Anime Reviews (2010-2019): After the Rain – The Complete Series (2018)

A delightful and entertaining anime series that is easy to follow and enjoy. I definitely give “After the Rain” a high recommendation!

TITLE: After the Rain – The Complete Series

ANIME RELEASE DATE IN JAPAN: 2018

DURATION: Episodes 1-12 (300 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 4×3, English and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: 14+

Release Date: June 30, 2020

Originally Created by Mayuzuki Jun

Directed by Watanabe Ayumu

Series Composition: Akao Deko

Music by Yoshimata Ryo

Character Design by Shibata Yuka

Art Director: Yoshihara Shunichiro

Anime Production: Wit Studio

Featuring the following voice talent:

Jason Douglas/Hirata Hiroaki as Kondo Masami

Luci Christian/Watabe Sayumi as Tachibana Akira

Elizabeth Maxwell/Miyajima Emi as Kyan Haruka

Maggie Flecknoe/Fukuhara Haruka as Nishida Yui

Kira Vincent-Davis/Takeuchi Junko as Okajima Yuuto

Gareth West/Ikeda Junya as Yoshizawa Takashi

Andrew Love/Yabe Masahito as Ootsuka

Patricia Duran/Kanai Mika as Kubo Kayoko

Joe Daniels/Miyamoto Mitsuru as Kujou Chihiro

Jason Liebricht/Maeno Tomoaki as Kase Ryosuke

Akira Tachibana’s life has taken a wrong turn. Sidelined from her high school track team by an injury, she’s found herself increasingly distanced from her friends and unsure of what to do next with her life. That’s not her biggest worry though.

The real problem is that she’s found someone that she’s interested in, someone who makes her feel like she’s never felt before… even though she knows that, by society’s standards, it’s completely wrong. Because the person at the center of the emotional storm overwhelming her is nearly three times her age and the manager of the restaurant where she’s just begun to work.

So, what now? Does this runner take the next step and tell him how she feels? Or will she stumble, turn, and flee from the one thing she truly wants.

Special Features: Japanese Promos, Clean Opening Animation

Mangaka Mayuzuki Jun’s hit manga series “Koi wa Ameagari no Youni” (After the Rain) received an anime adaptation and now it has been released by Sentai Filmworks in North America.

Serialized in Shogakukan’s “Gekkan Big Comic Spirits” back in 2014 and then finding its final home in “Shukan Big Comic Spirits” in 2016, the series would receive an anime adaptation and also a live action film adaptation in 2018.

The series revolves around its two protagonists, Tachibana Akira, a high-school student who was a promising track star until a significant ankle injury forces her to abandon running.

Depressed about not being able to train and run anymore, while walking in the rain, she was offered free coffee by Kondo Masami, the manager of a family restaurant.

Taking shelter in the rain, Tachibana would eventually work at the same family restaurant.

As for Kondo, he is 45-years-old and is a divorced father and has a young son named Yuto who comes to visit once in awhile. When he sees Tachibana, she often has an angry look on her face and wonders if she hates him, but in truth, Tachibana is falling in love with her manager.

While Tachibana tries to understand this feeling she has towards Kondo, what will happen if she gets the nerve to tell him that she likes him?

Meanwhile, Tachibana’s friend Kyan Haruka hopes that Tachibana will someday heal and return, while Tachibana’s co-worker, a playboy chef named Kase Ryosuke, likes Tachibana (because she’s not like other girls who falls for him) and sees her as one of his targets.

Also, working at the restaurant is Yoshizawa Takashi, Tachibana’s classmate who started working at the restaurant because he likes her.

With Mayuzuki Jun’s “After the Rain”, the story revolves around two people who have non-interesting lives. For Tachibana Akira, her life was about running and with that passion taken away due to a significant injury/surgery, she has given it up to work at a family restaurant.

At the family restaurant is a 45-year-old man who just works as a manager and never thought anyone would be interested in him because he’s 45 and has a kid. But it turns out that the athlete, Akira, has fallen for her manager. And she intends to let him know.

But will he reciprocate the same feelings? Or will he feel inconveniences because he know that a 45-year-old man with a young woman would be perceived as very wrong?

For the most part, the manga is refreshing, humorous and delightful. I love the build up of the characters and Mayuzuki does put a lot of time into developing them and making sure their interactions are worth it or have some impact.

For the fans of the original manga series, the good news is that the anime is a faithful adaptation of the manga series and the voice acting for both the Japanese and English soundtracks are fantastic.

The anime is vibrant in HD and overall lossless stereo audio is crystal clear. Special features are slim with clean opening and ending themes and Japanese promos.

Overall, a delightful and entertaining anime series that is easy to follow and enjoy. I definitely give “After the Rain” a high recommendation!

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