Waiting in the Summer: Complete Collection

J. J. Abrams's space-monster flick Super 8 (along with a touch of Men in Black) seems to have inspired this sci-fi anime serial, which is otherwise familiar stuff, having the very mild novelty of appearing to take place in a Japan whose technology is a mix of the pre- and early digital. Orphan teen Kaito is testing his inherited 8mm movie camera's night sensitivity when he witnesses the crash-landing of a spaceship piloted by Ichika, a fetching red-haired alien girl who is trying to learn about humanity. Ichika enrolls at Kaito's school as a “transfer student,” and then moves in with the boy during summer break (he has dazed-UFO-contactee awareness of her E.T. nature but doesn't tell anyone about it). The newcomer's provocative presence stirs jealousy and gossip amongst Kaito's classroom friends, who are also excited at the prospect of shooting a backyard 8mm sci-fi film. And they decide to cast Ichika as an alien visitor. Meanwhile, she worries about her growing attraction to Kaito and the fact that she must ultimately depart after her rescue party arrives. The original 2012 12-episode series is followed by a 13th OVA chapter (a where-are-they-now? set two years later). Available in separate DVD and Blu-ray editions, rated TV-14, and presented in Japanese with English subtitles, this is a strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady)