Taking a break from live action dramas. I found this anime while browsing through YouTube for something to watch. I actually watched all the 52 episodes (approx. 30mins/ep.) in just two days!! Although it seems a bit childish, it reminds me of my childhood memories - dreams and aspirations.
12-year-old orphan Mitsuki Koyama is a talented singer who dreams of becoming a pop idol, but she is afflicted with sarcoma, which is curable only through a surgery that could ruin her vocal cords, and destroy her ability to sing. The tumor in her throat already affects her ability to breathe well and sing loudly. On top of that, her grandmother hates music, and is completely opposed to Mitsuki's wish to audition. Mitsuki’s dreams seem impossible to achieve, until one day she is visited by two shinigami, whom only she could see.
The shinigami, Takuto and Meroko, inadvertently tip Mitsuki off that she has only one year left to live. Mitsuki then realizes she cannot wait any longer to fulfill her dream, so she runs away from home and the shinigami, to try to audition for a singing competition. However, the shinigami stop her before she is able to audition. She moves Takuto, the male shinigami, to agree to a compromise: If Mitsuki promises to go quietly when her year is up, he would help her become a singer, so she could leave the world with no regrets. Takuto gives her the ability to transform into a completely healthy 16-year-old, so that she could meet the age requirements of the audition, and sing without hindrance.
Despite heavy competition, Mitsuki wins over the judges with her excellent voice and her enthusiasm for singing, sealing a contract with Seed Records. To conceal her true identity, she chooses the stage name "Fullmoon" ("Fullmoon," a single word, which is a name, in contrast to "Full Moon" such as in the series title, which refers to the actual moon).
Full Moon O Sagashite (manga)
Before becoming an anime, Full Moon O Sagashite was a shoujo manga by Arina Tanemura. And just like the others, there are some differences in the plot between the anime and the manga. Here are some of them: (Wikipedia)
Mitsuki's love for Eichi plays a lead role in her quest to be a singer. She wishes to be a singer because she thinks her songs will reach America, where Eichi lives, and will recognize her.
MANGA: Takuto finds out that Eichi died in a plane crash the day of his departure and Mitsuki knew all along and pretended that he was still alive.
ANIME: She goes to America to meet a doctor who might treat her illness and uses the chance to track down Eichi's adoptive family, who tell her that Eichi died in a car accident two months after moving.
In both versions, she becomes emotionless and blames herself for his death.
MANGA: She continues with singing but does so so that she can exhaust herself to death and "go to the world Eichi is at".
ANIME: She is so depressed that she gives up singing, refuses to eat and sleep, stares at a photo of her and him, and considers suicide.
At the end of both versions, with the help of her friends, she realizes that Eichi would have wanted her to live and fulfill her dreams, so she continues singing and fulfills her promise to him.
MANGA: Takuto is more blunt about his feelings for Mitsuki, even forcibly kissing her and trying to force himself on her. Mitsuki becomes more aware of her feelings for him earlier and even goes on a date with him. At the end, he awakens from a coma (he wasn't really dead) and reunites with Mitsuki three years later.
ANIME: He holds back his feelings for her and doesn't confess until her final concert. At the end, he is granted a second chance to live and has no memories until Mitsuki calls for him and seems to realize who she is.
MANGA: Meroko still has feelings for Izumi, who is more open about his love for her. Izumi is also more amusing and teasing than is cold and cynical self in the anime. Meroko accepts that she loves Izumi and they become partners again in the manga, while their relationship is left uncertain in the ANIME.
MANGA: Mitsuki is cured of her illness by her frequent transformations, which lessened her cancer, after she agrees to take the surgery.
ANIME: Mitsuki takes the surgery after her final concert and it successfully allows her to keep her voice.
I think the reason why I like the anime is because of its captivating songs. I quickly fell in love with the songs sang by Mitzuki (myco). Here's my Top 2 songs that I like the most: Warning: Spoiler!
"Eternal Snow"
Takuto singing "Myself"
Most of the songs in the anime were sang by myco (Changin' My Life) who was also the seiyuu of Mitzuki while some of it were by The Scanty.
Album Covers:
FMwS ED1 & ED2 Single - Myself & New Future (Changin' My Life)
FMwS ED3 Single - Eternal Snow (Changin' My Life)
FMwS ED4 Single - Etranger & Love Chronicle (Changin' My Life)
FMwS Final Live (Changin' My Life)
FMwS OP1 Single - I Love You (The Scanty)
FMwS OP2 Single - Koibana & Rock'n Roll Princess (The Scanty)
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