Takarasagashi no Natsuyasumi

Takarasagashi no Natsuyasumi (The Summer Vacation Treasure Hunt) is an ONA by SANDWICHWORKS.

Before I begin this review I'd like to preface, this is only a review for part one. This was supposed to be a two-part ONA series, however, part one was released back in 2014 and part two has been in development hell for years now. A preview screenshot was released back in 2015, and an update from the studio claims the second part is half-way complete, and supposedly due for release in 2019... Yeah... since there's only two weeks of 2019 left, I suppose that didn't go as ... planned.

I wouldn't be mentioning this at all if the first part didn't end on a cliffhanger. This has got to be the Vagabond of hentai, with this ridiculous wait and all. If there's any way to speed up development by donating or something, I'd highly reccomend you try and do it. Cause I want part two damnit! ; )

With that out of the way, let's begin!

TnN doesn't have much of a story, since the emphasis is more on the presentation. The plot follows a sexually curious young boy who stumbles into a voluptuous woman at a bus stop in rural Japan. Needless to say, the two hit it off and your standard hentai shenanigans begin!

There're only two characters in this story, the boy and the woman. I don't think their names were ever stated, so i'll be refering to them by the nicknames they give each other. Little Man and Ma'am. Little Man is very cute, almost like a character from a Nintendo game. Speaking of which, he makes numerous video game references! So he's certainly relatable to say the least. Ma'am is best described as a very kind character. She's always very carefree and loving towards her Little Man. Both characters are rather plain, but they're sweet and likable.

The art is one of the most curious aspects of this ONA. TnN is a 3D hentai. Now, I'm aware 3D gets a bad rap in the anime community, but I think it's used to great effect in this ONA. The characters move a little strange, but they don't look to wonkey. I've seen better 3D hentai, but this doesn't look bad. Aside from the characters, the backgrounds look stunning! You really feel like you're in rural Japan during the summertime. It's hard to put into words, but it just creates such an incredible atmoshpere. The lighting also adds to the atmoshpere, by creating such a beautiful blend of colors. The animators perfectly captured the beauty of the outdoors.

Another curious aspect of this ONA is the voice acting. Little Man is silent for the entire episode, so you have to read his dialog. I didn't particularly mind this, but it was a strange decision considering that Ma'am is fully voiced. The music isn't exactly memorable, but it's pleasent enough in order to add to the presentation. I also liked the addition of various retro video game sound effects, it fits well with Little Man's character.

Parts of this ONA seemed very experimental. I normally don't like experimental media, since they often come off as pretentious and weird for the sake of being weird. But the hentai genre can get pretty stale after a while, and a bit of experimental spice can help liven things up from time to time. I particularly liked a sequence of still shots, with a song (or poem) being sung in the background.

Overall, I really liked this ONA. It's truly beautiful in a lot of ways, and I actually shed a few tears after I finished watching it. I just find it so fascinating. But I'm also conflicted. It ends on a cliffhanger, and it's been almost six years since the first part was released. I know the second part is still in the works, and I sincerely hope it's released soon! Since I'd love to see more of this! 7.5/10

Would I reccomend you watch Takarasagashi no Natsuyasumi? If you like hentai, then yes! This is a must watch, and more people need to see it!
Hopefully if there's a greater interest in this series, it might encourage the studio to release part two sooner. So what are you waiting for? Get watching!