Full moon wo sagashite - A heartwarming gem of an anime

                        The realm of anime is what I earnestly wish my waking life would be like. I could walk, spout badass one liners, cast a vibrant smile all with my eyes closed and still look suave. I could get to experience epic moments in slow motion, basking in the glory and ecstasy. All this could happen nowhere else but in the anime world. In my opinion anime has the upper hand over cartoons in delivering the emotional goods, and most times I find myself empathizing with anime characters manifolds greater than I empathize movie characters. Without further ado I'd like to review one of the greatest anime ever made - Full moon wo sagashite (Searching for a full moon).

Mitsuki all packed to go to school

The plot revolves around the trials and tribulations being faced by a 12 year old girl Kouyama Mitsuki who's been diagnosed with throat cancer. Even though her days are numbered in the literal sense, as blurted out inadvertently by the two lively Shinigami Takuto and Meroko, nothing deters little Mitsuki from becoming a highly acclaimed singer. Her primary motive behind her aspiration is to reunite with her first love Eichi, who was compelled by circumstances to part her and leave to America. With the help of her other-worldly friends Mitsuki realizes her dream of becoming a pop icon by switching into her 16 year old form whenever the situation calls for. 

To tout this anime as excellent will be a gross understatement, for this is one spectacular work of art that makes you laugh hysterically at times and bawl for hours at other times. Being a show targeted towards music, FMWS strikes the right chords (Pun unintended). Every one of the songs is indelible and there's no question of any of them getting mundane. The soundtracks are an eclectic lot and are unique in their own ways. What makes these numbers more emotionally charged is their picturization and the medley of strong sentiments and convictions wrapped up in them. Even if you watch the episodes at a stretch you'll never be inclined to skip the opening and closing tracks unless you've a perverse aversion towards quality music.

Given the intricate plot that would conveniently demand sympathy from the viewer, FMWS surprises. Though you can portend something plaintive to occur ahead of the story, you can't help but squeal in delight as Mitsuki rules the day with her optimism and adorable innocence. There's no instance fellas, not once where you'd feel underwhelmed by the melodrama! And mind you, Takuto and Meroko are not mere props to build the story arc but are pivotal characters that share center stage with Mitsuki. They're a lot more than just elements for comic relief. Without the staid Takuto or the vivacious Meroko Mitsuki's life would've been pitiful and too depressing to behold.

Meroko and Takuto in their Shinigami forms

I've looked out for deviations from the original manga and though there are plentiful aspects that the anime strays away from, I've reasons (that can't be divulged without spoiling the story) to believe that the anime version is the better. Another welcomed feature of FMWS is that it barely has any fillers. Even those elements that don't develop the story are pleasing and needless to say, inspiring without getting preachy. 

The artwork's sumptuous and satisfies the requirements for the shoujo genre generously. The character designs are rendered staunchly based on the manga, but for Meroko's attire. Overall, there's nothing to complain about the animation rendition in FMWS. It's fluid, appropriate and simply delivers.

Laid on an affecting premise, the pacing is to be analyzed to properly gauge the emotional factor. A touching plot with a fast pacing would fail to make the right impact on the viewer, and on the other hand a snail's pace would irk the viewer, making him skim across the episodes precipitously to get to the end. Once again, Full Moon triumphs gloriously! The pacing strikes the right balance. You find yourself sailing along with Mitsuki and her ethereal pals smoothly, as you drink in every moment that her ingenuous senses perceive. You would be oblivious of the pacing of the narrative, and would instead derive pleasure from the mileage of that particular episode. 

Well, I can't stress more on the splendor of this anime, nor can I extol more about the sheer greatness of its songs. To miss out or overlook this masterpiece would be a mighty shame.