Glasslip is a Summer 2014 anime by Progressive Animation (P.A.) Works, a studio known for variable quality. Nagi no Asukara, their show that finished Winter 2014 was fantastic and is my favorite so far. Shirobako, which started in Fall 2014, was also excellent. For me, Glasslip occupies this strange gap in greatness by P.A. Works. By this point, the studio has captured my affection - the 2010 show Angel Beats and the 2015 show Charlotte definitely helped in that regard - so I am sad that Glasslip was a rather bad show. Rather than simply go around and tell everyone that the show was trash, which is tempting, I'd rather discuss what would improve the show.
As a work of art, Glasslip aims for a soothing, methodical atmosphere that features the heavy use of stillframes. Not being an action show, such an approach is not entirely wrong. The show as a whole is arguably beautiful (in an aesthetic manner). Furthermore, smooth transitions accompanied with a variety of perspectives, including wide-pans, aid this feeling of relaxation. The directing, editing, and music work together to create this atmosphere.
The music complements this atmosphere because of its resemblance to baroque chamber music (Maurice Ravel bears a striking resemblance, though he's technically not baroque). (There are occasional pieces with acoustic guitar or other instruments but piano and strings predominate.) Though the opening theme, performed by ChouCho, is not orchestral music, it has a calm, acoustic sound that is certainly reminiscent of the coastal location of this show. The closing theme, through the upbeat music provided by nano.Ripe, serves to ease away tension during the main body of the episodes.
However, with this style, each scene - and there are overall fewer scenes in Glasslip than you would find in a "plottier" show - must land a distinct impact, which is difficult when the show tries so hard to preserve the atmosphere. An added insult is the show's poorly written story and dialogue, which makes the characters unlikable and diminishes the value of their relationships. As a result, these individual scenes do not sum to a greater experience, in essence dismantling the show's narrative approach.
As for why the show came across as particularly bad to me...There's many different aspects of the story that are unpleasing. To begin with, each individual episode progresses slowly; in episode 1, you wait for nearly a minute before you are introduced to a character, and then gradually you meet the rest of the characters. This slow pace makes it rather difficult to remain engaged. Meeting the group of friends, they seem ambivalent towards each other - they do not talk about their fond memories of each other, at least not obviously, nor do they seem to interact well with each other. Yanagi, for example, is often sarcastic and seems uninterested in helping her friends.
The arrival of Okikura, a newcomer, signifies a change in their behavior. Yanagi and Sachi in particular are resistant to the idea of Okikura joining their group - Sachi bluntly indicates that she does not trust him, which is offsetting. For me, it's not expressly that the characters are bad, but that they are not friendly to friends or mutual friends, for the most part.
Bigger than the characters, was the apparent lack of focus: in one episode events would occur, but the next episode would scarcely reference the previous events. When supernatural events became involved, the show could not create a distinct thread through the events - as a result, the "fragments of the future" were more jarring than instructive or conducive to character development.
Put simply, Glasslip is polished but lacks a core; like a human body without a skeleton. Sure it's a human body, but what can you do without a skeleton. For a show based on romance and human relationships, this approach is untenable. The viewer can see multiple budding relationships hinted at but ultimately little happens or is felt keenly because of the abysmal writing combined with the leisurely pace of the show.
Another major flaw of the show is one of its main mechanics that drives the story: Touko and Okikura both have an ability to see an alternate reality, hinted as being of the future. However, though it is introduced in the few episodes following episode 1, the show rarely draws upon it; sometimes, Touko will get a vision, but there are no practical consequences until episode 12. Then she suddenly is in a snow-filled alternate version of the town she grew up in, with seemingly little explanation. Even if I wanted to provide a more detailed description of the supernatural mechanic, I would be mostly at a loss for words. At most, it seems to represent the materialization of Touko's fears, but offers no hope or resolution. The last episode, episode 13, hints at the supernatural ability still dwelling within Touko and Okikura but still completely fails at providing the slightest explanation.
Even though Glasslip, from a directing and production standpoint, could be considered technically strong, it completely fails to deliver a satisfying experience because of its poorly executed and thought out writing - neither the premise nor the mechanics bring that premise to life work. So how the heck could I even offer improvements? That's the point; Glasslip has so many problems, where would I even start?
Though I am not an expert on anime yet, I would like to offer the following:
1) Reduce the anime length to 11 episodes. Specifically, cut out details - even reduce the scope of some relationships - to bring the anime to ten episodes, and create one episode that focuses on explaining and developing the supernatural phenomena while showcasing its importance in the story.
2) Revise the script accordingly for 1) but also create more natural situations for the group of friends to interact. The cafe provides one context, but it is not enough to really portray them as a cohesive group. For example, they all go hiking, or some other activity; otherwise we get no feeling of attachment among these people. And the story of this show, being a romance, relies on those relationships.
3) Change the animation that comprises the opening theme. In particular, include a few frames that hint at the supernatural ability and its consequences. For this purpose, some sections - such as the one of Hiro doing waiter duties at the cafe - could be cut out. The frames dwell on the obvious but do little to foreshadow events (effectively).
4) Utilize music and directing to shake up scenes - for example, the scene where Yuki and Okikura have a physical altercation would be an apt place for a faster pacing and more aggressive music. The framing itself could be utilized to a greater effect.
5) With 1) and 2) in mind, revise the script so that the characters are introduced in a more intricate fashion in episode 1. The viewer should not be waiting 45 seconds to meet one character, and then have to suddenly meet a different one. One possible approach would be to pick one character as a 'focus' and shift that focus, so we meet everyone but see them beyond mundane activities.
6) Play around more with the perceptions of the viewer. In a few scenes, Okikura is portrayed as existing in three separate (physical) bodies, which adds humor but also makes the scene more exciting. There should be more instances like that that pull the viewer in. (Even if it makes the show seem 'druggier'.)
7) To tighten the narrative focus, tie the characters to classical music sooner - after all, it does provide most of the score for the show. Yana-chan mentions, towards the end, that she enjoys classical music a lot - if the writers had put this information earlier on, it would've had a larger impact. So would the mention of Okikura's mother being a famous pianist. Classical music was a potential device for focusing the narrative but was sorely underused.
8) Make. Yana. A. More. Likable. Character. She is one large reason why this show fails as a narrative.
9) Touko and Okikura should have explained to the others - Sachi, Hiro, Hina (though she is not strictly involved), Yana, Yuki - about the supernatural events. Otherwise there are two separate stories in Glasslip: one involving the romance of the others, and one involving the supernatural events that bring Touko and Okikura together. The show almost involves the friends but then changes its mind and says nothing. The supernatural events should be interwoven into the interactions of the friends group (and with Hina, who should know because she is Touko's sister).
10) Be more emphatic with the romantic relationships, especially the Yana-Yuki subplot and the Sachi-Hiro subplot. It is okay if romantic relationships do not work out, but they should be actively shown to not work out, not simply left hanging. While it is sometimes okay to have romantic relationships that ARE "left hanging", it should be not the case for multiple main characters. Even if the 'romance' does not progress, we should see changes in their relationship as they grow to know each other more. And, romance is not simply actions - confessing, watching movies, etc - but it involves thoughts and feelings - showing how the characters feel about each other.
11) Intelligently include Hina as a character - she is both one of the few decent characters in the show and is Touko's little sister. She interacts with Yuki, Yana, and other members of the group but these efforts go undeveloped in the show. Hina talks with Yuki once, even chasing him on her bike, but the event seems not to matter in the narrative. Even though it seems like a fairly important event in the moment.
12) Make Sachi's condition more relevant to the story or reduce reference to it. Sachi's condition is hinted at but rarely drawn upon - it should have a substantial impact on her if significant thought is given to her hospitalization. However, the test results of her time in the hospital are never mentioned - the viewer cannot be certain if she is fine or if the results were bad. Otherwise, Sachi simply seems like a sickly person who is stuck in limbo.
13) Revise the script to diversify characterization, tie the characters to the supernatural events, and create a more focused narrative. This is probably both the most vague recommendation and the most important.
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