Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora

That was a beautiful story. I never knew that it would be possible to really show the sweet romance and pure love that those two had in 6 epiosdes. I wished i could see their future together. But i dont mind the ending was perfect. That kiss. That timing. That place. It was all so perfect. I wished he proposed to her on the spot. Its the perfect love story between lovers who dont have a long time left. If you watch this your eyes will be filled with tears of joy and tears of sorrow. If you truly pay attention and understand and emphasise with them this story is full of emotion. Every character in the end you will accept and feel that they fit in well with the story. Even the friend of the nurse helped portray what kind of relationship problems he faces.

A history(story) full of charm and joy of life in spite of its theme, even thanks to its theme, and magnificently served by picturesque but original characters at the same time, audacious humor but neither black nor simpleton, often surprising scenario and characters very successful designs... Furthermore, livens up him is really realistic, and when we know that stories) like that really take place, that hurts, and it is what produces livens up (it) even more fascinating. Especially that the suspense is maintained until her() any end, and we are oppressed by the weight which carries) the central figure the shoulders. Although diagrammatically, him be not very beautiful, without being unpleasant necessarily to look, what we shall have held of this series, it is the beauty of the context, the (story), who, although the characters are ordinary, original rest with regard to(compared with) most of the others liven up( plays. From a personal point of view, I shall note this series 10/10, because it really marked me, and I think that it deserves him, if we stay in the dramatic kind(genre).

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora is an unfortunate exercise in mediocrity, managing to cram deep themes like illness and love into a woefully inadequate six episodes. The characters are barely more than tired archetypes, offering nothing beyond bland, predictable melodrama. Any attempt at emotional depth is laughably superficial, making it impossible to care about their shallow struggles. To top it off, the misplaced fanservice is a clear attempt to keep viewers engaged, but it only adds to the tonal disaster. In the end, it's two hours you'll never get back, leaving you to wonder why you bothered in the first place.

Which is better, dying meaninglessly or fulfilling as many wishes as possible before dying? Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora is a beautiful 6 episode anime about a boy who met a girl in a hospital. They gradually form a relationship as they spend their time having fun. However.. The fun doesn't last forever.. [ LIGHT SPOILER AHEAD] Now, now. I think I've seen too many "might die after surgery" cliche anime. So Its not that sad anymore. However, the concept of fulfilling another person's happiness regardless of the hardships always captivate me. And depending on how good that is represented, I don't mind seeing it again and again and again. [ LIGHT SPOILER OVER ] Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora was pretty good. It's definitely a good, short anime about love and choices. If the quality was better I'd probably love the show even more. Recommended to those who are looking for something that is quick to finish and can fulfill your happiness ( or give you more sadness ) to a certain extent.

Story 8/10 So the story in this anime is a tear jerker. It’s about a boy who is admitted to a hospital and befriends a girl who is also in the hospital. As they become closer their feeling grow closer and closer, however the girl has a fatal disease and does not have much longer to live. So they make the best out of what remaining time she has left. The story is really good and I really wanted to give this a 10/10 but the show is just too short and while the story does an amazing job of pulling you in, it’s just too short for it to elaborate on a few topics. I.e. the relation between the doctor and Rika (female main character). Art 9/10 The art is very well done for how old the show is. While I do think it could be much better if it was remade with current art style it does a great job at portraying every detail? Sound 7/10 The sound is only getting this rating because there wasn’t much of it to set the mood. The mood was set by just the story and character design so sound didn’t really play that much of a role. Character 9/10 As much as I wanted to give the characters a 10/10 it suffers from the same issue as the story does and that is it’s just too short of a show to really develop any attachment to anyone but the main characters, and even they don’t show the same attachment as they should in this kind of show. that being said in the 6 episodes that the show ran it did an amazing job in emotionally attaching me to the main characters (just not as much as it should, but still well done). Enjoyment 10/10 I did enjoy this show very much and while it does have its flaws it is an amazing show with a lot to offer in terms of enjoyment. Overall 9/10 I loved this show and while it does feel to short and could use a little more depth in the characters other than the 2 main characters it was an amazing show and am glad I watched it.

According to the synopsis I read on this website, I thought that this would be a sweet, touching story. After watching the first episode, my hopeful expectations were shredded. In short, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora had a lot of potential, but due to ridiculous characters, tropes, and moments, I found it to be disappointing. Story (8): To begin with, I am actually fond of the story. The premise is pretty original as far as anime series go. It's a slice of life, drama, and romance (with awful comedy bits thrown in the mix). It's only six episodes long, so if watching with minimal breaks, it can be viewed in its entirety in under three hours. The story follows Yuuichi, a seventeen-year-old male who is infected with Hepatitis A, and therefore is currently residing in a hospital room. Despite his illness, Yuuichi sneaks out almost every night, and is often caught by his physically abusive nurse. He has hope knowing that it won't be too long until he is released and can return to his normal life. One day when looking out the window he sees a girl his age name Rika. Rika has been hospitalized for most of her life and is aware that it won't be long before her disease claims her life. Upon receiving encouragement from his nurse, Yuuichi visits Rika's room. He is told beforehand about her tastes in literature and lies about having the same interests. Rika is upset with his deceit and refuses to see him, causing Yuuichi to come up with creative ways to get her to forgive him. By spending time together they become friends and eventually fall in love. However, their health proves to be a major obstacle time and again. The basic story line is intriguing. It had a great setup for a marvelous love story. However there are too many unrealistic moments that occur within the six episodes that made me roll my eyes too often. For instance, I find it hard to believe that the hospital personnel would just let an underage patient leave whenever he wants, and if this is a nightly routine, why is there no one on guard to stop him? I do like that this is a romance that does not take place inside a school setting. High school romances are so overdone in anime, and even though the two main characters are technically high school age, the change of setting does win this one some originality points. Characters (3): The characters are one of the major flaws in this anime. On the whole, I think I may only like two characters out of the whole cast, and one of them receives less than a minute of screen time. The main problem with the characters is that there are so many cliches here it's ridiculous. You have your tsundere with a tragic past; you have your tough woman in a role of authority, who's lack of ethics would get her fired in reality; there's the perverted old man; there's the best friend who is there for comic relief; and then there is the pointless fan service character. I haven't even mentioned my least favorite character yet. To begin with, there is the protagonist: Yuuichi. This character has been seen so many times in anime past and present. Yuuichi has compassion for others. However, he is too passive and lets everyone (literally) beat up on him. He follows the orders of a girl he has an interest in. When she is being abusive to him, he just takes it and apologizes for every single little thing that causes her temper to flare. I kept waiting for him to stand up to her at least once, but never. However, the move he pulls in the last episode does win him some awesome points. Next in line is our female lead: Rika. I did not like her from her introduction. This is another character that has been seen countless times. She is rude, emotional, and lets her temper get the best of her. She gets upset over stupid things and blows them out of proportion--for instance she gets furious with Yuuichi for reading an adult magazine, even though they're not a couple at the time. I remember thinking to myself, "Why is she getting so upset? That's not even her boyfriend." Her tragic backstory of being chronically ill is used as a way to excuse her behavior, which I feel is poor writing. Then later it is mentioned she's had this personality since childhood. To her credit, she does undergo some character development by the last two episodes. Next, is the primary nurse Akiko. In the first episode I was wondering how someone like this managed to be hired as a registered nurse. She's physically abusive to her patients and colleagues. I felt that this character's personality (even though I know it's a common character type in anime) ruined some of the realism, knowing that someone who behaved this way would not keep her job in a hospital. However, I think it's clear she does care about her charges, even if she has an unorthodox way of showing it. Now onto my least favorite character in the entire series--the surgeon, Natsume. I just found him to be overall unpleasant. Like Akiko, I don't understand how he hadn't been fired by the end of the third episode. As we see with Rika, his tragic backstory is used as a way to explain his inappropriate behavior. Even if he did have reasons, I found them too weak to justify his actions. The only character that I actually liked all the way through was Yuuichi's best friend Tsukasa. He is genuinely nice and willing to help out his friends without question. In fact Yuuichi mentions that it was him witnessing Tsukasa's kindness that prompted them to be friends. Sadly, he is a minor character and gets minimal screen time. The good news is when he is on screen he is entertaining. Lastly, there is Akiko's childhood friend, Misako, who is there for no reason but fan service, and an awkward, unnecessary subplot. (I'm not kidding, this subplot just happens, has no effect on the overall story, and is never mentioned again.) Pretty much all the other characters in this anime are pointless. I feel that the characters can make or break a story, and the ones in Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, for the most part, are lacking. Art (5): I was not too impressed with the art in this anime. There is nothing that really stands out about any of these characters that would make them memorable. They look like any ordinary anime character. Sure Rika is designed to look cute, but even she wouldn't stand out among a lineup of ten or twenty other random anime females. The settings are not that interesting to look at either. When Yuuichi and friends are taking Rika to school, I believe only a hallway, a locker room, and a classroom are seen, and not much of the location is used. In the hospital you see little of the character's rooms, or the rooftop. With the rooftop scenes, there are a few instances of seeing the view of the other buildings or nature, but that's one of the few exceptions. The animation is minimal. The art itself is nothing breathtaking. Music/Sound (8): The opening and ending theme songs are calming. It's a nice mood setter for the story. Even if it is a drama, there isn't a lot of action, and for the most part the pacing is mellow. The few times I noticed background music during the actual show, it was decent. Both songs I can remember are instrumental. One sounded like elevator music, so it wasn't too enticing. The second was guitar music during a more crucial moment, so it did add to the excitement, without being overbearing, which I feel matched the moment. I believe that the music, while it doesn't necessarily stand out among amazing anime soundtracks, it does work for the scenes in which they are used. I feel that it is better to have less dramatic, but fitting music than excellent music that clashes with the scene at hand. Overall, I have no complaints with the soundtrack. Conclusion (5): In all, I feel that the story itself could have been great, for it is original. Had it focused more on keeping that originality, instead of relying on tired tropes, I would have enjoyed it better. Also, the characters were too unlikable in my…

This has been the first anime to inspire me to write a review on it. In my opinion, it definitely defeats CLANNAD, Air, and (possibly) Kanon. Story: 10/10. It contains a decent amount of realism, but definitely not to the point where the anime gets dull. The story is also short, but yet it feels like it's well paced, never feels rushed or dragged on, and I would not have lengthened the series at all. Art: 10/10 I don't know. I never failed my Art class, but I wasn't godly at it either. Don't expect any critique from me, as it is basically invalid. All I can say is that I enjoyed the animation and art style. Sound: 10/10 The songs throughout the series made the dramatic scenes much more dramatic, made the comedic scenes and overall improved the entire show. The OP accurately conveys the emotions and romantic development that you should expect, and the ED is just as calming and relaxing as the OP. Character: 9/10. The main problem with the characters are the doctors. The nurse, a typical tsundere that smokes in the hospital as well as Natsume, the lead physician for Rika. While they were dislikeable at first (mainly Natsume) their motives were made clear, and showed quite a large amount of character development. All the characters in the series were likeable and the end, and Natsume had been forgiven by me. Unfortunately, Natsume pissed me off so much it had led to me yelling at the monitor, "YOU SICK BASTARD, YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE A DOCTOR!" Regardless, the characters were still enjoyable. Overall: 10/10. While if you check my ratings, they all are really high, it is because I cannot rate them a ".5" or some anything in between, and even if there is a method, the scores are what the series deserves. This anime had been outstanding for such a short time, amazing pacing, and enough comedy as well as drama to the point when they both synergized with each other, and made for an outstanding series. The basic premise may not be original, but the story and development is, creating what I believe to be one of the best animes I have ever watched (definitely in top 3)

One word to describe this anime: AWESOMESS! Both of the main characters are different, but they have also things that are similiar to each other, they are both sick, they've been staying for a while in the hospital. But the bond they create with each other is very strong and can't be broken, no matter what happens. Yuuichi is willing to give up everything for Rika, just to stay by here side. That also proves that there feelings to each other are pure. First I actually hated the docter (Natsume) because in the beginning he played that awfull trick on Yuuichi so that Rika gets the wrong idea of Yuuichi and that he's only reading porn in free time. But when we get further in the story it already makes itself clear why Natsume whas a bastard sometimes, because he did experience it in the past, and the same thing happened to Yuuichi. But luckily it went well with Rika after the operation, and that was a big relief for me, because I don't really like "bad or open endings". (that's just my opinion though) So in short, this is an anime you won't regret watching it, and I guarentee you will enjoy this serie from the beginning to the end. -perforM

"Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora" or "Looking Up At The Half-Moon" got better with every episode. I hope this review helps you decide if this is something you'll want to watch. I watched this anime subbed. The story follows two main characters, Yuuichi and Rika. After both meeting each other at the same hospital they currently are checked into, their relationship begins. The story, for the most part focuses on them, their past, and what their illnesses will mean for their future together. This anime is character driven, so don't expect a deep or complex plot. This anime gives us a quick look into their lives, nothing more or less. I do think sometimes there is some unnecessary drama which can make the story feel quite childish. Other than that though, I have no other major complaints. The art of Hanbun simply works. It isn't terrible, nor is it incredible. It is a bit of an older series so it will look somewhat dated. The animation is function, its fine for what it is. In some scenes, the animation can look a little strange in motion. It may sound all bad, but the art is consistently well drawn. I can't think of a single poorly drawn frame that made me look twice. Overall, its a little rough around the edges but never to the point where it distracted me from the story. The sound in this anime makes me feel conflicted. On one side, the soundtrack is quite varied with music that fits almost every scene needed. On the other, while the voice actors for the most part are good, there are some lines that were delivered awkwardly. The sound effects, while sounding dated, are still functional. Overall, the sound quality is good, with some of the voice actor delivering some lazy lines. The characters of a character driven story had better be good. Thankfully, Hanbun delivers most of the time. First, Yuuichi and Rika are the stars of the show. Their relationship is paced very well, which surprises me as I thought it was going to feel very rushed since it was only 6 episodes long. By the end of the anime, you'll probably be feeling multiple different feelings towards them,both individually and combined. There are many side characters as well. For the most part, they are well developed and entertaining characters. However, few of them do feel very throw away to the point where I wondered why they were actually involved. Some characters you'll start off hating. But by the end of it, you'll be looking at them in a different light. I think that marks well written, and well developed characters. I do have one somewhat major complaint with this series though. This series is listed as a comedy, which it is. There is some humor here sprinkled in, which is fine... until it starts seeping into the more dramatic and depressing moments. I think this anime could've done a better job at separating the comedy from scenes that should be very depressing. It just tonally didn't sit well with me. It doesn't happen often, but enough to warrant this criticism. STORY: 7 ART: 6 SOUND: 6 CHARACTER: 8 ENJOYMENT: 7 To end this review, I will state that I was surprised I enjoyed this anime as much as I did. It has somewhat of an average and slow start, but as time continued, my enjoyment went up. I do think this series is worth watching as it is very short, and you could watch it all in one sitting. I also really liked the mixed emotions it gave me. Its both so happy yet so depressing, and it just gels together perfectly into an enjoyable experience. If you are looking for an anime that'll make you feel and think about life circumstances, this one is for you. Thank you for reading this review. If you have any comments, please feel free to message me.

Kind of disappointed and kind of satisfied. Biggest problem i have to say is that 6 episodes is way to short for only 23 minutes episode. We get stuff that seems rushed and undeveloped. Such as the first episode. So much stuff happens. ~~Spoilers~~ We also have stuff like a Doctor that acts comically evil at times. A nonsensical scene where a chick tries to sleep with the MC. That scene where the MC almost has sex is so out of left field. It doesn't even make sense. We are only shown the girl character once before but now she is trying to sleep with this dude. Also just how some characters react or act. Example being the Female MC's mother. She is for some reason a really big douche to the MC and not even letting the MC visit the Female MC after she came out of surgery. I do like how the show didn't give the Female MC something as cliched as the character having Cancer. She actually has something that tends to be overlooked. Also the art at times can seem eh. It's what i expect from a show from 2006. It's just you can notice some issues with it. Also not a big fan of the Male MC character design. I did actually have my heart pounding wondering if the Female MC will die. If she did then i think this probably would have a 6 or 7 rating from me. I feel that this show would'v been better if they removed a lot of the unneeded scenes. Use those to develop the story while ending it maybe at episode 5. Then have tell episode 9 or so the two MC's going to school together with the Male MC helping the Female MC around and doing work. Have the 10 episode them graduating and starting to live together then have the rest be the MC proposing and getting married with maybe both of them having a child or so. End on a happy note and not that she will most likely die in 5 years or so. I feel that this would have made the show a lot better and memorable. As it stands now it's a pretty good show that will be forgotten in time for me at least.

It was such a bittersweet anime. At first, I thought that the doctor needed some beating to come back to his senses, but you will know once you check it out for yourself. All the characters were supportive. I like how the main female lead is stubborn yet strong. The mc did change though, because of her. It was comforting at the same time emotional (not too much) anime. I liked the art style as it wasn't one of those that people want now-a-days. Everything was simple yet beautiful. But I think this anime is not for everyone, but one thing is for sure if someone who has an eye for art will appreciate and like it.

Hands down the best short anime I've seen so far. It's extremely morose and definitely a tearjerker at multiple occasions. If sickness or death is a trigger, then avoid this anime, only watch if you can handle these main themes. Unexpected twists and even more unexpected ending, with a slight bit of teenage humour. Music is good and character development is smooth and nice. Although the theme maybe a bit too mature for younger audiences. Inspiration seems to be taken from a french book, quoted multiple times, carrying depth and lending meaning to the anime's context. Other books and quotes present are beautifully spun into the story as well.

While not a wholly original story, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora accomplishes something unique in its succinct but powerful execution of tired tear-jerking themes. Although short at 6 episodes, it manages to tell a surprisingly deep and somber story about romance with a caveat, backed up by a very small but entertaining cast of characters that help to give the story more meaning and provide the unique execution that this anime presents. However, I come away from watching this in a strange "half-satisfied half-disappointed" state. While the anime does manage to tell its entire story with 6 episodes with good development of character and relatively decent progression of events, the pacing suffered due to it length, particularly in the last episode when it was wrapping up. While nigh-tearjerking, it felt cut off before it could really finish what it wanted to say, tying up the themes and core impact on the world of the show. What I mean by this is that we didn't get to see the aftermath of certain events and how characters reacted to them, we are told this through a very short montage overlaid by the credits. It presented a simple narrative that slowly built up, but the ending didn't really offer the payoff to the buildup that was being made. Also, while this may be obvious, certain characters received very little to no development, but that was clearly to be expected of an anime of this length that wanted to tell a story and was set on doing just that and nothing else. That doesn't stop this short anime from being very good, however. Character interactions were done in a satisfying and entertaining way and as we learn more about them, we come to understand their prior actions that seemingly weren't justified. I think this is a tremendous feat for having a very constrained time limit to present these characters and the situation they're in. I don't want to spoil the story, but it felt like every event had a purpose when you really thought about it and there was no unnecessary side-elements to pad the already very short runtime if it didn't have a reason to be there. This includes the drama, which are present in very satisfying and understandable amounts that aren't left going on for way too long and thus souring the rest of the story. Our two leads, Yuuichi and Rika, had excellent chemistry and had understandable emotional reactions to events in the plot despite it not initially seeming so. If you're a fan of love stories that are clear on the kind of story they want to tell and don't stray away from that, which treat their few important characters with the quality of development they deserve, you should definitely give this one a shot. Any fan of the genre will find something to enjoy here, whether it be the heartwarming moments between the two protagonists or the healthy and deserved amount of drama woven into the narrative. At 6 episodes, it's an easy yet heavy watch when you come to a realization about how certain things will inevitably end, or begin.

{This is my first, bear with me} "Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora". Both the male and female main characters have illnesses and are subject to hospital. They meet. One has a very severe illness and may die any time. The anime really encourages me to cherish the things that I have. Cherish time. Use it carefully. And with that, be happy. The memories will last an eternity. Even though the anime is only six episodes long, it felt longer. I felt like I knew the characters rather well by the end, and it felt like a lot has happened. The storyline itself seems to [unless I am mistaken] parallel a volume of novels called "Les Thibault" In fact, I might actually grab a set from my local library. Is it cliché? Possibly. I haven't watched many animes to state that fact, but nonetheless, enjoyable.

All of us knew that Moon is beautiful, but Is it Complete a moon Or half-moon! Moon is paragon of beauty And Wheel of our Lifespan, may be it's full moon or normal maybe for someone it's a Crescent Moon! Yuiichi Is a typical MC, Nothing Special about him but i start to liking him after episode 4, specially near-to-happen sex Scene with Nurse's Friend, made me realize maybe he is ordinary MC but he is also Ordinary boy. Hanbun no tsuki ga Noburo Sora as a 6-episode Old Anime was a great Watch, Specially chemistry between MC's was beautiful and they fell in love with each other slowly and they never said; I Love You, I think "I Will Cherish You for Rest Of My Life" Is better Sentences. I Hate the doctor because why he pretend his life wasn't special, Maybe he is left-over but from his Girl's Perspective it's Different, Like Nurse Said: "Your Own Happiness is better Or Your Partner's Happiness". Every Real Man know the answer...

Looking Up At The Half-Moon is a story about love between two teenagers Yuichi and Rika both patients of the hospital because health issues. Yuichi has liver disease and Rika suffers from a heart condition that had already killed her father. Rika never knew about the concept of school life and Yuichi is lagging behind in his studies and needs to make up. Yuichi visits his high school clandestinely and even goes out of its way to purchase a school outfit for Rika. They teach one another, and they begin to fall in love with each other. However, the tension increases as Rika is convinced that she has to undergo risky surgery with potential gain of a couple more years spent together by her and Yuichi. The main focus of the story underlines that in order to have a successful life one has always to try and find his place; it also delineates positive values as happiness even when odds are against you. Somber coloration pallet meshes best with the somber telling of boy meets girl. Half moon as a symbol is not for brilliance – enough only to give it light; life comes like that, in the stride taken at each moment. Looking Up at the Half-Moon is a sweet love story that remind us to take pleasure from life even if it might be short.

“Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora” or “Looking Up At The Half-Moon” is a short series from the mid 2000s. It deals with Yuuichi Ezaki, a teenager hospitalized with a minor illness, who is set up with Rika, a girl dealing with a chronic heart issue. Some of the strengths of this anime I think include the animation and soundtrack. Despite being just 6 episodes, the pacing never felt rushed and each episode flowed smoothly into the next. The op and ed were both well done in my opinion and fit the mood of the show. While nothing outstanding, the art was well done, and I liked the setting of small-town Japan. I also think the show did a good job of creating the vibe of being in a hospital. The references to lesser known literature that Rika makes was also a nice touch. The duo of Yuuichi and Rika were alright I guess, the male protagonist is a little too spineless in most occasions and only really does things when other people tell him to. Rika herself comes off a little too sassy and controlling, despite being terminally ill, similar to Kaori in “Your Lie in April”. For those keeping stats, this is probably one of the only anime where the dude gets with the blue-haired girl and not the redhead. One of the biggest problem that the anime has is its characters, more specifically the adults, whose purpose in the show seems just to make Yuuichi’s life miserable. Akiko, the nurse, is played off as some sort of “tough love” character, and is probably the best of the bunch, although her antics towards Yuuichi get pretty mean. Mr. Tada is a pervert, Rika’s mom is a jerk, but none of that compares to Dr. Natsume, who is without a doubt one of the most despicable and biggest assholes in all of anime. He’s a liar, cheater, conceited jerk, who basically spends every scene making our protagonist feel bad. His backstory only makes him seem even worse. Another issue I have with the show is despite it taking on the realities of illness and death, the anime can be pretty unrealistic. Despite the hospital setting, our protagonist sneak in and out with out too much trouble. I’d also like to know what hospital has a staff that spend most of their time smoking, drinking, and physically abusing their patients. The last episode especially struck me as especially improbable, with Yuuichi swinging around the walls of the hospital on a rope like he’s spider-man or something. Finally the last bone I have to pick with this is that the comedy in the anime is completely out of place most of the time. “Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora” has this odd, sexual sense of humor that wouldn’t be out of place in an ecchi show, but sticks out like a sore thumb in something that is supposed to be serious and mature. Nothing explicit is ever shown, but a lot of it just came off as unnecessary and really stupid. All that said I think “Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora” is still a decent anime. No spoilers but the last scene is really beautiful, it’s not a happily-ever-after nor is it a downer ending, it manages to be sign off on a simultaneously bittersweet and wholesome note. The finale definitely made up for the sub-par aspects of the show for me, and while I did enjoy “Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora”, it’s an anime I wish I could’ve liked even more if it weren’t for the aforementioned issues. If you’re into sentimental anime this is one I would hesitantly recommend.

I really enjoyed watching this show. It hit in all the right places and our main love interests looked really cute together. The pacing for this was unbelievable, it felt like I had just finished a full series in a little under 3 or 4 hours. The opening and ending theme though... Wow. I liked how the opening kept an upbeat sort of feel to it. The ending hit me like a truck, with how simple and saddening it was to hear. In the end though, I felt okay after finishing this. It was either sad or a real example of true love depending on how you looked at it. If you want a series that doesn't take too long to watch and is very touching to witness, Looking Up at the Half-Moon is definitely something to check out.

Looking Up at the Half-Moon is an anime that is built upon a poignant and emotional premise, but fails in a variety of ways to live up to the potential of that premise. Even the title is symbolically laden with the concept that it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all, yet isn't nearly as visionary and multilayered as that stroke of titular genius might imply. Beginning with the story, it is both the strongest aspect of this anime and where the bulk of my problems with it lie. Following the story of two young patients in a hospital and the story of how they fall in love despite the odds is a very unique premise, and the hospital setting provides a fun and interesting twist to your usual romance fare. The adventures that Rika and Yuuichi share are also touching, and it's easy to get emotionally invested in them and their bond. However, while it does manage to get quite emotional, and deals directly with many of the existential questions surrounding life, death, and love, it has some problems that muddy the waters a bit. For starters, it suffers from a distinct overreliance on hiding key dialogue and important events from the viewer in order to artificially manufacture big reveals later on, which feels especially cheap and obnoxious in a show that is as short as this at only 6 episodes. It also suffers from a general lack of understanding in regards to how people think and make decisions, much of these choices feeling contrived and bizarre throughout. My biggest problem with Looking Up at the Half-Moon, however, is how it undermines its strength as a sweet, innocent love story between two star-crossed youth with elements that make it feel desperate to be perceived as 'mature'. The pervy nurse-groping grandpa in the first episode with his porn stash falls flat as a strange and needless addition to the show, and the fact that this hospital breaks every rule and regulation in such a way that would get them shut down in real life makes suspension of disbelief rather difficult, but the worst offence relates to how it defines the boundaries of relationships and fidelity. I'm not going to spoil anything specific here, but again it feels like it blindsides you with something edgy and 'morally grey' just to seem cool and 'grown-up' before returning to the adorable romance at hand, as though nothing happened and we should just forget about it- all the characters certainly do. All in all, they actually did pretty good with the story they were trying to tell in regards to Rika and Yuuichi, but everything that goes on when the two of them aren't onscreen together is simply riddled with flaws, which is a shame. The art is subpar, and notable as a general weakness of the show. The art direction itself is fine, and the color palate also fosters this dreamlike quality that fits well with the hospital setting, but the technical execution is seriously lacking, with shoddy animation in a variety of areas, especially facial animation. Many of the expressions seem wild and sloppy in a way that is out of place and jarring. The sound just barely meets the basic standards of quality for the time, even if the OST feels generic, giving off a distinct 'soundtrack in a can' sort of vibe. The songs which bookend the show at its opening and closing sequences are strong, however. The characters are good, even if they feel like they're on rails a lot of the time, tossed about by the story they're in and the conveniences it demands of them, but as mentioned earlier coherent character motivations and emotional intelligence proves to be an issue throughout. Of them, the main couple, Rika and Yuuichi are my favorite, as their romance forms the very core of the show, and the message communicated through their relationship is a beautiful one- does not a half-moon still light up the night? Overall, Looking Up at the Half-Moon is a fundamentally good story at its very center, but it stumbles over itself a lot, either by trying to be something it's not, or by the simple limitations of raw resources and natural skill. With this in mind, if you're willing to forgive a lot of flaws, there's something worthwhile in there, even if it is distinctly bittersweet.