10 Second Anime - Amanchu! Advance - Episode 1

Futaba and Hikari enjoy finding new kinds of fun and making memories during Summer Break. Season Premiere.

Episode 1 - "The Story of One Summer Night and a Confession"

Hmm.

With the word "Advance" in the title for the 2nd season of Amanchu!, we can assume we're going to get more character development with Futaba and some from Hikari along the way. It's Summer Break right now, so they're focused on having fun and making memories, but that doesn't mean the hesitant Futaba can't find something else to worry about.

I think the overall theme for the season is going to be Independence. In the first season, Futaba had to deal with separation anxiety, making a new self identity without her old friends, and finding the courage to try new things to see who she is without going with the flow of her old friends. We saw some of that progress get confirmed in the OVA when her friends came to visit and saw a new, self-confident Futaba.

The progression continues with Futaba now facing her separation anxiety with an independent identity. She's preparing herself to find interests and fun things to do on her own in preparation for the inevitable separation from Hikari. That's kind of healthy and it's kind of not. Hikari has her own issues with being overbearing and she felt a flash of her own anxiety when Futaba decided to do something different on a certain day.

It's nice again to see this very self-aware duo share their feelings and have their friendship grow stronger as they develop into mature young ladies. But you know what that means. It's time to pierce their little double bubble with new characters to clash against. This first episode was a nice way to reintroduce all the main characters (and cats), recap Futaba's journey of self-discovery, and establish the overall theme upon which feelings and drama will be hung.

Mainly though, I'm just so glad to see the cats and muppet faces again, along with hearing the great mood music. This is the stuff I want to see in this healing anime.

Heh.

This is slice of life healing anime, so there really isn't a plot, but there are scenes or vignettes that are loosely tied together through a central theme or feeling. The idea for this week was "making memories." Seems simple enough and appropriate for Summer Break, right? But, we need to have issues, otherwise there won't be any healing through sharing feelings or time together.

For Futaba, she wants to get good at making memories on her own because she's got issues with moving away and missing her friends for whom she always relied on for hobbies and interests. For Hikari, she collects memories easily, and doesn't even want to think about a future without her friends. Can they reconcile these opposing feelings?

Duh. The answer is a satisfying callback to the first season's first episode! You'll see what I'm talking about.

Recaps, Reunions, and Re-staurants

The first scene is Hikari, waiting. We know who's going to show up soon.

And there she is on her Vespa. Futaba! So nice to see them meet up again.

Except not. Hikari runs away! And keeps running away! Oh, she's obviously got some kind of contest in mind.

We got a couple of scenes of younger students in the opening credits. Something to look forward to.

I'm always amazed at the school uniforms in this show. Obviously for how well they accentuate the hips and rears, but also because the area is such warm place by the ocean, yet the skirts are so long.

Recap time. Futaba made a friend through the diving club. Season One, over.

Aw. She called Hikari her light in a dark time of loneliness. Hikari also means "light" in Japanese.

Hmm. That timing of the sign "Time's almost up" with what's starting to worry Futaba is a bit obvious. Futaba has separation anxiety. She's powered through not making friends so she doesn't get hurt again all the way to the other side where she's preparing for being alone again. Live in the moment a little bit!

Girls in the showers. It's that kind of show.

Ai is hearing way too much "wonderful" talk.

Legs...

Whoops! The beach hut got slammed! Hey, I learned what a chu-hi is from that Takunomi show!

Oh. These hot ladies gave Futaba the idea about making memories on her own because they're about to get separated by life's circumstances.

Hikari has already been cataloging Summer Special Events. Number 3 and 9 happened in the OVA with Chizuru and Akane.

Hmph. Futaba is starting to think of providing moments for friends in a transactional way. Don't do that.

Ha. Ai still bullies her little brother Makoto. She just took all of his popsicle!

Ooh. Teko "advanced" on her own. She wants to do something different than Hikari.

Ane-chan-senpai wonders whether Pikari is feeling a little left out that Teko found her own fun thing to do? Little bit, little bit.

Relaxation and Rescue

And boom! The beach hut is not busy at all! Way to go, Futaba!

Hikari and crew had a good dive and the reward is the SS Hot Spring! Except, who wants to do that in the hot sun of Summer? Hikari do!

Uh oh. Dai Pinch! Hikari is going to end up showing her goods to the old dudes.

Futaba and Granny are finding ways to have fun without those pesky customers getting in the way. This doesn't help Hikari out, though.

Oh no! Ai is about to make sure Hikari can't get married...

Har! Free soup is the way to distract old guys from looking at delectable young flesh.

Ane-chan kicks Ototo-kun in the face for good measure.

To celebrate Hikari keeping her modesty, it's time for barbecue!

Repast and Reconciliation

So now it's a real first episode reunion. But first, a food shopping montage.

Even Katori-sensei came by with the cats!

Aw. Chizuru and Akane called Futaba. They had a grilling party too.

Look at all the ARIA stuff! I see Chakamon in the background as a banner string bob, but Akane is holding a President Maa and her anonymous friend is obviously holding something with an ARIA company logo on it. President ARIA himself?

Akari, I mean, Akane is so wise. "Only people with a special bond can come together for no reason at all." Hey, corny lines are forbidden!

So, here comes the confession part of the episode title. We're not talking about the friendship loving confession, although the blushing had extra blush.

Hikari confessed to feeling left out by Futaba, as if she didn't want to spend so much time with her anymore. Futaba confessed to feeling guilty that she got so many fun times from Hikari without providing any of her own ideas, so she wanted to try something on her own first.

But how do they fight that sad feeling when they've made so many fun memories and they can't make anymore when they're apart? Make the memories so fun, they push away the sadness! Why? Because is "Fun is without limits!" Yes! That's from the cool speech Katori gave to the students on the first day of school from the first episode of the first season! Way to bring it all together.

Whew. Futaba needs to cool down from that steamy friendship confession.

Haha. Barbecue was normal, not a special event.

The end credits features the cats Chakamon and Ohime, but also Hikari and Futaba.

Next time, new kids on the block. Or beach. Whatever.