ef 02 – I can’t quite put my finger on it…

…and I know I say that very often, but something’s going on here that’s not quite right. Something about Chihiro (Rei Ayanami).

In episode 1, I was wondering why every time she sees Renji (Raki) it’s like she’s meeting him for the first time. Now I do know why, but I have say it’s a little bit contrived. I did not know people can lose 13 hours worth of memories everyday, but still remembers who they are and what they do and so on. This is one of the devices that dating sims love to use.

In fact, this whole show feels like a dating sim being played in real time. The music, the dialogs, and the lack of action seems to confirm that this low budget anime ports a lot of stuff from the game. Having said that, I admit I’ve never play the game, and I actually like the dialog and the characters’ self expositions. Also, instead of 1 guy with all the girls, we have 3 guys meeting one girl each. Or 3 guys who’s interested in 3 different girls. Come on, that’s realistic enough, isn’t sit?

But the amnesia bit is unbelievable in my book. However it doesn’t detract my enjoyment (gasp!) in the show. Yes! The Ma-oh of cynicism actually likes it! Holy shit, what’s the world coming down to???

Well, I like it because despite the slightly over melodramatic voice acting of the person for Rei…I mean Chihiro, I found the interaction between she and Raki…I mean Renji really sweet. Shy, sweet, young, innocent, so afraid to get hurt and yet so honest showing her longing and fears in her voice and on her face.

Gosh, are these two from the 50’s?

Notice I’m not talking about the other two guys because oddly, one of the them is supposed to be the main protagonist but neither of them is taking much time of this show, and I’m not very interested in these two.

Actually, the mang-ka expresses something I’ve always felt – that the world seems to lack something, but I just can’t put my finger on it, and this actually makes me anxious. Hmm, I should try to follow his story as well, then.

Movie shots were used again and once again, with the director of Zetsubo Sensei and Pani Poni Dash helping, I can see how they’re keeping the budget down. No super detailed animation like KyoAni, nothing that carves its details on my heart with scenery and poignancy at the same time, but I just can’t resist feeling for Chihiro and Renji. They…they’re so sweet.

Ahem. In any case, 71% recommended for your daily anime diet. Oddly, this is turning out to be another show that I didn’t care but started liking for the fall.

P.S. Why is that the Renji and Chihiro are walking on European streets and not on Japanese streets? Except for the station, it really seems that they were in Europe somehow…Odd.