KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD MOVIE-ANO HI NO KARIETEI
(I WANT TO RETURN TO THAT DAY)

This movie is a case-study on why one shouldn't two-time: Someone's gonna get hurt

Abstract:  If you're looking for a continuation of the comedic love triangle from the TV series between, Kyosuke, Madoka and Hikaru, you're NOT going to find that here.  Y'see, Kyosuke's finally made his choice over the girl he loves, and I don't think it's any great surprise who he chose: Madoka.  So what's this flick about then and why should I bother watching it?  Basically it's a flashback on what pushed him to make his decision and the fallout surrounding it-Meaning Hikaru's response of course.  Also meaning the emotional component of this movie is VERY heavy and VERY messy.  Trust me, you're not going to feel good after watching this one...

The art quality had been cranked up a notch for the theatrical release, and they included a lot more sad vocal solos, matching the overall feel of the movie.  All the same seiyuu are back for their roles here, so there's no continuity gap.  There's also, thankfully, no usage of Kyosuke's telepathic/telekinetic powers, which would have absolutely ruined the vibe for this thing. This is just an old fashioned story about finding love, losing love, and all the accompanying emotions, accusations, hopes and dreams that are crushed/realized with just such a scenario.  Platinum from where I'm sitting.

Background:  A quick review from the TV series, and unless you want a BIG spoiler to TV series, stop reading now.

Of the two girls who were vying for Kyosuke's attentions across 48 episodes, Hikaru and Madoka, Madoka wins.

Now, on with the review.

This movie is just a long flashback, and while I usually don't like those, in this movie it works.  In the present, Kyosuke and his now-confirmed lady love are checking out their college entrance exams to see if they've been accepted.  But after hearing a comment in passing, Kyosuke flashes back to last spring when his romantic life was still up for grabs, and off we go...

Last spring Kyosuke and Madoka were seniors in high school and were studying for their college entrance exams.  Being a year behind, Hikaru was being her typical cheerleader self and exhorting Kyosuke and Madoka on.  Of course, Kyosuke gets a little added encouragement from Hikaru by way of a kiss. 

I'm sure you can predict how Madoka responded.  Heck, how would any women respond if some Jezebel was playing tonsil-hockey with the man they loved?

So, when push comes to shove and all the crying, shouting, begging, pleading, demanding and finger-pointing is over and done, Kyosuke and Madoka ride off into the sunset together (Figuratively of course) and Hikaru's left holding the bag.  But don't think little Miss Hikaru's going to take this laying down, oh no...

Materials and Methods:  The entire production crew made the jump from the original series to both the ova and the movie intact, so there's thankfully no slack to pick up.  Akemi Takada's realistic, unexaggerated but still attractive character designs are just what the doctor called for in this case.  Studio Pierrot also did a good job making the movie seem like, well, a movie.  Slow pans of a lonely, cold city, higher cel quality and excellent music have angst dripping off every second of film.

And a word about the music.  I loved it.  It was nothing but sad, depressing vocal ballads done extremely well Kanako Wada.  She has/had a deep, rich voice that blended well with the melancholy tone set by the movie.  Ain't no uppity J-pop here.  Miss Wada's songs had maximum effect as they were used sparingly and at key points, and her music helped to reinforce the emotional turmoil that all the characters were going through.

As the movie focuses more on our 3 protagonists, the peripheral players like Kyosuke's family and friends take a back seat, but that's necessary.  Tohru Furuya (Rei Amuro from Mobile Suit Gundam, Mamoru Chiba from Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon) as Kyosuke and Hiromi Tsuru (Meryl Strife from Trigun, Ukyo Kuonji from Ranma 1/2) as Madoka weren't required to push themselves in this production.  Simply because, well, when you're sad, you don't talk too loud do you?  On the other hand, Eriko Hara (Unuzaki Furuhata from various Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon series) as Hikaru alternates between abject, soft-spoken depression to full-on righteous indignation and fury at being dumped.

Well, can you blame the gal?

Results:  Considering this movie is the finale of the series, you're pretty much going to have to have watched the series first.  Not because the movie plot's that hard to understand, quite the contrary.  Since the plot itself is so simple and universal you don't technically need to know who's who in the film.  But you DO need the emotional connection and understanding of each character involved, and you'd only get that by having watched the original series.

And that's why I loved this movie and the series so much:  I care about the characters.  The writing was good enough that I wanted to care.  I felt a great sense of "Finally!" when Kyosuke admits to Madoka how he feels.  I felt a knife twist in my heart for Hikaru as she knowingly fights a hopeless battle to win Kyosuke back and the lengths she'd go to for that goal.  And yes, I did feel more than a little angry at Kyosuke for stringing along both girls as he did.

Men!  *Sighs with exasperation*

The movie and the series resonate with so many people in their real romantic lives, and that's a strong draw.  Why?  Because we all want what every character in KOR wants: A chance to love and be loved by that special someone you can call your own.  Granted, not many of us have multiple pretty girls (Or men if you're of the female persuasion) fawning all over us, but the quest to find that special someone spurs us all onward to doing some pretty incredible and inexplicable things.  And by the same token, the movie and series resonates with us because at one time or another, we've ALL had our hearts crushed.  We're all laid it on the line just to walk away thinking we'd grow old and gray and die alone.  The movie, especially more than the series, taps into that fear. 

C'mon, admit it, you know I'm right.

You don't turn off the telebi thinking that life and love's a walk in the park after this one, heck no.  You just want to sit quietly in a dark room and work through all the pain, sadness and anger we thought we had left behind a long time ago.

Just remember to remove the knives from the kitchen first, lest you feel the urge to do something...drastic.

Distributed by AnimEigo, there aren't any extras to speak of on this disc, and neither are there any dub track options (not that I minded), so if you're expecting a lot of bells and whistles with this one you're going to be disappointed.  Then again, AnimEigo's strength has never been their packaging but the series itself they're putting out.

Conclusions:  Expect your heart strings to be played after watching KOR: Ano Hi no Karietei.  The subject matter, writing and music all combine to take us, willingly or not, to that time in our lives when we learned the cold, hard truth that it we may not get our romantic "Happily ever after".  Paradoxically, this movie is a harsh and bitter, yet entertaining reminder of that fact.  That's why it rates a Platinum.