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The overarching plot left a lot to be desired—it was very shallow. This is sort of to be expected of something that's only 50 minutes long. A lot of OVAs come off as rushed because the creators jam too much into too short a time. Munto's story, on the other hand, didn't feel rushed. It just didn't feel good.

The subplot involving Yumemi's friend Suzume was interesting, though. I'd like to see an entire OVA dedicated to it... thirteen year olds making decisions for the rest of their lives based on emotions are always fun to watch.

I think my favorite scene must have been the one in Yumemi's living room where she's talking with her mom over the television noise. It felt like a prototype of the amazing character interaction we get to see later in AIR and Kanon 2006. It was the best-directed scene in the OVA, I feel, and I'd have liked to see more. Unfortunately, we simply do not have time for many slow scenes like that one and throughout the OVA we are given rushed and sometimes overlaid scenes that prevent the anime from presenting its atmosphere effectively and direct our attention to the (again, poor) central plot.

The OVA's high points are in character potential. Yumemi is very interesting; she is afraid of her destiny and role in big affairs in a stereotypical Ikari Shinjiesque manner but she is not whiny. She has a strong and down-to-earth side which casts her as almost a precursor to Kyon—the cynical protagonist who can only doubt in the supernatural, even when it's right before him—and yet she is still cutesy at times (hugging Ichiko during the celebration on the bridge). She has clearly faced and overcome intriguing conflict in her past and she interacts differently with different people. All signs point to 3D character—and then the OVA ends. Damn it.

Thankfully there's a second one. Having watched the first, I do want to watch the second. The first was not so bad—it just wasn't good. And perhaps some of the potential introduced shall be realized in the second installment.

In the end, one can't do much with fifty minutes. That goes for the OVA, but it also goes for us. The opportunity cost of watching Munto is small, and, given that, I do believe it's worth it. read more