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Glasslip – 13 [END]

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Glasslip-Ryuusei

Reverse Ryuusei

spring14-highwThe end of Glasslip brings the end of the Summer 2014 shows that I’ve been blogging (maybe a couple special extras to come), and with it one of the most polarizing, among those who watched it. So how did this show by PA Works end up?

 

Opening Up the Future

Glasslip-ikenaide

Touko wants him to stay, at least a little while longer

Glasslip-Talking

And then they seem to have understanding

It might have been a little dramatic for Touko to collapse after her long vision from last episode, but I think coming to the realization of what Kakeru had felt all his life was probably a bit draining. Unfortunately, in my view, that gives Kakeru an excuse to believe that he has caused much trouble for Touko. I think it’s an open question about whether he deserves any ‘blame’ for what happened, and Touko certainly doesn’t hold anything against him. But I think that her experience has given her enough insight into Kakeru that afterward she is no longer afraid of him going away. In fact, she hardly brings it up again. It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion after that that he’ll be going with his mother on the trip around the world. Things happen, and I think it’s interesting that the two of them are close enough to make it a decision, but not close enough to make it particularly difficult.

Glasslip-Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad, it’s obvious who’s in charge

Touko’s mom is an interesting character to me throughout the show. It’s like she knows what Touko’s going through, and is willing to let her experience it, without trying to guide her too much, but then reassuring her after the fact. I think that’s a very important thing for Touko, to keep her centered without too much going out of equilibrium. Mom is also important for giving Touko space: from Hina, from her father. She’s glad to see her daughters growing up. And even though she kinda squashes their father, there’s an interesting dynamic between the two. I’m not a huge fan of the “Clueless father / Smart Mother” trope, but this was pulled off with the obvious caring that she has for him.

Glasslip-Sachi and Hiro

I think it’s safe to say that Hiro and Sachi are together for good

Among the other characters, life continues. I hadn’t realized that Yanagi goes to a different school from the rest of them, but that makes some sense. Seeing Hiro and Sachi talk about names she likes is maybe a bit forward-thinking, but it seems like they’re the most ‘sure thing’ couple from the show. And we never do see Momo’s boyfriend but it’s funny how worked up she is at him visiting the cafe. Kakeru’s father ends up back by himself at his house (which looks really cool, but is really small), and everyone else is headed back to school.

Glasslip-Small house no tent

Conspicuous dead grass patch, and a cool, but small, house

Series Wrap-Up

Glasslip-Kakeru and Yana

Yana and Kakeru finally becoming friends

First of all, I think Glasslip was wonderful. A wonderful series from start to finish, although it was certainly not in the same vein of storytelling that most (or any) anime usually is. And that difference seemed to really set some people against it. A return to PA Works for Director Junji Nishimura, who also directed True Tears, Glasslip explored the idea of story without ‘telling’. I feel the show was much more about atmosphere and presence than making things happen. This rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, and we could spend a lot of time exploring just how they’re wrong, but I think it’s sufficient to say that the story was there, waiting for you to follow it. The characters were there, waiting for you to understand them. And the experience was there, waiting for you to embrace it.

Glasslip-Momo's Nervous

We never saw Momo’s boyfriend, but she was worried about her grandfather meeting him.

Like most PA Works shows, Glasslip was a glimpse into the lives of people. Their shows rarely start at an opening and end at closure (interestingly, True Tears may be one of the only ones that I’ve seen that does). Instead, we come into people’s lives as they’re living them, observe for a while, and then leave. People usually don’t have big events in their lives. Instead, there’s continuation. Summer slowly becomes fall. Childhood transitions to teen ages to adulthood. That Glasslip doesn’t anchor itself to any particular events isn’t a problem, in my view. We have the feeling that these characters lived before the show started, and that their lives will continue after the show ends. The show ends, not their lives, not their experiences, not their adventures. And I think that that’s a perfectly valid way to frame a series. Sure people want closure on things, but ginning up some big event usually isn’t realistic. This series was just “the last summer of these characters before they are finished with high school.” Two (Hiro and Sachi) found love that was somewhat unexpected. Two others (Touko and Kakeru) found an interesting connection that was deep and meaningful, but neither really understood it. And two others (Yukinari and Yanagi) found that by destroying the image of the other they had, perhaps the reality is more interesting and long-lasting.

Glasslip-coincidence

The worn edge of the table, and I love that it’s not square

Visually, the show is beautiful. Almost peerless, in the way that PA Works shows are. They make things that are like reality, beautiful in their imperfection. The rust on the painted metal, the details of real life. This show also incorporated the emphasizing features of color shifts and those still-frame transitions. All in all, a beautiful show to watch. And to listen to, with one of the best soundtracks of classical style music that I’ve heard in anime. From the inclusion of some of my favorite piano pieces, to the original incidental music, everything felt completely in place and set a mood that went along with the visuals and the restraint in voices.

Glasslip-PA Works Sky

The other signature of PA Works: The skies

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I really do love this series. I love the restraint it showed. I love the beauty it wrought. I love the story it told. And I love the style it brought. Only time will tell if it is my favorite PA Works series, as I’m learning to allow some time to pass before declaring things as favorites (proximity bias is definitely a thing). But it is certainly a show that was a success in at least one way: it has people who definitely love what was done in this series.


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