Off to a fast and rocky start, I'd say. Takumi got torn apart by at least three different girls. First it's the "Spirit of Time" girl Otoha who told him that she'll make him see. Must be because he's the promised one. :heh: Did she cure him? o.0 The end of the episode just seems too good to be true. Then there's Hayami's encounter and Hinata's family relationship to "Hirose-sama". :heh:

Takumi left a good first impression. He's one "good guy" that's actually enjoyable, and not too generic or too Kyon-ish to my tastes (yes, I am officially sick of KyoAni's protagonists).
Both theme songs fit and were well produced in my opinion, the animation left an even better impression--I expected it to be a lot worse than what we've got. I'm not saying it's bad or anything, quite the opposite. Art, color settings, sound effects, BGM were all soothing, vivid, refreshing.

I really didn't expect that the blindness would be a metaphor, but it's interesting. "You aren't useless, you just think you are." I wonder what the deal is, really? Is it temporary? Only when he's with certain people? Does he really have his eyesight back, or is that just symbolic? Also, what's the deal with Hinata? And, of course, what's the "promise"? Like all good first episodes, this episode leaves us with as many questions as it provides answers, and I'm curious to see where they're going with this.

As Toua said, I'd also have to say that the artstyle and backgrounds really look quite good, and the music is used quite well (especially in the scenes at the end - the song during the beach scene was really beautiful). The whole show has this sort of exotic, lush feel to it that's really hard to describe, but really works well. (Actually, what it reminds me of it the game Chrono Cross, for some reason.)

All in all, they've got my attention anyway. Let's see where they're going with this.

(Although the real question is... what the heck is the deal with the dancing err... people-horses during the sponsors slides? That's got to be some sort of massive inside joke... :heh: )

Judging from the first episode,i can smell something nice from this anime.Expect nice plot and storyline from this series...probably this anime will gonna be one of the best anime for the first quarter 2008.

And the anime quality,i say 8.9/10....everything looks so detail and well drawn,especially the scenery around the town.

Overall,i give 9.4/10....still early to give out full mark i guess.

Firstly I must stress...what kind of guy hits girls ffs :frustrated: As if it wasn't bad enough to witness such an act, that yaro launched a punch straight to hayami's face...she was literally battered like a punching bag >.> I already had my eye out for the girl being the character who caught my attention the most...but now the character "pain" given to her has made her seem much more real than first thought. I really hope the character development is going to be done well for this series :)

Takumi is obviously playing pretend blindness - the happy yaro :rolleyes: From what I see, and the hints given from the "spirit girl" I seems that he lacks the will to do something ie open his dam eyes in this case - So his blindness could be something just inside his head. "Promise girl" now that is a familiar term. I think a major hint for Takumi's condition is given in the flashback where we see a traffic signal for trains and a red background.

It maybe a bit too early to speculate but what I see here as a potential plot is that we have otoha being killed long ago which Takumi witnessed and in that shock he became blind. Maybe the fear of seeing his friend getting crushed by the train (too gross to imagine :uhoh:) turned into a fear where he just doesn't want to "see" anymore. Right now we don't know whether otoha is really here or not seen as all the scene she has been in so far, only Takumi was present.

There are plenty of characters here to explore. The start just barely touches on their basic, surface personality but already I feel an attachment towards Hayami. Not just because her type is my kinda moe but because I just can't stand seeing characters like her getting hurt like that - yea this is where the feeling of "wanting to hold her" kicks in :heh:

Yui has already shown the viewers that she "runs" the school, and also commands two thugs who attacks Hayami. While hinata is the polite and caring girl, though there is also some mystery surrounding her when she refused to help hayami when she is bullied. This series has a lot of potential - lets just hope they don't waste it ;)

The comedy and ecchi also plays well together. Takumi sure is a lucky yaro for getting special attention but he is protrayed in a way where I don't dislike - which is rare when it comes to male leads nowadays (for me anyway :heh:). Being blind has a lot of advantages it seems, such as getting to feel someone before greeting them and having a poking stick. I feel a bit envious...just a bit XD

For now i'll just say that's one of the best ways to start of a series. There's nothing like seeing a REAL punch to the face, even if it is aimed at a female.

-Pretty good OP :)
Took a while to get going, but I like it.
-I'm not too keen on the ED though...

-o_0 Dancing horse-men?

This was very interesting.
The comedy was amusing too.
Good graphics and etc. too.

Those yarousssssssss... They sure have the nerves to do that to a girl without any regret... And that Yui isn't too much better. Cockroach, ne... Cockroach, ne... :frustrated::frustrated:

Hayami... Feel pretty sorry for her, with everyone picking on her and she obviously has a bad reputation around the area (school). Though like Takuma said, she needs to be speak up a bit more and not be so unsociable.

Hinata... Obviously has something with Hayami with her "don't care about her" type of attitude. And her family seems to be planning something to do with Takuma. Besides that, she seems to be the polite type and uses "-sama".

Otoha... Not human, that's for sure. She also refers to herself as a spirit and Takuma as the promised person. Need more info...
Uses "boku"... Well, it's a common trait lately...

Side characters (those two that tag with Hinata)... Just there for now.

Takuma... Compared to R+V's protagonist, Takuma's much better. Overall, a nice guy, though he takes too long to realize what he's touching (:heh:).
It seems his blindness was all in his mind, and for a little while, he'll be able to see according and thanks to Otoha.
Wonder what he'll do now, with his sight momentarily regained.
Though now that he can see again, there will be no freebee service. (:heh:)

Preview - Boohoohoo, one of those shows with no real preview.

Yeah, I don't think it's quite "playing pretend blindness", because you see his "empty eyes" in the prologue of the show. But the theory that it's something caused by some sort of trauma is interesting, and I think that'd make sense (and would fit the imagery/message of the beach scene). Otoha's "gift" is then to temporarily set him free from that and open his eyes, presumably until he finds the strength to open them on his own. It's a very interesting metaphor for growing up.

Anyone can tell me is the girl like a guardian angel or something that's with the main character and no one else can see? And at the end of ep 1, he suddenly could see? I don't remember the other girl saying giving her the ability to see again or something....... As much as i love the story line so far, i'm lost haha

It seems the girl is some kind of spirit or something (she says so herself) and no one can see her except Takuma.
I can't rewatch the episode right now, but she basically said that it's not that he can't see, but he chooses not too. And that she'll give him some time, and to use it wisely. That "time" (or gift) allowed him to see.
Basically, it's like his blindness is a mental illness and he's not really blind. So Otoha (the spirit girl) gave him the will to open his eyes again. I assume by the end of the series, he will be able to open his eyes without Otoha's gift.

1. He got his sight back at the end of the episode (temporarily? will something make him blind again?)

2. He woke up with his feet wet from the sea in his "dream"

3. Why do the two thugs have generic thug voices?

Gift? did she say gift?
I think at the end she would reveal that it wasn't her "powers" or anything like that, that gave him a moment of sight, but rather himself. I think they are going to enthisise on him putting more effort into his personality due to what happened in the past (if that is the case). He has the sight all along and now its a matter of getting rid of his phobia - sight. Otoha could offer words of encouragement but I don't think she is using any special powers to make his see.

1) Now I'm starting to question whether that scene ever occured :heh: but yes, it should be a temporarily thing.

2) It's either a dream or the girl (otoha) took him to the beach without moving.

3) Because they are thugs?