AnoNatsu is a strange case: a competent JC Staff romance anime, that works as an installment to an old series (the Onegai series), dealing with filmmaking, sci-fi, and summer holidays despite being a Winter 2012 anime.
Directed by Nagai Tatsuyuki (Ano Hana, Toradora!), this anime is a mix of the new and old conventions of romance anime: love triangles, genre fusion, and more. Kirishima Kaito (Shimazaki Nobunaga), who looks awfully a lot like Jintan from AnoHana, is your average geek interested in using an old film camera he found in the attic. Equipped with various ISO films, he practices cinematography along with his friend,
...
Ishigaki Tetsurou (Ogihara Hideki). Tanigawa Kanna (Ishihara Kaori), a blue-haired Chie from Persona 4, joins to be closer with Kaito while Kitahara Mio (Asumi Kana), a quiet girl, helps out. Looking through the viewfinder, Kaito looks at the running field from his classroom and sees a girl with red hair, Takatsuki Ichika (Tomatsu Haruka), looking lost; his face blushes and we find ourselves watching a silly case of ‘love at first sight.’
I did not expect much from the work at first: anything by JC Staff, especially the art, these days frightens me. Yet, Nagai’s success in AnoHana shows no declining in this work; the animation quality does not falter below acceptable levels and sometimes astound me in the most dramatic episodes. Its art style is a rehash of AnoHana and yet, I don’t mind; it looks too beautiful. Does this work stop the negative perception of JC Staff? Of course not, but AnoNatsu is undeniably pretty; warm, saturated colors blossom everywhere and the summer season seems almost touchable.
Nagai shows his directing skills in AnoNatsu and excels in developing romances. What amazes me is how he puts all those boring, corny romantic scenes and twist it around into something different. Episode 3’s ending features the leads in a train station leaving; the sequence at the end may send Michael Curtiz, the director of the classic film Casablanca, packing. The editing and directing in most episodes are worthy of analysis; Kanna’s subtle gestures, like twiddling her hair, is a curious artistic touch. Anyone who enjoys observing the artistic subtle choices of directors and editors will have a fun time watching Ano Natsu.
AnoNatsu pays homage to the old romance works, especially its parent series: the Onegai franchise. If AnoNatsu goes to a cheese shop, it will be hard to differentiate parmesan and the work; it is after all a tribute to previous works. Romance can be as melodramatic as the ef series or cheesy as seen here. I admire its cheesiness; it’s honest and proud of it. I’d rather see a corny work once in a while than see the same ten melodramatic romance works. While I have not watched any of the Onegai works, it is worth pointing out that there are huge similarities: Yamano Remon (Tamura Yukari) is an almost direct copy of Morino Ichigo and some of the locations are a nod to the previous work too. There is something admirable about the cheesiness and homages AnoNatsu has.
Speaking of Remon, she and Kanna steal the show. Enigmatic Remon, a senior student, helps out filming and her antics are outrageous. Functioning both as comic relief and supporting character, Remon is an example of how smart a comic relief character can be. She can be seen as the mastermind behind the romances while having fun dipping her toes in the murky waters of love. Kanna, on the other hand, is how tsundere characters should act. Kanna steps beyond the stereotype and her character develops and hardens as the show goes on; she is someone you want to give a hug to. Kanna’s problems is woven inside the love triangles and her frustration and sadness show by the voice actress; I thought this was voiced by a professional, but she is voiced by Ishihara Kaori -- a singer in YuiKaori and somewhat new to the voice acting arena. She is one of the best finds in the anime industry and Nagai uses her skills wisely.
“sign” by Ray shows KOTOKO’s songwriting skills in full blast. As any KOTOKO song goes, the sounds of synthesizers undulate their way to your ears. The animation that goes with it doesn’t feel right; at the beginning of the OP, there are some great directing choices: a film reel shows Ichika smiling and cuts off while the title fades into view. As it goes on though, the animators get lazier and show the characters without inspiration: we see them sitting down, standing, turning around, and a close-up of Ichika’s breasts. It is disconcerting to see a KOTOKO song -- hyper, romantic -- accompany a botched work; this is the only sequence of animation that you can say, “Ah, it’s JC Staff.”
“Vidro Moyou” by Nagi Yanagi -- yes, she’s from supercell -- does a whole lot better. Copying AnoHana, the minimalist ED is beautiful, dancing gracefully with its bittersweet, soothing music. I’m in love with the ED and it ranks up there in my top ten favorite EDs. It’s hard to say much because it’s so perfect. Just watch the damn ED.
In defense of AnoNatsu, I think it is fair to argue against other reviewers and viewers for one thing: AnoNatsu is not AnoHana; stop comparing them. After hearing talk from both sides of the spectrum, I’ve been raising my eyebrows on any mention of AnoHana when it comes to plot; both works look similar aesthetically, but that’s as far as that path goes. AnoHana is a bittersweet dramatic work that focuses on the aftermath of losing someone precious to you; AnoNatsu is a romance anime. See the difference? A more logical approach: compare AnoNatsu to Toradora!. I’m not a big fan of Toradora!, so I will not go on that route; nevertheless, it is frustrating to see stupid comments on how much “AnoHana is better omfg >:(“
What I cannot defend is AnoNatsu’s numerous flaws. People can get irate from the cheesiness; this is, of course, caused by difference in taste and opinion; I think it’s rational to argue in that perspective even if I disagree with it. What I can get behind is the talk on the personalities of the two leading characters: Kaito and Ichika. Their romance is genuine, but they themselves make me yawn. There are so many things going on outside the leading characters’ reach that we don’t really get to know them; instead, we know more about Kanna, Tetsurou, Mio, and even Remon. When problems between the two leads do exist, they aren’t interesting at all -- they bore me. Most of their scenes are lackluster. I was more emotionally invested into Kanna than anyone else. What I say previously is true: Remon and Kanna steal the show.
There is also an exhausting episode dealing with the most pressing problem in summer: which sexy bras should the girls wear? This episode comes out from nowhere and you ask, “Do you really need a beach episode?” It also introduces other female characters that distract the deeply stemmed love decahedron. While its next episode saves AnoNatsu from being a harem show through Nagai’s ever creative decisions as director, I find the setting of that episode pointless. Most, if not all, beach episodes should just die.
The last three episodes feel rushed, giving negative vibes to anyone who has watched Angel Beats!. There is a huge amount of compression; AnoNatsu is a work that should have given itself more leeway and needs a few more episodes to make sure its ending makes sense. Episode 11 suddenly speeds up the pacing and it makes you wonder, “Am I watching a different show?” Some of the events presented in the final episodes are unbelievable because of the lack of buildup. For a cheesy straightforward romance show, it has one hell of a time confusing me.
AnoNatsu is imperfect, but it adds to the charm when I think about it. I’m a filmmaker and I know most student films suck. There are lovely shots, but everything else like story is terrible. There is beauty in creating imperfection though; the strengths are worth remembering for and we make nostalgic memories out of filming. We brush away the bad spots and think about the good things that happen; for example, there are scenes that has Kaito filming Tetsurou parodying Ultraman and Godzilla. They know it’s fun and games. There is something magical with the camera rolling when you see your friends acting; the fun of that is presented in the smiling faces of the characters.
Those smiles are the purest, untarnished forms of memories.
Alternative Titles
Japanese: あの夏で待ってる
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
12
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Jan 10, 2012 to Mar 27, 2012
Premiered:
Winter 2012
Broadcast:
Tuesdays at 01:30 (JST)
Licensors:
Sentai Filmworks
Studios:
J.C.Staff
Source:
Original
Theme:
Love Polygon
Duration:
23 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#22792
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#599
Members:
386,450
Favorites:
2,059
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 70 / 100
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Your Feelings Categories Mar 26, 2012
AnoNatsu is a strange case: a competent JC Staff romance anime, that works as an installment to an old series (the Onegai series), dealing with filmmaking, sci-fi, and summer holidays despite being a Winter 2012 anime.
Directed by Nagai Tatsuyuki (Ano Hana, Toradora!), this anime is a mix of the new and old conventions of romance anime: love triangles, genre fusion, and more. Kirishima Kaito (Shimazaki Nobunaga), who looks awfully a lot like Jintan from AnoHana, is your average geek interested in using an old film camera he found in the attic. Equipped with various ISO films, he practices cinematography along with his friend, ... Sep 30, 2014
"A picture is worth a thousand words"; I've never quite believed that saying as much as I did after seeing the last scene of this anime.
Ano Natsu de Matteru is an anime about a group of friends spending their summer vacation hanging out and filming a movie. Sounds simple, yes? Not quite. It doesn't take very long for the romance and the drama to kick in, where Ano Natsu is most focused. In fact, that STILL might be an understatement. Within the first 4 episodes, all of the love interests of the main characters are well established and/or heavily hinted at, and there is ... Aug 15, 2013
Considering how Onegai! Sensei went, I was expecting the same because it is of the same author however, I am honestly surprised by this anime.
What surprised me was that I was expecting it to be yet another anime close to the harem line where none of the characters will actually get to confess to anybody and the plot will be left hanging at the end of the series. But no. It didn't go that way. For a 12 episode series, the anime covered the storyline pretty well despite the short episode allocation and not only that, it wrapped up the relationships between all the characters very ... Jan 10, 2012
Ever seen the anime Onegai Teacher? Ano Natsu de Matteru is basically a remake of that anime. Though its only had one episode I've already compared the characters from each show. So far each one of them is like the other. The only difference between Onegai Teacher and Ano Natsu de Matteru is the alien girl is younger. Instead of being a teacher in Kaito's school, she is a transfer student. Also, Kaito is making a movie. That definitely sets the two anime apart from one another.
Story 8/10 - I give it this score because it feels kind of like a rip off of ... Jul 2, 2012
Understanding this poem,
Is like understanding why leaves fall in the autumn, To comprehend why the age fades away so faintly, You'd have to first understand its beauty, I will never forget that one summer, When one of my friends suggested me Ano natsu de matteru, They told me it was a 10/10 classic drama, But I decided that was all dogma, ... Sep 6, 2012
I admit, I'm pretty much skeptical at first when I picked up this show. It was on my 50/50 list (50% drop, 50% pick-up). Good thing the female lead was hot. Oh well, time for the review:
Story: Expect the unexpected with this series. The synopsis says that "...a group of friends are trying to make a movie." so I gave this series a try. It started with a nerdy male playing with his old school camera then suddenly something from the sky fell and, wait-- just watch the show to know what happened next. Just give this show a chance, even two episodes will do. ... Mar 21, 2012
Ok , just 1 more episode to go and we'll probabaly know other details such as:
Is Remon really an alien? Is there a connection between "Onegai Teacher" and this anime? ............Well, we do know that this 12 episode anime is a remake of "Onegai Teacher" (already stated in MAL's info and in forums). The thing about remakes is that it follows the plot but it doesn't imitate the entire setting and story, in short, it is a complete modification of the orginal show, so that's why we see the chiquita (female lead) being a senior student instead of a teacher and that the muchacho (male lead) is ... Oct 16, 2014
“We are only truly gone from this world when all memories of us are forgotten, that is true sadness”
Ano Natsu de Matteru is definitely one of the more quirky shows I have seen in a while. It is a harem themed show, but its take on humour is a bit different from most other harem shows and as a result it certainly was a thoroughly enjoyable watch. In English it translates as “Waiting in the summer”. The show first aired in Jan 2012 and after 12 episodes, ended in March. It was produced by Sentai Filmworks, who notably have made highly acclaimed shows such as ... May 21, 2015
"I don't want to be chased. I want to be the one chasing. I want to chase the girl I like"
Ano Natsu De Matteru is a short anime that kept me watching episode after episode. I finished it in a single day. In short: Ano Natsu De Matteru is a story about a group of kids making a summer movie. There's love in the air but I think where this anime excels is the parts in which the use of the filming camera by the main character is used in an intelligent way and where messages about life are present. Story: 8/10 The story gets ... Mar 27, 2012
Coming into the winter 2012 season, I had two definite shows on my radar: Nisemonogatari and Guilty Crown. I tried out a few more shows but noticed I didn't have a romance anime slated in (I try to have one to balance all the action/comedy out). I caught wind of Ano Natsu de Matteru and decided to give it a go. Not familiar with the individual works of director Tatsuyuki Nagai (Anohana) or Yousuke Kuroda (Honey and Clover), or their collaborations (Onegai Teacher/Twins), I dove in. What I came away with after three months was a ride I wasn't expecting; many manly tears were shed
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Jan 13, 2012
Re Review
Ano Natsu de Matteru is the same creator as Onegai Teacher. Also the same director as Toradora and Anohana( which i was told). Also the character design is so similar too. The story of Ano Natsu de Matteru is about a group of High School kids who want to make a movie over summer vacation. Kaito( Main Character) sees an object in the sky and it crashes in front of him. The next day he is magically healed and alright. At his school we meet a new transfer student Takatsuki Ichika( 3rd year). Kaito has this mysterious ... May 30, 2012
A work inviting the nostalgic elements of the unforgettable Onegai series, Ano Natsu de Matteru broadens the original idea with surprising dramatic elements, twists on cliché comedy, and realistic maturation of stock characters. This is difficult to do with the highly-abused romantic-comedy genre in 21st century anime.
In the beginning, the main character, Kirishima Kaito, films the evening sky pondering the wabi-sabi of afterlife. Suddenly, Takatsuki Ichika, bursts into his empty life with a quirky, sci-fi brilliance. A summer of teenage passion and emotion ensues, all backed by a camera, questionable beverages, men in black suits, horny siblings and alien invasions. Ironically, ... Feb 10, 2012
Story 9/10:
If you are looking for an anime with a soft story with a good love drama. You must watch Ano Natsu de Matteru. With a plot that makes you be looking forward for the next episode, Ano Natsu de Matteru tells a story of a group of friends, new or old ones, that intend to record a movie during de Summer Holidays. But, they are not just friends. Each one has a tipical feeling called love toward another. With this, the plot of the story keeps developing with the intrigue of a girl that love a boy who loves another girl that loves a ... May 1, 2012
Writing this review without making any spoiler is proving much harder than I'd predicted, especially without even mentioning the events in episode 1 or 2, so I suggest you just look at this anime for yourself as my review could well be inaccurate.
However, Ano Natsu de Matteru is the example of what experience, wisdom and a solid background in the setting you're using can accomplish. The story is certainly among the strong points of Ano Natsu: the plot is enjoyable, fresh and most of all delivered through quite unique narrative devices. However, for how fresh and creatively delivered, I've found it to be a little predictable, ... Apr 19, 2012
I did not give a straight 10 due art and sound. But on all other aspects it is a straight 10!!! When I read somewhere this was a kind of retelling of OneTei I jumped to it, but I did not expected it to go extremely RIGHT on the aspects I did find fault on one of my best loved animes of all time (OneTei). The Art could have been more similar (Onegai Teacher is gorgeous in that aspect) as well as sound which were flawless on OneTei, but Ano Natsu de Matteru is simply delicious to watch and the plot/characters/story is so well done
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Jul 29, 2012
First thing i would like to say about this anime is it was not at all what i was expecting. I was expecting some half decent romantic comedy where nothing really happens till the end. Some animes like toradora do it right in that sense, but most fail. It also has a really creative way of writing which ill explain in the story section.
Story- As stated before this anime has a somewhat unique/ different way if writing. In some animes there are multiple couples, but the anime focuses on one couple. Which is fine, but i was wanting to try something different for a change.This ... Oct 25, 2014
Episodes: 12
Genre: Romance, drama, school, sci fi. First of all, I knew about this anime a long time ago but the synopsis and pictures didn't make it look that interesting. I have one thing to say, this anime is AWESOME. One of the best romance anime I've seen. And a complete one too, unlike most romance anime in which stuff isn't sorted out. And that epic ending. It's graphics and animation is somewhat similar to Toradora. The sci fi part isn't major but it does play a role in the ending episodes and setting of the story. But this anime is mostly focussed on romance and relations between friends. Yes, things ... Aug 13, 2013
I'm generally not a big fan of anything under the 'romance' label. Doesn't mean that I won't watch it/read it, but it's not exactly what I jump to when I want to be entertained. Ano Natsu, by far, is one of the best romance anime that I've seen. It feels real, even with the alien girl and her spaceship...pet-thing.
(I know that a lot of people have said that it rips off Please Teacher (considering it's from the same writer, I wouldn't be surprised), but since I've never seen that show, I have nothing to compare it to. And I won't.) Story (9/10): We've all heard this ... Apr 29, 2013
(CONTAINS NO SPOLIERS)
I was told this was the best romance anime of 2012 so I watched it..... I would have to say I agree with them not saying I have seen them ALL but from what I have seen this takes the crown and was by far one of the most enjoyable series I have ever watched overall it grabbed me 5 min in and refused to let me go with great enjoyment STORY- is an 8 while I am not to crazy about love triangles this anime did one of the few enjoyable ones and in a way I have ... Jan 5, 2015
I'm an 18 year old man but I will admit to shedding some tears from this anime.
Ano Natsu de Matteru will take you through a very standard anime style story while adding an incredible amount of Depth. It blew me away and has become one of my favourite animes. Story: The story is amazing. It begins and ends on the most hyped moments for each episode and the inbetween builds up well for the climax of the episode as well. Its like being hit with three big wows for every episode. Something you don't get alot of with this type of anime. The story actually goes ... |