Glasslip

After last season’s “Nagi no Asukara”, studio PA Works returns with another original anime project titled “グラスリップ”. In what seems to increasingly become their trademark production style, “Glasslip” is a romantic drama with some slice-of-life elements set in a small town offering plenty of enchanting backgrounds.

Must confess have one major regret about “Glasslip”, this even though the series is nowhere near finished and it is unsure how good the show will have been when all is said and done at the end of the season, but I do feel that the studio is not bringing out the full potential of “Glasslip”.

Considering PA Works brought us a memorable romantic drama with “True Tears” and an endearing slice-of-life show with believable teen romance in “Hanasaku Iroha”, personally believe they should have kept “Glasslip” realistic and entirely omit the supernatural plot element of Kakeru hearing voices and Touko seeing fragments of the future.

Although these plot items are used to bring Touko and Kakeru together as well as serve as a catalyst for Touko’s inner turmoil, they are a cheap plot gimmick where the writers could have used more realistic scenarios instead. Omitting those elements, they could have made “Glasslip” an enthralling romantic drama.

The show definitely has that potential, in fact it already showcases that much with Sachi and Hiro’s romance, a subplot which while affected by Kakeru’s appearance and his relationship with Touko, is not related to either character’s seemingly supernatural abilities.

While Sachi and Hiro’s romance is more low key than the strife between Kakeru and Yukinari to win Touko’s heart, it is undoubtedly the most realistic and well written relationship in the series so far, with subtle moments and two characters that show surprising depth.

While Sachi may seem to be a gentle, soft spoken girl with fragile health and Hiro a cheerful but clumsy boy totally smitten on her, throughout the already aired episodes both characters were shown to have more depth than even main lead Touko. Especially the latest episode which showed that Sachi can be quite mean and conniving, whereas Hiro is not a spineless or clueless guy who will let himself be used.

If studio PA Works would use that realism and character depth for all of the characters in “Glasslip” and ditch the supernatural elements, then this series could be another unforgettable romantic drama like “True Tears”.

Lead character Touko is voiced by Fukugawa Seria who doesn’t seem to have any other major roles credited to her name.
Bespectacled Sachi is voiced by Taneda Risa who previously voiced Rize in “Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?”, Yukari in “Yuyushiki”, Mirai in “Kyouai no Kanata”, Saki in “Shinsekai Yori” and Aya in “Kiniro Mosaic”.

Hayami Saori voices Yanagi, she also voiced Ayase in “Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga nai”, Asishu in “Mangaka-san to Assistent-san to”, Anya in “Soul Eater Not!”, Yukino in “Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru”, and she also voices Miyuki in currently airing series “Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei”.

Touko’s younger sister Hina is voiced by Touyama Nao, she also voiced Karen in “Kiniro Mosaic”, Chitoge in “Nisekoi”, Tomo in “Tamayura ~More Aggressive~”, Yune in “Ikoku Meiro no Croisée” and this season also voices Kayo in “Sabagebu!”.

If you are looking for a nice romantic drama series and do not mind some anime typical teen angst or supernatural plot elements, then “Glasslip” is definitely worth your time.