Ano Hana Episode 11

So.Much.Crying.

The final episode of Ano Hana, and it does not disappoint. Everyone from the Super Peace Busters finally let out all the feelings they have been bottling up inside. Anaru starts off with admitting that she only wanted Menma to go to heaven so that Jintan would stop thinking about her. Yukiatsu admits that, even after all these years, he still can't stop chasing after Menma. Finally, Tsuruko lashes out to Anaru that, rather than being jealous of Menma, she was jealous of Anaru as she believed that if Menma and Jintan ever got together, Anaru would have most likely hooked up with Yukiatsu. Poppo unleashes the final blow by stating that the only reason he's been traveling was to forget how useless he was when he saw Menma drown in the river. Elsewhere, Menma is slowly beginning to fade away.

She was such a cute kid.

Did not see that coming.

Not good.

So, looks like I was (thankfully) wrong about Poppo having a crush on Menma. Though, I really didn't expect Poppo, of all people, to be the one who witnessed Menma's death first-hand. Not that there's anything wrong with that, script-wise, as I enjoy being taken by surprise (as long as it doesn't involve my favorite character dying). After letting it all out, the group has somehow gotten closer and the mood is lightened up after Jintan points out that one of Anaru's fake eyelashes are peeling off. This little moment was handled really well and it didn't force itself too hard into the dramatic mood. It was also nice to see the group unconsciously slip to using each other's childhood nicknames again. With a new-found resolve, Jintan is sent to retrieve Menma so that they can finally say their farewells.

Yukiatsu laughing?! Didn't see that coming either.

They were all such cute kids.

Okay, now I don't hate Yukiatsu so much anymore.

Compare and contrast with the first cap.

When Jintan arrives, he finds Menma collapsed on the floor. It's here where we finally find out what Menma's true wish was: A promise to Jintan's mother to make her son cry. To let out his bottled up pains and emotions. Her wish was so simple, yet so sweet. Jintan, despite the fact that Menma finally had her wish fulfilled in seeing her closest friends in tears, still remains firm in his decision to allow the entire Super Peace Busters to properly say good-bye to Menma. When he meets up with his friends at the secret base, however, he can no longer see Menma (though he can still hear her).

Looking manly there, Yukiatsu.

What are these wet things coming out of my eyes?!

Menma tells Jintan that she's playing "Hide-and-Seek", so Jintan and the rest of the group leave the base in search of Menma. While they're away, she begins writing in her diary whilst tears fall from her eyes. The group continues to search for her, and finally find letters addressed to each of them underneath a tree. Each letter has Menma naming the qualities she loves about each of her friends. Jintan, unsatisfied, calls out to Menma that they haven't found her yet, so she shouldn't leave yet. Then, the entire group starts yelling "One more time!" (though for some reason, the subs place "Are you there?"). And, at last, the entire group can finally see her.

Dang it! I really wanted to ship these two together!

This scene was too cute.

Hold on  a sec...There's something in my eye.

What I really loved about the final scene with Menma was how everyone (but her) reverted back to children, which was both really cute and touching, in fact, I actually started to feel some wet substance coming out of my eyes at that moment...And don't get me started on when she finally disappears. Then, we get an epilouge of sorts where we see how everyone is doing. Jintan has started going to school again, Yukiatsu and Tsuruko are both on much better terms (and it's hinted that both couples may be cannon), and Poppo is finally catching up to his studies whilst working at the construction site at the same time. This episode was absolutely stupendous, and. if I could, I would give it a higher rating then 5:

Final Verdict:
This is definitely the show of the season. The storyline was excellent, and, though the anime had some issues with quality here and there, it was still pretty consistent and I've honestly seen worst, and I definitely look forward to the soundtrack's release. Though many thought that Hanasku Iroha  would give it tough competition for the top slice-of-life drama series, Ano Hana has definitely won me over. (Don't get me wrong, Hanasaku is an enjoyable series, it just isn't up to par with Ano Hana). And there aren't many series out there that can make me unconsciously cry out there (the only most recent ones being CLANNAD and Angel Beats!), so I applaud Ano Hana for this as well. This is definitely a series you do not want to miss.
It's final score is:

When did my roof start leaking?