Episode 03 –
Haha, oh yes. Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite series out of the season. It’s amazing just how well put together this series is, in particular it’s character interactions. The romance featured in this episode was amazingly well done; it was heartfelt, surprisingly sensitive and thoughtful, and all done in a natural manner. The characters were all very upfront about their feelings, some more obvious than others, but the one thing in common was how they were all charming in the way they went about their feelings of love. It’s one thing to have romance in an anime, it’s something completely different having the romance feel alive.
With that being said, I do have to admit that there are some cliches here and there. There’s the brewing love-triangle of sorts, with plenty of potential for drama. Yes, the situation is quite messy, and it doesn’t look like it’ll exactly clear up any time soon.
At the same time, though, this series is incredibly subtle with the small little details and feelings that it conveys. From Kaoru’s caring, heartfelt confession to try and console Ri-chan, to the brilliantly fun jazz session between Kaoru and Sentarou, this series feels very youthful and genuine. The confession scene in particular was powerfully emotionally, filled with a gentle sense of love that was absolutely dazzling. This show is incredibly good at conveying small, details into a much more emotional larger picture, with terrific characters, great jazz, and a noticeably good story pacing.
I feel as if Sakamichi no Apollon can be summed up in three phrases: youth, jazz, and being alive. This show harkens back to a more romanticized and nostalgic time of history, back when love was still innocent and heartwrenching, emotions were wild and uncontrollable, and friendship was always goofy and fun. I feel kind of like an old coot for talking like this, but this show really makes me think back to sillier days during my youth, as many probably do after entering the world of adults. This show is brimming with emotions that are so pure that they almost don’t seem real, yet somehow are grounded in a reality that is completely believable and mesmerizing.
Overall Enjoyment: 4.3/5
Screenshots are later in the post.
Distant Paradise 