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| Definitely off to an interesting start. Makio has complicated emotions but is still a normal person. This anime so far has a melancholic tone following the life of Makio. Asa is also introduced into her life. Makio's relationship with her seems indifferent at first but they will most certainly develop them. This definitely has drama without any sort of nonsense sillness. Makio is the one I'm more interested knowing given her personality. |
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| Mangaka Tomoko Yamashita's 2nd anime adaptation that is this show, it's definitely a very different feeling from her previous work of Fall 2021's Sankaku Mado no Sotogawa wa Yoru a.k.a The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window, of which Zero-G's adaptation of her famous series (up to this point) was just quite the letdown. TOMOO's OP is calm, though with the wispness of her vocals that truly give the song the feel. The 35-year-old novelist Makio Kodai, who has been living on her own being a social detract, and having to adopt her 15-year-old niece Asa Takumi out of a terrible accident which involved her estranged sister, it's clear that the personalities of the two are vastly different, and even clash in the unlikeliest of ways. However, it's the journal part of which Asa tries to get Makio in her visual abstract ways, against her rather nonchalant ways of dealing with quite the family tragedy that she does not spare Asa of the reality set before her. Bialystocks's debut Anisong for the ED, has the same vibes as TOMOO's OP. This is an interesting series, just for the solemn feeling of life. |
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| Considering this is the same studio that made NATSUME, the last thing I expected was something as dark as a relative dying in a car crash. Makio wasn’t that close to her sister, so it doesn’t seem to affect her much, but she’s clearly hurt on some level. Asa comes in, but she’s not the type to suddenly make Makio act like a caring parent or anything like that. Her laid-back attitude instead means that if she wants to stay, she’ll probably let her. She’s gotten used to her, and that seems to be enough. The real issue here is Asa herself. She needs to be seen and loved, and without that, she feels completely lost. Makio may be reliable, but unconditional love just isn’t something he can give. I think there’s something great that can come out this here and I’m all in for it. Amazing fucking premier, might be the best one so far. Was a bit sad at first Shuka picked this up over another Natsume season, but I can live with it for sure now. |
IzanaSolosJan 4, 8:55 AM
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| Great first episode, I am kinda hooked. Let's see where we are heading from here... |
| If you want to experience peak, I highly recommend watching Monogatari |
| I remember reading the manga long time ago and it is definitely not the type of series that will get much attention but if someone like mature type of series then they should check it out. Studio shuka is doing great job so far capturing the feel of the source material. |
Reply to IzanaSolos
Considering this is the same studio that made NATSUME, the last thing I expected was something as dark as a relative dying in a car crash. Makio wasn’t that close to her sister, so it doesn’t seem to affect her much, but she’s clearly hurt on some level. Asa comes in, but she’s not the type to suddenly make Makio act like a caring parent or anything like that.
Her laid-back attitude instead means that if she wants to stay, she’ll probably let her. She’s gotten used to her, and that seems to be enough. The real issue here is Asa herself. She needs to be seen and loved, and without that, she feels completely lost. Makio may be reliable, but unconditional love just isn’t something he can give. I think there’s something great that can come out this here and I’m all in for it.
Amazing fucking premier, might be the best one so far. Was a bit sad at first Shuka picked this up over another Natsume season, but I can live with it for sure now.
Her laid-back attitude instead means that if she wants to stay, she’ll probably let her. She’s gotten used to her, and that seems to be enough. The real issue here is Asa herself. She needs to be seen and loved, and without that, she feels completely lost. Makio may be reliable, but unconditional love just isn’t something he can give. I think there’s something great that can come out this here and I’m all in for it.
Amazing fucking premier, might be the best one so far. Was a bit sad at first Shuka picked this up over another Natsume season, but I can live with it for sure now.
| @IzanaSolos makio is aunt of Asa. |
| I love everything about it, honestly. No complaints at all. It just feels perfect. The OP & ED, the watercolor-style visuals, the animation is soft and smooth as well. The emotions come through really strongly and hit us as viewers right away. I also love that Makio is voiced by Sawashiro Miyuki, her voice fits the character so well. |
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| At least Makio isn't bullshitting around xD Sawashiro really nails the role of an aloof aunt turning guardian. Many Josei series have this melancholic vibe with some deadpan humor and this is one of them. First episode was really to my liking. Style of the OP reminded me of Natsuyuki Rendezvous. |
One Piece episode 914 & 915 & 1027 were a mistake and 957 brought the salvation - FMmatron |
| I love Studio Shuka they’re truly keeping non-romance shōjo/josei anime alive. |
| You can't make her look more western than that. |
| Glorious brilliant godlike autism. |
Reply to Nouzen_Chainsaw
@E-Satie how many chapters did they adapt in this Ep ?
Nouzen_Chainsaw said: 3 chapters adapted. Although in the chapter 3 they skip one scene to make the ending of the episode more impactful. They can easily adapt that scene in the next episode and even if they didn't it's ok since it's not that important.how many chapters did they adapt in this Ep ? |
| Okay, this looks good! I’ve already watched the live action movie and enjoyed that a lot as well, so I came into this with positive hopes and I’m glad this ep made it safe to come with those expectations. Something about writers and their way of interpreting life seems to reason with me, I felt that when watching this and it reminded me of how I felt it when watching Koi Wa Ameagari no You ni in particular too. As @FMmatron pointed out earlier, Sawashiro Miyuki-san fits the role of Makio-san to a tee xD. Aragaki Yui-san’s portrayal of the character as far as I remember was more distant at least initially but it seems like we’re getting a slightly different version here which is more than welcome to me. Looks like we’ll be treated to a good track every ep too, as expected from the rising star in TOMOO. |
#Anime4Life be my Life Motto! #PrayForKyoAni  |
Reply to Nouzen_Chainsaw
@E-Satie How many pages does each ch have ?
Thank God they are not Rushing the anime , Since the manga is finished and has 11 volumes I thought they might adapt all of the volumes in this single cour season . looks like thats not the case
Thank God they are not Rushing the anime , Since the manga is finished and has 11 volumes I thought they might adapt all of the volumes in this single cour season . looks like thats not the case
Nouzen_Chainsaw said: 30 to 40+ each chapter.How many pages does each ch have ? |
| This is my first anime for the Winter 2026 season, and I have a feeling that if it stays consistent, it will be THE AOTS for me. Amazing start can't wait for more!! 💜💚 |
| Screams quality from everywhere, the source, the subtle yet effective direction, the music from Kensuke Ushio. Sure gave me a lump in my throat for the whole runtime. This will be a healing process to watch. |
| Makio looked like a guy in that first scene so imagine my surprise when I heard Sawashiro Miyuki's voice when she spoke. Genuinely sat confused for a bit there. But anyway this seemed like one of those anime and mostly here cause it's Shuka doing the adaptation and I like all their works. First impression is that this is well withing expectations. Wholesome SoL with tragic feeling. Loved that song at the begining. Looks like this is Mori Fuuko's debut role but she has a really sweet singing voice. Also she was about to sing baby lol. Btw loved what Makio said and did at the funeral. Hoping the best for them. They are at the starting point of something new and different in their life and while there might be difficulties going forward they can surely overcome them together. |
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| Great animation! Yeah that melancholic tone is unique! I hope there's always a meaning to certain things but it takes time to understand it. They will eventually get it too! |
| I need somebody who can love me at my worst No, I'm not perfect, but I hope you see my worth 'Cause it's only you, nobody new, I put you first And for you, girl, I swear I'll do the worst If you stay forever, let me hold your hand I can fill those places in your heart no else can Let me show you love, oh, I don't pretend, yeah I'll be right here, baby, you know I'll sink or swim |
| This was wonderful. The post funeral reception speech choked me up a bit. And my fav visual was the blank journal lines becoming the sand dune lines. Can’t wait to see how these characters develop. So happy to be getting some lovely josei this season. ^___^ |
| ITS PERFECTTTTTTTTTTT. 10/10. PEAAAKKKK. my expectations were already high but they managed to make me love this episode more than i imagined. this anime is everything to me. they got Shuka for the studio, Kensuke Ushio for the OST!? PEAKKKKK. Sawashiro Miyuki for the main character hooolyyy. TOMOO for the OPENING SONG, WE NEED MORE TOMOO IN ANISONG!??? this OP is gonna be in my top 3 this season if not the best of the season.  |
| Definitely a great first episode. Does anybody know if the anime will cover the whole manga? |
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| I was apprehensive because the live action adaptation was so horrible I didn't last 10 minutes, but this looks really really good. If they keep up this quality all the way it'll be a decade highlight. |
| Peak Josei is back on the menu boys, wow. I am just absolutely blown away by this one. This is the EXACT sort of A24-esque style of anime that I love. These understated, melancholic stories with realistic characters and seiyuu performances that just take you on a journey with the characters as they grow. There’s something so genuine and fragile here with Makio and Asa that you don’t get in many anime and I will cherish it every single week. There’s just something so beautiful about these two broken, socially awkward, likely autistic characters coming together and helping one another heal from their trauma and grief. Makio might say she hated her sister, but clearly there was more at play there that I’m excited to learn about. On the other hand, I love how they portrayed Asa’s existence as being lost in a desert without water now that both her parents have been taken from her. Imagine just waking up one day and your entire world is gone and flipped upside down, being lost in a desert is a perfect description for that. Despite all of that, Asa has stayed respectful and tries to support her aunt. I’m sure there’ll be many bumps on this road because both our leads have so much pain.. but I’m ready to cry along with them as they work through them. The premiere’s full of amazing moments, but none better than Makio pledging her unyielding support and care for her niece in the faces of all the family members talking shit about her. I KNEW I recognized my goat Ushio Kensuke from the start of the episode but holy shit the OST during that scene is immaculate. It seems like he’s going back to his Koe no Katachi sound here which I’m really excited for because that’s his peak to me. That scene really struck a chord with me because Japanese people tend to be extremely passive and hide how they’re feeling, but Makio says fuck that and straight up tells everyone they can go to hell. No wonder she hated her family if they’re like that. Really good start, I’m extremely excited about this one!! |
Marinate1016Jan 4, 8:51 PM
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| What a way to start a story, the journal of a girl who has lost its parents and no one wanted to take her in (kinda reminded me of Rei in March Comes In Like a Lion, that part was fucking brutal and hard to watch), no one but her aunt which was despised by her mother (with reciprocal feelings it seems), and now she's moving forward, and we get to see it? Man, this is an anime I wanna get immersed in, solid keep for me and we (or at least I) need more animes like this one. |
| No tomo malas decisiones, solo me gusta apoyar causas perdidas. Disfruté Mayoiga, Ou-sama Game, Evil or Live, Mirai Nikki, Big Order, Arifureta, Ex-Arm, Tesla Note, Shuumatsu no Harem y Platinum End nope les falle con esa, lo siento pero todos tenemos nuestros límites. Así de jodido es mi gusto en anime, ¡Y estoy pinche orgulloso de ello!  |
| This is incredibly up my street. The tone of it is incredible. Makio is almost certainly going to be amongst the forerunners when it comes to my character of the season. Loving her already. |
| I knew that Kensuke Ushio did the music for this before even looking it up,total Liz to Aoi Tori vibes. Been waiting for this one, now even more reason to watch. |
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