given the Movie: To the Sea

This is one of the feature adaptations in the given series. As Mafuyu questions his place in the band, a familiar face carries the spark that could bring him back to the stage. The story comes from Natsuki Kizu's manga and continues the chapters that moved to features after the television series. Grief is the series' central subject. Mafuyu's loss in the past shapes how he writes songs and how he relates to other people. This film addresses how that grief is worked through in music and how the other relationships within the band develop. The animation rises noticeably in the concert sequences; the musical performances remain the strongest element of the series. The narrative is calm and inward, with little dramatic incident. Who it's for: those following the series and the manga. Who it's not for: anyone starting here; the characters' history is entirely assumed and the film summarises nothing.