Notes on Ano Natsu de Matteru - 01 [Komarimasu, Sempai]
Somehow, it reminds me of one particular anime that will forever have a place in my heart…
PLOT SUMMARY:
Ano Natsu de Matteru (english: Waiting in the Summer) is a romantic comedy anime that tells the coming of age stories of Kaito Kirishima and his friends. Kaito and his friends enlist the help of odd new student Ichika Takatsuki for a film they intend to create to have something to do during the approaching summer. Thus starts the story of their friendship and their evolving relationships with one another.
Episode Summary:
Kaito (or Kai as he is fondly called) is a high school student who carries around a Nizo film-camera and records everyday experiences.
This reminds me of the film Super 8
One starry night, he is accidentally caught up in an explosion which (almost?) kills him.
Not your everyday night scenery
He wakes up with a faint memory of a ghostly hand helping him and apart from that, things go on as normal. On the way to school, a red-haired girl riding a train, which is bound to the same school, caughts his attention. The episode then introduces Kaito’s friends; the charismatic and ladies man Tetsurou Ishigaki, the pretty and reserved Mio Katahara, and Kanna Tanigawa who apparently has a thing for Kaito.
(L-R): Tetsurou, Kaito, the camera, Mio, and Kanna
Best Quote of the episode
On the other hand, newcomer Ichika Takatsuki is still adjusting to her new environment.
When your hair is red, expect to be flocked by men.
Ichika then meets a small (and very cute) classmate named Lemon (Remon in Japanese) Yamano. Lemon (which I find very suiting to her character and whoever thought of her name is simply brilliant) quickly notes that Ichika appears to have quirky food tastes while the latter asks Lemon the reason why she is wearing a different school uniform.
Look who’s talking.
Someone get me a defibrillator. Lemon-chan is so cute I’m dying of a heart attack!
In a string of events, Kaito and Tetsurou managed to enlist the help of Lemon and Ichika in a film they will create.
The last parts of the episode was Kaito imagining a somewhat perverse scene between him (the director of the film they will do) and Ichika (the actress in the film). However, his imagination (which was inviting Ichika to stay at their soon-to-be emptied house) turns to reality when he finds himself facing Ichika who is actually looking for a place to stay. Kaito reluctantly offers Ichika his house and while attending to the latter’s needs (he was getting clothes for Ichika who was showering that time), Kaito suddenly feels a prickling pain on his neck.
Not your simple allergy
Ichika appears knowledgeable of Kaito’s condition and suddenly calls out someone named Yno. Surprise surprise! It looks like Ichika is from another planet and Yno is actually inside Ichika’s suitcase (which Kaito previously noted to be very heavy) and appears to be a cute alien creature.
The reason why the suitcase is heavy. Looks like it contains mithril steel and made from adamantium leather.
Yno!
Yno then sets up a glowing orb of light (every looks of it spells of future) which surrounds Ichika and the unconscious Kaito.
Ichika then proceeds to kiss Kaito, presumably to cure him of whatever disease he has contracted.
Or it could be another preparatory operation ritual.
And what else could happen during this momentous event other than Kaito’s sister, Nanami, along with Kanna arrives at the house. Nanami witnesses the scene and hurriedly closed the door. She then convinces herself that what she saw was just her imagination.
I don’t know what is a fata morgana but I’m telling you that what you witness is real.
After deciding that what she saw couldn’t possibly be true, Nanami slides open the door again only to confirm what she thought was just her silly imagination. And so the episode ends with Nanami and Kanna witnessing an almost naked Ichika burrying a still unconscious Kaito in her chest.
Adolescence. It’s more fun in Japan.
AWKWARD MEETING IS AWKWARD.
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Written by Yōsuke Kuroda, who also wrote Please Teacher and Please Twins,
and directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai, who also directed (gasp!) Ano Hana, Ano Natsu de Matteru is one of the anticipated animes this Winter 2012.
I didn’t hesitate trying to watch this because seriously, if it has a connection with Ano Hana then might as well watch it. Ano Natsu de Matterru has also the same character designer as Ano Hana (which I could clearly see with the art and animation).
The first episode was really good. I enjoyed every minute of it (thanks to the great animation quality and art style). Lemon seems to be a very interesting character for me. I was also delighted that the seiyuu of Ichika was Haruka Tomatsu, who was also the voice of Hitoha in Mitsudomoe and (gasp! again) Anjo Naruko in Ano Hana.
People are saying that this is a rip-off of Please Teacher and I can’t help but agree because of the glaring similarities. Hopefully though, it will develop its own unique charm and have a very beautiful story like Ano Hana.
