Yama no Susume ~Next Summit~ (Encouragement to Climb pt 4)

[Ghostfriendly]

Originally Posted by Infinite Zenith

Another wonderful episode: while this one doesn't do anything with mountain hiking, the two acts both have their merits and play an important role in showing a different aspect of Aoi's growth.

Drinking on a canoe trip and moving on to the next superficial relationship don't strike me as responsible coping methods. Aoi is still only going with the flow in this unwelcome situation, although she is indeed less socially anxious than she was, as we can see consistently in her interactions.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by BBOvenGuy

"Is that Kokona's boyfriend?" LOL

Well, some would say she wasn't too far-off. Kokona and Honoka get shipped a lot by the fanbase.

[Magewolf]

Originally Posted by Marina2

Ep.6

Date in the first half and party in the second half.

Hikari looks so different from in her casual clothes to the point that I can't remember who she is. Only in the second half that I "Oh, that's her!"

Characters face looks really weird in some long distance shots during the first half. They are so noticeable that it ruined the beautiful background in those scene for me. I wish they put in more budget on characters drawing and animation. Thankfully, the quality returned to normal in the second half.

Characters faces were completely lacking in some shots that goes beyond weird.

[Ghostfriendly]

Kasumi and co have the same problem as Hikari last episode; they suddenly pop up again with nothing to show why Aoi or the viewers should wish to get to know them. The food stop halfway up Mt Takao had some really deformed character designs. I feel like the original series had a bit more of Aoi and Hinata's charming banter, so the bed scene was nice. Aoi advising her classmates was a lovely way to show her growth as well, so plenty of EoC goodness really.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Ghostfriendly

Kasumi and co have the same problem as Hikari last episode; they suddenly pop up again with nothing to show why Aoi or the viewers should wish to get to know them. The food stop halfway up Mt Takao had some really deformed character designs. I feel like the original series had a bit more of Aoi and Hinata's charming banter, so the bed scene was nice. Aoi advising her classmates was a lovely way to show her growth as well, so plenty of EoC goodness really.

Did they actually have significant screentime in the original series? I'm not even sure they were even named.

That first sunrise of the year tradition always amazed me. No way I'm ever getting up before dawn on New years. I sleep.

[Infinite Zenith]

Originally Posted by Kanon

Did they actually have significant screentime in the original series? I'm not even sure they were even named

They were named and in season three's fourth episode, invited Aoi to karaoke.

[Master_Yoma]

So finely seeing Aoi dad and he seems really cool taking them to a New Years to climb a mountain for the first sun rise

[Infinite Zenith]

This episode was probably the strongest showing of Aoi's maturity yet and reaffirms the importance of "at my own pace". With winter in the books, one looks forward to where Next Summit will go entering spring.

[Kanon]

The episode was shipping Honoka and Kokona really hard. But of course they're just good friends.

[BBOvenGuy]

Originally Posted by Kanon

The episode was shipping Honoka and Kokona really hard. But of course they're just good friends.

I haven't seen the episode yet (still mid-afternoon here) but you just confirmed some of the stuff I've been seeing on Twitter today.

[Infinite Zenith]

Originally Posted by BBOvenGuy

I haven't seen the episode yet (still mid-afternoon here) but you just confirmed some of the stuff I've been seeing on Twitter today.

The series had been hinting at this new friendship for quite some time in the ED and through the Christmas episodes. These developments aren't terribly surprising, but they are a pleasant outcome, giving Kokona a peer where she previously had been hanging out with people older than herself

[BBOvenGuy]

Originally Posted by Infinite Zenith

they are a pleasant outcome, giving Kokona a peer where she previously had been hanging out with people older than herself

I thought Honoka was the same age as Aoi and Hina...

The photo-shoot ED sequence a few episodes back was the first time I'd really noticed the show suggesting anything, but then I'm not always the quickest to pick up on such stuff. I know fans have been shipping them for a while, though. More than a year ago, I stumbled across a doujinshi of a very different Honoka-Kokona photo shoot...

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by BBOvenGuy

I thought Honoka was the same age as Aoi and Hina...

The photo-shoot ED sequence a few episodes back was the first time I'd really noticed the show suggesting anything, but then I'm not always the quickest to pick up on such stuff. I know fans have been shipping them for a while, though. More than a year ago, I stumbled across a doujinshi of a very different Honoka-Kokona photo shoot...

The episode showed Honoka is currently studying hard to get into high school. But not so hard she'll pass up on the opportunity to hang out with Kokona. She said yes to the second outing too, but that was before Aoi told her Kokona couldn't come.

Hinata was really cool, giving those two some privacy. Aoi had noticed Honoka was particularly enthusiastic about Kokona coming but she was too dense to connect the dots.

I've heard the manga paired those two up earlier and the anime had avoided it until now. That would explain the doujins, though sometimes doujin artists really don't need much.

[Infinite Zenith]

Originally Posted by BBOvenGuy

I thought Honoka was the same age as Aoi and Hina...

As far as I can tell, Honoka's age was never given, so I too assumed she was a secondary student, rather than a middle school student. You're not alone.

Originally Posted by Kanon

Hinata was really cool, giving those two some privacy. Aoi had noticed Honoka was particularly enthusiastic about Kokona coming but she was too dense to connect the dots.

Meanwhile, we have Aoi bragging she knows a thing or two about relationships from a few episodes earlier

[Master_Yoma]

Just how messy is that club room if they just found those snow shoes at the end of the winter season but at less they got to use them

[BBOvenGuy]

Okay, I've watched the episode now, and yes, it definitely looks like the Honokoko maru has weighed anchor.

I've also realized that Kokona reminds me of an old college friend. I even did a photo shoot of her once - alas, it was for her boyfriend. But they are still together today, more than 35 years later.

One thing I've always liked about this show is that the characters are open and honest about the fact that hikes have their not-so-fun moments. It's important to keep pushing forward and not giving up, because you'll miss a lot of great stuff if you do. The creative team definitely has people who know hiking among its members.

[Ghostfriendly]

True that the harsher parts of climbing aren't shirked. In real life there might be entire climbs without the sun ever breaking through at the end, which the Mt Fuji attempt half-covers, only for Aoi and Kaede. Some upbeat ending is important in the narrative sense.

I didn't count, but Ep 8 at least gave the impression of more coherent animation, with fewer distant shots of faceless or blobby characters in photorealistic landscape. The Lockhart Castle reference was to another event cut from this series, though; we can step over the missing step, or visualise the missing piece, but it's flawed writing. FMA Brotherhood only got away with it because it's FMA Brotherhood.

Honoka and Kokona were nice enough to each other, but they're only - nice. Aoi and Hinata's personality clashes, pushing of boundaries and enduring affection lend themselves naturally to romance - though ep 8 made it painfully clear that the scriptwriters dare not speak its name, making for the least yurilicious ep in any series. At least the mountaineering, food porn and animation were all still excellent.

[Infinite Zenith]

Originally Posted by BBOvenGuy

One thing I've always liked about this show is that the characters are open and honest about the fact that hikes have their not-so-fun moments. It's important to keep pushing forward and not giving up, because you'll miss a lot of great stuff if you do. The creative team definitely has people who know hiking among its members.

That's definitely a lesson I still need to remember. All too often, things only look like they'll turn out poorly, but then they turn out phenomenal. This was a great episode, and yes, it's plain as day that Kokona and Honoka have found friends in one another now

[Marina2]

Ep.9

Animation quality in this episode is quite good. There are many interesting scenes (Like Kokona's fishing) and camera angle.

Oh, Kokona is also the master of fishing as well!

Look like we quickly get introduced to more and more adults characters. This time they are her dad's friend and Hinata's mother. Aoi has some good luck to be able to tag along with so many different group of people and do wide range of activities. And she always make sure to drag Hinata along with her.

[BBOvenGuy]

Originally Posted by Marina2

Oh, Kokona is also the master of fishing as well!

Kokona = secret Amazon princess...