“Sing ‘Yesterday’ For Me” Anime Review: There Will Be An Answer, Let It Be

Empathizing with not only the characters, but also their animation

While not all of its characters are empathetic, Sing “Yesterday” For Me is also doing a great job of making them feel like a human being. This is not only a matter of how the characters are written, but also the animation that beautifully captures the characters’ frustrations and conflicts. Credit should be given to the staff at Doga Kobo here, whose animation certainly helps Sing “Yesterday” For Me to feel believable.

When we talk about character animation, Sing “Yesterday” For Me is arguably one of the best anime right now. It feels like every character movement is filled with their personality. It’s not shy of actually taking a close up on the gestures that show detailed character expressions. The framing is also superb, as they subtly speaks on what a character inside the frame feels.

The animation clearly enhances the narrative and the end result looks amazing. The characters feel like fleshed-out persons with their own insecurities that we can relate. When a character says they are okay, we know that they lie because their body language says otherwise. When a character is confused about making a choice, we can feel their insecurity because they act like us. It is not the characters’ decisions that make us empathize with them. It is how they are animated that makes us feel we could understand them.

This is significant because while the characters were acting unsympathetic, it is easy to see where they come from when they act like actual persons. They may make bad decisions, but thanks to how they are animated, we also know that they are human beings who make mistakes. It is easy to forgive them when they feel real, even though the decision they made is not what we think is best for their situation.

In this case, having good production management certainly helps. In a tweet, the staff mentioned that the anime has already wrapped its production before the anime even aired. Another article already explained before about the impact of management on anime quality. When a production has good management, the animators and production team have the necessary time to flesh out the animation. Good management could lead to good production quality, which greatly affects the quality of the anime.

There will be an answer, let it be

When it comes to its theme, Sing “Yesterday For Me is actually quite similar with other love triangle romance like Just Because, Nisekoi, or any romance that is usually associated with Mari Okada. While it is common, those types of stories are also sometimes dismissed by some fans. It is because the idea of the main character being romantically pursued by not just one, but many other people, could feel like a fantasy.

On the other hand, Sing “Yesterday” For Me feels fresh. It has real-life relatable issues for those who are already in their twenties, like work-life balance, marriage, family, etc. It captures the romantic tension of a love triangle story, yet feels more human, adult, and grounded with the character who also needs to solve the problem other than their romantic life.

Moreover, those types of stories are at best when they successfully capture the dilemma of making choices. By putting an adult in this story, the choice a character makes have more weight. When a character makes a romantic choice, they need to think about many other things too. What will other people think? Will this relationship lasts long? What about their family? When you are an adult, a lot of things will influence your decision-making process. Making a choice will be harder, and this anime understands that.

This is actually why the anime wants to say that, for whatever choice the characters make, it is important to understand what they actually want. Nobody knows if a choice they make will lead to the best outcome. But when it is something that you actually want, it is actually easier to move on when you fail. Not everything will go according to plan; Rikuo understands this. Yet in the end, he respects the outcome of his choice. He is different compared to when he was in the first episode when he laments whether his life choice is right.

There is a lot to love in Sing “Yesterday” For Me. For one, it is a love triangle story with beautifully animated adults who act like a humans. It is the work where the production didn’t need to be pushed to the last minute. It is also an anime that tells the stories of people who seem unable to move on from their past because they are not able to be honest with themselves. It is an anime that understands that making choices is hard. That’s why rather than dwelling on what decision will lead to the best outcome, accepting what you actually want and resolve to face that what comes next is more productive. If the result of the choice is not what you expected, just accept it as a part of your life and let it go.

With that in mind, maybe the best song to describe the anime is not Yesterday, but rather, Let It Be.

And when the brokenhearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

Facts and Figures

The Indonesian Anime Times | Review by Dany Muhammad | This anime can be watched  legally in Indonesia and some South-East Asia countries on Ani-One Asia Youtube Channel