Da Capo, Season One

the future with cherry blossoms, love and dreams

Fansub Anime: 26 episodes.
Original Air Dates: 2003-07-05 to 2003-12-27
Page at Anime News Network
Rating: Recommended.
Da Capo is a musical term which means "from the beginning."

At first I thought this was going to be a fairly standard harem anime, and perhaps it is, but it is unlike any harem anime I have seen before (e.g. Tenshi Muyo). This compelling drama places a young man, Asakura Junnichi, and his "sister," Nemu, in the center of "the future with cherry blossoms, love and dreams." It was referenced as an aside in another persons review of Saishuu Shiken Kujira which has similar characters as Da Capo.

On the island of Hatsune-jima, the cherry trees blossom continually. A wish made under a blossoming cherry tree will come true. Note the foreshadowing. The central character is Jun'ichi Asakura, a student (I am confused as to his age, as I thought they were in 9th grade, but two years later, he is in University & Nemu, who is the same age, is a Nursing Student). He has a sister with whom he lives (their parents are just off somewhere). Due to their age, everyone thinks they are twins, however the truth is that Nemu's parent's died when she was little and the Asakura's took her in. Besides Nemu, Jun'ichi's cousin, Sakura, returns forming a love triangle.

Sakura (blonde) & Nemu (Brunette)

Jun'ichi & Sakura's grandmother was a powerful magician, and she planted the wish fulfilling cherry tree for Sakura, however it has bestowed its gifts to the many inhabitants of Hatsunejima. Some examples are Koteri's ability to read minds, Moe's communion with her dead friend in dreams, Android Miharu's ability to access the memories of the real Miharu & the changing of Yoriko from a cat into a cat-eared maid.

Who wouldn't be?

Sakura and Nemu engage in some intense rivalry. When it becomes apparant that Jun'ichi has chosen Nemu, a heart-broken Sakura wishes that Nemu would just die. As Nemu begins to waste away, Sakura realizes how much she is hurting Jun'ichi and resolves to kill the tree. However, her fear of losing Jun'ichi causes her to hold back in the depths of her heart. While Nemu is no longer dying, she is losing her memory and the tree will not die.

Sakura has to decide if she can be happy when she is causing Nemu &, by extension, Jun'ichi, such pain, and whether having Jun'ichi's love as his friend and cousin is enough.

One of the interesting aspects of the first season is the inclusion of several artistic vignettes which are called "Side Episodes." They bear little relation to the larger story, even having feuding characters present with no animosity. Ranging from whimsical to dramatic, they present an insight into the creative process of the Da Capo creators. Despite the fact that it took time that could have been devoted to the main storyline, I enjoyed them greatly.

Da Capo, First Season: if it is licensed in the US, I will be buying a copy. I almost added a new rating for this anime, Highly Recommended, but resisted, just as I am resisting the urge to watch it over and over again.

Commercial Break featuring Utamaru.