Hi guys.
Since many people are so confused over all the portrayals in Glasslip, and I've just got my observations confirmed in episode 11, I'd like to provide my perspective so you guys could appreciate Glasslip, probably also Nagi no asukara better.
Note that this is only My Interpretation, it is neither "right" or "wrong". Neither should be yours. You can say it's a boring show with "Bad" character developments. Suit yourself.
TL;DR: Glasslip uses highly metaphorical storytelling. Understanding the metaphors made me so pleased with the anime I give it a 5/5 rating overall. Examples below.
Let me explain.
First we all recognise explicit "similarities" between Glasslip and Nagi no Asukara (I shall call it NnA from now on). We agreed to some extent that Kakeru is Tsumugu #2, etc.
To those who don't know about NnA,
http://myanimelist.net/anime/16067/Nagi_no_Asukara
But on a deeper side, something that NnA has, that so much anime doesn't really focus on is the intentional use of symbols and metaphors.
(correct me for my errors, I haven't watched NnA since episode 26 release)
The Sea God's seemingly unrequited love is reflected in the Sea's (human) inhabitants themselves. And if you were to think about it, there are many other images, symbols and significance hidden within NnA. What is said (in the end) about unrequited love? Why do Hikaru and the Sea god both behave in such a selfish and possessive manner? What is the deeper meaning in that stupid "Sea God sacrifice"?
What do all these want to say about love, and other aspects of human life and society? Is an Anime All About The Artwork, Music, And Superficial Portrayals?
My point is not to get you confused over NnA, I'll do one for NnA if I think I should. My point is for you to note that NnA (and therefore, perhaps Glasslip?) uses such literary devices to get their message across.
Now, Glasslip. (I'll cover some main ideas, then the relationships, then more main ideas)
You might not even know where to begin, the story is weird, you wonder why on earth there are chickens following this couple all the time, shown in weird intervals and in the Ending. You wonder what's with the episode titles (I mean, they're some abstract thing like Hyouka's "why did she ask EBA?" right..), what's with the extreme weirdness and AWKWARDNESS of Kakeru and Touko. And what-the-shit-they-got-together-talking-riddles-about-things-that-don't-exist. If you stay with me I'll answer them now.
The first episode is called "fireworks'. It begins with people going towards some celebration, specially (well, kimonos) prepared for it. Kakeru is also going. Touko walks in her kimono shakily, yet is gratified by the fireworks and probably the celebratory event as well.
She is gratified, but is she really ready for what is to come?
(think of how she carries herself in her relationship with Kakeru. whether it really keeps the relationship going.)
The screen freezes at her receiving GRATIFICATION (even though she wasn't completely prepared) and displays her name. I'd like to say that this is the anime's one-frame Introduction to Fukami Touko. Someone who's basically unprepared and clumsy, yet wanting to be gratified. Glasslip being a romance anime, I'd like to guess they're going to comment about how this (and other characters') behavior will affect her love relationships. Also, if you were to go to that scene, she's placed beside two young children. I'd like to think that she's partially immature. And the anime just wants to reinforce that idea. There are lots to say about how the other characters are introduced, but since my goal is to make you all less confused and into the main themes I'll skip all of those.
Firstly I'll talk about the screen freezing. Basically it's to show emphasis of a certain idea. Sometimes when I don't get it, I pause when the screen freezes, and go Ahh and continue. 3 touches on MX Player (Android) to get a whole lot of meaning won't hurt.
For example, when the screen freezes at the image of an eagle, the anime wants us to focus on the Idea of an Eagle. An Eagle is free, soaring the skies in complete freedom. Eagles tend to be symbols of strength, power, freedom and ACCOMPLISHMENT. On the other hand, a Chicken can't fly even though it's classified as a bird. I'd like to think that the chickens are put loitering around Kakeru and Touko to reflect their relationship: IT FAILS TO TAKE FLIGHT at first. I tend to see a chicken being focused on whenever they do something stupid with regards to their relationship (like, care about their own hallucinations), or when they overcome some communication error. (and when they're in school, that is). There was this time Touko imagined the black birds. It's as if she's scared of birds (even though they represent all that freedom and accomplishment) - she's scared of reaching the level of a bird. She's scared of certain things within herself to make the relationship go further.
I can't stop thinking of how it reflects us real life people. Some of us just don't want to overcome our fears and be the great person in the great relationship. Some of us just want to be chicken. I hope you're starting to get it.
Talking about Hallucinations,
Why does Touko think of Winter? Cultural references aside, winter is the harshest season out of all the four. It is where human suffers the most (well in the past when this literary metaphor was first made we didn't have such good clothing all the time) physically because of the cold. After winter spring comes, everything comes alive and happy again. The Winter imagined by Touko is her Own Personal Suffering. Kakeru cannot see it. This all is reflective of love in the real world:
Nobody sees our "winters" (metaphor of suffering - Touko is suffering from her not being prepared for love, she can't even communicate properly with Kakeru),
Nobody really sees our suffering in the real world, yet it is an essential part of love. We must overcome the things we used to believe as a child (hence Touko being pictured with two children in her introduction pic in ep1).
Therefore, the Hallucinations are a metaphor of the things (the sufferings, the joys) we only experience in our perspective. It is our story. Love is when we share that story with another person, even though we're the only ones experiencing it.
More about the portrayal of love later.
Next relationship.
Sacchan, that black-haired introvert who looks so dark she could kill anyone or do anything unexpected at any moment. This one's a bit more straight forward knowing how Glasslip is trying to talk to us about love. The introvert basically learns to be more concerned about her partner, not just being a self-centred receiver. Before episode 10, all she does is see a guy serving her from head to toe, without reciprocation. Some would say she's not grateful. Actually she tells Hiro what books to read, what things to do for her, it's more like she doesn't know how to express love.
This is the central theme of Hiro's and Sacchan's relationship.
One expresses it too well, one just doesn't express it. And the relationship stagnates.
On episode 11 she tells Hiro she wants to go hiking. And she brings food. Looks like she's improved.
Now for Yanagi and Imi.
These two really portray the theme of concern really well. Yes, they tell us a lot about how concern is necessary in a relationship, how it doesn't just die off (from Yanagi) that easily, and how concern is needed on both sides for a relationship to be developed. One awesome thing is how they portray this using metaphors again. Yanagi starts to understand Imi's athleticism. Imi learns about Yanagi's feelings, eventually appreciates what she does for him, and learns to love back (being concerned about her dance lessons). The dance lessons are a metaphor of Yanagi's interests, and running Imi's interests. The way they have learnt to be a part of each other's different worlds shows us that love ought to be enduringly concerned especially when we don't understand the people around us. What further illustrates this is Imi's running group being full of men and Yanagi's dancing group being full of ladies who even laughed at him. Each group teased the relationship in separate episodes; they are reflective of those kind of people in the real world who don't perceive and understand this concern.
Sometimes We care so much about the superficial aspects (e.g. when Imi likes Touko only superficially) when choosing our Partner, when what we really need is to look around us and see who really cares about us, and Morally complements us.
In overall, I realised Glasslip is something not meant for typical anime enjoyment, but it has been one of the best in the portrayal of love.
Some people have criticised the slow development, but I feel they were all good. After all, I take this quote from (John Green and) The Fault In Our Stars:
"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."
Glasslip begins with the celebration of the beginning of relationships with the use of "fireworks", shows us a slow development of the relationships which Accelerates and reaches the point we are now at episode 11. On the day they visit Kakeru, Touko and family sit on a very bright-coloured table, and the lunchbox Sacchan is holding is the only vivid colour in the scene. All this vibrance and happiness, only after the couples understand and learn of each other. Episode 11's title "Piano" is reflective of Kakeru: I believe he is shaped by his mother's piano playing. Touko and her family visits the unvisited Okikura house; it is reflective of how Kakeru's world becomes understood and appreciated. And It Is Only This Time That Love Truly Appears on the surface. I see Glasslip trying to tell us about so much work required by individuals before relationships become real. Don't you think this is more... Realistic?
Moreover, the awkwardness from the beginning till episode 11's insert (OP) song kinda reflects (and is also a result of) the awkwardness of relationships where people haven't learnt to have concern, understanding and love.
CONCLUSION:
I have definitely not included everything there is to say, I feel the anime (similar to NnA) wants the audience to understand its themes by close watching, realise and introspect. If you want to watch Glasslip again noting all of this you could try looking out for the Lighting. Whenever there is special lighting it's trying to tell us The Scene Itself is Reflective of an Idea. Whenever they freeze they're trying to emphasize.
I feel having these elements are great, they really make Glasslip original and full of significance. Really. This anime will be Greek to the lazy, but terribly insightful to those who observe things.
PS:
Things I have not covered are the bathing scenes, the NnA references and my ideas about Kakeru's personality. When one is unclothed, it is reflective of their personality being unmasked. Listen to what Yanagi and Touko say when their clothes are off. They're revealing their true emotions. Why can't people be honest about their emotions in normal circumstances?
The NnA references. For one, the sea slugs represent wish verification that is needed. Why? Because in the world of NnA basically Love is all unrequited. ALL relationships between the sea children. Nobody knows if their feelings are true.. Just like how the Sea God's relationship is unrequited (actually just not known that it is true). The Sea people's faults being similar to the Sea God's represent how we are affected unconsciously by all the possibly imperfect teachings by our tradition. Touko's sister Hina is having unrequited love too. She's merely admiring Imi with that sea slug on a phone that doesn't really exist on a land or a phone, much less answer her wishes. We see that Hina is much behind on her.. "story" in understanding Love.
Kakeru? He sleeps outside his house. He is introduced as a person on a train (hence HE TRAVELS --> with who else?). Hence he is someone who has been under the control of his parents (he said he followed his mother all over the world for her piano concerts). Every time he comes to a place he wants to stay and observe it more, but he'd have to leave with his mother. No wonder he sleeps outside, and tries to see the outside world himself. The birds, then, represent his freedom.
PPS:
Sorry if it was really long-winded. I felt I needed to explain all this. Perhaps I could try being more succinct.
- Seiyius |
