More Screencaps from Episode 01
The episode opens with fantabulous scenery shots of some rural Japanese town. By 'rural,' I really mean rural. A little girl named Sora is in the garden, eating what looks to be tomatoes right off the stem of the plant. After a while, she tells her dog that she's going to see her mom. In Tokyo, a man called Hara Seiichirou calls to say that Sora has been accepted to the Mage Academy and that she would be staying with him.
OP: 'Fly Away' by THYME.
It's pretty catchy and reflects the light, summery feel of the series. I like it on first listen, but that's only probably because I have a taste for summer songs lately.
Sora's mom is a potato farmer of sorts. Or at least, I think those round, brown things look like potatoes. Sora finds out from her that she's been accepted by the Mage Academy. Ecstatic, Sora rushes off to an old tree where she reminisces about her dad, who is probably dead already.
Sora then gets a call from her friend, Michiru. Their phone call keeps getting interrupted by Michiru's family members asking if it's "Sora-chan" she's talking to. Apparently, Sora is quite popular. Michiru says that she'll be lonely without Sora but that she is excited for her.
Later, Sora and Michiru meet up under the bridge where Michiru reveals that she has a crush on one of their classmates, Toyama. Unfortunately, Toyama is transferring schools that summer and Michiru worries that he's going to leave without her having told him about her true feelings. Toyama likes winter and he once told Michiru that he wants to watch the snowfall with her. This gives Sora the idea to do something for her friend before she leaves for Tokyo.
That night, Sora's Mom serves all her favorite dishes as a sort of goodbye present. Her mother also gives her all sorts of advise about surviving in Tokyo on her own and about studying magic. Afterwards, Sora goes to meet with Michiru again and tells her to bring Toyama to a pre-designated place.
Toyama arrives and Michiru starts to confess her feelings. Sora then uses her magic to create snow, surrounding the two of them. Michiru tells Toyama that she likes snow and that she also likes him. She also compares herself to a plant called "akiko" which doesn't die in the winter and instead waits patiently for spring.
When Sora gets home, she gets an email from Michiru, telling her about the happy news: she and Toyama have decided to remain in contact through email. Sora is happy for her friend and also wonders if she will someday experience love. But her musings are interrupted when her mom announces that she's joining her in bath. We are fortunately spared the sight of a middle-aged woman wearing nothing but her birthday suit as Sora immediately declares that she's finished bathing.
The next day, Sora prepares to leave for Tokyo. There is a touching moment between mother and daughter as they say their goodbyes. Then Sora leaves home. Once inside the airplane, Sora wonders what Tokyo is like.
ED: 'Hawai to Hana' by micc.
Melancholic song. Lurv it.
FIRST IMPRESSION:
This is supposed to be the sequel of sorts to Someday's Dreamers. I'm not familiar with the series, the manga or the light novels. To be honest, I didn't even think this show would be promising. That's why I ditched it when I compiled my LIST OF DOOM for this summer. But then someone pointed out the show's strong points for me (beautiful backdrops) so I decided to check it out and I'm not disappointed.
Well, the show isn't powerful or anything dramatic. It's not even something that requires over-analyzing and a lot of mental work. At first glance, it's a fairly ordinary coming-of-age story about a girl from the province come to the big city to study to become a mage. Once I got down to the first and second episode, however, I realize that the show has a certain fluidity to it that makes it very palatable.
As for the art and animation, I do have to admit that it's the show's main draw. The backdrops truly are beautiful. So much so that they remind me a little of 5cm Per Second, minus the bittersweet light and shadow play and the melancholia that pervades every scene in that movie. Even the character designs -- sparse and SD-esque and almost flat, in complete contrast to the semi-realistic, highly detailed scenery -- are reminiscent of Makoto Shinkai's style. It's beautiful but not over the top. I mean, you won't see sudden splashes of rich colors that look like the animator had a heart attack and accidentally spilled ink all over the drawing board. It's just simple in a laidback, country-side way.
The music is quite good. I love the country airs, the catchy opening and the lonely ending. As for the rest of the background music, I didn't notice it and that's usually a stamp of good sound editing.
If this keeps up, I might add this to my watch list. :)
MORE INFO:
OFFICIAL SITE FOR SOMEDAY'S DREAMERS (Japanese)
OFFICIAL TV-ASAHI (Japanese)
OFFICIAL (Japanese)
Wikipedia
Anime News Network
Watch Natsu no Sora OP
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