Natsuyuki Rendezvous
Synopsis
Ryousuke Hazuki is a young man whose heart has been stolen away, stopping by the local floral shop daily in order to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Rokka Shimao, the shop's owner. In hopes of getting close to her, he decides to get a part-time job at the shop, but before he is able to make his move, he runs into a major roadblock: in her apartment dwells a ghost who claims to be Rokka's deceased husband. Atsushi Shimao has quietly watched over his widowed wife ever since he passed three years ago. However, Hazuki is the first person to ever notice him, and the two quickly find themselves at odds: the jealous Shimao attempts to thwart the suitor's advances and possess his body, while Hazuki simply wants the ghost to pass on for good, allowing Rokka to move on from the past and him to be with the one he loves. As both men refuse to let go of their desires, an unusual relationship forms between a troubled woman, an unrelenting ghost, and a stubborn man in love. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The anime is appreciated for its artistic presentation and exploration of mature themes like grief and moving on. However, many find the pacing too slow and the plot somewhat muddled, especially due to the extensive use of flashbacks. While the characters are generally well-received, some viewers find them frustrating or lacking in development, leading to a mixed but overall positive reception.
Strengths
- Beautiful and expressive art style
- Well-developed characters with relatable struggles
- Excellent voice acting and fitting music
Weaknesses
- Slow pacing that may not appeal to all viewers
- Overuse of flashbacks detracts from present-day relationship development
- Story loses focus and becomes convoluted in the latter half