Waiting in the Summer — A Nostalgic and Heartfelt Portrait of Youth

Waiting in the Summer is an original anime series produced by the creative team behind Please Teacher!, which aired in 2012. Set during a nostalgic summer vacation, it tells a bittersweet coming-of-age story that blends youthful romance with a touch of science fiction.

What makes this series truly captivating is the delicate way it portrays both the extraordinary—through the presence of an alien girl—and the ordinary emotions of high school love. The tender relationship between Ichika and Kaito, the complicated love triangle among their friends, and the answers they find before the end of summer all leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

The sky was clear, endlessly blue.
The towering clouds rose high enough to hide the mountains beyond.
It was an ordinary summer day in our small town—
and yet, it became a summer we would never forget.

A boy with no clear goals, just a vague desire to “do something,” decides to make a film with his friends. But one day, a mysterious girl appears in their town—and his world changes forever.

The boy’s name is Kaito Kirishima.
The girl’s name is Ichika Takatsuki.
This is the story of the summer that changed their lives.
We’re all still waiting—in that summer.

Waiting in the Summer (Ano Natsu de Matteru) is an original anime directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai, known for Toradora! and Anohana.
Set in a quiet countryside town, it captures one unforgettable summer in which high school students experience friendship, love, jealousy, and the bittersweet ache of growing up. While it includes a light sci-fi element—a mysterious girl from space—the heart of the story lies in the raw, emotional drama of youth.

The story follows Kaito Kirishima, a film-loving boy who meets Ichika Takatsuki, an alien who ends up living with him under the guise of a transfer student. Together with their friends—Kanna, Tetsurou, Mio, and Remon—they decide to make a film during their summer vacation.
Each of them harbors hidden feelings: Kanna loves Kaito, Tetsurou loves Kanna, and Mio loves Tetsurou. It’s a tangled web of affection and heartbreak, but it feels real and pure. Watching them struggle, act bravely, and sometimes fail is what makes this anime so emotionally powerful.

Nagai’s direction shines through in the pacing and emotional realism. His stories breathe naturally—dialogues flow smoothly, and every silence carries meaning. Waiting in the Summer also continues his tradition of beautifully written “unrequited heroines,” much like Minori from Toradora! and Naruko from Anohana.
Kanna’s quiet heartbreak, her bittersweet smile, and her eventual acceptance embody the pain of first love. Combined with the soft, emotional performances by voice actors like Haruka Tomatsu (Ichika) and Kaori Ishihara (Kanna), the anime achieves a tone that feels both nostalgic and sincere.

The visuals are breathtaking—lush greenery, orange sunsets, and the gentle hum of cicadas fill every frame with nostalgia. The recurring motif of an 8mm camera symbolizes the act of preserving memories.
Even though their summer ends, the emotions, laughter, and tears remain forever recorded. The final episode’s bittersweet resolution leaves a lingering warmth, perfectly concluding this tale of youth.

Waiting in the Summer doesn’t rely on high drama or grand sci-fi twists. Instead, it finds beauty in the ordinary—in fleeting moments, quiet emotions, and the courage to love.
It’s a gentle, heartfelt story that reminds us that every summer ends, but the memories remain.
If you’ve ever had a love that never quite worked out, or a friendship that became something more, this anime will feel like revisiting your own past.

• Kaito Kirishima : Voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki
• Ichika Takatsuki : Voiced by Haruka Tomatsu
• Kanna Tanigawa : Voiced by Kaori Ishihara
• Tetsurou Ishigaki : Voiced by Hideki Ogihara
• Mio Kitahara : Voiced by Kana Asumi
• Lemon Yamano : Voiced by Yukari Tamura
• Rinon : Voiced by Rina Hidaka

• Original Creator / I*Chi*Ka
• Director / Tatsuyuki Nagai
• Scriptwriter / Yousuke Kuroda
• Character Design (Original Concept) / Taraku Hanabira
• Character Design (Animation) / Masayoshi Tanaka
• Mechanical Design / Kanetake Ebikawa
• Music / I’ve sound、Maiko Iuchi
• Animation Studio / J.C.STAFF

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