Once Rin starts crying into Komari's arms, it is nearly impossible to resist choking up a bit.
LITTLE BUSTERS EX ENGLISH PATCH WITH H SCENES SERIES
The entire series has been building towards a very specific point. Unlike many other Key stories (and even anime in general), there is no melodrama. The second-to-last episode focussing on Rin is so touching, so masterfully directed that it genuinely surpasses the visual novel.
While the handling of Rin's route is disappointing, Rin manages to stand right beside Kyousuke by the end of the story.
Rarely do we find a character as genuine as Kyousuke. He is not perfect and makes mistakes like anybody else. He's a deeply flawed person, and that's the way it should be. It is easy to be frustrated or even infuriated by Kyousuke's actions, but once all the pieces start clicking together at the end, you can't help but respect the poor guy. Even if it requires him to play the role of a villain. He cares about his friends more than anyone else and will go to any lengths to protect them from harm. While his presence as a leader is often taken for granted in the first season, Refrain shows there is a far deeper reason for why everyone respects him so much. Kyousuke's characterisation is where the writing truly shines.
I'm not so sure the anime-only viewers will appreciate his characterisation as much as they could, which is a shame, as all the characters enrich the story in a pretty significant way. The only issue is that the anime portrays these scenes as something silly (zombie eyes and battle music blasting in the background) when it is meant to be emotional. An entire episode focusses on Masato's backstory: why he is obsessed with the idea of strength, why he acts like an incessant moron in front of others, and how he became friends with Kyousuke and Kengo. Masato in particular seemed to exist solely as comedy relief, like a more idiotic version of Clannad's Sunohara. What about Kengo and Masato, then? There was never much depth to them in the first season, amusing as they were. It does not find complacency in characterisation without meaning. Refrain goes further than giving more- it makes us care. Even Komari, arguably the weakest character in the first season, is given a considerable amount of depth through her relationship with Rin. Surely, there is an ever-present feeling of 'moe' among the girls (isn't Rin just the cutest thing?) but it is never used as a crutch for characterisation. Little Busters does not rely on fanservice and other cheap tricks to hold your interest. As a series rooted in the theme of friendship, Refrain does a magnificent job of making the viewer feel like they are a part of the story rather than merely spectators. It is one of very few anime where the relationships between the characters feel genuine rather than forced or manufactured. Perhaps you found Rin adorable or Kyousuke amusing, but Refrain succeeds in elevating the main five much higher than that. The story directly follows the events of the first season by developing characters who were largely overlooked in the past. Perhaps that is a testament to how strong the characters are.įor anime-only viewers, Little Busters: Refrain is certainly no featherweight. There are so many things that could have, should have been better, and yet it still manages to be one of 2013's best anime. Other important scenes, such as Masato's backstory, are misrepresented as something silly when they should be serious. Large sections of story (including half of Rin's route) are skimmed over or ignored entirely in the anime. Some dreadful abomination in the end? I don't believe so, but the visual novel is still undeniably the superior experience. It is the second best Key anime to date.Īs somebody who regards the Little Busters visual novel as one of the most emotional stories they have ever experienced, I was sceptical hearing about an anime adaptation of Refrain. If you have developed any sort of attachment to the characters in Little Busters, you will undoubtedly shed at least a few tears by the end of Refrain. Where the first season blundered with its melodrama, Refrain instead provides a much more thoughtful and meaningful story. It is rare to find a sequel as emotionally powerful as Little Busters: Refrain.
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