's anything like the fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", because although there are two references in the first episode, it's poison not to think of it as anything less of its own story.

The concept for the anime is refreshing and the story is very wall written, both as an overarching plot and as individual episodes. I was especially thankful that episodes were very well self contained, with no unnecessary cliffhangers bogging down the story. It made them flow very naturally into each other and hadn't even noticed I'd watched all twelve episodes. There was noting to complain about with the art, but neither were there enough om-gawd moments to warrant it a perfect score. The same is true for the sound. I enjoyed watching the characters unfold and develop, but some of the minor characters and episodic villains were slightly cliched. Additionally I wanted the former noble from early in the series to be a recurring character. As I said earlier, I didn't even notice that as the anime went and finished. That was because I was having such a good time watching I forgot how long I'd been watching. A very enjoyable anime. Overall it did nothing wrong and did a lot right, but it didn't go above and beyond my expectations of it. It was a fabulous anime and I am looking forward to watching the second season; but I worry that season two will make the same mistake several anime do, and will take the beautiful ending from season one, open it back up and then not end it properly come season's end.

This is the best Shoujo anime I've ever seen. That's not saying much, because I don't think Shoujo as a genre has much to offer in the first place, but if you like watching two characters totally meant for each other fall head over heels in love with one another and in general gooey, happy feelings, then this show is for you. Be aware, though, that this is only the first season, and another cour is already planned for release in Winter 2016. Starting us off will be the story department. It's nothing that hasn't been done before, what with the handsome prince saving the beautiful maiden from certain disaster and all that jazz. But this show pulls it off that I feel is actually sort of believable given its medieval setting, and I didn't mind the more cliche aspects of it, since there were little things here and there that made it feel more realistic. The main heroine, Shirayuki, for example, is actually a talented herbalist, and her goal in getting closer to the prince, whom she's obviously fallen for after having been saved by him, is to become an official court herbalist. She actually has a talent that she uses and improves on, and she's incredibly hardworking, which was refreshing to see. She also is pretty competent on her own, and in most dire situations she gets herself into, she often is able to almost pull herself out of it, and it ends up making one feel that, though she didn't need the Prince's help, it's still nice to see the guy save the girl at the end of the day because rainbows and butterflies. But overall, the story doesn't actually do anything special, and it's really just about an unlikely relationship between two people of different classes and how they struggle to come to grips with their feelings for each other. The art is where I was actually expecting something better considering it was done by Studio Bones, but I actually found the character designs and background art to be pretty boring. Nothing bad, but everything kind of screamed generic, even though you technically could say it was all fairly pretty looking. The animation was pretty good, again, no stand out moments in particular besides perhaps a certain fireworks scene toward the end of the series, but there wasn't ever really much to anime in the first place. There is a lot of dialogue, a lot of viewing scenery, but also several fight scenes, and those are all actually well done. I appreciated their inclusion to break up the monotony of courtly meetings, walks in the courtyard, office discussions, and other fairly boring events, animation-wise. The music was all very pretty. That's honestly the best way I can describe it. Not beautiful, but it was pretty. The tracks were often very soothing, and just added to that same "gooey" feeling of fluttering happy feelings of the show. Voice acting was pretty good, but I felt like the MC prince Zen was trying way too hard for a lot of his lines. Hayami Saori does a good job as usual portraying the plucky Shirayuki, but I don't actually like her voice that much in the first place, so it was a struggle for me personally. She did a good job though. Also, the OP and ED are very good and pleasant to listen to every time. The characters are the best thing about this show. Everything is set up to be the most generic idea for a show ever imagined, but the things you learn about the characters and the way they act are refreshing actually. Shirayuki, as I mentioned before, is actually capable of taking care of herself, and she doesn't actually need to be rescued in most situations. She has convictions and goals, and she actively works to achieve those goals. Zen is a lot more nuanced of a character, and his motivations and backstory are both very interesting. The flashbacks of his past actually add a lot to his character, and he feels very complex and I'm not sure I know everything about him yet, which is good. The side characters get barely any attention, but they're side characters in a shoujo after all. Objectively speaking, I'd only rate this show a 7 or 8, but enjoyment-wise, I'd give it a solid 9. If the visuals had been more impressive or the soundtrack more moving, I'd have given it a 10. But honestly, it just did the right things. It was gooey, that's really the best word to describe it. Just feels good, man. Overall it's a nice break from predictable shoujos in that it presents its story in an interesting way that just lets you take a break from life. It doesn't require serious thinking, nor is it tiresome or boring, or nauseating even. It feels good.

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime is easy to describe: A wonderful love story anime with amazing art, typical characters but still enough comedy to have a good time and enjoy watching :D The story of the anime is not very surprising and yes, I can say that without spoiling, there won't be many surprises and twists in this anime. Maybe some interesting storylines but nothing too major. AnS is one of those anime you may want to watch every so often, when you are depressed or when you just want to watch a light hearted spring-like anime. This anime offers all that plus some touching scenes which go to your heart but at the same time don't make you cry your eyes out for three days... AnS also offers wonderful drawings. The character but mostly the amazing landscapes and the clothing details on the royal uniforms and other small details make the art of this anime really amazing and touching. Most of the time it also has a very light and spring coloured touch so don't expect many dark and gloomy scenes. Overall I really enjoyed the anime, mostly because I really hoped for an anime like this for a long time. BUT if you want a dramatic masterpiece of art, sound, story and characters I have to say...you won't find it here. AnS offers romance from beginning 'til end. It gives you just enough drama to keep the romance alive without crying to much and enough comedy to laugh inbetween. It is the perfect anime for inbetween others and to have an enjoyable romance unfolding in front of you =)