Orange
2016
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- drama
- sci-fi & fantasy
The story
One day, Naho Takamiya receives a letter written to herself from ten years in the future. As Naho reads on, the letter recites the exact events of the day, including the transfer of a new student into her class named Kakeru Naruse. The Naho from ten years later repeatedly states that she has many regrets, and she wants to fix these by making sure the Naho from the past can make the right decisions—especially regarding Kakeru. What's more shocking is that she discovers that ten years later, Kakeru will no longer be with them. Future Naho asks her to watch over him closely.
What it’s like
Soft watercolour-style backgrounds and sun-washed school days, with cicadas in summer, rain-streaked windows, and warm orange light on classroom floors. The animation favours gentle close-ups and held stillness, letting pauses sit between lines of dialogue. Its palette moves from bright summer blues and oranges toward muted, grey winter tones, and piano-led music keeps the mood tender rather than sweeping. The vibe is bittersweet and wistful, suited to a rainy afternoon or a quiet evening alone. Pacing is unhurried, built around everyday moments like rooftop lunches, bike rides home, and awkward confessions. The emotional register is tender and melancholy, following a teenager who tries to act on her regrets and reach toward a classmate she is slowly growing close to. Intensity: the story is centred on a suicide and its aftermath. It is shown without graphic detail, with no gore, but the grief is heavy and sustained, with frequent crying and emotional distress. For viewers who want heartfelt, romantic melancholy and are ready for a sad, earned ending.
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