Citrus - The Tragically Misunderstood Anime

Not all animations can be interpreted by the way that the authors of the film intend to. However, it is up to the audience to find their own way of understanding the messages being conveyed. Today, I discuss why the winter anime "Citrus" can be tragically misunderstood. Of course, this is just an opinion, so please provide room for potential errors in my analysis!

Connect With Me:

Music Used: A Spring Fairytale 🌸 - Beautiful Piano Song ♫
Pianist: BigRicePiano

Check Out My Other Videos:

#citrusanime #シトラス #juhnime

[Juhnime]

JOIN MY NEW DISCORD SERVER! STAY CONNECTED WITH ME!

[pez]

I mean, yes, but the manga does a better work at showing this while the anime gives extra screen time to the problematic bits compared to the sweet parts wich are barely there.

[hhni]

I feel like the lack of the idea of love is correlates with the lack of episodes, because as we go further on with the manga, that's when we can really feel the romance between those two. For people who just finished watching the anime, I suggest you all to read the manga.

[lyraphoenix]

Shoutout to my girl Harumin for being a real MVP

[janniegurl]

I think people seem to miss that Mei might also commit the assaults b/c of the assault she experienced from her teacher/fiancé . The first time she kissed yu it was to “show her what she experienced, ” which was assault. She was frustrated with Yu’s insinuations about her enjoying the kiss.

Pink hair issue is that she has no one looking out for her with the exception of Yu. They mention that her parents are never around and she is having a bunch of inappropriate interactions with adult men. She’s a victim who is hurting and it kinda makes sense that she engaged in inappropriate forms of affection and hurts her loved ones. Mei at least had her grandfather and at one point was close with her father.

Curly girl was just afraid of being replaced. I honestly question if she actually romantically likes Mei or if it’s just b/c of the environment she is in like the other school girls who are dating cuz that’s what they have access to.

I do wish they could have had like therapist or adult talk with these girls about their inappropriate actions. However, I guess I kinda get why it all happens, especially since they are teens and that’s an age group that may not always make the best decisions.

[kaustralishamal]

about the assault scene i'd like to say something. In that first episode there's actually 2 assaults: first from the teacher to mei, and then from mei to yuzu. The first one made me pause the video because i though "alright... that's a form of rape", the second one didn't seem so out of place for me maybe because i took it as a victim (mei) replicating an abuse she'd suffered, not trying to justify it, but that's something already proved in criminology. And in the next episodes it becames clear that mei is, like she said, twisted, but I say she's emocionally inept: she started kissing yuzu (trying to shut her up) because she tends to point out some painful truths that mei has tried to endure (the abuse from her fiance, the feeling of abandonment, the preasure to fullfil her grandfather spectation). I find her transformation arc so much interesting

[lyngoodie]

Citrus is very complicated and I've yet to come terms with its execution, yet I totally get your point. I think this video and your words really lay down the reasoning of this story and I really admire that. This was my first yuri anime and it does hold a special place in my heart.

[NonexistentSomeone]

citrus is flawed but i think it still ends up being pretty good

[ValentineValk]

As someone who identifies as lesbian & has experienced s/a this anime is so demonized. I don’t think anyone really focuses on the relationship part of this, the push & pull in their relationship is extremely enticing and I bawled my eyes out when Mei held the bear up to Yuzu’s lips. I wish people saw this anime the way I did, As someone who heavily relates to both Mei & Yuzu. I’ve never been so obsessed with an anime before, every other one i’ve seen is just boring to put it straight. I may be biased considering the fact this anime is strangely accurate to my first love, she was extremely similar to Mei personality wise, This felt like I was watching back a part of my life. I think this anime is extremely romantic and it left such a warm feeling in my chest but, the only part I do find a little bit questionable is the fact they are step-sisters. (If they were blood related I wouldn’t feel the same way I do LOL) I’m glad to know there are other lesbian’s in this comment section that understand this anime & i’m thankful for this commentary for shedding some light to this poorly viewed Yuri.

[bluespectrum]

Absolutely agree. It's so frustrating when people say "It romanticizes assault!" Jesus they miss the entire point. Mei is absolutely neglected and can't function as a normal person. Hell, even Yuzu grew up without a father. There's so much about these characters. Yes the manga and anime are flawed, the side characters besides Harumin are trashy, but this story Is so much better than people usually say. I love Citrus and i highly recommend reading the manga and get to Citrus+, It gets so, so much better. 💓

[mon]

Girl who likes girls here, and I always rejected this anime since I thought it was another "Oh it's just for men to watch and fetishize wlw" but I've kind of tried to see past it and I really fell inlove with it.
Also was estatic by the fact the author was a female and not another "written by a man for a man"

[-yolui-]

oh my god thank you for this.

i'm tired of debating with people who are just '' PROBLEMATIC CAUZ SISTERS KISSING ''. it's not the most important in it

[abdi]

I came from the citrus subreddit! I really enjoyed your videos and I am looking forward to binging your other videos and upcoming ones.

[velvetea]

Thank you so much for putting it into words!!

I watched citrus when I was younger and absolutely fell in love with the characters. As I got older, I realised how problematic the anime was, and was disappointed with how certain themes were presented. I was so disappointed that others couldn’t enjoy the show because it was ruined for them by the assault, etc, and I won’t argue with them because they’re right. I truly believe the creators of the anime could’ve done better, but I love the characters dearly and this continues to be my favourite anime!

[Geilolp.]

i'm still gonna use that walk home kiss gif even after finding out what kind of anime citrus is

[thepersonbehindthescreen]

As someone who doesn't like Citrus I think your video has a solid point. While it is true that the sexual assault aspects are unnessasary and I think personally is the main reason people are thrown off by it (and maybe the fact they're step-sibilings) the development in the show and from the characters is really good and I personally think would be the only reason to watch it.

[grandmajojo]

back when i was first discovering my bisexuality i met a lot of girls like mei. Not to the extent of assault, but I feel like citrus closely resembles that feeling of confusion back in the beginning when i wasn’t so sure.

[BigBismark]

This reminds me of how Randy Marsh kisses a Native American man to get his DNA in South Park.

[Idontknowwhatthisshouldbe]

To the guy saying there isn't any progress, go read the manga because they progress very much and go on to get married or engaged one of the two, and its so cute near the middle and end ofthe manga because they start dating and they have consent which is lovely

[No-XIV-Xion]

I love the anime, but I can understand the issues people had with it: the SA. Which the anime dialed up to really make it...yeah.

Ultimately others point it out and eventually the subtext in the manga does make it clear: Mei is a closed and broken person, and eventually it is Yuzu who manages to get her to open up. And I'm sad we might never get to actually see that on the TV again. The manga was hectic and frustrating (in a good way) and the ending...just made me so happy. And I'm sad I don't get to see it all in motion q.q