Orange.オレンジ : Anime Review

The Orange Anime started with Naho Takamiya’s first day of her sophomore year of high school. After waking up late, she receives a strange letter addressed to her. However, the letter is from herself—10 years in the future! At first, Naho is skeptical of the note; yet, after witnessing several events described to take place, she realizes the letter really is from her 26-year-old self.

The note details that Naho’s future life is filled with regrets, and she hopes that her younger self can correct the mistakes that were made in the past. The letter also warns her to keep a close eye on the new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse. Naho must be especially careful in making decisions involving him, as Kakeru is not around in the future. With the letter as her guide, Naho now has the power to protect Kakeru before she comes to regret it once more.

Naho Takamiya is a timid 16-year-old girl. One day, she receives a letter from her future self detailing actions she must take to prevent Kakeru Naruse, the new transfer student, from sinking into depression and taking his own life.

_{Source : MAL Rewrite}

Main Characters

Naho Takamiya | Naho is a kind, shy girl that has a crush on her classmate Kakeru. She receives a letter from her future self telling her that to watch over Kakeru closely. To avoid a lifetime of regret, Naho has to change her reserved disposition—but this is much easier said than done.

Kakeru Naruse | Naho’s classmate, Kakeru is the boy that she likes. He has several issues regarding his family and he was apparently lonely until he joined Naho’s group of friends.

Hiroto Suwa | Suwa is Naho and Kakeru’s classmate and friend. He is very energetic and outgoing and he loves to hang out with his friends. He likes Naho but knows she likes Kakeru, so he supports them both. Suwa will become a very important person to her in her future, but 16-year-old Naho doesn’t know yet.

Animation

The anime version of Orange is produced by Telecom Animation Film. The color and style of drawing suits the slice of life genre set in highschool. It’s calm and warm – appropriate for sping season.

RELATED LINK: SILENT VOICE: ANIME REVIEW

Soundtracks

The choice of soundtracks or music used in Orange Anime series is dramatic though it felt like it reminds of hope as well for a good future.

Opening OST – Yu Takahashi – Hikari no Hahen

Ending OST – Kobukuro – Mirai

The Critique

ORANGE (2016) is a slice of life, drama, and time travel shojo anime. It was based on a manga series. Basically, it about a girl who gets a letter from her future self. It says she needs to save the life of someone she loves. Everything will unfold as the series goes by.

Why “Orange” is the title?

I was also curious about the title of the anime,”ORANGE”. I know Naho and Suwa’s hair color is orange but of course, that’s too shallow. When I got to watch where Naho chose orange juice for a drink then I just realize maybe that’s it. That’s after Kakeru went out with another girl. The way she felt that moment is like the taste of an orange — sweet, sour, and sorrowful.

Letters From The Future

What would you do if you receive a letter from your future self? From all the things in the story, this caught my attention the most. I like how they injected the element of fantasy into a slice-of-life narrative. There are no shows of supernatural powers and battling monsters like in other anime series but this is already enough to pull my curiosity strings.

In Orange, the main reason for receiving these letters from the future is to prevent this particular event to happen with Kakeru – Naho’s love interest. As the story progress, Naho is always fascinated by the exact things written in the letter happening for real. You can feel a bit of goosebump if that happens to you, right? Is this the key to change the future?

The Kakeru Issue

There was a lot of “saving Kakeru” in the series of Orange that you would like to change its title already with that phrase. I understand that maybe the point of the writer in the story is to highlight the issue of increased suicidal rate for teenagers and its factors. However, the weak point is it drags too much the audience only to that focus.

They could have been utilized more of the power of fantasy in this anime and even the social dynamics of characters in the story. I want to see Kakeru battles his own way to overcome it as well or at least shown some way of him pouring himself out to some outlet, and not so focus on all his friends saving him on that day.

Nevertheless, I admire the bravery of this show to deal with such sensitive issue of depression and suicide using the story in manga to anime series to live action.

Beyond Friendship and Love

Despite my concerns about its weak points, what I see as good in the story is the variety of characters who play well in the story. I am someone inclined to watching the slice of life genre rooted in a deep friendship like honey and clover. Indeed, a spring of sakura (cherry blossoms) symbolizes it perfectly.

For romance interest preference, I will still choose Suwa for Naho. Suwa, in the story, is someone who is fun-loving but also sensitive to the people around him. He’s one mature guy that is worth having as a husband. He plays a great role in the story. I agree with how the anime, Orange, decided on its ending storyline. It must happen.

Is there a Orange Live Action?

I am surprised to learn that Orange has a live-action movie now. I haven’t watched it yet so I can’t really compare the anime and live-action version. But from judging the trailer, I believe the actors chosen suit well with the character. See the trailer here: Orange Live Action.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Do we have the same thoughts on this anime? Please share about it in the comments section. Or, you can also recommend other anime to watch with this same genre. Thanks for reading!

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_{NOTE: MOST PHOTOS ARE TAKEN FROM WIKIA FANDOM. THE CRITIQUE AND RATING OF THE ANIME SERIES ARE ONLY BASED ON THE OPINION OF THE REVIEWER.}