Amagami SS
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Studio: Anime International Company
Hello my friends. Welcome to another anime review.
And one more time… Merry Christmas…
…and Happy New Year.
And just as I promised you a few days ago, I will bring an anime perfect for finialising this amazing 2022, which, again, it was a year of big challenges, but also of great victories and beautiful memories. But now it is time to move forward, and before I start the new year, I will present you an anime that, despite watching years ago, I kind of remember it with joy,
Behold…
But, before I start with my review, I must ask you now the typical question, a good way to start with 2023, and that is…
Are you my friends ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy.
Having said that, time to go with an adorable bite of love. This is Amagami SS
PREMISE
Based on the dating sim game released by Enterbrain in 2009, for the Playstation 2, Amagami SS takes to the story of a normal high school student, called Junichi Tachibana, who two years before the main story, suffered a big setback, when his heart was broken by a girl he was dating, because this girl never show up. And to add insult to injury, that date was supposed to take place precisely on Christmas Day, and that is why Junichi hates to celebrate Christmas.
But now, he has the opportunity of finding love again on Christmas, guided by six special girls – his senpai Haruka Morishima; his childhood friend, Kaoru Tanamachi; the shy Sae Nakata; the aloof, but kind Ai Nanasaki; his other childhood friend, Rihoko Sakurai; and the responsible Tsukasa Ayatsuji, in this wonderful adventure of 24 episodes.
Amagami SS was released from July 2 to December 23, 2010. Two years later, a second season was released under the name of Amagami SS +, from January 5 to March 29, 2012, with a total of 12 episodes. Moreover, Amagami itself has a lot of manga and spin-off games that I will not mention here because the list is long, but here are two for putting an example.
Amagami SS was produced by this company called AIC, or Anime International Company, which I truly never heard before, but, from what I read, they produced really old school anime like El-Hazard, Tenchi Muyo, Bubblegum Crisis, and one of the seasons of Date A Live. And, believe it or not, AIC was founded in 1982.
The voice talents include Shizuka Ito (Haruka), Rina Sato (Kaoru), Yukana (Ai), and Kaori Nazuka (Tsukasa) among others, of course, they were the same actresses who voiced her characters in the game.
Finally, Amagami SS has six different endings, with of each performed by the main actresses, and I will explain more about this later. But here are the links of all of them.
STORY
Now, before I continue, I must that I am not a very big fan of the anime versions of many dating sims, including Clannad, Kanon and Tsukihime (I have a lot to say about this last one), because sometimes I believe they choose either the lamest story or the least interesting heroines. Only my opinion. But I was never truly happy with either adaptation of Kanon (2003 & 2006), despite one being done by Kyoto Animation
However, Amagami SS does something that hook my attention, and that is every heroine starred in four episodes, like this.
Haruka Morishima – episode 1-4
Kaoru Tanamachi – episode 5-8
Sae Nakata – episode 9-12
Ai Nanasaki – episode 13-16
Rihoko Sakurai – episode 17-20
Tsukasa Ayatsuji – episode 21-24
And, on that time, I never saw something like that, but it was the thing that got me invested. So, I started watching each arc, and… I really ended liking all the characters. But I will talk about them later in my reliable Characters section.
Despite being only four episodes, I think these arcs distribute the story pretty well. We go to know our protagonist, his “trauma”, his personality, and his insecurities, and I enjoy that, it helps me to connect better. Also, with the heroines. There is not so much drama. Overall, the tone of the stories is light-hearted, and the comedy is not pretty original, but it is funny enough to have me invested.
I indeed had a good laugh. Not the best, but enjoyable.
Also, the episodes does not feel too slow or too fast. It is true that we could see more time of backstory with the protagonist and some of the heroines, like with Kaoru Tanamachi, because with Rihoko Sakurai, that is the case, the anime portrays them in their childhood. Nevertheless, the chemistry between Junichi and each of the heroines works well when it is needed, like in the arc of Sae Nakata and Tsukasa Ayatsuji. But my biggest surprise was with the episodes of Ai Nanasaki, for two reasons.
- Because I thought she will be the least likeable character, when it was actually one of the most compelling of the heroines.
- Because Ai arc has one of the best moments of Amagami SS.
Anyway, each arc has its strengths and weaknesses, but that can also depend of who is your favourite heroine. Especially with Rihoko Sakurai arc, and a very moment that I thought was atrocious (can’t mention which, because it is spoilers), one that, fortunately, was fixed in the second season (A shame we had to wait two years for that to happen).
Also, if you are a fan of visual novels, as well as their anime adaptations, or… you know… hentai adaptation, definitely the story of Amagami SS is the anime for you.
CHARACTERS
The characters, without being the most profound, are interesting enough. Junichi Tachibana is a better protagonist than I thought, while pervert and goofy, he is very likeable and hard-working, and in arcs like Sae Nakata, Ai Nanasaki and Tsukasa Ayatsuji we got to see more nuances of his. He is not great, but he does not need to be. He is a very remarkable protagonist, better than many “protagonists”, like one from another… adaptation… Uoti Otokam.
And the heroines have a solid personality, Haruka is laid-back and playful; Kaoru is the same, but with a very responsible, reliable side; Sae is shy, but charismatic; Ai is independent, but really sweet; Rihoko is the big eater klutz, but pretty likeable, and Tsukasa is not what she pretends to be.
In other words… More than meets the eye. Tsukasa in disguise.
The side characters are ok at best. But there are three that stand out the most, in my opinion. The first is Masayoshi, Junichi’s best friend, who gives moral support to the latter, like a normal friend, the same as Kanae Itou, the second, for Rihoko. But the third one is the one that made me laugh a lot. And that is…
Miya, Junichi’s younger sister.
Many will find her annoying, but not me. I have seen worse little sisters.
And every time she laughs, I laugh. That laugh of her is hilarious.
CONCLUSION
Overall, Amagami SS is a pretty decent, entertaining adaptation of a really interesting dating sim, one that is a must-see for the fans. And it’s setting during Christmas gives it more relevance for our characters.
Whenever you can, check it out, and let me yours.
Just one more thing. Sorry for Ai Nanasaki’s fans, but for me…
Mona will always be… the cute ass hero.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2023!!!!!!
Jainituos Presents 