The story setup isn't that complex (at least in theory). We are introduced to a high school girl named Sawako Kuronuma. Almost everyone at the school calls her Sadako (otherwise known as that creepy girl with long black hair from the popular Ringu film series). This sort of suggests that some of the other students consider her creepy and are convinced that she is capable of communicating with ghosts. Yet this doesn't ring true of Sawako at all. Nothing about the sweet-natured, good hearted and charming Sawako is reminiscent of that creepy nightmare-inducing horror movie icon. Sawako is one of the most gentle and good-natured anime characters I have ever witnessed in the art-form. She is pure of heart and incredibly feminine too.

There is no doubt that this is essentially a slice-of-life series with a heavy romantic and comedic element. It's beautifully romantic in a way that is sadly uncommon but this is something which makes the show stand out even more as a wonderful artistic creation. There were so many moments where I felt pulled into the world of these characters in astonishing ways. It was a joy to simply be able to discover such a beautiful, romantic, moving, and entertaining piece of art.

The series has left quite the impression on me. The animation is unbelievably good. It doesn't falter at any point during the show. The character designs were distinctive and memorable. The background artwork is remarkably detailed: you can see the immense effort that the animators put forth into this production in the sunlight on the trees or in the detail on the school environments. Each scene seems to have some remarkable poetic and romantic imagery that captures the tone of the series ridiculously well. I was awestruck by the beauty of Kimi ni todoke in every scene.

There is so much genuine emotion. The combination of the direction and writing makes for one massively powerful double-whammy of artistic excellence. It's unsurprising that this is such a gigantic success in Japan and that the original manga series was so popular as well. There aren't many series that can entirely claim to have excellence in almost every area of production. Who can dismiss such beautiful animation, emotive storytelling, fun characters, and the wonderful heart at the core of it all? It's authentic in the best possible way. It has the ability to remind us of how moving a romantic anime series can be when made with a authentic voice. It's as the title suggests. "From Me to You" is from the heart and it was a series made especially for you.

This is easily one of the best looking anime series made recently, and I often find myself in wonder, considering how much time and effort it surely must have taken for the staff to bring together detailed layouts, character designs, and elements as visually stunning as what we have found here. It feels impossible to not be transported by the art. I literally cannot even begin to fully understand how much genuine artists it took to deliver the animation on Kimi Ni Todoke; no words properly describe the impact it has in each frame.

Everyone who enjoys a well-told romance and animation that is pure artistry will find some worthwhile aspects with this soon-to-be anime classic Kimi Ni Todoke. It doesn't matter if viewers are men or women, boys or girls, because this show is made for everyone with an interest in well-done anime series with a solid heart and a pure soul. I love every moment.

The Collection (Volume 3, Premium Edition):

Kimi ni Todoke has quickly skyrocketed on my list of great anime series. I was so immersed and impressed by the first two collections and I am thrilled by this final collection of episodes. This series really is one of the best romantic series out there. It is increasingly rare to experience an incredible series as well developed as this one is and the hard work of everyone involved is so clear and precise with each episode.

The Blu-ray:

Kimi ni todoke, Vol. 3 Premium Edition contains 12 episodes, collector's packaging and an art-book entitled "Their Memories".

Please Note: The images featured in this review are from the DVD editions in this Blu-ray/DVD combo release.

Video:

This was a stunning presentation. NIS America has released one of the most gorgeous looking anime series onto Blu-ray disc. The series is presented with the proper 1.78:1 aspect ratio and with AVC MPEG-4 encoded 1080p picture. It is difficult to imagine a reaction to the beautiful animation being anything less than completely stunned. What amazing presentation. It left me feeling speechless and completely absorbed in the incredible artwork. The colors seem so well saturated and accurate while the line detail is also surprisingly strong. The clarity of the image won't disappoint fans hoping for a solid presentation. Everything about the PQ is remarkable.

Audio:

Extras:

This time around we have a couple of bonuses! The first one is labeled as an actual episode. Episode 0 is a compilation episode designed to catch viewers up to speed with the show. There are a few new moments of animation but most of it is rehashed if you want to skip the episode. There are also two Mini Todo Theater episodes that are based upon Snow White and Cinderella. Both of which have no real linkage to the plot of the series... but they are admirably cute, funny, and entertaining. You won't want to miss them because they feature the characters you've grown to love on the show in these silly premises. Quite cute. The other on-disc extras are closing opening/ending themes and trailers for other NIS America anime releases. Both the OP/ED songs add an excellent element to the show and are worth seeing without the credit overlay. Please note: these are newly created opening and ending videos (new theme music and animation) and they are not the same sequences found on the previous collections.

The packaging both looks and feels like an extra though, and is as consistently amazing as the other Kimi ni Todoke release and other NIS America products. The series is packaged in a stunning over-sized box with artwork on either side of the package.

Kimi ni Todoke has been included on both Blu-ray and DVD discs in two slim-line DVD cases. There is a large art-book with some illustrations and character dialogue. It's really not that in-depth as far as offering anything substantial as a bonus, but it still manages to be a nice book to look at for the chosen artwork that is featured. Like the book included in the previous collection, Kimi ni Todoke has again received a book that really feels highly supplemental and not in an expansive or exciting way. Mainly, expect to only enjoy the inclusion for the artwork. I still insist that I would have preferred an episode guide to go along with the artwork.

Final Thoughts:

I know some might not feel inclined to give the show a reasonable chance because of the lack of an English dub and because of the fact that this is a romantic anime. Guys especially might worry that it's a show only for girls. I find that idea silly. This is one of the best anime series I have seen over the past several years. This isn't a series that is going to appeal to everyone, of course, but if you are even remotely a fan of anime and animation you owe it to yourself to check out this show and soon. I think that a wide range of people would love this series. It is one of the best in it's genre. The story is heartwarming, the animation stellar, and the presentation (PQ/AQ/Packaging) is first-rate and exactly the kind of thing that helps to keep anime collector's interested in the market. It's entirely worthwhile and a necessary purchase for fans of the show. Highly Recommended.

Neil Lumbard is a lifelong fan of cinema. He aspires to make movies and has written two screenplays on spec. He loves writing, and currently does in Texas.