Just Because

Title:Just Because
Overall:Buy
Keywords: , , , , ,
Notables: Animation - PINE JAM
MURATA Taishi
R1 License - Sentai Filmworks (ADV)
YOSHINO Yuna
For a group of high school seniors, a chance reunion with a transfer student will change the course of their final year. Eita Izumi has come back to his hometown after four years and encounters some unlikely acquaintances: Haruto Soma, Eita’s childhood friend; Ena Komiya, the photography student who witnesses Eita and Haruto's reunion; Mio Natsume, whose feelings for her middle school crush still linger; and Hazuki Morikawa, a girl who seems uninterested in romantic relationships. When the paths of these five cross, their fates turn in a way none of them could have seen coming.
(Summary Courtesy of Anime News Network)


Fall 2017 anime that premiered on October 5, 2017.
Animated by Pine Jam.
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Buy 9 8 8 6 8 8 Ggultra2764 [series:3423#1552]
(Buy-/ Rent+)

Just Because explores the final months of several teens enjoying their senior years of high school and facing some potential romantic developments with one another. The series reminded me of Tsuki ga Kirei where both focus on the romantic tensions between the involved characters until all parties involve work up the resolve to want to advance their relationship with their love interest, while also dealing with the mundane tribulations of their school lives. The only major difference is that the characters here also have their futures to reflect on as they consider immediately joining the work force, reflect on their past school lives, and possibly attending university. While the focus on self-reflection and relationship advancement makes Just Because a bit more relateable for me compared to Tsuki ga Kirei, the more mundane feel for its storytelling does make a bit more niche to appeal for audiences compared to the light, fluffy romance that Tsuki ga Kirei offered up. Still, Just Because did make for an engaging high school romance title that offered a nice balance of romantic developments, self-reflection on one's days growing up through school, and determining one's future beyond high school.

Last updated Friday, December 29 2017. Created Friday, December 29 2017.
Unevaluated Stretch [series:3423#628]
(Two episodes watched):

Eita Izumi's father was transferred to another city four years ago, but now his family has moved back to their original one, and he reunites with some old friends. This show gets off to a slow but steady start as it introduces a cast of five or so major characters and endows each of them with some believable and likeable personality. Watching episode one made me realize how important it is to introduce significant characters in a manner which makes them seem worth remembering, because if you don't, the viewer probably won't--at least I won't. Although it wasn't clear to me that more than one of the five is an old friend, I grasped enough that I think I'll be able to remember what's going on when episode two comes around. As of yet there are few if any signs of romance and it's unclear where this is going, but this show seems to be good enough to be worth watching some more.

But, since I have already fallen about three weeks behind the latest fansub releases, I think I will decline to watch Just Because. If I had more time perhaps I would, but while it seems to be an OK show it doesn't thrill me. I haven't gotten attached to any of the characters enough to really care all that much how things work out for them, and no unusual problems have turned up--it is very slice-of-life.

Last updated Thursday, November 09 2017. Created Wednesday, October 18 2017.

Other Sites
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Official Japanese Series Web Site http://justbecause.jp/

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