Comments on: Honey and Clover 1

By: Connie

Connie — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:15:30 +0000

True, and that was one of the nice things about my school, too. The students that wanted to be there did go to the trouble of learning the technique and everything about what it was that they wanted to do. The classes were almost always critiques or open studios, so individual takes on technique incorporated into very different projects were always a pleasure to see. It also made it easy to spot slackers too, since it would be immediately obvious in a critique that they weren’t putting the same amount of effort into the work that others were in order to learn and develop technique. If it was an issue of confusion or not understanding, the critiques always helped immensely since everyone in the class would participate and offer suggestions.

By: Sara K.

Sara K. — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:26:13 +0000

Whereas the theme of my arts education was ‘only with good technique is it possible to unleash one’s full artistic potential’. Since I’ve been trained to think that way, I see lacking the technical training as a handicap.

On the other hand, technique does not have to come from a classroom – the ultimate source is practice, practice, practice. Training makes practice more efficient, but I imagine the dedicated students at any kind of art school practice a lot and will get much of the technique they need that way.

By: Connie

Connie — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:05:13 +0000

I’m not entirely sure how it is at other schools, but the only degree offered at the undergraduate level at mine was a BFA. You could also get a BA in Visual and Critical Studies (which took an extra year to complete) and a BIA for Interior Architecture. They had everything like sound, film, painting, sculpture, ceramics, holography, textiles, but all of it fell into the BFA category. It was a conceptual school, so technique and process were ignored in favor of student experimentation, and the classes were designed without a lot of basics so that, in theory, a painting student could take animation classes without having to go through 2+ years learning how to animate before being allowed to take the classes they wanted. The Visual Communication department I was in was the only department that required a portfolio review after the first year in order to advance, and as such, was about the only department that was off-limits to other students at the school. Strangely, there wasn’t an actual drawing department (two or three drawing classes were offered in the painting department), and in instances requiring technical skill as you pointed out, I believe the teachers encouraged the quick solution of finding an example and copying it rather than actually learning how to do it since it was the concept that was important in the end.

The later volumes of Honey and Clover are much better than the first, and things start to improve as early as volume 2. I’m not sure what it is that suddenly makes the characters more likable, but every volume is like spending a little more time with them, and they grow on you more and more.

By: Sara K.

Sara K. — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:01:03 +0000

Isometric and perspective drawing felt pretty mathematical to me, and I find it hard to imagine that your art school didn’t have a degree which required that.

I felt the same way about the first volume – a bit underwhelmed. Like you, I’ve also attended art school. The fact that you enjoyed the later volumes more gives me hope.

By: Pirkaf

Pirkaf — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:27:22 +0000

In a movie, I think Hagu-chan is just perfect (that’s why I can’t watch dorama, I can’t imagine another actress as Hagu) and also Takemoto (a guy from Arashi) is surprisingly good and Morita-san is also perfect. I saw anime beforehand and the movie is very different, of course, but I liked it none the less. Painting scenes are beautiful. Also, all the people I know who have seen it liked it. Bur sure, it doesn’t mean you will like it necesarilly.. ;-))

By: Connie

Connie — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:15:43 +0000

It’s true what you say about it being the world of manga. I’ve gotten pretty used to Hagu as of volume 3, and I don’t even really think of her being particularly young-looking except when they make jokes about it. It helps that she’s matured a lot and is way more outgoing now, and I’ve also gotten used to the two characters being in love with her since now there’s been a lot of focus on other relationships.

I’ve heard alternately that the movie is very bad and very good. I kind of want to watch it now that I’ve read more of the manga and like it so much, I have a feeling that I’ll just see the manga characters in it regardless of how they may be acting, and that would be fine by me.

By: Pirkaf

Pirkaf — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:22:52 +0000

Being a fan of anime and movie (I really love the movie, I totally recommend it) but not dorama (weak and really bad cast), I had great expectations. Well, the story is a bit shattered at first as new characters are introduced but once it gets settled it’s better and it will be better in later volumes, at least I hope. And I love the art. I also like backgrounds which are sometimes very simplistic but I prefer this over awful photographic-like backgrounds (Nana for example). About Hagu.. I know several people who look very young in their twenties and even thirties. It’s not uncommon that a girl looks 10 years younger than she is. Sure, it’s a bit on the edge here but we’re in manga, we must live with it.. ;-)

By: ame

ame — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:42:09 +0000

i hope the movie is good, though i read somewhere that it “didn’t really capture the feel of the manga”. i’ve seen the first episode of the of the anime and it was pretty damn funny.
and don’t worry, she takes her time unfolding it, but the characters all have depth and she shows you.
i really love this manga. love it. deeply. the more i read it, the more i love it.
Hagu can do anything. Silk screening, sculptures..she’s just a friggin genius.

By: Connie

Connie — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:48:46 +0000

Does it bring up Hagu’s other skills later? It mentioned that she also studies fashion (or fashion illustration, I can’t remember) in the first volume, but it only really focuses on her 3D work so far.

I’ve heard good things about the Honey and Clover anime, but I’ve heard some generally bad reviews of the live action movie. Have you seen that version of it? It would be the version I would go after next if it was comparable to the anime and manga.

By: anon.

anon. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:55:20 +0000

I was always under the impression that Mayama worked for an interior design firm, at least later in the series.

Hagu doesn’t just specialize in sculpture, she draws and paints as well; an all round talented artist.

The story gets much better in later volumes but be sure to keep an eye out for the anime. The anime is far superior than Nana and Sand Chronicles.