A new show by animation studio P.A. Works, you say? The
people who brought us the stellar THE ECCENTRIC FAMILY (UCHOTEN KAZOKU) and the
heart-warming, tear-jerking NAGI NO ASUKARA (NAGI-ASU)? Why yes, I would like
to watch that, please! Thank you for pointing it out!
Since this is the third P.A. Works show I’ve started, I’ve noticed
that the studio has a certain style to it in terms of artistic direction, tone,
and theme. Whether or not you should check out GLASSLIP depends largely on if
this house style resonates with you.
Fukami Toko and her tight-knit band of friends are nearing
the end of their high school lives, so it seems they want to get a bit of
“endless summer” in before they have to move on with their lives. When a hunky
and mysterious new boy transfers into their school, however, questions start
being asked that perhaps no one really wants the answers to… mostly about who
has a crush on who.
With liberal doses of young romance, philosophical
introspection, and mystical symbolism, GLASSLIP is firmly planted in the P.A.
Works wheelhouse – and in fact feels a bit more like a NAGI NO ASUKARA REDUX
than it does a new show. Most of the main cast act like (and even to some
extent look like) those lovable underwater scamps, falling into similar
archetypes (the responsible one, the dreamer, the quiet observer, the outsider)
and similar love polyhedrons.
While NAGI-ASU was nestled in the tween demo and dealt with
puppy love, GLASSLIP is more “young adult”. Despite having the same color
palette and bright-eyed character designs, the show feels much darker. As in, “maybe that new boy is a sociopathic
animal torturer” darker. I mean, he clearly isn’t.
But he could be.
Beyond that, the way the high school friends look at each
other and answer questions of one another hints at a rift between them that is
larger than they care to admit. Some of them are aware that they’ll eventually
move on with their lives… and some are still blissfully ignorant.
There’s a bit of “second verse same as the first” going on
between NAGI-ASU and GLASSLIP, but GLASSLIP is more grounded and perhaps more broadly
relatable. If you happen to like your slice of life with a dollop of romantic
intrigue, check it out.
You can watch "Fireworks", episode 1 of GLASSLIP, here. Seen it? Leave a comment below!
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About the Author
 | Matt Murphy is a freelance nerd who has contributed to many nerd websites. You can reach him by going to where the light meets the shadow, by sending out zeta-brainwaves or by following him on Twitter @Murphix. |
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