Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni: Operation Sanctuary Review

I just finished watching Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni: Operation Sanctuary so I will now review it as usual! Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni: Operation Sanctuary also known as Hani Hani: Operation Sanctuary (which I will refer to it as since this is the shortest title) or The Moon in the East, The Sun is West: Operation Sanctuary originally started as a visual novel developed by August and damn those are some long titles! If that company sounds familiar they also developed other visual novels turned anime such as Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai, Princess Holiday, Fortune Arterial, and Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na the last three of which I have reviewed or will review! I believe they are an underrated company and wish they would create more visual novels for anime. It then became a light novel written by Okada Runa. Finally, it was adapted into a 13-episode 2004 anime by Radix. There is also a 4-episode 2004 OVA as well. Now keep in mind that the episodes for both the anime and OVA are only 12 minutes so half a normal anime episode. Additionally, there is another 1-volume 2004 light novel Tohonseiso Sukururaifu written by Kano Kiichi and a 1-volume 2005 manga written by August themselves. Hani Hani: Operation Sanctuary is a romantic-comedy, harem, sci-fi anime. Now to me, this is a very underrated anime that doesn't get the attention that it deserves. I found the Operation Sanctuary to be very enjoyable and was quite satisfied in the end. I will be talking about the ending too so...

**************************!!!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!**************************

Summary
Naoki Kuzumi is a junior in high school. He lost his parents in an accident five years ago and is living with his aunt, uncle, and cousin Matsuri and being cared for by his childhood friend, Honami Fujieda. He always thought his life was ordinary, besides the fact that he can't remember what happened in his youth. One day as he is taking a nap on a bench, a redheaded girl -- Mikoto -- literally falls from the sky onto him. For some reason, she thinks he's her younger brother. Naoki's time period is a temporal shelter for those in the future, when many are suffering from an incurable disease. When she heard her younger brother Yuusuke had been taken to Naoki's time, Mikoto herself had gone back in time.

The OVA follows Mikoto's senario.

My Thoughts
Hani Hani: Operation Sanctuary is a underrated romantic comedy that I think should get more attention. Operation Sanctuary has a very interesting concept and the last few episodes really pull everything together quite nicely. Considering this was made in 2004 I thought the art was great. Though August developed the visual novel and the anime made by them usually has some pretty underrated art. I thought the characters were a quite enjoyable to watch, cute and lovable in their own way, even though other people may have found them bland. While we see things through Naoki's perspective I also started to like Honami for her caring personality and Mikoto for her cheerfulness and optimism. Operation Sanctuary was usually a more calm relaxing anime aside from the last few episodes but it did get emotional at times. While some people found it boring I loved it for its romance aspect, art, and characters. One more quick note, the last episode is pretty much a run through of the series so the story basically ends with the 12th episode. So that last episode isn't really necessary to watch but I watched it anyway.

I also noticed Honami Fujieda looks like Haruka Nogizaka from Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu and kind of has a similar kind, loving, caring personality.

Ending (**********SPOILER ALERT**********)
As you may recall I mentioned Hani Hani: Operation Sanctuary in My Endings Rant as an anime that had a great ending. I loved it as it was as it was a sad story at times but finished it off with a happy ending. The ending to Hani Hani: Operation Sanctuary was fantastic as it seemed to tie everything in together. Probably one of the best case scenario endings in my opinion is the couple getting married and Naoki and Honami both get married in the end. Mikoto seemed to view Naoki as more of a brother and as it turned out, Yuusuke and Naoki were kind of the same person. Honami is Naoki's childhood friend and cared for Naoki and is probably what I consider the perfect wife. I think Honami truly deserved to be with him more than anyone else. I mentioned Naoki and Honami in my 2017 Valentines Day Post as an underrated couple that should get more attention so please ship them!

My Conclusion
I would give Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni: Operation Sanctuary 5/5 stars or a 10/10 score. It was a enjoyable romantic comedy that ended great. I would recommend Hani Hani: Operation Sanctuary for those who like romantic comedies and are looking for something more relaxing and short. In the future I will be reviewing another August visual novel turned anime, Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na: Crescent Love as well as two more romantic comedies, Gift: Eternal Rainbow and Lamune.