Spoilers warning.
I first heard of Hitsuji no Uta through various online threads about Tsukihime, where rare individuals would mention Hitsuji no Uta and cite similarities to Tsukihime. Having moderately liked the Tsukihime anime and game, I filed this titled in the back of my mind to one day see it if I had the time.
Indeed, Hitsuji no Uta and Tsukihime shares a nearly, but not quite, identical setup. The male protagonist was sent away from his childhood family to live with his aunt and uncle until high school. Both boys thought they suffered from anemia, but their conditions were in fact symptoms of a deeper sickness. After their parents have passed, both protagonists also return to their large house where their original family dwelt, and reunite with their attractive long haired sister. That is where the similarities end. After the beginnings, the two stories diverge from each other.
Hitsuji no Uta at the foremost level is about the mysterious illness that plagues the family of Takashiro. Underneath that level is a love story, of which it is inseparably intertwined with the illness plotline. The romance aspect of the show is arguably more interesting than the disease plot line, as the romance was understated and unusually mature. The most interesting facet of the show to me is seeing how the illness created and destroyed relationships. I would say that is the crux of Hitsuji no Uta.
Pale colors, strong contrast, and gloomy music effectively created a bleak and melancholic atmosphere, which was well suited to Hitsuji no Uta’s tragic tale. I also thought the presentation painted a few emotively and artistically powerful shots and scenes. Hitsuji no Uta is not a story that required a large bank. There is a visible effort that the production team did the best they could with their limited budget, but even then there are parts where it was easy to see that the budget was smaller than what was really needed.
I must say, I am rather enamored with Kazuna’s older sister Chizuna. In close up shots the animation is very detailed, and it is in those close facial shots that I was captivated…by her sad and tired eyes, her long flowing black hair, her two moles beneath her left eyes, and her defeated voice. The tone of her voice accurately reflected her state of mind, and yet it was so alluring. I have a lot of sympathy for her. All of this makes her a sister that I wish was real and mine.
Hitsuji no Uta ended somewhat abruptly, leaving open questions and untied knots. The anime really needed at least one more episode to focus on the aftermath. Also, with only four episodes, and considering the story progress is unhurried, there is not much time or events for the characters to grow on us, leaving the final scene less poignant than it should have been.
I liked Hitsuji no Uta for its subtle love story, competently forlorn presentation, and of course, the languid beauty that is Chizuna. Its flaws, while significant, does not deter me from giving Hitsuji no Uta my recommendation.
