Binbou Shimai Monogatari 1
Kyou@Maaya Sakamoto (15) and Asu@Tomoko Kaneda (9) live by themselves in a one-room apartment with not much in it. Their father built up a huge debt and left, and their mother is in heaven keeping watch over them. Kyou wakes up early to go deliver newspapers (yes, somehow she can work even though she's only a middle schooler), and Asu gets up after she leaves, ready to make breakfast -- she's the one that takes care of things around the house. Asu's very excited about the upcoming festival that night -- there's plenty of money in the piggy bank so they can buy this and that, and her favorite, candy apples. After Kyou gets back, Asu runs off to the festival grounds to make a plan for what she and her sister will do that night. When Asu arrives back home her sister isn't there and the piggy bank is empty. Kyou comes in with a new yukata just like hers for Asu.... Asu calls her sister "baka" and runs off...
As it starts raining, Kyou remembers a time when she came back from school during a thunderstorm. She was worried about Asu walking home in the rain, so she went to Asu's school with umbrellas in hand.... Asu, now at the shop where Kyou bought the yukata, remembers that time as well. She had forgotten her umbrella, but her sister came to get her, though it promptly cleared up so there wasn't any more need for an umbrella... Asu understands why her sister bought that yukata for her now. She goes home to see if Kyou's there, but Kyou's already off looking for her at the festival. Kyou has the piece of paper Asu used to write down a map of the festival and what they would do that night... she didn't realize Asu had done that for her... Kyou and Asu finally find each other as the fireworks start, wearing matching yukatas :)
The next day, as usual, Kyou is up early to deliver newspapers. Asu wakes up and stops Kyou outside -- she doesn't want Kyou to leave her like their father did. Kyou would do no such thing of course, now embracing Asu.
Such good sisters even with all they've gone through. I'm really weak to these kinds of stories 。゜・（ノД`）・゜・。Maaya Sakamoto playing yet another poor character with Kyou makes me think of Haruhi@Ouran High School Host Club a bit. Before the show started I wasn't sure how exactly Tomoko Kaneda would do Asu considering what kinds of characters she usually does, but Asu sounded pretty normal so no big problem. Very cute :)
Somewhat like the Ichigo Mashimaro anime, this episode is made up of a few chapters (each chapter only being about 10 pages or less) from the first volume of the manga put together so they connect with each other, with some anime original elements thrown in (Kyou and Asu's mother showing up and such). Did feel a bit long, but it was still put together pretty well. The only thing I didn't much like was the overdramatic direction -- save that for the really important parts, please. If that can be toned down I'll be able to enjoy it more. Animation by Toei isn't exactly the best (not that I'm expecting much or anything), but the character designs are very cute and pretty faithful to the manga. So long as it's cute it's okay, like I always say.
Next time it looks like we'll be introduced to some more characters. I only read the chapters in the manga that were used this episode, so I'll have to check out more of it ;)
I was really impressed by how cute Asa sounded. After looking up her seiyuu, sure enough, it was Tomoko Kaneda! Which means I have to watch this anime to the end now ;)
Most anime I watch teaches me a lesson....This anime is no exception. This anime is going to teach me that I should never ever take anything for granted and be thankful for what I have. The animation was solid and look forward to the rest of the 9 eps to be aired. Yes, it is only 10 eps sadly....
The animation could be better. I'd say I'm quite dissatisfied by the animation. Judging from the very nice illustration in the official website, it seems that the illustrator/character designer is the one who did Kamichu!, but it is not... But, storyline-wise, this is definitely a must watch anime for this season.