Giant Robots, Demon Butlers and Feels!
Screenwriter-turned-director Mari Okada hasn’t only been making waves in the anime scene given her standing as one of the industry’s youngest female contributors, but also due to her latest cinematic outing being nothing short of a heartbreaking delight. With Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms well on its way to becoming a modern classic, what better time to look back at some of the other anime that Mari Okada has managed to help breathe life into?
#5: “Aria – The Natural” (2006)
With serene visuals accompanied by the unusual yet tranquil motifs of gondola rides, the Aria Company’s exploits all over the water world of Aqua managed to create a slice of life series that traded in drama for beauty, instead focusing on the niceties of the cast as well as their customers in a way that was both heartwarming yet entertaining. Thanks to Mari Okada’s writing, the second series managed to elevate both the characters and their passions to new heights, resulting in some truly enthralling trips across Neo Venezia.
#4: “Black Butler” (2008-10)
While it certainly took some liberties with the source material, Mari Okada still managed to take the supernatural suaveness found in Yana Toboso’s manga and successfully carry it over into a well-crafted animated series. Given how many millions have become endeared to the antics of the vengeful Earl and his demon butler, it’s fair to say the world-building and tender moments shared between Ciel and Sebastian went down a treat. While many take issue with the sequel series, there’s no getting around just how explosively popular Black Butler’s initial run was.
#3: “Toradora” (2008-09)
Widely considered one of the greatest high school romance anime of all time, the hilarious interactions between the pint-sized ball of fury that is Taiga and the mean-mugged yet gentle Ryuji made for an oddly engrossing watch. Mari Okada’s work on the series resulted in its pitch-perfect pacing and payoff, which as any fan will tell you let many in tears, especially after seeing the two star-crossed lovers finally admit their feelings.
#2: “Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans” (2015-17)
Goes to show that Ms Okada’s talents aren’t limited to gentle blushes and beaming smiles, which she demonstrated to great effect with this standalone addition to the Gundam mythos. She not only showed a great talent for integrating and adapting the jargon of a mecha show, but also a mastery of stabbing fans in the heart through the fate of its character. While the battle scenes are high octane and thrilling as can be, what fans most remember this series for is how the narrative twisted the knife by continually layering the suffering of its already tortured cast. R.I.P Tekkadan.
#1: “anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day” (2011)
As you can plainly see, Mari Okada prefers her work to contain copious amounts of flowers and tears. Focusing on a group of former friends who reunite in order to lay the ghost of their beloved Menma to rest, the anime will have you choking up before you know it, whether it be due each of the cast eventually admitting their guilt or by that now-iconic farewell scene. She may craft beautiful stories, but there’s no denying that if there’s one thing that this screenwriter knows how to do, it’s bring an audience to tears.
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Anime Scenes That’ll Make You Cry.
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