Posted by OP Sequence
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OP: 「ノスタルジックレインフォール」 (Nosutarujikku Reinfooru) by CHICO with HoneyWorks
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「雨音」 (Ameoto)
“The Sound of Rain”
This first episode left me with a myriad of emotions — some good, some bad, and some that I don’t even understand.
General Impressions
So, Koi wa Ameagari no You Ni hits all the right notes when it comes to an aesthetically pleasing show that breaks from the traditional mold. Its art style may not resonate well with everyone at first, but after a few minutes it’s not too hard to ease into things. Add on the wonderfully detailed scenes, crisp lines on both the characters and the background, and some awesome close up shots of characters’ faces and you can almost taste the quality that’s oozing out of this show.
That said, nicely drawn scenes and crisp animation alone can’t hold up a show. Luckily, Koi wa Ameagari also has a great cast of characters that help tie together all that beautiful visuals. Now, before going any further, let me be honest and say that I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Tachibana pursuing Kondou. I think on a deeper level I understood what this could all mean which is why I picked up this show to intro, but on the surface I remember having some second thoughts for picking this one. Let me say that after watching the first episode, I’m really, really happy that I ended up not wussing out. Age, gender, or whatever other else be damned – something as pure as what Tachibana feels for Kondou can’t be contained by societal norms. Case in point, the scene where Tachibana was embracing Kondou’s dress shirt could have been made into something extremely lewd. Instead, we were given a flashback that established just what triggered these feelings in Tachibana, hinted at the nature of what kind of injury she’s dealing with, and reinforced that Kondou is just a damn good guy.
On a side note, can I also repeat just how awesome Kondou is? God, when I first saw his character design I was afraid he was going to be a dopey middle-aged guy who the story was going to force on us. Instead he’s this down-to-earth single father that is just trying his best to be a good person both in and outside the restaurant. Awesome personality aside, I think the one thing that really made me love him was how he projected himself on the guy that was constantly trying to get Tachibana’s number. While I haven’t hit that point in my life yet, it was a small reminder that we’re all going to grow old one day and when that time comes I hope I can also look back and chuckle.
All-in-all, I think we have a strong show that’s well equipped to tackle the topics it wants to focus around. With a great cast of characters and some stellar art to help tell the story, I don’t think you’ll go wrong giving Koi wa Ameagari no You Ni your time. Especially if you’re looking for a show that’s a little different in all the right ways.
ED Sequence
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ED: 「Ref:rain」 by Aimer
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2028.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2042.jpg
2 screenshots that show us her scar on the back of the foot… Well this is the “soft way” of telling us that there will be an “drama/tragic” flashback of an incident where she got this scar.. But seems like it healed or she have some “phantom scars and pain” since them
also the emotions you do not understand, perhaps the “retro drawing style” are the culprit here.. it put me a bit back in my younger days of anime
how far “younger days of anime”? Do “Golden Boy” ring some bells?
TBH there’s not a lot of “DRAMA” in the series (which I appreciate), and most of the drama that is there is from a totally different (even more annoying, IMHO) trope.
The character designs seem old school but fit for the modern screen, I think, unlike Houshin Engi which feels dated.
After a few minutes I started to like the designs quite a bit.
“wow, I must be old, feeling old…”
It’s what I’m starting to think, because I simply can’t even noticing anything of different and uncommon in the character designs (which I find pleasant).
I started to read the manga a few weeks ago to better prepare for the anime. It has a very slow pace on character development. The last time I tried this type of manga, it was Kimi ni Todoke and I dropped because the relationship of Kazehaya and Sawako is so unrealistic and distant, specially when you compare with Ryu and Chizuru’s. I just can’t imagine being with someone for so many years and still having difficults to talk openly or even touch each other.
I hope Koi wa Ameagari no You ni goes as Faster Than a Kiss ( manga ) where Sensei waited for Fumino until she graduated and was ready and certain she wanted to be with him too. Even if Kondou is a nice guy, it will be just creepy if they end up together while she is still in school.
Takaii, don’t be afraid. This IS a good romance. Contrary to the average dumb romances we see every season, the romance here in this story is “good”. “Convincing”. “Plausible”. It makes you understand why those two people could become attracted to each other. However now I’m the one whom is afraid…
Because I re-read most of the chapters this week the story and scenes were fresh in my mind. This episode made me fear that the script could neglect Kondou’s point of view. Some little thoughts and words were missing… lines that emphasize how he feels old, the generation gap, and his jealousy of the young.
The anime may delve into this later on, but the original starts this since the beginning, not sure how well this will works.
Don’t you think his jealousy of the young has already been shown when he saw himself for a moment in Yoshizawa’s place near the end?
I don’t think so, because you could interpret as him just lusting after a young girl. But in the manga is stated very clearly, he is feeling old, with no more dreams to pursuit in life, without the energy to even dream anymore.
Watching only what the anime showed here you can interpret that scene in a number of different ways that aren’t what the character is really, truly, feeling. As i said the romance is “convincing”, so much that I don’t care if they don’t end together after all whatever the reason. Those are two people that need each other in their lives in that particular moment, maybe more like “bosom friends/kindred spirits” than lovers.
At least, is what I feels about this story up to now.
Wife: “High school girl falls for middle-aged man. You’re already loving this, aren’t you?”
Me: “Hell, yes.”
That was clearly a ruptured Achilles tendon, likely taking up to a year before she would have been able to take part fully in competitive sports again, so far too late for her. I could really identify with being able to sense a change in the weather with her injury too because I smashed an elbow up some years back and for a long while afterwards I swear it could feel the atmospheric pressure changing.
But after her injury, it’s not just the weather she can feel changing, it’s her whole life. She’s no longer being propelled headlong from one meet to another, there is a total change of pace (quite literally), and with that, time to reflect. And it’s not just her ankle playing up, it’s her whole body as all those gradual changes over the past years are coming together. So is her alienation from the track team growing into an alienation from all people her age, fuelled by a feeling that the boys are either jocks like Yamamoto who wouldn’t be interested in her because of her injury or immature try-hards like Yoshizawa?
Anyway, whatever the reason, she’s settled for a man almost three times her age, which is probably more acceptable in Japan than in many Western countries. Except that doesn’t justify it, because with an age gap like that it’s not a great setup for a long-term relationship, but it’s where she is right now so perhaps we’ll get more backstory in future episodes that will help us make more sense of it. Like it or not, though, I know these things happen, even outside the front pages of the sensationalist press.
As for the production, I can’t quite put my finger on the artstyle. It’s clean and precise, but something about Tachibana reminds me of Satsuki from Kill la Kill, which I suppose shouldn’t be so surprising as various Trigger staffers are involved with the production.
In summary, this feels like a must watch, with great potential.
Not bad, really kinda enjoyed it.
I especially like how he’s misunderstanding everything she’s doing as some sort
of dislike, since that seems to be how he is treated by the world around him.
I’m sure that his thoughts were, “Oh, she’s seeing how much I stink” when he saw
her with his shirt. And I’m pretty sure she doesn’t understand her own attraction
to him. So I like when we start a story with two people that are a little dysfunctional
as opposed to a story where one has already “arrived” and the other is playing catch-up.
Good opportunity for some thoughtful story telling…
Wonder if they’ll actually become a real couple with her still in high school!
This was so well done. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a romance executed so well. It really reminded me of Kimi ni todoke and Say I love you.
Both of those shows were freaking fantastic.
I too hope this one continues to be fantastic.
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2006.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2012.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2020.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni/Koi%20wa%20Ameagari%20no%20You%20ni%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2035.jpg
Her eyes just pull you in.
They really do-the art style for this show seems to work the best with Akira’s character design. Not that the rest of the designs are bad or anything, mind you.
Betty Davis eyes…
Indeed. Rather it were her lips.
That second picture sold me on the show. It’s such a cute and adorable shot with the smile and all.
The most beautiful eyes, I’ve seen this season.
A cute, silly romance to keep on watching despite not reading the manga. Though I was quite surprised the manga is a seinen series, which meant the target audience is teenage boys and adult men. It’s quiye a fluffy series though I expect some gloomy flashbacks that lead to the heroine’s injury.
If something that explains the premise. Of course, they could own up the fantasy instead of using every justification in the book for what is a very unequal romance.
A seinen you say — maybe it’ll transcend the typical definition and GO BEYOND? (plus ultra!)
Sorry, haha.
I was a bit cautious about watching this too, but I’m pretty glad I changed my mind because I have a feeling I’m really going to end up enjoying this.
Also, the ED song is gorgeous.
I will always take more Aimer when given the opportunity 😀
boy in real life Kondou would shoot down that love fast – exactly because he is so kind
that is if he would spot that love blooming next to him
:’)
I have recently read the manga and had no idea they were making an anime! I liked the story because it’s not your typical love story, really. I mean who really wants a love story with a middle-aged man? but Kondou’s character makes you really respect the guy.
Middle-aged men, presumably.
If Kondou himself would be watching this he would shrug “geez, no way such things happen in relaity”
Uhm….Celine Dion says hi^_^ It’s amazing how supportive and not prejudice her fans is at that time (is it 1994 0r 1995), that they support her marriage with Angelil and lo and behold…a decade later they truly had a good and solid marriage despite everything, till the death do us part they say. Btw, she first met her one and only husband when she was 12 years old, but they only began their relationship 7 years later.
How many same-age young celebs nowadays that can have the kind of solid marriage like Dion, so obviously it’s not so generalised like that (all age gap are bad, etc), it’s case by case based on each person/couple cuz I know many other age gap couple in real life that are as good and solid as Dion’s. Honestly, as long as it’s not an abusive, manipulative relationship or whatever and the couple respect each other…who are we to decide other’s happiness based on our own standard.
Looks like Yakumo from School Rumble to me