‘After the Rain’ is (THANKFULLY!) not a Problematic Love Story.
Oh BOY! This could have been so problematic. A love story between a 17 year old high school senior and a 45 year old divorced father of one seemed like the worst kind of story to tell in the times we’re currently living in. But thankfully, Wit Studio’s After the Rain is not only not problematic, it’s one of the most moving, mature and well executed series I have had the pleasure to experience this year.
Based off the Jun Mayuzuki manga of the same name, the story revolves around Akira Tachibana, a senior in high school with long legs and long, dark hair that is two shades darker than the large purple eyes we see in close-up throughout the twelve episodes that make up this series one and perhaps only season. When the story starts we see Tachibana alone, speaking to almost no one and not really showing any kind of emotion. We later find out that she suffered an achilles injury that has separated her from the high school track team and her best friend Haruka. It isn’t as if Haruka and the track team has excommunicated her from the group because she can no longer run, the distance is all on Tachibana, because even though she is up and walking after getting surgery, it’s the mental aspect of the injury that is the source of her melancholy view on life.
After school she heads to the small family restaurant managed by her crush, Masami Kondo. Kondo, like Tachibana, is also going through an emotional slump — the middle age kind. He once dreamed of being a writer, hoping to live a life that was full of literature. However, as is the case for many of us with dreams and grand plans for our adulthood, life and responsibility get in the way. He is a divorced father of one, living in a one bedroom apartment and while he’s always got a smile on his face, he feels lost. Kondo is kind of goofy, a bit of a pushover, and lame in a very dad sort of way; however, for reasons only she knows, Tachibana is head over heels for the guy.
It only takes a few episodes for Tachibana to let her feelings known to the man she admires and while he is a little baffled, there is something about an attractive younger woman showing a strong interest in him that does draw his attention. Now, this is where the story could have gone into very problematic territory — territory that sadly is not uncommon in anime — because besides the enormous age difference, Kondo is also her boss; Tachibana is not yet aware of power dynamics in relationships or how her feelings, no matter how strong she believes they may be, could be used to manipulate and hurt her by men. Thankfully, Kondo is more than aware of how a relationship between the two would look to the outside world, and, more importantly, that it would be flat-out wrong to take advantage of the feelings of a young woman.
What does ends up happening is that the two of them wound up developing a healthy (non-romantic) friendship which finds Kondo helping Tachibana by providing insight and guidance that can only be provided by someone who has actually lived life, while at the same time, by spending time with Tachibana, Kondo think back to his own adolescence, to the young man who was full of life, vigor and passion for literature; coming to an understanding that while it is impossible to go back to that time, it doesn’t mean that he cannot once again pick up a pen and write; he may never leave the restaurant and join his college friend as a famous writer, but in once again doing what he loves, it brings him a warming peace that he has been seeking now that he is in middle age.
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While watching this series, I was worried that at any moment this very mature, strongly animated, well written and paced show, would go into that problematic territory, and honestly, it would have turned me off of it. My favorite show of last year, the second season of Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju both shocked and disgusted me with a conversation that happened in the very last episode (that I won’t spoil) that alluded to the idea that two characters who had no business being in any kind of relationship slept together and bore a child. While I still consider that show a masterpiece, however, whenever I talk about, write about or recommend that show to a friend, I would have to add this caveat. I did not want to have to do that again and thankfully, After the Rain avoids that problem, even if it does step to the line once or twice throughout it’s run.
This being a romance anime, there isn’t much in terms of action or flashy moments of animation or “sakuga” as the kids call it these days. There is a scene here and there where the animators get to have some fun and let Tachibana showcase her natural running talent; those moments — especially in the finale — serves as jolt in the subtle and atmospheric world directed by Ayumu Watanabe. Those moments always knocked me off my feet while never being distracting or not fitting in the overall series.
In a decent winter anime season, After the Rain was the standout show for me. I looked forward to sitting down every weekend and watching each installment week to week. It provided me with a wonderful escape from the world with it’s atmospheric setting, compelling visuals, mature story and impeccable soundtrack provided by Ryo Yoshimata. I’m so glad that I gave this show a shot — to be frank, I waited a few weeks to see if it would have been problematic from the jump — because After the Rain is not only my favorite winter anime of the season, but will definitely be one I can see myself thinking about toward the end of the year.
