New Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning

New Kimagure Orange Road: Summer’s Beginning (新きまぐれオレンジ☆ロード ～ そして、あの夏のはじまり) is the final chapter of the KOR supernatural romance franchise based on the manga by Matsumoto Izumi.  The movie was released in Japan in 1996 and puts the series to rest.

    Taking place a number of years after the series we find the protagonist, Kyosuke Kasuga, a college student. He had finally selected Madoka over Hikaru and is pursuing a career as a photographer. Madoka is going to school for music while Hikaru has gone to America for theater to get away from the pain of losing out on Kyosuke’s love. On his way to catch a train to school, Kyosuke runs across the street as the light changes and is struck by a car, putting him in a coma. In the accident his subconscious is sent 3 years into the future. As he wanders around the future version of his home he discovers that his future self is missing in Bosnia. He had gone to cover the war and was involved in an explosion. Once his grandfather realizes that he has come into the future he knows that the future version of him is stuck in time.

    In order to set everything the way it should be, to bring the future Kyosuke back from oblivion and return the other to his time, they must rely on their family abilities. At the same time Kyosuke yearns to make contact with the only person he thinks can help him, Madoka. In trying to find her he discovers that his future self is married to her. Before he can connect with her though he runs into the future Hikaru, who is visiting Japan to audition for a play. Hikaru misinterprets what is going on with Kyosuke and see’s this as an opportunity to be with him over Madoka. Kyosuke must push his abilities to the limits in order to bring back his future self all while trying to decide between Madoka and Hikaru again. What damage will he cause in both times and relationships before he can return home?

    It is a bit odd that the first thing I had ever seen of the KOR series was this movie, the one that put a final ending on the story. I had originally watched it on the Sci-Fi channel in the late 90’s during one of their anime weeks and instantly fell in love with it. I knew a little bit of the background with the story beforehand so I wasn’t really a fish out of water in context to the movie. The animation from this movie is a world beyond that found in the series, but by today’s standards it isn’t very detailed or high quality.

    What is a driving force behind this movie is the story its self and the character interactions. The story gives just enough background about the 3 main characters that you don’t necessarily need to have any experience with the series to understand the characters motivations. The characters are likable, even though you want to hit Kyosuke for being a knob through out.  The story makes you think about what it would be like in a similar situation. How would you react after seeing what your life would be like in 3 years or 5 or 10? In all the movie is very nice, easy going, and comfortable. It puts a very nice end to this interesting romance. It’s just a shame that more stories don’t follow suit.

    If you are a fan of the KOR series and have not seen this movie it is highly recommended, if you are a fan of such series as Suzuka, Maison Ikkoku, Touch or Marmalade Boy you will enjoy this movie and the series, although if you fret over ruining the series’ ending don’t watch this movie first.