Recently I have watched an anime which is very underrated and it was suggested to my by one of my classmate. The name of the anime is "Orange" when I first heard the name I was curious about it and thinking of a show which is a world of oranges, like I was being delusional then I watched the anime and realized I was very wrong. This anime is beyond my expectations. Orange contains 13-episodes and this anime series aired in 2016. It is adapted from Ichigo Takano’s shoujo manga. Moreover, directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki and produced by TMS Entertainment. Anyway, it is a blend of multiple elements such as drama, romance, a light of science fiction, including mental health, regrets. Even though it is a short length story but this anime absolutely delivers a deeper moving narrative that resonates long after the final episode.
! [Spoilers Ahead!]
Plot and Storyline
In the beginning of the story starts with Naho Takamiya, who is married and left with many regrets as the past time was not that good for her. Not only her but her friends feels the same. All of them decided to send themselves a letter to their past person. In the present storyline Naho is a high school student, she lives a normal life until one day she receives a letter from the future which is from her future self. That mysterious letter gives her warnings about the future events, specially mentioned about the tragic fate of a guy who's name is Kakeru Naruse and he is the new transfer student. He is struggling with depression and Naho has to protect him this time because she couldn't do it in the past.
At first, Naho was not sure about the authenticity of the letter. But gradually, she saw the events happening exactly as described in the letter, then she started to believe and follow the instructions to prevent the tragedy of Kakeru. The story is mainly focused on Naho’s journey to make meaningful choices and to save Kakeru, also her supportive friends, and conquering her own insecurities.
Basically the narrative is set around the daily life of high school students, it is blended with suspense as Naho and her friends gives their best to save Kakeru from his emotional breakdowns. In every episode they face new challenges in their own relationship. Challenges such as failing to express emotions, misunderstanding each other. Moreover, pointing out the fact that small gestures can deeply bring changes into someone’s life.
Characters
Naho Takamiya – Naho is kind-hearted person, she also thinks about other well being but never thinks about her self and often struggles with self-doubt. The story follows her evolution which happens gradually, we get to see her shift from uncertainty to decisive action, and I find that incredible.
Kakeru Naruse – He is the male lead you can say that and his personality is very different than others he is a sensitive guy who is an introvert. Kakeru is surrounded by the darkness of grief and pain. His character gave us the opportunity to explore a person who faces depression, emotional trauma and what they went through. It's really inspiring to see his slow journey towards healing which was only possible because of the friends’ who were supportive for him.
Azusa, Suwa, Hiroto and Takako are Naho’s close-knit group of friends. Each character has an unique personality and one of my favourite is Suwa, he is very supportive and has a caring nature. On the other side there's Azusa who is known for his honesty, also Takako’s assertiveness is mesmerizing, and lastly Hiroto’s gentle humor. Their group together forms a circle that nurtures Kakeru and reflects the power of coming together as a community.
In my point of view the anime has done an excellent job to show friendship not only as powerful but also as an imperfect thing. The characters do make mistakes and misunderstand each other just like in real life we do but still their empathy and loyalty guide the narrative. It depicts the reality of teenage interactions emphasizing that mental support and love can save lives.
Themes and Emotional Depth
The time-travel element—letters from the future—serves as good plotline, it truly highlights the human desires to change the past if we could ever change it. The stories main message is that a small kind of act can create a ripple effect which can change lives.
The anime also manages to show the sensitive fact about mental health. Kakeru’s anxiety, grief and suic*dal thoughts are handled with care, not with any kind of melodrama and focused on authentic emotional experiences. It emphasizes understanding, communication and compassion as an essential tool to help someone in crisis.
Animation
In the animation of Orange the theme is very soft and evocative. They have used pastel colors which gives complement to the bittersweet tone of the story. Character expressions really expressive, you can see their real emotions in their face and eyes. The Backgrounds, specially the rural school area are pretty much detailed, deepening the exploration of reflection and hope.
Conclusion
Orange is not a typical high school romance story, but a a moving exploration of regret, friendship and the power to change the future. The characters are very relatable to me and each moment felt very authentic and raw. The friendship between all of the characters has encouraged the viewers to value every moment with their loved ones, to communicate openly, to act with kindness and not neglect anyone. Make sure to watch this anime don't miss it out. I reccomend every generation of people to watch this anime because it is worth the time, it won't disappoint you because it has a happy ending. But you will find yourself crying often in between of the episodes but the ending is beautifully written. I am glad to say that I have friends like Naho has and I think I am very lucky to have them, hopefully we will see the end together.
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