A story of what life gradually brings to you in love and decay, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is an anime series that can lodge into one’s gooey insides. Blossoming from the manga by Saka Mikami, the series was created with the help of Cloverworks and directed by Miyuki Kuroki. It leads us through the evolution of Rintaro Tsugumi and Kaoruko Waguri. Rintaro is an intimidating, tall, but kind-hearted boy from a “low-level” school, while Kaoruko is a dessert-loving girl attending the elite private school next door. Despite the rivalry between the schools, the two develop a connection from Kaoruko’s visits to Rintaro’s family’s bakery. Their story continues as they prevail over prejudice and societal challenges. The TV animated production of The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity presents a sweet, visually stunning, and heartfelt narrative that leaves viewers giggling and kicking their feet while still diving into the issue of insecurity.
When I settled on my plush cushions and switched on this anime for the first time after following the manga for two years, anticipation for something that could wreck my admiration swirled. Fortunately, the visuals carried on to make my eyes alight, and the clear world-building, even from the first scene, comforted me. The contrast between the structured private school and care-free boys’ school drew me in with a Romeo and Juliet setup. Being built on a known archetype made it easy for audiences to dive into the storyline. The artists who made this anime possible illustrate brushstrokes of sunlight that truthfully make the warm but cringy sugary energy of teenage love.
Now, the film is not just kindness stuffed into 13 episodes, but it voices the worries of self-worth, discrimination, and prejudice. All characters face the overwhelming thought that they don’t deserve what they have. Sabaru, the best friend of Kaoruko, was dependent on her friendship after trauma in her childhood. Therefore, she came off as overprotective and rude to others. Rintaro’s selflessness, even as others judged him, shifted Sabaru’s thinking. In the series, Sabaru’s insecurity was conveyed effectively, making my heart scrunch with care. They do deserve the best, just like everyone else does.
The film also suggests the broad issue of living in a community that shuns the complexity of what makes us human: not all delinquents do it for the adrenaline, and not all elites are there to watch you fail from their fancy balconies. They both have care, loss, desire, and wrongs.
The two main characters are so kind and open-minded that it raises your expectations for real life. It’s not even the protagonists that get you engulfed in these teenagers, but their friends. Subaru Hoshina’s trauma left her scarred, but her loving relationship with Kaoruko rooted itself into Subaru forever. Her character is a relatable point that leads the plot of the narrative.
Shohei Usami, a happy-go-lucky character who is friends with Rintaro, brings the smiles to the screen. His understanding nature and impulsiveness bring laughter to an otherwise calming film. Shohei’s empathy for others makes him one of my favorites. For example, in episode 5, he comments, “That’s just the kind of guy Rintaro is, he does things for people without even thinking about it. Bet he doesn’t even realise that’s how you feel. That’s why we’re the only ones who really know just how damn cool Rintaro really is.” This translated quote refers to Shohei’s ardent consideration for the happiness of his friends, making the series one to take up on because of how the characters sprout flowers of tender care.
With all that is good and amazing about it, it’s not perfect. The pacing felt rushed compared to the slow build of the manga. I felt like the love between the couple went quicker, as the episodes jumped weeks in between the talking stage, making it feel inauthentic, or more lost in the breeze. The manga is better paced, and I would recommend it even more than the anime.
While the pacing could have been better, the series’s essence of romantic, paternal, and platonic love shines. This series is for viewers looking for a quick romance with little to no slow burn and light chuckles of comedic elements along the way. The plot doesn’t take a lot to understand, but it still focuses on deep themes that teenagers face. Fans of the manga will be delighted to see their beloved characters colored on screen. Viewers of action, thriller, and soapy dramas would likely not find the series something to pick on. However, before watching this, be aware that there are points of content warning for panic attacks and a slight dig into self-harm.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity embodies its name and is worth the time and money to relax in the tender love that the artists worked hard to draw. Worth it for the kindness that this story spreads. Water the flowers of dignity that the anime blesses by watching it on Netflix weekly, with the first episode already out on Sept. 7, 2025.
