Preview

Hiroki Kamikura is starting his first year in school as an assistant professor in the art department in his goal of becoming a teacher. Also, in this year, his cousin Elise Housen, who lives with him ever since her parents died in a tragic accident, is also starting on the same school as a high school student. As both set out to school, they meet Kiri Kikyou in their way, a Hiroki ex-classmate at high school for whom he always loved, but for some reason nobody knows he rejected as she confessed her love at the time. Now, a strange and complex love triangle is about to start.

Pacing

Canvas2, for those who know the first series, have absolutely nothing in common with that, which by the way is hentai. Canvas2 is a nice romance, strongly focused on it's main three characters, and their character and relationship development as each try to understand their own feelings and objectives.

The love triangle is quite pleasant, and never lets the viewer really know with whom Hiroki will end up until the last moment. Although we have 2 adults (Hiroki and Kiri) and a high-schooler (Elise), the romance development manages to keep an adult tone. A lot of care is also given to Elise and Hiroki's past in order to better develop their conflicts and options.

Conclusion

With charismatic characters and an excellent and human development, Canvas2 could be considered a top-notch romance if it were not for the sudden unexpected turns it makes in the end, which certainly disappoint lots of fans. Although being a great disappointment for some, we can say it was expected: Both Kiri and Elise are very captivating, and it was obvious the choice among them would create a ruckus among fans of the other. The problem, however, lies in the WAY the title choose to present this selection, creating quite a unpleasant feeling to it: it's sudden, and in some ways, betrays some development the title took so much to do in the last episodes.

However, such sudden turn of events can also be seen in real life as people realize their perception of the world around them is different, be it alone or with the help of friends, and than they realize what really is important to them, and that they might be close to loose it.

Therefore, be ready for a different romance with a confusing and polemic ending, but don't hate the ending in case the character you like is not selected, after all, life is full of injustices and twists that leave us unhappy with the pacing of the events around us, and the anime only gets this characteristics of life and adds to an already picky ending.