Overview of Sansha Sanyō#
Sansha Sanyō (also known as Three Leaves, Three Colors) is a charming slice-of-life series that centers on three high school girls who share one thing in common: the kanji for “leaf” in their names. Despite this shared trait, they couldn’t be more different.
The story follows Futaba Odagiri, an energetic glutton; Teru Hayama, a class president who looks like an angel but hides a demonic personality; and Yōko Nishikawa, the daughter of a formerly wealthy family who is now struggling after her father’s company went bankrupt. If you enjoy character-driven stories about high school friendships and contrasting personalities, this is a great pick. You can watch the anime on Prime Video to see their chemistry in action.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
If you are wondering whether the anime provides a complete experience, the answer is nuanced. The anime adaptation aired in 2016, and while there were discussions regarding the possibility of a second season as late as early 2018, no further seasons were produced.
Crucially, the source manga continued well after the anime’s release, only coming to an end in October 2018. Because the manga concludes years after the anime aired, viewers who watch only the anime may find themselves wanting more. To get the full and satisfying conclusion to the story of these three girls, you will likely need to continue with the source material. You can buy the Sansha Sanyō manga to see how their journey officially ends.
Recommended Watch and Read Order#
Navigating the releases of Sansha Sanyō is straightforward, but depending on your goals, you might choose different paths. You can refer to the relationship tree provided on this page to see the connection between the original work and the adaptation.
Release Order#
For those who want to experience the series as the general public did, the release order is:
- Three Leaves, Three Colors (Anime) - Released in 2016.
- Sansha Sanyō (Manga) - While the manga started much earlier (2004), reading it after the anime is the standard way to catch up on the remaining plot.
Completionist Order#
If you want every single piece of content, including the extras, we recommend:
- Three Leaves, Three Colors (Anime)
- Unaired Episode content (Brief clips of unaired material have been streamed in the past).
- Sansha Sanyō (Manga) - Read from the beginning or pick up where the anime left off to ensure no detail is missed.
Source Material Path#
For those who prefer the original vision first, start with the Sansha Sanyō manga and follow it through to its 2018 conclusion before watching the anime as a visual supplement.
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Final Thoughts for New Viewers#
Sansha Sanyō is a lighthearted dive into the lives of three very different girls. Whether you are drawn to the comedic gluttony of Futaba or the fallen-socialite struggles of Yōko, there is something here for fans of the slice-of-life genre. While the anime is a wonderful introduction, the manga is the only way to see the story through to its final chapter.
Before you start your marathon, you might want to pick up some Sansha Sanyō merchandise to celebrate your new favorite trio!
Sansha Sanyō • manga • 2004-06-28
└─(adaptation)→ Three Leaves, Three Colors • anime • 2016-04-10
