Natsu no Niwa
Synopsis
Typhoon Noruda director and Penguin Highway character designer Youjirou Arai created short anime movie for the Kagome juice brand's "GO!ME." project. The short is titled Natsu no Niwa (Summer Garden) and is the first independent anime produced by Arai's newly founded studio FILMONY. The three-minute video features the song "HEY HEY HO" by ENJOY MUSIC CLUB featuring singer and songwriter Sachie Hiraga. The story takes place in a city turned upside-down after a girl named Mea discovers a stuffed animal with a strange power. The GO!ME project sponsors "youth who are going their own way." The project's first video outlined some of its collaborations with dancers, musicians, tech innovators, and animators. (Source: ANN)
Audience Consensus
The audience finds Natsu no Niwa to be a wholesome and visually appealing short music video. While it is simple and targeted towards children, its bright aesthetics and well-made production are generally appreciated. Some find the lack of character development and reliance on tropes to be a minor drawback, but overall, the video is viewed positively as a brief and enjoyable experience.
Strengths
- Great visuals
- Great sounds
- Blissful to view
- Well made in a short amount of time
Weaknesses
- Little character development
- Targeted for children
- Relies on formulaic music video tropes