Ano Natsu de Matteru was one of the titles that I looked forward to when I compiled my 2012 winter anime series picks.
That anticipation was, in large part, due to the director Nagai Tatsuyuki, who also directed the absolutely perfect Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai or AnoHana for short.
Although I do think that the collaboration with screenplay writer Kuroda Yosuke and artist Uon Taraku of the Please! franchise made other anime enthusiasts anticipate this series in a different way.
Ano Natsu de Matteru or Waiting in the Summer is the story of a group of high school students and their memorable summer making a film. Kirishima Kaito is immediately attracted to Takatsuki Ichika the moment he laid eyes on her on the day she transferred to his school. Unbeknownst to Kaito, he had already met Ichika the previous night when her space ship crash landed on top of him and she saved him from dying. Kaito's friend Ishigaki Tetsuro notices his interest and asks the upperclassman Ichika and her classmate Yamano Remon to join them in the film project that Kaito, Tetsuro, Tanigawa Kanna and Kitahara Mio plan to accomplish during the summer. Later in the day, Kaito ends up asking the obviously homeless Ichika to stay at his place, which his sister and his friends eventually find out about. The group begins the film project during the summer that would change their lives. With Kaito in love with Ichika, Kanna in love with Kaito, Tetsuro in love with Kanna, and Mio in love with Tetsuro, the group individually and collectively struggle with their emotions as Remon observes them with amusement.
There are many who judge Ano Natsu de Matteru according to the standards set by AnoHana because of Nagai Tatsuyuki. I think this is unfair though, because AnoHana is on a whole different level of storytelling, character development and emotional impact to the audience.
Aside from the fact that both series features characters in high school and the various emotions involved in being a teenager, Ano Natsu de Matteru is simply a different creature altogether.
As much as it feels that Ichika is central to the story of Ano Natsu de Matteru, the truth is she just provided the catalyst for everyone to either recognize or act on the emotions that they feel. The fact that she was an alien would probably have the same impact if she were a regular transfer student who someday had to move away again. She is more relevant as a teenage girl than as an alien. Her being an alien does introduce us to the absolutely adorable organic computer interface Rinon. It's not until later in the series that I had an appreciation for its sci-fi component, since it provided the elements of action and danger, especially when the stakes involve potential separation for the characters.
Ano Natsu de Matteru takes its time to build on the storytelling and character development. It might seem slow going considering there were only 12 episodes, but the payoff is actually great. I can't pinpoint the exact moment that I found myself invested in the six main characters and their journey in that unforgettable summer of their lives, but I eventually found myself impatient for the next episode and dreading its impending finale at the same time .
You would think that all of the inter-lapping love triangles would make Ano Natsu de Matteru seem like some fluffy teen drama, but the execution of each of the characters' individual stories and emotions are handled beautifully. While the series encourages you to root for Kaito and Ichika, it is the heartbreak of Kanna and Tetsuro, and the quiet dedication of Mio that demand your empathy. While Kaito is an early character favorite, it's the sacrifice and understanding of Tetsuro that provided the most emotional impact. I found myself caring for him to get his happy ending more than any of the other characters.
While Ano Natsu de Matteru is a decent attempt at a sci-fi related series, its real strength lies in telling a story grounded in real emotions, regardless if those emotions are happy or heartbreaking in nature. Even if you're not the type to particularly enjoy the comedic or dramatic type of romantic storytelling, you will find something to relate to in Ano Natsu de Matteru.
Or you could just watch everything in amusement like Remon does.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Anime, Ano Natsu de Matteru, Comedy, Drama, Must-Watch, Romance, Sci-fi, TV
