(CR) Natsu no Arashi!

[relentlessflame]

Spoiler for Episode 1:

I have to say that I liked the first episode, but I'm not really sure how to describe it. It's kind of retro, kind of manic, but quite funny overall. A lot of the usual "SHAFT-isms" are put to good use here, and the OP is, as usual, over-the-top hilarious. I think, as an introduction, the episode worked really well -- it started slowly and gradually introduced more and more layers of craziness (and explanation). At the same time, all the little things that happen at the beginning end up being important in the end, so it's the sort of episode that makes you want to re-watch it to catch all the little points.

The resolution to the time paradox was true to form -- the whole thing started because she thought someone stole her cake, but of course she stole her own cake after going back in time twice to get it. The cake wasn't there in her first jump because she was going to go back for another jump even further in the past, but she only went back for the first jump because of her having done the second jump where she ate the cake and... wait, what? But that means... Anyway yeah... time paradoxes -- good times will be had by all.

I also liked how Hajime adopted the "Cutie Strawberry-chan" name without a second thought after mocking it so much at the beginning -- one of those little silly touches that make it work.

The art and animation also looked quite nice; I realize the show looks cheaply-made in screenshots, but I think it looks quite nice in motion. It's very lively and expressive, which works well for this sort of comedy.

Anyway, I'm sticking around -- let's see what happens next week.

[frubam]

Spoiler for ep 1:

They didn't start from the beginning of the manga, so it was kinda hard to get a grasp of all the chars. I guess it's for the best though. I only read the first few chapters of the manga, so I wasn't expecting time-traveling shenanigans . Still, it provided a good deal of entertainment and was fun to watch. That OP is pretty creative. Love the animation style since the colors feel brighter and more vibrant than School Rumble was.

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep1:

I used to think Shaft's OPs were destined to be strange in a good way... Until this day! Dun dun dun~!

I used to think this author wrote interes... Okay, I lied. Forget that.

Anyways, the episode was incredibly iffy... To a great point, it was uninteresting. To be more frank, considerably boring. At the very most, only the very end with the white hair eating the strawberry even managed to get a reaction out of me. The characters were... what? Nothing really sure what to think about them, but nothing attractive in this department either.
The character designs are also poor, but after getting used to it, this part wasn't so bad.
ED's visuals... Let's not even bother. The song was OK though.
The OP... A bird in my mind told me Shaft has finally lost it when I watched it. It apparently aimed to be unique, but proved to leave me only with (-_-).

I'll have to see how I feel next week, but I'm feeling like dropping this... Depends on how the next episode is, I guess.

[Kaoru Chujo]

I'm not sure if I can stand the chara-des for Hajime, but the voice-acting is excellent all round. Sanpei Yuuko does Hajime with spirit, Nazuka Kaori is a great Kaya (lovely to hear her doing anger for once), and it's also great to hear Shiraishi Ryouko do a beautiful girl here, rather than a guy. She and Sanpei Yuuko are about the top names for teenage boys, and here they are playing opposite one another. I always like to see Renton (Sanpei) and Eureka (Nazuka) get together again, too.

The story didn't interest me much, however. I did look at the comic and felt that there wasn't a lot there for me. I love the Shinbou-Oonuma visual style, but did anyone else feel it was a bit perfunctory here? (maybe serenade_beta, for one, I see).

[qmeister]

That was a brilliant use of causality! I see another winner for SHAFT. The character designs are quite fitting for the roles played.

Does the boss remind anyone of Haruko from FLCL?

[Fuze]

The first episode didn't feel like it was a proper introduction at all. The name of the episode "Playback Part 2" is telling me that they will air the story out of order, so I guess I should continue to watch to see how it goes.

I kinda like the wackiness and the characters themselves don't seem all that bad, but I just feel like there is something missing for me. And the animation seemed inconsistent. At this point, my interest for this show is somewhere in the middle.

[Malkuth]

Let me start with the ED, because for me it was excellent (the song, not the animation). OP was below SHAFT's average, but at least not annoying. Now moving to the character designs ... too retro and from what I little I observed quite different from the manga ... it will take some time to get used to. The storytelling was nice paced, it got around pointless expositions (with one minor exception) and I certainly hope they want look back in the future. The background art, especially in the beginning was just plain weird, at some point the were just panning two three background frames, which is even beyond retro (Disney in the 40's and 50's)! Finally, the humor ... well this was unexpected, I have found most comedies from SHAFT hilarious, this one was kind of flat, it took me 20 minutes to crack a smile ... not a good start. But things can certainly get better.

[danin8r44]

Originally Posted by qmeister

That was a brilliant use of causality! I see another winner for SHAFT. The character designs are quite fitting for the roles played.

Does the boss remind anyone of Haruko from FLCL?

In the manga they try to make it fairly obvious she is a reference to Haruko.(or if she isn't it is an incredible coincidence)

I thought this episode was rather iffy. I'm gonna keep watching because I think it could go either way from here.

[SinsI]

The first episode was great, and I also really liked OP and ED.
(I've never read the manga though).

Reminds me of Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai.

[Sin Ansem]

I predict that this show will be even more unsung and unfairly hated than Negima!? -_-

Love the ED. It's quite rare for the EDs to be as awesome as OPs, but apparently this show has switched it up.

[Midonin]

I will second the "ED is excellent" comments. Ryoko Shiraishi did a great job.

That said, looking forward to more of this. I like the concept of the stable time loops set up, and am interested in getting to know more of the characters. That, and Shaft series are usually fun.

[sirn]

The animation part, I found it strange for Shaft show to have four assistant animation director but none are in-house for the first episode; they even credited Studio Pastoral as Production Assistant even though it's not Pastoral's episode. Because of this, I can put my expectations on Bakemonogatari, right, Shaft? (Badly disappointed.)

Originally Posted by Fuze

The first episode didn't feel like it was a proper introduction at all. The name of the episode "Playback Part 2" is telling me that they will air the story out of order, so I guess I should continue to watch to see how it goes.

No, the title is a parody to Yamaguchi Momoe's song in 1978: Playback Part 2. So I don't think there'll be Playback Part 1, or something. But the next episode will probably be an explanation episode, judging from the title. Edited: Nevermind that, apparently the next episode is manga's first chapter, it's either they only swapped the first episode, or they're going to air the story out of order. Hmm...

Originally Posted by Sin Ansem

I predict that this show will be even more unsung and unfairly hated than Negima!? -_-

Already happening.

[Tofusensei]

あたしにかけてぇ～
いっぱいかけてぇ～
。。。
せいしをかけてぇ～

Hearing that sung by a man is either priceless, disturbing, or both.

[Celestial Kitsune]

Episode 1 Screenshots.

[Guardian Enzo]

Spoiler for Epirsode 1:

Wow. I definitely get the Negima?! vibe now that I've seen it. But I also get a strong sense that this is trying to feel like a Gainax anime, not entirely surprising give Shaft's involvement with several Gainax productions.

Loved the OP - absolutely great. As for the character designs and the plot itself (if you can call it that) - the 12 angry men haven't come back yet. It has a manic energy and capriciousness that might prove to be charming or, like Negima?!, it could end up being insufferable in time. It stands out as unique and interesting so I'm certainly going to give it some more rope to hang itself, but it would be foolhardy to try and make up my mind based on that (somewhat endearing) mess of an episode.

Lots of interesting voice work here. Renton & Eureka, the peerless Horie Yui in an apparently small (and oddly fitted) role, and I thought I heard Maka's (Soul Eater) voice in there - sure enough, Omigawa Chiaki in only her second (and first male) role as Jun.

[animeffs13240]

Spoiler for episode 1 thoughts:

eh, i was expecting better i enjoyed the manga, but this episode kinda ruined the vibe; i mean i was a big fan of the bartender/owner in the manga because she was cunning and funny (probably my fav character in the manga), but the whole strawberry thing had me chuckling but not rolling. The animation felt well old school like someone said earlier (guess i was expecting somthing on the lines of school rumble)

i will continue watching it though cause i have nothing really else to watch and no i don't want any suggestions

[stewie0814]

Ha, well, i was initially put off by the art (retroness, weird character design, etc). But the second half o f the show made me forget them, I loved how everything got explained and how everything got connected together, I was impressed . Looking forward to the next one.

[Haruyasha]

This show gives me the vibe of what happens when you give an amateur RETAS Studio and expect something to plop out.

Another show to scratch off my list.. but might as well finish the first episode.

[TCman]

It's a little dissapointment for me, it feels like a filler episode; the characters are weirdly drawn, their eyes are too big (in length) and they are drawn too close to each other and the girls' faces are too "small" for most of the time; sometimes it feels like it's "fan-made"; the character design should be more closer to that of School Rumble, since this anime is based on a manga created by the same mangaka as School Rumble, Jin Kobayashi. And maybe we can see some differences in animation quality, since the episodes 1, 2 and 3 each got a different animation director.

Also the pacing of this episode is too choatic for my taste. Maybe the creators want to make Natsu no Arashi more hilarious, but the original manga wasn't meant to be a School Rumble sequel. I don't find this episode funny at all, this episode is even in my opinion a little dull. Comparing to the manga, the manga feels more mysterious (especially the character Arashi) and the pacing is slower (which is also more comfortable in my opinion) and maybe a little "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" feel because Arashi's ability.

Things I like in this anime are some of the backgrounds and location: the rural area/small town.

As for the choice of VA, I might choose Mamiko Noto to be Arashi, since her voice fits in my opinion the character Arashi so much better.

I hope the next episode will be much better, because I like the manga so much. I will watch the 2nd episode since it's based on the manga as said earlier.


Edit: have listen to the OP and ED songs for a while; the OP song is quite good; I like the melody/tune. The ED is nice and flows quite well, by the way Ryoko Shiraish (who also voices Arashi in the anime) who sings the ED has a really nice voice.

[Ascaloth]

*blink* *blink*

Why do I feel like I'm watching something from the 1980s....?

Oh, and the cake is a lie.

Seems like a fun light offering, won't mind following this for now.