Honey Lemon Soda review: A sweet palate cleanser to cure the January blues

4.0 out of 5 star rating

This review is based on the first two episodes of Honey Lemon Soda.

For years now, the heartwarming manga “Honey Lemon Soda,” which has sold over 13 million copies in its nine-year span, is finally being adapted into an anime! This means we can all look forward to adding it to our Crunchyroll watchlists as we ring in 2025 with a potentially uplifting dose of everyday life storytelling.

Mayu Murata’s 27-volume story is achieving remarkable success within the competitive shojo market – that’s the category of anime and manga catering to young female audiences. Yet, as the anime prepares to debut during the congested winter anime season, it faces equally daunting challenges ahead.

Despite the abundance of intriguing new and returning series vying for your attention, such as Solo Leveling, Sakamoto Days, The Apothecary Diaries, among others; Honey Lemon Soda provides a straightforward and endearing journey all on its own.

If you’ve made up your mind that you don’t enjoy shojo manga, Honey Lemon Soda likely won’t sway your opinion. However, for those who are open to it, this series delivers a refreshing, well-crafted dose of heartwarming entertainment.

At Hachimitsu High School, there’s a timid and apprehensive 15-year-old named Uka Ishimori who is eager to embrace change and make friends among her fresh peers. She aims to overcome her shyness and live life with more self-assuredness.

As Uka grappled with recurring bullying and name-calling during her middle school years, she grew closer to Kai Miura, a bold and occasionally gruff individual known for his radiant blond hair that reminded Uka of the bright yellow hue of the popular anime’s namesake lemon soda.

Over the course of their friendship, which blossoms amidst a vibrant collection of new acquaintances, Honey Lemon Soda guides us through Kai’s role in encouraging Uka to achieve her aspirations. Beneath the surface simmers an endearing and timeless romantic tension.

Transformed by JC Staff, a seasoned studio known for numerous hit series such as Bakuman, The Life of Saiki K, and Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, Honey Lemon Soda appears captivating in its animated iteration.

The episodes closely mirror the narrative of the manga, with several scenes being almost identical reinterpretations. This means that the vibrant hues of the cherry blossom trees outside the school, the lighting effects during sunset scenes, the distinctive features and uniforms of the characters, and, notably, the glisten on Uka’s numerous tears – all echo Murata’s most impressive manga illustrations while preserving what made them captivating initially.

Instead of large, overly cute eyes being a turnoff for some characters, particularly the protagonist’s, they can also effectively portray the youthful, wide-eyed optimism of these characters as they navigate their lives and future, while also enhancing the vivid emotions typically found in teenage romance narratives.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that JC skillfully enhances the manga by refining its simpler, occasionally rougher sketches – incorporating additional (often extensive) detail where appropriate, yet maintaining a suitable number of its cute, humorous aspects to ensure the right dose of charming humor is preserved.

In a faithful adaptation, Honey Lemon Soda mirrors the struggles and inner turmoil of an introverted teen, portraying their determination to overcome those issues, in its anime incarnation.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt and wished you could be more confident, or felt hesitant to take risks due to fear of failure, then you’re bound to connect with Uko’s story in some way, regardless of your gender or age.

The story’s focus on Uka’s persistence to transform, in spite of her parents’ concerns, is truly inspiring. It carries endearing lessons such as not being shy about seeking aid and permitting oneself to be a bit more self-centered. What makes it even more touching is knowing that this courageous Bambi-like character is growing for the better, and it will prompt you to shout “ganbette!” (“do your best!”) every time she triumphs over the social obstacles that resonate with many viewers’ personal experiences.

Observing from the sidelines, I can’t help but be captivated by the compelling performances at the heart of this production. Uki, skillfully portrayed by Kana Ichinose (Bocchi The Rock!, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End), and Kai, brought to life by Shogo Yano (Seven Deadly Sins, Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V) – these characters’ anime incarnations embody the authenticity I had envisioned when first encountering their written counterparts.

Observing Uka’s retreat into her shell after a setback or her moments of despair can be disheartening, but forgiveness comes naturally when you recall that such behavior is not uncommon for many teenagers at that stage in life, as they are still exploring and learning about the world. This only adds to its authenticity.

At the opposite extreme, certain instances involving Honey Lemon Soda may veer into overly dramatic or excessively sentimental territory for their context. Additionally, there are plot twists or developments that are predictable from afar, as well as an abundance of self-belief and friendship themes that can become unrealistic and repetitive in this young romance anime genre.

In essence, while there may be moments that make you wince, overall, your journey with Uka and Kai in their pursuit of joy and social belonging is worth sticking with.

As a passionate anime lover, I can’t help but express my excitement about Honey Lemon Soda! This delightful anime is just what we need to warm our hearts during the chilly winter months and even beyond.

If you’re an avid fan of romance anime and have delved deep into the genre, this new series might not offer anything groundbreaking. However, even though it may seem familiar due to potential clichés or tropes, it excels at executing these common themes effectively, much like its manga does.

If you’ve recently explored other genres apart from romance novels, or if you’re dipping your feet into the world of shojo manga for the first time, Honey Lemon Soda is a delightful anime that satisfies all expectations.

2025-01-07 23:34

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