Summer Pockets is an anime based on the visual novel from KEY. That’s all I needed to know to add it to my watch list. Even though he didn’t write it, Jun Maeda did come up with the concept for the game; however, I haven’t played it, so I can’t tell you if the anime does the game any justice; however, this is an anime based on a Jun Maeda game from KEY so expect lots of cute girls, and lots of crying. Will we get that here?
Let’s go!
First Episode Synopsis
Hairi Takahara’s grandmother passed away a month ago, and he was invited by his aunt to a remove island to help clean out her storage shed because a lot of the items in there held high sentiment with the family… otherwise, they would have just hired someone to come clean it up and throw it all away.
While Hairi is on the island, he decides to take his aunt Kyouko’s advice and roam the island. One of the places he stops at is a pool where he sees a white-haired girl named Shinoha attempting to learn how to swim, first by practicing how long she can hold her breath underwater. He gets a bit too curious with his questions and draws her ire! Despite that, she’s nice enough to give him directions back home since he ended up getting lost.
He then takes a scooter around the island and stops by a tree where a girl is asleep. She’s about to fall over when he catches her. In a classic misunderstanding, she awakens and thinks that he wants to have his way with her. She’d love to argue; however, she mysteriously knows it’s 2 PM without looking at a clock and rushes off because she’s late for work.
After this, he stands at the edge of a dock and gets drenched by a large wave. He takes his shirt off and comes across another shirtless guy… who suddenly gets shot at with a water gun by another girl in a tower. Apparently, a shirtless hunt is going on, so Hairi turns and flees, but the unknown shirtless guy gets shot… with water… and yet, falls over like he died.
We eventually meet Umi, Kyouka’s relative, making her Hairi’s second cousin. She’s young, energetic, and sucks at playing rock-paper-scissors. Even when Hairi explains how she’s losing, she doesn’t understand.
So far, life seems rather peaceful, yet strange on the island… and so begins Hairi’s temporary life as a caretaker for his late grandmother’s belongings.
Worth Watching?
YES – I’m just going to say it… the first episode was a “nothing got done” episode. It served to introduce you to the island while giving you just a little taste of the eccentric people who live there. Aside from meeting the characters and witnessing their diverse personalities, quite literally nothing of interest happens. So, why in the world would I recommend you to watch a show with such a slow start?
Because it’s from KEY, and if you know… You know. You have to let this one cook a little bit longer than normal before you are rewarded. Plus, if you know anything about KEY’s stories (Air, Kanon, Clannad, Little Busters, Rewrite, etc.), you know that their specialty is getting you to let your guard down, get close to the characters, then hit you with a heart-wrenching twist.
I am compelled to watch because I want to feel that comfy atmosphere, I want to see the sweet and innocent characters, I want to get to know them, experience life with them, then get stabbed through the heart with a searing hot knife! It’s that moment that you know is coming that makes a show like this very much worth your time. Then again, I’m talking like someone who played the game when, in reality, I haven’t; however, I’ve seen enough shows from KEY to know that we’re heading there. If we’re not… then I would be beyond shocked.
Either way, if you’re a fan of KEY stories, watch Summer Pockets. If you have never experienced one before, give this one a try… or go watch Clannad/After Story then come back and let me know how many boxes of tissues you had to invest in.
