ef – a tale of memories – 01
OP: Oh, SHAFT….we were given an instrumental piece for the first episode, with black and white shots of architecture and scenery. I’m sure we’ll get the real OP next week; not that this wasn’t nice.
Summary:
A boy named Aso Renji dreams of getting into a fantasy like situation with a princess, but he expresses this may not happen in time. While visiting an area he goes to often, he finds a girl named Shindo Chihiro sitting at an abandoned train station. He tells her that the train will not come, before apologizing and bidding her off. Hirono Hiro has trouble with his manga work, before getting mail from his sister. With this, he leaves the house for Xmas. Tsutsumi Kyosuke meets with his girlfriend in the town, but he gets distracted from wanting to take a picture of a girl named Shindou Kei. Kei greets her friend Hayama Mizuki when she returns to their room, and becomes angry when her brother is not there yet.
Hiro enters a church, where he finds a girl named Yuko Amamiya. She bids Hiro a merry Xmas, before he leaves. A girl named Miyamura Miyako passes by Hiro as she chases a thief, and she takes off on his bike soon after. This makes Hiro chase her in return for stealing his bike. Hiro gets a call from Kei about the Xmas party, but he ends the call abruptly because of his situation. Hiro calls an ambulance after finding Miyako passed out in the town. She gets back up to chase the thief, but Hiro attempts to stop her. Ending up in a park, Hiro finds that she has soon given up. As they walk together in conversation, Miyako thanks Hiro after noticing his kindness. Miyako expresses that she would rather not be alone, and teases Hiro after they introduce themselves to each other. Because of her situation, she decides to tag along with him.
Renji meets with his friend Himura Yu in the church, asking for advice. He denies any good advice, before expressing that he is only waiting for someone. Yu asks Renji what he likes, and uses this to lead him in the right way. Renji greets Chihiro again at the abandoned train station, before telling her his reasons for going there. After the two finally introduce themselves to each other, Renji expresses how fast Chihiro has arrived. She explains that it is because she does not go to school, before deciding to leave for invading Renji’s space. Renji convinces her that this isn’t a problem at all, and allows her to come again before leaving.
Renji finds Chihiro at the station again the next day, and she embraces him in happiness. She expresses that it isn’t what it seems, though she is very happy that Renji kept his word by saying “see you again”. The two notice that they both carry different books with them all the time, and that they both share the traits of cat. Chihiro asks if she can be friends with Renji, and he readily agrees. Renji runs home in glee, as Chihiro expresses her happiness for his returning daily. However, this also makes her cry for her sister. Elsewhere, everyone spends their Xmas night in different ways.
ED: “I’m here” by Hiroko Taguchi – A light song that really fits with the feeling of this series. It’s decent, but not to my usual taste. The animation has flowers blooming around a few of the girls in a very stylish fashion.
Impression:
Wow, this was beautiful. I’m kind of taken back at how SHAFT could come straight from Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei to this. The style is quite different, and I’d have to say that ef does much better to display the production team’s animation talent. This was originally very high on my blogging list, but with all the shows coming out, I’m not sure anymore. Although this is easily a bishoujo anime, I could probably end up liking it like Clannad. Well, I’m also a SHAFT fanboy. Then again, Omni looks like he’s interested, so I might just leave it up to him and watch this on my own time. Honestly, even though I can enjoy watching this, I have a slightly hard time enjoying writing about it. I’ll take a look at the rest of the weekend’s shows before I decide what I can keep by next week. There are a lot of good shows coming out, but I’ve really gotta reduce my blogging load this season for various reasons……Oh, what am I saying? I’ll probably be blogging this by the end, even if it’s on my own time.
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Yeah this is going to be an amazing anime but there is something thats worries me alot. Its about the three male leads. This the first anime I’ve come across that had 3 different male lead. I think this anime will be in short stories. Hope it doesn’t let me down.
Nice Church
Wow this looks awesome. Subs, where, etc.
Sniper > SHAFT is awesome at jumping things around. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.
Kabitzin > LOL nice church nice church nice church nice church
Shirukii > why don’t you ask for them? LOL that’s so your trademark.
I saw the prologue’s video of this series, and it was awesome. However,based on the sceencaps, the animation from the prologue’s video looks better than this episode, and the story-line seems to be choppy (based on the summary). Then again, this is SHAFT that we are talking about and I haven’t watch the sub yet. My assumption could be wrong.
>>”This the first anime I’ve come across that had 3 different male lead. I think this anime will be in short stories.”
Oops, my previous post appears to have been chopped off.
Basically, the source material consists of interrelated love stories (each with a different protagonist and female lead, both of whom may be important sub-characters in other arcs) that develop sequentially. After one story wraps up, the next develops. As you’ve guessed, the scenarios released so far (Hiro, Kyousuke) have been fairly short.
With the adaptation, SHAFT has chosen to introduce multiple stories simultaneously (this avoids the problem of having a key perspective abruptly appear midway through….instead, we’re introduced to all of them from the start), which is why this might seem choppy or unfocused to you. However, I’d assume that much of the confusion will clear up once viewers become familiar with the characters.
I like Ef so far…I’m a little confused though..o well it will clear up eventually
>> Bill – Thanks for the info. I hope it gets really good. The raw was pretty good.
Hmmm I would write a reply, but Bill pretty much covered it all. Don’t be turned off quite yet. This is just an intro!
Who subs this? And where? I’ve checked baka updates, it’s not there. Thank you!!
[...] a summary myself so I will go ahead and link outwards to someone’s review on the episode. Subculture Anime Blog. [...]
Man, EF DIS SERIES!!! (jk) Oh em gee, I am in love with this show! I’m also amazed how SHAFT can go from Zetsubou Sensei to this (although, I still haven’t finished that series…*sad*). I was really confused with who was who (I thought Renji and Hiro were the same person, but after watching more episodes, I can finally see the difference….THE SIDEBURNS!!! Oh man, that Renji is PACKIN IT!)
I liked how Miya-Miya was like, “ZOMG MY WALLET!!!” and later shes like, “Naw, don’t worry about it. I had no money in my wallet anyway!” XD Also, what really hooked and reeled me in was towards the end where Renji and Chihiro are like: “*BLUSH BLUSH* See ya tomorrow!” I know people hate those type of scenes, but I just can’t help myself! ITS SO SWEET! *sniff*
“However, this makes also makes her cry for her sister.”
ZOMG! TYPO! Don’t worry, man! Just quickly (but silently) correct that typo right before the last three screenshots! No one has to know! Hurry! Before the ROFL-COPTERS COME FOR YOU!!! (and also delete this portion of my comment! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! YOUR BLOG IS IN GREAT DANGER *gets stabed*….*throws up blood* Totali….I….I…..la….la…lov….*dies*)
lol thanks for pointing that out…er, I’m not usually one to delete valid parts of comment. I also appreciate it when people point out my mistakes. So….that wall of bold text can stay. xD
valid? lol, (you probably realized this too but) that big wall of bold text wasn’t supposed to be all…bold. It was only for the “makes” in the quotation. I guess i forgot to end the HTML code… WE ALL “MAKES” MISTAKES OKAY? ^_^
Fajna strona, znalazlem ja przypadkowo ale teraz bede tu wpadal czesciej, pozdrawiam
Ciekawa strona, trafilem tu przypadkowo, ale od dzis bede wpadal czesciej, pozdro