Spring. Classical music. Romance. Heartbreak. All these are factors in making “Your Lie in April” the most heartbreaking, breathtaking, and wonderful piece of fiction to ever grace a TV screen.

The anime adaptation of the manga, titled the same name, was released on October 9, 2014, in Japan. In the U.S., people could begin watching the 22-episode romance anime on Crunchyroll, with episodes being released every week. The episodes stretched into the next year, with the final episode being released on March 19, 2015. From manga to anime, the creators did not keep anything out, making it look nearly identical to how it did on paper. However, A-1 Pictures, the producers of the anime, were very meticulous when it came to choosing the right music to put into the show—ranging from popular pieces by Chopin and Beethoven to more niche pieces by Saint-Saëns and Debussy. The music, the visuals, and the story all move in unison to create majestic art.

There are many parts of the anime that people can easily fall in love with. One of the biggest components of the show is classical music. The majority of the anime is surrounded by piano playing and performance, yet one of the main characters plays violin, which allows for some variety. The majority of the works played by the main character, Kosei, are composed by Polish composer Frédéric Chopin. Chopin’s “Etudes” and “Ballads” are some of his most recognizable pieces, known for their empty and sorrowful tones. The choice to use these Chopin works ties into the studio’s goal to blend sorrow in music with the beauty of animation. However, Chopin is not the only composer included, as the addition of Mozart, Beethoven, and Debussy brings in a different variety of emotions. Happiness, resilience, and love are portrayed through the graceful and masterful playing of the piano.

Another factor of the show that people fall in love with is the artistic style of scenes and frames used to capture characters’ emotions and feelings. As mentioned previously, the majority of the artwork from the manga was identically brought into the anime adaptation, yet the producers added their own flares that couldn’t be captured in book form. The ending scene of the final episode, where Kosei plays his final piece whilst surrounded by an endless body of water and Kaori’s spirit plays her violin, is one of the most cinematic moments of the show. Vibrant coloring, shifting frame angles, and fast-paced music ramp your heart rate up, until finally the keys fall silent, and the tears of Kosei run down his face. Besides this, people can enjoy the beautifully colored cherry blossoms, the vibrant city, and the different textures of style used.

The storyline is also to die for. Romance and grief, mixed with loss and rekindled love, make for a hell of a story—but somehow “Your Lie in April” just does it better. Using a friend love interest, an outsider girl who has always loved the main character (MC), and using lore to understand why characters are the way they are, moves in beautiful unison and leaves no questions to be answered. The episodes are sort of split into main points. The first four episodes introduce the characters and the MC’s rekindled love of the piano, establishing relationships and creating bonds. Episodes 5 to 13 introduce more characters important to Kosei’s life, but also build the heartbreak and sadness in the story (this is also where a lot of the music performances happen and really build up the plot). Episodes 14 to 20 are the true climaxes of the story, as the MC overcomes his grief, but is confronted by newfound worry and sorrow. The last two episodes are true heartbreak and toy with the heartstrings of every viewer.

Every year, when the month of April rolls around, the name “Your Lie in April” rings in the air. The name is heard everywhere on social media, and people who are familiar with the show talk about it with great excitement. Even though it is bound to bring heartbreak and some momentary depression, no one can deny the fact that “Your Lie in April” is one of the best annual re-watches of all time.