With You and the Rain — Visually Stunning, Possibly Repetitive

Every anime season, there’s a show I didn’t have high expectations for that surprises me. Most of the time, it’s because the plot differs from what I expected after seeing the synopsis and trailers. However, very rarely, a show wows me due to its visual opulence. When I watched Studio Lesprit’s adaptation of Ko Nikaido’s With You and the Rain manga, I was enchanted.

For a studio that primarily animates MOE idol shows and animal-themed anime, Lesprit delivered the most stunning visuals I’ve seen this season. Ame to Kimi to was so relaxing and immersive that, at some point, I felt like I was part of it. Don’t be mistaken by that praise — this anime screams ‘slow burn slice-of-life.’ But anyone who enjoys this genre should definitely give it a try.

With You and the Rain — Synopsis

With You and the Rain focuses on the daily life of the novelist Fuji. During a late afternoon downpour, she encounters what she believes to be an abandoned dog. Initially, she tried to ignore the woeful animal’s plight. But after the pseudo-dog offered her an umbrella, she adopted it. The odd creature quickly settles into her home. In true slow-burn slice-of-life fashion, Fuji and her newfound pet montage all their first moments. But with her new “dog” capable of writing, making masks, and understanding her speech, can they continue their carefree life indefinitely? And will her newfound pet be able to keep its secret?

The Art of Immersion

Even the best-written story will fail if it’s unsuccessful at captivating its audience. The more outlandish and evocative a story, the more captivating it is. However, when a story focuses on the mundane moments of life, it has to compel you in different ways. That’s a sentiment that Lesprit wholeheartedly comprehends. The opening rainy day scene in With You and the Rain deserves a standing ovation.

Have you ever listened to a rainy day ASMR? If you have, you know that the first time you tried it, it was sensory overload. It’s amazing how you’ll hear new things when you listen to them in a different way or from a different perspective. Until I watched this show, I believed recreating ASMR’s gentle abrasiveness in regular videos was impossible. Kouhei Yoshida proved that notion woefully wrong. He must have signed a Faustian pact to imbue With You and the Rain with such an immersive auditory ambiance.

The anime’s GOATed sound effects and scene music eloquently danced with the visuals. When someone praises an anime’s visuals, people tend to imagine stuff like Gonpachiro’s fight against Rui or Pecorinne’s Orbital Reentry Princess Strike! There’s more to solid animation than flashy fights. Capturing the beauty of swaying grass, the slowness of a summer sky, or, in this case, a rainy day is a challenge. Likewise, conveying the comfort of a hot bath isn’t something most shows do well. Lesprit did that and more in Ame to Kimi to. I watched this show in 101° weather, and I could feel the coolness of a rainy day.

Writers Are a Weird Bunch

I dislike the term “professional writer” because the word “professional” implies that they’re somehow better than informal writers. To me, that’s nonsense. I’ve read stuff on Wattpad that would make Stephen King disown his work. However, when “professional” is used in the context of one’s profession, my perspective on the word changes. People who live off the written word are usually strange. Imagine having such an inflated ego that you believe you can earn money from the trash you produce. I’ve never met a professional writer who was a centered individual.

That may seem like a tangent, but it’s important when it relates to Fuji. I’ve already seen people call out the With You and the Rain heroine for her inability to comprehend that the tanuki she picked up is odd. Somehow, that oddness ruins the experience. Let me share something with you: for a pro-writer, there’s no such thing as ‘odd.’ An open mind is a must when you live by the pen. Whether that’s accepting a literate tanuki or walking into your kitchen to see a hobo eating your food, you roll with it. Fuji isn’t an airhead or a klutz — she’s a writer; she’s seen worse.

Should You Watch With You and the Rain?

The answer to that question heavily depends on whether you like slow-burn shows. Judging by the first episode, Ame to Kimi to will be a slow-paced watch. Even among slice-of-life enjoyers, shows like this tend to draw some ire. But if you enjoyed shows like Too Cute Crisis or The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today, Ame to Kimi to should delight you. Plus, Saori Hayama voices Fuji. That is enough of a reason to watch this show.

However, this show seems repetitive. Unless it takes a turn for the fantastical (there’s a tanuki in it, so it can go that way), you can expect the same scenarios for the next twelve to thirteen episodes. Fuji’s hot though, so I’m fine with that.

Crunchyroll streams With You and the Rain every Saturday. Ani-One Asia also streams the anime on its YouTube channel. Ame to Kimi to began as a Twitter manga published on Ko Nikaido’s X (formerly Twitter) account. Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine began serializing the manga in August 2020. The With You and the Rain manga currently boasts 8 volumes. Kodansha USA has published the English version of the manga since November 2021.

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