One of the series that I’m enjoying this season is Natsuiro Kiseki. As a slice-of-life fan, I love watching the portrayals of the everyday mundane life. At first glance, this anime looks so forgettable but for some magical reason, slowly I got enchanted by this show. I find that what made this anime distinctive from the likes of the other slice-of-life series, such as Minami-ke, K-On!! and Tamayura Hitotose, is the enthralling idea behind the magic.
Sometimes the thought of something unrealistic is frustrating because of its unachievable nature. We don’t want to believe in something extraordinary because it’s logically impossible. But come to think of it, no matter how much we distanced ourselves, we still keep on coming back to the world of fantasy. Why? Because magic is a basic human need.
So before somebody say that I’m in delirium, let me explain why.
The perception of fantasy stemmed out from reality. Because we’re living in a disoriented world, it’s hard for us to get-up once we lose our control. People started believing in magic because it acts as an equalizer to the arising chaos of the reality. Just like what they say, magic is an escape from reality.
Yuka experienced how to become Saki and realized that she can never be someone else that she’s not. Natsumi had a chance to see the outside view of herself and make the necessary adjustments. And after Saki hilariously glued herself to Natsumi for a day, she realized that she doesn’t need to be alone and that there’s somebody out there who’s willing to carry the burden of her stress.
Hence when all things fail, we want to imagine things that we cannot do as ordinary humans. Whatever spark we find, we’re embracing it because we want to believe that we can make the world equal and just in situations where it’s not. It’s like we’re trying to pretend that the word “supernatural” never existed as long as the fantasy that we believe in can restore the order.
Just like the rock in Natsuiro Kiseki, its enchantment isn’t really because it fulfills wishes but rather it sheds the realisations on how these girls can once again stand-up from their trials and regain their control of the situation.
Truly, we need enchantment in our lives because we cannot stop the world from becoming disenchanted. We want something to hold on to that promises something bigger and better than what we use to have.
Lemmas and Submodalities 
“Insert Disney childhood reference here”. Heck, any childhood reference related to magic would fit well in my reasoning as to why I’m also enjoying Natsuiro Kiseki. In the end, however, as fun as this show is, overall it is a show about “cute girls doing cute things” who learn life lessons thanks to the antics of Sweet Spice (Yuka) and a magic rock. Of course the usual (now traditional) yuri subtext we know and love from all these female focused SoL shows is another reason we can’t get enough of these wonderful Slice of Life anime. Mundane antics at their finest ladies and gentlemen.
Ahhhh, it’s great being a yuri/SoL fan, isn’t it Snippy?
Oh dear OG, I’m so sorry, your comment went on the spam and I haven’t checking it lately.
Sweet Spice (Yuka) lol that really made me laugh. ^^
Even though this show is just about “cute girls doing cute things” and a magic rock it still has that feel good vibe that it brings. I guess the magic of laughter and friendship really makes Natsuiro Kiseki enjoying for me. But of course, the subtle yuri and SoL approach rounded it up and make it truly lovely for me, so indeed, it’s really nice to be a yuri/SoL fan. ^^
Worry not Snippy. I’m just glad to talk with you every now and then. You are my fav neighbor after all.
Sweet x Cute is still my fav couple on the show so far. Bitter x Hot is trying hard and has their moments too but cuteness beats sexiness in this round.
What make female centered SoL shows so much fun is that you can always look forward to a feel good moment in each episode. In this day and age, we can use as many of those as we can get. After all these years, despite having written a post trying hard to describe why I like yuri so much, no matter how much time passes and how many yuri moments (Subtext and canon) I watch/read, it never gets old. I always squee or kyaa, or to use your trademark catchphrase, have “doki doki” fever.
May neither yuri nor SoL EVER go away. Stay forever cartoon lesbians.
Thanks, you are so sweet. ^^
Bitter x Hot is still my favourite because their body-sticking episode was the one which convinced me to keep this series. Saki is also amusing and for some reason I want to see her snapping because she’s so funny and lovely.
I like yuri so much, no matter how much time passes and how many yuri moments (Subtext and canon) I watch/read, it never gets old. I always squee or kyaa, or to use your trademark catchphrase, have “doki doki” fever.
Ahaha, same here. For a reason that I can’t explain why, yuri relationship is something that I enjoy the most. The gentleness and light-hearted feelings which can only be expressed by girls are really wonderful~
Speak for yourself ;)
(I recently watched Yumekui Merry with my son. We were discussing it and I told him “I’ve spent all my life trying to escape into my dreams and here are these critters trying to escape out of dreams and into real life. It’s just not right!”)
Anyway, I’m of the opinion that the Rock has a sense of humor and it has found those four to be an easy ‘mark’. Whatever, I think the main thing the girls are getting out of their experiences is that they spent more effort dealing with the consequences of the wishes than if they had just addressed the original problems directly. Maybe that’s the point.
Seeing the rock as possessing a personality of its own, especially one with a “sense of humor,” makes a lot of sense! So many of the rules these girls applied to how the wishes work have already been thrown out the window.
When you said “personality” right away I realized that the rock is being a bit of a tsundere because of the teasing that it does to the girls.
Haha, I guess my posts are featuring me as a logical freak. That’s because lately it’s the only source of my writing inspiration.
“I’ve spent all my life trying to escape into my dreams and here are these critters trying to escape out of dreams and into real life. It’s just not right!”
Yeah, and I can really imagine your expression. Thanks, for sharing this moment. ^^
I really wonder what’s up with that rock. As you said, it seems like it has it’s own brain because it doesn’t grant all the girls’ wishes. I guess another food for thought from this show is we have to learn things the hard way, and that’s what the rock is trying to do with the girls.
I really can’t get enough of this anime and am overjoyed to see topics on it from bloggers like yourself. Watching Natsuiro Kiseki is an escape for me as well, since I inevitably end up imagining what sort of situations I would get myself into if I could also use the magic rock.
Same here, I really enjoy simple shows like this. They always remind me of the simple things that I tend to ignore. As Cratex reacted, it resonates on my posts that I’m being too logical that sometimes I’m overlooking the “magical” side. Thankfully, anime like Natsuiro Kiseki shows us a nice and different perspective.
…if I could also use the magic rock
*Something unrelated* For a moment, I don’t know why but I thought of a different rock. I guess I’m watching too much news. ^^
Oh yes, definitely. The wishing rock as the plot device made this series all the more interesting. At least, it sets itself apart from the slice-of-life series that I watched.
Watching this series somewhat reminded me of those Disney cartoons like Aladdin and Cinderella where wishes do come true. Sometimes it’s just feels great to wish for something even though we know is unattainable. It’s irrational but still, a person can wish right?
Definitely! Wishing is for free that’s we can indulge ourselves in doing it for as long as we want. But it would be much better, I guess, if we have that magical rock that’s will grant our wishes regardless of how tsundere it is.
I think everyone needs a little bit of magic in their lives. Life would be too boring or painful without it. Imagine what it would be like to do the same thing every day without something to keep your hopes up.
I know, right. I think it wouldn’t if we believe in it for a bit.
I am curious as to how our collective interpretation of magic has been changed by both magicians and fantastical stories. As someone who has dabbled in card magic, I believe the moment when a spectator experiences something that they cannot even begin to understand is most magical. Sadly magic, like sound, resides entirely within the human mind.
Anyway, I still have to find the time to start this series. That rock sounds like the big draw of the series at least so far.
I believe the moment when a spectator experiences something that they cannot even begin to understand is most magical.
I truly agree with this. Magic for me is something that’s completely incomprehensible. Because of that thought, we experience a feeling that we can’t explain.
Sadly magic, like sound, resides entirely within the human mind.
The logical me tells me that magic resides only in the human mind, but the eight year old kid in me believes that it’s anyone produce magic and see and feel the same magic that I’m experiencing.
I highly recommend this series and I think you will enjoy it especially if you like slice-of-life anime. Enjoy~
Very nice post, Snippet! NatsuIro is one of my favourite shows this season, as well. And you are right, the rock’s magic like a catalyst just helps the girls to sort out themselves. Imo it serves as a means to visualize what would most likely have happened anyways.
I don’t know much about Shinto but from what I’ve read or heard it seems to fit quite well in our modern times. It basically enchants your environment and maybe takes away some stress from you w/o demanding much more than basic formalities and a humble donation.
Thanks jreding. Although the rock helps the girls make the most of their time together, for reason I think it will cause them pain as well because it will be harder for them to say good bye…
My knowledge of Shinto is almost zero. I’ve heard of it in my history class but never really got into it. Thanks for bringing that up, it’s something that I might explore for future post. ^^
A great aspect of the rock is the randomness with which it fulfills requests. It isn’t always so that the girls can learn something about themselves, sometimes the rock is just messing with the group like when it stuck Yuka and Rin together. As some of the previous commenters have mentioned, I like to think of the rock as its own character with a personality rather than a wish granting machine.
Another thing that I think makes Natsuiro Kiseki stand out in comparison to other slice-of-life shows with four leading girls is the portrayal of the friendship between them. Instead of everyone just being perfect and nice to each other all the time, the four girls in Natsuiro Kiseki really feel like friends because of how they argue and make fun or each other. It feels more genuine this way and (in my mind) makes the show stand out a lot more in comparison to other slice-of-life shows.
I’m sorry, Myst, but I have to disagree that the rock is just messing with the group. I think it’s there to help give the girls create some fun memories before Saki leaves. But I guess it might be messing in a sense that it’s making it hard for the girls to say goodbye.
Instead of everyone just being perfect and nice to each other all the time, the four girls in Natsuiro Kiseki really feel like friends because of how they argue and make fun or each other.
I was hesitant to start it first because I thought that the magic would make this show childish. Ironically, it does make the show really interesting for me. And I agree, this show feels genuine because of how it fleshes out the conflicts and the resolutions. We can all easily relate with the friendship story. ^^
Hmmm, I see your point. The magic of the rock may not necessarily being helpful all the time so much as it is creating entertaining scenarios. Some of them teach the girls something about themselves, other times it’ll just be a fun memory to look back on. :3
Yes, that’s how I find it but of course I don’t want to rule out the other possibilities.
Pingback: Natsuiro Kiseki – Anthropomorphism of the Rock « deluscar
Reblogged this on compass on my field trip.