Naoko Yamada

130 minutes is quite long for an anime feature, but Yamada need every minute of that to tell this story.

I was a bit worried about this one as I usually don't love Japanese narratives about bands, but Naoko Yamada crafted such a sweet, innocent, and lovely little film that I didn't mind the music scenes one bit. It's one of those films where everyone is gentle and well-meaning. That doesn't mean the film is without drama, only that it's more related to the insecurities and fears lying within the characters themselves. Add some stylish animation and a lovely art style and this is another standout from Yamada.

A very sweet and warmly executed drama, with some stunning animation and several stand-out scenes. It just was a little too soft-voiced and piano-drenched for my taste. Yamada has talent to spare though and even a smaller drama like this one has plenty of beauty in it. An easy recommend for animation fans.