Ano Natsu de Matteru – 07

This episode proves once again why I love the director. This guy is talented, and he knows how to use cliches and subtle moments of atmosphere changes to create a really powerful mood for the viewer and give us characters that are so damn hard to hate, you’re basically rooting for them all. This could have been a typical episode when the main character stumbles on his feelings for the main romantic interest, but instead i have to praise Kaito for going the next step with his relationship towards Ichika and his character is one of the rare times in a romance series that doesn’t involve being a total wimp or being overly macho. Indeed, my complaint with Kaito is that he feels almost too perfect to be true but I find that more of a compliment than a complaint.  Without Tatsuyuki Nagai’s directing this would just be generic J.C. Staff anime #2525.

Ano Natsu de Matteru – 06

Wow, this show really knows how to end on a cliffhanger! Honestly I was slightly afraid that this episode was going to be full-on fanservice, but this is one of those rare times when I reallly have to praise the staff behind such a wonderful series. Usually, before an anime airs people tend to just look at the source material (excluding original series). But there are times when you ought to be looking more at who’s behind the series (as i’ll be doing in the Spring Preview) and because Ano Natsu is an original series that’s exactly what I’ve been focusing on. Director Tatsuyuki Nagai brings the type of conflict that a close group of friends encounter like he did with Ano Hana and only improves. Ano Hana dealt with the supernatural aspect more than the romance, while it’s the complete opposite for this series. It’s the subtle things like this episode when Mio telling Kanna about Tetsurou’s softer side: it’s usually not a big deal, but the way it was presented and shown made the emotional impact that much bigger.

Ano Natsu de Matteru – 04

Short Summary: Kaito and Ichika find ways to approach each other after what happened at the train station, while they meet Tetsurou’s sister Manami. They eventually go back to their regular selves. After the final exams, the beginning of “that summer” starts.

Ano Natsu de Matteru – 03

Short Summary:  Alot of misunderstandings with regards to Kaito and Ichika, Kaito and Kanna, Tetsurou and Mio though the latter two issues are instigated by the aspiring troll, Remon. Kaito accidentally reveals that he has feelings for Ichika.