Diamond Daydreams

I just got finished watching Diamond Daydreams, and I must say that is one of the most beautiful anime I've ever seen. Not necessarily animation-wise -- while the Hokkaido scenery was absolutely gorgeous, the character design was a bit lacking -- but the story (or should I really say, stories) was very romantic without sliding into WAFF-y territory. Very realistically done, I thought, and I pretty much cried at the end of every story.

The anime, which was based on a dating sim, is actually a series of six different stories focussing on six different women, each consisting of two episodes, with the final episode bringing all the women together at the Sapporo Snow Festival. I originally decided to check the series out because I found out that one of the characters (Suomi) was a figure skater, but my favorite story actually ended up being Kyoko's. As an aspiring film director, she's obsessed with winning the top prize at her college's film festival to the point that her film crew can't stand her and her live-in boyfriend has enough and moves out. Kyoko's and Yu's relationship reminded me a lot of Yui's and Hideki's in Against the Rules. They both have the same kind of feel, although Yui is definitely more insane than Kyoko. *laughs*

I won't say anything more in case I spoil anyone, but I will say that I love how most of the story arcs ended on a bittersweet note, yet at the end, it was actually a very happy show. Not everything happens the way the characters might have originally wanted, but that doesn't mean they still can't find happiness, and I, for one, think that's a wonderful theme. ^_^

I may just have to put this on my "To Buy" list...