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 an 8/10 for me. Nothing out of this world but also nothing mediocre or terribly cliche (though it has its cliche moments). The main plot surrounding the making of the movie is interesting and probably where this anime separates itself from others. There are bits of Sci-Fi in this anime along with a reference to pop culture- which made for slightly comedic scenes. The Sci-Fi bits are well done and it isn't your stereotypical anime when it comes to Sci-Fi cliches. It's well done for what it tries to be.
Art and Sound: 7/10
I won't go too into detail about this bit. They have nothing particularly bad or amazing about them. They're above average but I wouldn't say I particularly liked either. The art-style reminded me of Anohana and the sound was decent, but nothing to remember down the line.
Character: 8/10
The characters are well made and actually have decent development for such a short anime. The main character has a likeable awkwardness about him, and most of the supporting characters are also likeable and relate-able. Here are my only issues about the characters:
Kaito looks like a nerdier version of Jintan from Anohana, probably because of similar art-style that I've mentioned earlier.
Ichika can be a little annoying, especially in the beginning.
Mio seems underdeveloped compared to the others. Though that may just be reflective of her quiet personality. It just seems like she got less time than the others on the show.
I definitely found myself loving and relating to Kanna the most. Tetsurou was also a favorite.
Enjoyment: 8/10
While I loved watching episode to episode, this isn't the most enjoyable anime. There are things that could have been done better, but overall this anime left me feeling pretty satisfied. I'm glad I watched it and I would recommend others to watch it too.
Overall: 8/10
Give it a watch if you're looking for a slice of life highschool anime with some romance and sci fi involved! The ending is satisfying and I doubt you'll regret watching this.
