is a 13-episode Japanese
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
television series produced by
P.A. Works
is a Japanese animation studio founded on November 10, 2000 in Nanto, Toyama. The company's president and founder Kenji Horikawa once worked for Tatsunoko Production, Production I.G and Bee Train Production, before forming P.A. Works Corporation. ...
and directed by
Junji Nishimura
is a Japanese anime director and producer currently residing in Karatsu, Saga. After graduating from Meiji Gakuin University in 1980, Nishimura entered into the anime studio Nishiko Production. Nishimura had his first job as a producer for ''Bald ...
. The screenplay is written by Rika Satō and Junji Nishimura with character designs by Miki Takeshita. The anime aired in Japan between July and September 2014. A manga adaptation was serialized in
Pony Canyon
, also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese mass media publishing company founded on October 1, 1966. The company publishes mainly physical home media on compact discs, including music, films and TV shows and video games. It is affiliate ...
's ''Ponimaga'' online magazine, and a light novel series has also been published.
Plot
Tōko Fukami's family runs a glass-working business in a small seaside town named . She hangs out with her four best friends at a cafe called . During the summer break of their senior year in high school, they meet a transfer student named Kakeru Okikura, who claims that a voice from the future talks to him, and that it has led him to Tōko.
Characters
Main characters
;
:
:Tōko is a high school girl from
Fukui Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Fukui Prefecture has a population of 778,943 (1 June 2017) and has a geographic area of 4,190 km2 (1,617 sq mi). Fukui Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the north, Gi ...
and is the protagonist of ''Glasslip''. She is the daughter of a glass workshop owner, and she dreams of becoming a glass artisan. She has big hazel eyes and long brown hair which is seen down, with two braids on either side. She has a cheerful personality and never seems to be upset. She likes to draw. When she focuses on glass, she can see images from the future. She has feelings for Kakeru.
;
:
:Kakeru is a mysterious and aloof high school student who appears to have some relationship with Tōko. He has black hair and blue eyes. He recently transferred from his old school and is a third year. Tōko's first impression of Kakeru was "
David
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
". He has feelings for Tōko.
;
:
:Yanagi is a high school student who is taking lessons to become a model. Yanagi has olive brown eyes and mid-length brown hair which curls at the bottom and is usually seen wearing a colored bow in her hair, which is dark red and pale yellow. Yanagi sometimes has a
tsundere
is a Japanese term for a character development process that depicts a character with a personality who is initially very harsh before gradually showing a warmer, friendlier side over time.
The word is derived from the terms ('to turn away in d ...
-like personality, but usually is cheerful and participates in most conversations. She has feelings for Yukinari and is close friends with Tōko.
;
:
:Yukinari is Yanagi's step brother. He is on his high school's track team, but is in rehabilitation at the beginning of the series. He has black hair and dark green eyes. He is a cool and laid back boy. He is in his third year much like his friends. He had feelings for Tōko and was jealous of Kakeru.
;
:
:Sachi is a quiet and soft spoken third-year high school student. She has black shoulder-length hair and violet eyes. She is usually seen wearing her glasses and reading a book. Upon their first meeting, Sachi takes a disliking to Kakeru.
;
:
:Hiro is a cheerful high school boy who is always seen smiling. He has brown hair pulled back with a white band and has dark brown eyes. He has feelings for Sachi. His grandfather runs a cafe called Kazemichi where he and his friends often hang out.
Other characters
* is Tōko's and Hina's father. He runs a glass workshop named Yataglass Studio.
* is Tōko's and Hina's mother.
* is Tōko's younger sister and is a junior high school student. She is in the school's swimming club. She acknowledges Yukinari for his passion for running. She's seen smiling when her swimming club teammates noticed Yukinari with a girl, possibly with Yanagi.
* is Hiro's older sister and is a college student. She just got her driver's license.
* is Hiro's grandfather who runs Kazemichi cafe.
* is Kakeru's father.
* is Kakeru's mother and a pianist.
* is Sachi's mother.
Media
Print
A
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
adaptation titled , written by Kazemichi and illustrated by Mayumi Katō, was serialized in
Pony Canyon
, also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese mass media publishing company founded on October 1, 1966. The company publishes mainly physical home media on compact discs, including music, films and TV shows and video games. It is affiliate ...
's online manga magazine ''Ponimaga'' from July 3
to December 18, 2014. A three-volume
light novel
A light novel (, Hepburn: ''raito noberu'') is a style of young adult novel primarily targeting high school and middle school students. The term "light novel" is a ''wasei-eigo'', or a Japanese term formed from words in the English languag ...
series, written by Yoshimori Uchi and illustrated by Shino, were published by Pony Canyon under their Ponican Book
imprint
Imprint or imprinting may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series
* "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror''
* ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film
...
from October 3, 2014 to July 3, 2015.
Anime
The 13-episode anime television series is produced by
P.A. Works
is a Japanese animation studio founded on November 10, 2000 in Nanto, Toyama. The company's president and founder Kenji Horikawa once worked for Tatsunoko Production, Production I.G and Bee Train Production, before forming P.A. Works Corporation. ...
and is directed by
Junji Nishimura
is a Japanese anime director and producer currently residing in Karatsu, Saga. After graduating from Meiji Gakuin University in 1980, Nishimura entered into the anime studio Nishiko Production. Nishimura had his first job as a producer for ''Bald ...
. The series aired between July 3 and September 25, 2014 on
Tokyo MX
JOMX-DTV, branded as Tokyo MX (officially stylized as TOKYO MX), is an independent television station in Tokyo, Japan, owned by the . It is the only television station that exclusively serves the city. It competes with Nippon TV, TV Asahi, NH ...
. The screenplay is written by Rika Satō and Junji Nishimura, and the music is produced by Akito Matsuda. The opening theme is by
ChouCho
is a Japanese singer from Osaka Prefecture and is signed to Lantis.
Career
ChouCho initially formed the band ''Lotus Lotus'' in 2007 when still in high school and performed covers of songs from anime. Starting in June 2008, ChouCho began submi ...
, the ending theme is by
Nano Ripe
Nano Ripe (styled as nano.RIPE) is a Japanese pop rock duo that formed in 1998 as an indie band. They released three singles and four mini-albums before being signed to Lantis in 2010. Although the core of the band is made up of Kimiko (compositi ...
, and the image song is by ChouCho. The series was simulcast in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey, Latin America, parts of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa by the Internet streaming website
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Sony through a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex. The service primarily distributes films and tel ...
. The anime has been licensed in North America by
Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks, LLC or just Sentai, is an American entertainment company owned by AMC Networks. Located in Houston, the company specializes in the dubbing and distribution of Japanese animation and Asian cinema. Its post-production arm is S ...
.
Episode list
Reception
Matt Packard of
Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and oth ...
praised ''Glasslip'' for being visually beautiful, but criticized it for the generic characters, the lack of explanations for the supernatural phenomena introduced at the beginning of the series, and the presence of too many incongruities. Stig Høgset, writing for
THEM Anime Reviews
THEM Anime Reviews, otherwise known as THEM or T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, is an Anime, anime Review, review website that writes about current and past anime in any form, including Original video animation, OVAs and Original net animation, ONAs. The ...
, also praised the striking visuals but found the characters believable and showed maturity when dealing with their respective relationships. Høgset ultimately found the show disappointing because its great start was marred by Tōko's visions leading toward a vague conclusion, saying that it "basically sells its own gimmick as a huge waste of time."
Isaac Akers of The Fandom Post praised the series for its "aesthetic expression of
he concept ofmono no aware
, literally "the pathos of things", and also translated as "an empathy toward things", or "a sensitivity to ephemera", is a Japanese idiom for the awareness of , or transience of things, and both a transient gentle sadness (or wistfulness) at th ...
" through a traditional romantic drama narrative with characters that deliver organic teenage angst but said that its appeal depends on the viewer, concluding that: "It's unlike anything else I've seen, and its numerous strengths in expressing its core theme make for a show that's fascinating to watch. It's not a show that I'd recommend to everyone, but for those who are looking for what ''Glasslip'' is offering, you won't be let down."
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Glasslip
2014 anime television series debuts
Anime with original screenplays
Drama anime and manga
P.A.Works
Romance anime and manga
Sentai Filmworks
Slice of life anime and manga
Tokyo MX original programming