Title: A Town Where You Live

Publisher: Nozomi/Lucky Penny

U. S. Release Date: 10-4-16

Format: Blu-ray/ 12 Episodes /300  Minutes

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Age Rating: 14+

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

Haruto is a teenager living in a small town in Japan. Unexpectedly, a girl named Yuzuki just sort of moves in with his family and begins attending the school as well. Haruto isn’t happy about this situation but can’t help but to be intrigued by her. As his interest hits a high point, she leaves to go back to the city.

Not ready to give up, he moves to Tokyo to live in his sister’s apartment and starts attending high school there. As he looks to find and talk to Yuzuki  he develops a new circle of friends.  But life takes over and other relationships stand in the way between Haruto and Yuzuki when their paths cross again.

Commentary:

First notable about this anime, is the look. It is visually strong. The color is over saturated and very rich. This is the kind of thing I like. Oddly enough, it got annoying but the over all look smooths out half way through. They also include some very nice drawings or other artistic techniques interspersed. The characters really play out well visually. One complaint is the feet, I always wonder why they can do such beautiful and remarkable things with anime, but bare feet and their movement look so odd.

This is one of those anime series that can’t be discussed too much because the revelations are important to the characteristic of the story. The story telling unfolds in an interesting manner. As their relationship goes, it starts in the middle and relies heavily on flashback and memories. It pops back and forth. Along with this, the relationships themselves in the anime have the same movement as the characters draw together then pull apart,  back and forth as they move through high school and into college.

This drama is relationship driven supported by a invested group of characters. Sometimes typical, but there is enough growth to keep it interesting and believable. The concept of true love from an anime point of view leaves them hopeless to choose who they want to be with. There is some resistance, but it boils down to you love who you love.

Who is this anime for? Actually a large group, because I already know both male and female viewer who liked the series. If you are looking for a slice of life romance, this is it. Though not as straight forward, if you liked “Say I love you”, I think you would also like A Town Where you Live.

As a heads up, coming from someone who tends to skip the opening and closing songs after the first episode, when the music is playing and the Japanese credits are rolling, there is still story  going on. Don’t fast forward through them.

Japanese language with the English subtitles

Overall Grade: B+