(L) Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~

[Kaoru Chujo]

Enjoyed episode one. It had the gentle sweetness of the original, even if so much else was different. It took me a while to slow down to the required pace. But I really got off on the photographic backgrounds. Great feeling of Hokkaido. I thought the animation of the faces was excellent, even if the voices sometimes didn't match the lip-movements. Hanazawa Kana was very good, with a slightly different version of what was identifiably her voice, but with feeling. I look forward to photographic backgrounds of Tokyo next week.

Once again, I watched the Horrible Raws version, with all the TV ads before, during, and after the show. Love it.

And I thought both the OP and ED were excellent, particularly the quality of the singers' voices (THYME and micc, respectively). These women can sing.

[Claes]

What video codec did that raw file use? I cant play it
Currently using klite mega codec pack 163

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep1:

Very nice episode. Peaceful and relaxing (and heartwarming?).
The realistic backgrounds are also pretty unique/fresh/eyecatching.
The only complaint I have would probably be that I don't really like the character designs/art.

OP and ED both were pretty good as well.

The Michiru and Toyama thing also ended well, even though it has to be a long-distance relationship for now. (Beh, fate sure can be a sadist at times)

I didn't really pay much attention to the BGM until the one played while the snow was falling, but that BGM was pretty good.

Preview: Onwards, to Tokyo!

I only lasted two episodes for the first season, but I'll probably watch this season to the end.

[Claes]

Just watch it
MINDBREAKING BACKGROUND!!!
The artwork for the background is SUPERB!!!
Way better than the original someday's dreamer (thought for character design, I prefer the original someday's dreamer)
The music, still as good as ever. OP and ED, well, I prefer the original someday's dreamer

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by Claes

What video codec did that raw file use? I cant play it. Currently using klite mega codec pack 163

Since you have now seen it, I guess you got it working, but if you mean the HR raw, here's the info: VLC tells me that it's using a video codec called Windows Media Video 9 Advanced, and for audio Windows Media Audio 9.1. I had no trouble playing it. The CCCP codec pack works like a charm for me on just about everything (in conjunction with ZoomPlayer, and occasionally VLC).

[Claes]

It work this time
Good ol winamp >_<

[Haohmaru]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Spoiler for ep1:

Very nice episode. Peaceful and relaxing (and heartwarming?).
The realistic backgrounds are also pretty unique/fresh/eyecatching.
The only complaint I have would probably be that I don't really like the character designs/art.

OP and ED both were pretty good as well.

The Michiru and Toyama thing also ended well, even though it has to be a long-distance relationship for now. (Beh, fate sure can be a sadist at times)

I didn't really pay much attention to the BGM until the one played while the snow was falling, but that BGM was pretty good.

Preview: Onwards, to Tokyo!

I only lasted two episodes for the first season, but I'll probably watch this season to the end.

I agree. I was enjoying the beautiful backgrounds and pretty animation (wish the art was more like the poster on the first page). I also only noticed the BGM while the snow was falling. It's like a mix of celtic oldschool samurai music. Difficult to describe, but I really liked it.

[NakedAngelX]

Truly stunning backgrounds, looks soooo real...
So there's a 1st season? I'll go watch first season before i watch this then

[Ottocycle]

It's been a long time since I heard such a great OP song. Last one I thought was remotely similar in the style and feeling it gave was Nodame's Konna Chikaku de.
As for the BGM, it sounds a little like what would probably come out of Spice and Wolf, just a little mellower. I look forward to the tracks Haketa would be using for the subsequent episodes, since the quaint country feeling will be gone. I hope for just one more piece of piano to appear.
And as said, the photographic backgrounds were awesome.

OP release date: 6th August. Damn!

Oh and what happened to the franchise logo? I thought that was pretty nice.

[dxgarten]

Episode 1 Screencaps/summary/OP-ED

Spoiler:

It's a bit muted affair in comparison to the manga but I think I will see a few more episodes before deciding one way or another. My main problem is the mixture of live action and animation. It's beautiful and different but something doesn't feel right. Maybe it's just initial impression and I'll get used to it in time. I also think the storyline is far more dynamic in the manga while this one makes it more like a "client-of-the-week", something which I dislike in the original Someday's Dreamer.

[kari-no-sugata]

Interesting series and fairly enjoyable first episode.

Regarding the backgrounds, I wouldn't think it'd be that hard to take a good set of photos in a reasonably short time - for the most part, it seems a fairly fixed algorithm has been applied (boost colour separation and apply particular type of smoothing to give it a more anime like look) but I feel that some manual clean-up has been done too. It does rather feel like the shots were mostly taken specifically for the show, though some could be from a catalogue (particularly the less scenic shots).

I think it's not so much that the "live action" backgrounds are a problem per say, but that they contrast too heavily with the fairly simple character designs. I think I could get used to it but it was rather distracting at first.

I wonder if the slow pacing (more suitable for rural area) will pick up in the bustling city? I don't particularly mind either way though.

Another conflicting feeling I had in the back of my mind while watching this was a bit unfair - I couldn't help notice that HAL is doing the animation here (since their logo is rather prominent), and next season they'll be doing what has been my favourite manga for several years, Skip Beat. That series has (or should have) a completely different pacing and set of character personalities and so much focus on the backgrounds would be really jarring - apart from both being set in Tokyo, they're almost polar opposites. That being said, HAL does seem to have done quite a variety of shows.


Anyway, I'll definitely be watching the next episode...

[WanderingKnight]

I wonder if the slow pacing (more suitable for rural area) will pick up in the bustling city?

If anything, the first season (whose action is set on Tokyo during the whole run) may indicate that it will probably not pick up. Not that it's a bad thing.

[Impz]

I have set up an entry for the first episode.

Oh, Whitelight fansubs will be working on this. The translation is already done, so 2-3 days should be the longest period for waiting before this episode is released. Enjoy ^^.

[Hazard]

Yay, looking forward to it.

[Deathkillz]

ep 1

Spoiler:

Well besides the horrible mixture of stunningly realistic background and stunningly "wonky" character designs (I have been cheated out of the quality I've expected after seeing the promo image! T_T), I would say that this is a great start to a new series. The introduction so far was different and has a kind of slice of life feel to it (figures )...and lone girl and her adventure in Tokyo is something I have in mind atm.

Not much to add onto this as this is but to sit back and enjoy the show I guess (and it would probably not be a good idea to watch when you feel sleepy ).

The OP, ED and BGM were all great too...soothing and whatnot ^^

[Ottocycle]

@DKZ The promo image was taken out of the manga, so if you want more of that, it's there.

[Lesca]

I really liked the first episode, it's pace is different to what I have been watching lately so it makes a nice change, and it does remind me of a "slice o' life" series which I tend to like. I think Hanazawa Kana has a lovely voice as Sora and the BGM music and OP was really something ^_^

[ChronoReverse]

Looking forward to fansubs. I liked the original so much that I purchased the original tanks. Of which I'm twice as glad that I did so because of the colour pages >_>

[WanderingKnight]

Ooh, boy, I am going to love this series.

Brief summary of the things I loved from Hal's approach:

• The setting. The attention they put on the calm and stillness of day to day life was superb. And even then, they didn't lose the track and managed to tell the side story of the first episode very well. With few words they achieved in a single episode what other shows can't do in 26 dialog-heavy episodes. This is what makes me love the Straight Story-like approach to narration, where several side characters join in to add their own, almost completely unrelated subplot.
• The backgrounds, though a bit shocking at first, help a lot when trying to recreate the ideal slice of life feeling.
• Takefumi Haketa's music is as beautiful as always--but the choice of only playing it in key moments deserves some praise, as well.
• The seiyuu were good. Nothing out of this world, but satisfying all in all. Though I am a bit bothered at the lack of some form of inaka-ben throughout most of the cast (only Sora's mom seemed to throw in very few inaka-ish expressions, even though her voice had that characteristic funny entonation). I have to say that it spoils the atmosphere a bit, but not enough to make me really bothered.

All in all, this show is the one that is the closest to capture the true essence of what, in my opinion, should be the ideal of slice of life. Hal is about to dethrone their very own Aria as the image to aspire to. Which is good--innovation is always welcome

[Seravy]

nice 1st episode. the bg detail is JAW dropping! not so fond of the character art though (especially considering the standard the manga sets). absolutely love the OP! (I <3<3 THYME)