First Impressions / Kimi ni Todoke / Series Introduction

OP Sequence

OP: 「きみにとどけ」 (Kimi ni Todoke) by タニザワトモフミ (Tanizawa Tomofumi)
Watch the OP! Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Streaming ▼

Summary:

Kuronuma Sawako is a high school girl feared by her classmates because of her looks and the rumors about her. The other students even call her Sadako because of her resemblance to the character from Ring, but Sawako is misunderstood and just wants to be friendly with them. The person she really looks up to is the popular and friendly Kazehaya Shouta who she had first met on the day of the school entrance ceremony, and he had thanked her after she gave him some directions. On this particular day, Kazehaya tells the class about their plans to have a test of courage event, and he’d like everyone to go. Later, when Sawako volunteers to come in to help their teacher, Kazehaya objects because it’s always her who has to do it, and he ends up volunteering himself. Even though she insists on doing it and eventually gets the job, Sawako is impressed by how Kazehaya paid attention to what she did.

Her next interaction with him comes after he overhears her chatting about his cheeriness to her friend, and he’s glad that she doesn’t hate him. In talking to him, she realizes that he actually knows her real name, and he advises her to convey her feelings properly by speaking to people properly. As a result of this, Sawako wants to go sign up for the test of courage event, and she overhears two of her female classmates, Yano Ayane and Yoshida Chizuru, talking about having her act as a ghost. To their surprise, Sawako actually wants to play that part, and thanks to Kazehaya’s advice, she clearly explains her feelings to them and how she can’t actually sense the supernatural. On the night of the event, Sawako hides in the forest and scares everyone who comes by until Kazehaya shows up by himself and sits down with her. Ayane and Chizuru also come by to tell Sawako that she did a good job and to give her a drink, and Kazehaya observes that Sawako became friendly with them. She attributes it all to him, and he gets embarrassed when she looks at him, in turn leading to some new feelings in her.

At school the next day, the others guys want to punish Kazehaya for finishing the test of courage last by forcing him to go out with Sawako for a week. Kazehaya objects because it’s rude to Sawako, but it’s actually Sawako herself who speaks up to protect Kazehaya’s reputation and to explain her own feelings to clear up any misunderstandings. Afterward, Sawako believes that she did the right thing, but she later finds herself crying over the loneliness because she thinks that he’ll avoid her from now on. Much to her surprise, she finds him waiting for her on her way to school during summer vacation to help their teacher, and he hands her a bag of apology candy from the class. Kazehaya feels that Sawako doesn’t understand him as well as she thinks, and he actually wants to see her over summer break. What she doesn’t know is that he still remembers her smiling face from that day they first met, and he wonders if someday his feelings will reach her.

ED Sequence

ED: 「片想い」 (Kataomoi) by Chara
Watch the ED! Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Streaming ▼

I started off liking the opening song more than the ending song since it reminded me a bit of Spitz and because I didn’t like the roughness of Chara’s voice. However, after listening to them a few times, the Chara song really grew on me, her voice stopped bothering me, and I actually like it more than the opening song now. Both the OP and ED sequences have some great artwork to go with them though.

 

If I didn’t know any better, I would have said that Kenichi Kasai and J.C.Staff were behind this series. It’s a testament to how well Production I.G was able to capture the details and feel of the original manga and pull off that beautiful watercolor look for the backgrounds. It’s like candy for the eyes. But that’s not all: I really loved the music as well, including the piece when Sawako was crying and the one that led into the ED. The latter helped make Kazehaya’s closing words feel extra special and reminded me a bit of some of the tracks on the Clannad OST.

This first episode followed the first chapter of the manga fairly closely, and it seems clear already that Sawako and Kazehaya are destined for each other. Obviously though this isn’t about the end result but rather about the journey getting there, and if this beginning is any indicator, it’ll be one filled with emotional highs and lows. The voice actors do a good job conveying that, and while I’ve seen some grumblings about Noto Mamiko in the main role (and how Hayami Saori could have done better), I had no problems with it myself. I think my only complaint is that it felt like they covered too much stuff for one episode, making the pacing a tad on the fast side, but like I said above, I really liked how the episode ended, so I can’t complain too much. In any case, I enjoyed this first episode and haven’t read too far in the manga, so I’m hoping for more good things from the rest of this series.

40 Comments

  14. I like the part when she scared the hell out of everyone during the test of courage XD. I haven’t read the manga yet, but maybe after I finish watching the series
    I enjoyed the ending song more though. Maybe it’s because I’m a fan of Chara.

    Chaos
    Reply

  19. I had to look up Production I.G… The only anime I’ve seen made by them is Eden of the East (I love it), it was so pretty.

    I liked the manga but it was only OK for me… so I wonder if the anime might be better… I’ll just gonna have to wait and see

    ConfusedGirl29
    Reply

  22. Just watched it. It was so good!!! And I agree that Noto Mamiko’s voice fits Sawako really well. She does the creepy voice excellently without removing the fact that Sawako is actually a really timid girl. Namikawa Daisuke was as excellent as I’ve ever heard him.

    Can’t wait for the next episode!!!

    Satoida
    Reply

  25. well i liked “lovely complex” so I’ll probably like this. but i gotta say, i thought that sawako would be depicted waaay creepier. i mean LETS BE REAL!! she’s freaking HOT, dark sultry hair, doll like face, etc….and all the boys in school be like “YIKES, oOOOOH she’s soooo scary!”what a buncha dweebs!!

    BROOKLYN otaku
    Reply

  27. It’s subbed!

    Amazing and exceeded my expectations.
    It’s been a long time since I last found an anime that had me dying for the next release … and I just finished watching episode 1, 10 minutes ago!

    Soap
    Reply

  28. Indeed this was an amazing episode in my opinion and
    was really what I was hoping for. The only thing I wonder
    about is the pacing. I wonder what they are going to
    do with only 12 episodes yet the manga is much longer.
    Seeing as they’ve only covered the first chapter so far
    maybe they’ll go for an anime original ending? Either way
    I look forward to the anime none the less. *luffs it to death*

    Ahmyrak
    Reply

  29. I KNEW THIS WOULD BE THE BEST SHOW THIS SEASON.

    Sawako is one of the best shoujo lead I’ve ever seen. Her person’s character and develop is amazing. I just hope the ending do her justice because the manga hasn’t end yet (but it could at any second giving what’s going on currently).

    Moocow
    Reply

  30. Thanks for choosing to blog this Randomc. Normally I would not have watched a show like this since the animation isn’t quite what I’m used to. But since you marked this as “Guarenteed” on your fall preview I decided to see at least the first episode and I must say it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s such a touching story. Once again thanks for this.

    jellayrei
    Reply

  34. well since i saw divine say this would be a definite for you to sub omni, that basically forces me to check it out. from what ive read im really looking forward to it, surprisingly. The animation style isnt quite what im used to but i guess ill have to see.

    Course i thought the same about Eden of the East’s animation style and ended up being blown away. At the very least Production I.G knows how to produce quality anime.

    dbreak
    Reply

  35. i liked the female voice and i thought it really suited her but i was kinda let down by the episode overalll. I thot it didnt really fit the manga, becuz i think the manga has some good comedy points whereas i didnt laugh even once during the episode and the mini sawako drawings just werent as good. I also didnt like the really cheesy bubble shoujo vision or the charater designs ( they all kinda look the same but with different hair to me). the background was very beautiful tho and the sakura petal scene was very well drawn. im gonna watch a few more eps and hopefully ill like it more becuz i really loved the manga and it needs more scanlators for sure

    sean
    Reply

  39. I’ve just watched 6 episodes in a row now, its magical this series so far! Pure emotion and feelings expressed, this is like the total opposite of Kare Kane (his or her circumstance) lol

    Comito
    Reply

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