Just about two weeks into most every series of the season is the time I start thinking about what the best new show is, and so far this season Koi wa Ameagari no You ni would certainly be in the running for that honor. That’s not totally unexpected – I knew as a seinen with Watanabe Ayumu directing, this one had a chance to be a standout. But on balance it’s been better than I expected – lavishly beautiful in terms of animation, and not overwhelmed by the squick factor. Yet.
One reason why the material has triumphed over the uncomfortableness of the conceit is, of course, the characters. Kondou-san is a totally non-threatening figure, by all appearances a thoroughly decent man and loveably goofy in that way that only a Hirata Hiroaki character can be. And as for Akira, well – let’s be real, 17 year-olds do fall for older adults sometimes (girls and boys both), and the exposition of her feelings has flowed so naturally that it’s hard not to feel they’re totally believable.
That doesn’t make any of this right or desirable, of course – or at least any further materialization of a romantic relationship between those two – and that’s something some viewers (me among them) are going to have to take as it comes. That leaves an unusually large uncertainty factor hanging over Koi wa Ameagari for a show that’s started out this well. And adding to that is a trend I’ve noticed which while possibly coincidental, is hard to shake once you realize it – a disproportionately large percentage of NoitaminA shows have have started out well only to seriously derail in the past few years. Here’s hoping this one isn’t another.
This was another beautifully executed episode, start to finish. Lots of things happening here, starting with the arrival of the feckless Yoshizawa-kun as a part-timer at Garden. I still don’t see romance blooming between he and Akira (that’s why he’s here of course) but fortunately for Yoshizawa the genki waitress Yui (Fukuhara Haruka) announces that he’s “her type of guy”. She and Akira pass the time on a slow afternoon with an entertaining battle of “things that make your heart flutter” (I don’t think teenage girls actually do that, but what the heck) where we can clearly see what Akira is actually thinking, but not saying.
The plot driver of the episode comes when a customer forgets his phone, which Akira only notices once he’s taken off on his bicycle. Kondou-san is ready to write this off as a lost cause and wait till he returns, but Akira has other ideas. This is of course a great opportunity to show off for the man she loves, which Akira does by sprinting after the customer and catching him up at the next traffic signal. Fast she still is, but Akira isn’t supposed to run and I suspect she knows that well – and she pays a price for it. I further suspect, though, that she considers it worth it when Kondou-san takes her around the waist to help her up before driving her to the clinic where she’s been receiving treatment – and then later, she gets his cellphone number.
Watanabe-sensei (with the help of the animation) is able to convey so much through the characters’ faces and small, involuntary movements and gestures (like when Akira unconsciously pulls her shirt down to cover her belly when Kondou-san calls her on the phone to check on her). Her luck keeps improving when he decides to pay a visit to her parents to apologize for her condition (which is entirely not his fault). It’s hinted that Akira’s Dad is no longer around (amateur psychologists may jump in anytime) but with her mother at work, Kondou decides to take Akira to a local family restaurant instead.
Much of the post-episode discussion, I suspect, will center on this scene. The best part of it for me comes when Kondou quite innocently stares at Akira’s foot and mistakenly assumes her painted toenails are inflammation due to her injury, after which she has to explain to him what a pedicure is and breaks down laughing. It’s a charming moment that shows off the best side of both of these characters, but the headline-grabber is of course Akira’s surprise confession. What will be talked about most is probably Kondou’s reaction – does he get it, or doesn’t he? I’m going with “no” for now – I think he’s both clueless enough and his self-esteem low enough that the idea of this lovely young girl falling for him just doesn’t register as a possibility. But that’s fine – we’ve covered a lot of ground in two episodes, which leads me to believe the truth will be out in the open before too long. But that of course is when we’re going to find out just whether Koi wa Ameagari no You ni has enough game to really pull this off.
realDonaldTrump
January 18, 2018 at 10:25 pmLove Wins!
hgfdsahjkl
January 19, 2018 at 3:25 amI love this show so much,the Subtlety ,the characters,the old school designs,everything made me fall in love with it
Dein
January 19, 2018 at 6:56 amThis series is the polar opposite of Evergarden for me – seemingly effortless in everything it does, but beautiful and very emotionally engaging. I’m not gonna bother trying to predict where the show is going and how it’s gonna get there, but for now, at least, I’m enjoying the ride and it’s my favourite one this season by a large margin.
Guardian Enzo
January 19, 2018 at 7:53 amThere’s no question that by contrast, Evergarden is very calculated (as all KyoAni incest projects seem to be). This series is natural for sure – how much of that it down to the source material (which I haven’t read) and how much to having a brilliant director I don’t know, but I suspect it’s a combo of both.
BTW – Watanabe-sensei was announced as the director for Major 2nd. That’s a huge bonus for those of us who love that manga.
Dein
January 19, 2018 at 1:41 pmI have heard good things about the manga, even though I tend to avoid manga myself. I’ll definitely look forward to it, especially since my newfound love for sports (or sports-themed) shows.
Elixir
January 19, 2018 at 2:40 pmDefinitely should read the manga! This manga doesn’t forget its side characters!
sonicsenryaku
January 19, 2018 at 6:57 pmeehhhh, this whole deal about Kyo ani shows feeling calculated, particularly that with violet evergarden….I get it, I really do; To some, it may feel as if their just running through a checklist of what is deemed as a moving story rather than just letting their writing and character drama do the talking for them. The kyo ani guide to how to write an emotionally moving story 101(violet evergarden edition): make the main heroine be defined by her tragic background; have her look innocent and adorable so that people feel sorry for her; have her act emotionless and awkward, but in a cute way so that she can be endearing; have her feel desperate to understand what it means to grasp human emotions as a way of narratively fabricating a sense of character agency; have everyone’s actions be a product of that motivation rather than feeling as if the characters exist as their own entities; coat the narrative with a lush marriage of cel-painted and digital visuals (It’s so criminal that the intricacies of the visual presentation here are so undervalued because people complain about how it feels “too pretty”) to highlight the opulent display of talent from the staff; have main character learn how to understand human emotions for big cathartic pay off; ???; PROFIT!!! Again….I get it; but i also think that it’s a bit of a jaded outlook to deem the product of a studio to be artificial or calculated on a whim. There is a degree of calculation to all pieces of media, it just comes down to how well a story can hide that it’s manipulating you or trying to pander to you in some way. How genuinely a piece of media executes its story elements also plays a vital role in this, although a bit a scrupulous analyzing and critique is necessary to substantiate claims of falseness or calculation in this regard.
Violet evergarden, at least to me, does not feel like a product that is being pumped out because it’s what the staff thinks will hypnotize the masses into eating their schtick. The production definitely feels safe as it is not a huge departure from Kyo ani’s usual works, but there truly does feel like a real effort to tell a story here; one rooted in defining the characters through their behavior and psychology, not by putting together tropes the staff think will elicit a response from the masses.
Two eps in and I’m with you guys that we’ve got ourselves a pretty good show here. What i think makes Ameagari so intimate is that it’s not trying to be a character study or a thematic exploration of some topical or esoteric idea; it just seeks to want to explore feelings of emotional (and sexual) maturity and it does so in the best way a story like this can possibly function as; by letting characters interact. In ameagari, characters feel relatable because it makes you feel and understand what it’s like to want someone to notice you, to try to get close to someone; to feel flustered when you are close to someone you care about but there’s a barrier that feels impossible to cross (in this case, it’s one with ethical implications); the feeling of being isolated from your goals and desires and trying to work towards finding a purpose in the real world; being a klutzy, yet kind-hearted person that people simultaneously like but take for granted; etc. All those feelings are effectively communicated by creating characters that feel like they behave like how every day human beings would in the settings they are placed in. A large part of this show feeling so emotionally engaging is because the two main leads have been presented as being emotionally vulnerable themselves. Sometimes we underestimate the effect a factor like that has on our perception of whether a story feels “human” or not; whether it feels genuine or calculated. Some stories start of with its characters feeling guarded and distant, extremely so that it creates this feeling of perceived artifice, making it difficult to connect with the characters; violet evergarden is kiiiinda an example of this. There’s also the fact that some stories can be “too vulnerable.” Some people find anohana to be one of the best emotional dramas: i find that show to be littered with some great dramatic moments that gets very calculating and overly manipulative prominently within the last third of the show (especially that finale). The point of all this is that there’s always going to be that spectrum of variability when it comes to how we perceive the artificiality of a piece of media. Long-winded diatribe out of the way, I agree that Ameagari is one of the best shows this season.
UndeadCalamari
January 19, 2018 at 10:19 amTwo episodes in and this is turning into my favorite show this season. Well if I ignore Devilman that is. I’m still worried about where the show will go, but so far everything is so well done that it’s hard to not enjoy it and be engrossed in each episode. There are red flags that leave me feeling uneasy. Mr. Kondo seems innocent, but that’s how sexual predators try to act and while I don’t think he is one, it’s just hard to shake that feeling and fully trust him. Maybe it’s just me being paranoid, but it’s gonna be very easy for this show to even accidentally cross the thin line into unacceptable territory.
Gotta agree with others though that this is by far more engaging than Violet Evergarden which feels hollow and manufactured. The directing in this really brings it all together.
Guardian Enzo
January 19, 2018 at 10:40 amWho knows, but I really think you’re adrift on Kondou-san – I think he’s a WYSIWYG sort of guy. If he turns out to be a pedo creep I’ll be extremely disappointed and pissed off.
UndeadCalamari
January 19, 2018 at 10:58 amI may have worded that poorly. I don’t think he is actually a pedo as he truly does seem like an innocent, straightforward and lovable goofy man. I can even see how she developed such a crush on him. I think I personally just struggle to fully trust him since irl so many people that we think are trustworthy turn out to be monsters sadly. In the West this show will understandably be viewed at least partially in a post #MeToo lens on top of an already risky premise.
Molly
January 19, 2018 at 12:10 pmWhile the show is enjoyable, I still find it annoying because it’s not really deconstructing the trope about the girl obsessing about a much older man. It’s not a commentary on the trope, instead the conceit is used to advance her character’s growth.
It would’ve been so much better and it would’ve also maintained the squick factor- if she’d been a 20-something college student. Honestly in many ways , people in their early twenties aren’t that much more emotionally mature than those in the 16-18 age gap. So all this conundrum could’ve been easily avoided while also maintaining the problematic aspect. But, it wouldn’t be an anime plot if the character was older.
From what I read (deleted).
Guardian Enzo
January 19, 2018 at 12:50 pmWatch out for manga spoilers, please.
Molly
January 19, 2018 at 1:00 pmWas it really a spoiler? It was pretty vague description and related to the discussion at hand. Would’ve been better if I’d phrased it along the lines of…. “Well I doubt the show is going to grapple directly with its messy mis-en-scene preferring instead to wink at the audience”.
We’re debating problematic aspects of the show and I think referring to the direction of the manga is pretty fairplay since it would annoying to invest time in something that turns out messy. I for one would hate to be blindsided.
Guardian Enzo
January 19, 2018 at 1:17 pmFor me, giving hints about the direction of the manga is a spoiler. If people are uncomfortable with the material and want to see where things are headed, that’s up to them – but I believe most would rather be surprised. It would be one thing if WordPress offered spoiler tags in the comments, but since they don’t I prefer to give people the choice of whether they see such info or not.
Molly
January 19, 2018 at 1:45 pmI respectfully disagree with you in this situation given the sensitive nature of the plot. The anime invited this discussion and since this isn’t an original anime, it’s only fair to turn to the manga for guidance. Especially when you yourself acknowledged the squick factor in both of your reviews. We’re not talking about the resolution to some battle arc in Altair, here.
Who are these people who would want to be surprised if the show takes a messy and problematic turn after investing I don’t know how many episodes in it? One would think that a mature viewer would want to rest assured that they aren’t in fact watching something that crosses the line into really inappropriate territory.
Like UndeadCalamari noted, it’s like the #MeToo conversation is happening in a void because it’s clearly not penetrating into the messy corners of anime fandom. It’s really sad to see so many people are comfortable with the plot. Just shows how desensitized people are to the way female characters are treated in anime / manga.
It’s a sorry state of affairs when this show is considered the best show of the season not because of the way it portrays the relationship between the two of them but in spite of it.
Guardian Enzo
January 19, 2018 at 2:27 pmThat’s fine, but you’ve clearly made up your mind – a lot of viewers haven’t. My preference is to let them get there on their own rather than having their experience tainted by a spoiler they read on this site.
Molly
January 19, 2018 at 2:36 pmDeleted.
Guardian Enzo
January 19, 2018 at 3:04 pmThe level of discourse is not going to go there. If you don’t want to watch, don’t watch and let other viewers decide for themselves.
Surprised
January 19, 2018 at 2:51 pmWell that is a first for the long time I have been looking at comments for posts.
Molly
January 19, 2018 at 3:48 pmNope. Gone. Next one goes in spam. Your decision.
Panino Manino
January 19, 2018 at 12:14 pmI for once doesn’t find the concept so disturbing.
If it was a case involving children in underdeveloped character designs would be another story, but this one is a rather mundane and believable romance. Even more so when I get the feeling that the two will NOT end together. There’s much more than physical/sexual attraction happening between the two.
For me is a bit ridiculous when I see someone pointing to Kondo saying “look, a predator in disguise, don’t be fooled!”. That’s not true, however there’s some scenes and plot that could be controversial involving another characters. Still, this is a series that more than one time I thought that was turning bad and was mistaken.
The technical aspects… wow.
This is just so much more pleasing to the eyes than Violet Evergarden, even without that disgusting white fog, it surpassed all my high expectations.
DatoneDude
January 19, 2018 at 2:47 pmThe misonceptions some people had due to the subject about this show irks me. Their relationship like you said isn’t that simple and the take the manga has on it is wonderful. Also I am 100 percent with you on the the production and they manage to preserve the feel of the manga. I would recommend reading it!
Panino Manino
January 19, 2018 at 7:20 pmI’m having the suspicion that the thoughts and lines the adaptation is cutting from Kondo side is hindering the comprehension of his characters. I notice this in the first episode and feared that the anime would give too much focus to Akira and neglect Kondo. He is not a mystery, we are supposed to know that he is thinking.
sonicsenryaku
January 19, 2018 at 8:35 pmI think it’s a great storytelling choice that we don’t know what he’s thinking. If this is a change the anime made from the manga, then this is a subtlety that i greatly appreciate
Guardian Enzo
January 19, 2018 at 8:41 pmOr it’s just a choice to focus more on the cute girl, as this is anime.
sonicsenryaku
January 19, 2018 at 9:08 pmOhhhhh Enzo, you skeptic. I mean it could be; or could be a narrative decision made by the anime adaptation to force the viewer to make inferences about Kondou regarding how he handles Akira’s advances. I find it much more engaging trying to figure out how this middle-aged man would come to terms with realizing that an under-aged girl has feelings for him rather than hear every single thought in his head. A part of the allure of this show for me is seeing how Kondou dances around this precarious situation and not knowing what is going through his head in real-time adds to that engagement
Panino Manino
January 20, 2018 at 7:39 amIf this is the case than is a VERY BAD DECISION IMO.
This is NOT the Akira’s story, this is Akira’s AND Kondo’s story.
His side of this relationship is as important as her side, it what makes this story so good for me.
I can’t believe and accept that Wit could sabotage this series so hard making this decision.
Molly
January 19, 2018 at 3:50 pmSorry Surprised. The comment was for Enzo.
Matti
January 19, 2018 at 1:52 pmI’m sure if the ossan were a billionaire, nobody would be complaining. After all, in the real world, if mass media news and tabloids are anything to go by, the chick is just a year off from being the perfect wife candidate for 40+yr old billionaires with bald patches.
Setsuken
January 19, 2018 at 3:51 pmI don’t normally post in here, mostly because I’ve got my own blog and website that’s a handful as it is. I actually have found myself agreeing with you a lot on the feelings evoked from this show. I “should” probably hate it because of how “inappropriate” the age gap is, particular as one of the characters are underage.
I think quite a few people have mentioned how this show would’ve been fine if the Akari was in her early twenties, and I thought the same thing. But then, I also wondered, that’s what I think with regards to my background and my culture, so I went and did some digging on the topic.
A simple Google search will lead you to a rather interesting discovery. The age of consent in Japan is a lot more variable (and in other Eastern Asian countries as well). In Japan for example, said age can range from 13 years old to 18. Given the cultural context, I think at least from where the show and story is coming from, its probably not as gross as it appears to us westerners. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Asia)
I also think its unfortunate that this show is coming out in a time when there’s so much disgusting stuff being drudged up in western society, and when emotions are so raw that any kind of nuanced discussion or consideration on the idea of a very nontraditional romance (the age gap makes it hugely stigmatized, even in Japan btw) like this seems pretty impossible.
Setsuken
January 19, 2018 at 3:54 pmAlso argh… All those typos and grammar mistakes. Apologies. For interested parties, the point still stands I think, you’ll just have to wade through my hasty gibberish to get to it XD
sonicsenryaku
January 19, 2018 at 5:03 pmENZOOOOO…EDIT BUTTON…..if at all possible XD; maybe it may also allow people to change their comments if they accidentally post spoilers
elianthos80
January 20, 2018 at 2:59 pmNice pseudo-French quasi-title drop ‘Deia’ Pluie t-shirt there 😛 .
Hmmm… I’m not sure he didn’t get the meaning of her words at the end. He looked just a tad too flustered even for his standards so far XDD.
Meanwhile those parfait balls were not the only thing dropping. I feel ye oh balls. Or rather he allowed himself to catch the sincerity of that confession for a fraction of a sec then (self-?)denial and deflection ensued. I do wish we could/will get more into his head though.In any case I agree the Kotetsuìs VA’s voice is what is selling me on this other ‘K’ guy and on the possibility of romance, requited or not. And the body language clues and reactions – even the fanservice elements of those close-ups turn affectionately functional ( see Akira reminiscing on the bed. If it wasn’t so tender and empathic it would feel juuuust a tad too voyeuristic ) – . Aaand the pink shirt with beige slacks. Same outfit of a certain lovably goofy male lead in a certain classic anime from the 90’s (
an old school Moonie fan’s love is forever. Ayyyy Mamoru). It put a giant nostalgic grin to this jaded watcher’s face.– Waitress #3’s heart-fluttering answers were so relatable honestly :°D.
Yann
January 20, 2018 at 4:13 pmI didn’t even have a doubt he understood what she meant… He pretty much panicks and basically walks away. He saw her sniffing his shirt. He might be a semi decent guy, but he’s not retarded.
The only creepy stuff in this anime so far are the long panning shots of her laying down in her bed… Makes me wonder if this whole thing is going to turn out to be nothing more than a very well made sukebejiji’s wishful thinking.
Albione
January 21, 2018 at 1:49 amI really see bo problem in this. May to december romances do exist. All is in how it is explored and dealt with. When I was sixteen I had a crush on my history of art teacher. Poor man, thirty years later I laugh of my younger self, but it felt so real then. I like anime because they tell stories, some take you away from reality, others are a bit too real. I find this has less yuk factor than the paternity issue in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo, I took a few points off my valuation of the anime for this, but others seemed not to mind…
Guardian Enzo
January 21, 2018 at 8:52 amOn the contrary, I think a lot of people took a few points off for that in the end, it’s just that the show had so many points to begin with that it still ranked very highly. Also, a major difference between Rakugo and Koi wa Ameagari in this regard is that in Rakugo’s case, the factor you’re talking about isn’t omnipresent – it’s not something we’re constantly reminded of, that the entire plot is built around. If one chooses not to think about it because they’re bothered by it, it’s easy to make that choice.