I'm going to divide my review into two parts - one a non-spoiler general thoughts and another thoughts as an Asadora, with spoilers.

In general, this is a very heartwarming drama. The story is well-written and well-paced with good transitions between arcs and good connecting themes that brings things full circle. Natsu, our main female lead, is a really likable character and it it really is a joy watching Natsu experience new things and working on her dream. I really, really like that fact that Natsu has to put in hard work and practice and not some special genius.

There is a huge cast of endearing characters that influence and get influenced by Natsu as well. I'm sure the one most viewers will like the most is Jiichan (the grandfather), there is enough characters for everyone to have their own personal favorites. The acting is also top-notch. I appreciate how the background, i.e. life on a diary farm, is properly shown and not just there for show. I also appreciate how much anime design technique is explained and expanded upon. It's really neat seeing how a story comes together from a storyboard to the moving picture. Almost makes me want to become an anime creator myself.

There production is very good too and there is good attention given to detail. I love seeing random posters of Natsu's work in her families' homes. The shots from Hokkaido (if that's where it was really filmed) are gorgeous. It makes it all the most easier to immerse myself into the drama-world. Overall, this a great drama, especially if you are in the mood for something laid-back with focus on family, friends, achieving your dreams and anime creation. Spoilers below:










***SPOILERS***

Now, as an Asadora, I thought this was good but not great. I felt like this drama could have been the GOAT but felt more like lost potential. I've watched a couple of asadoras at this point and maybe I might be viewing the others through nostalgic, rose-tinted lens but I could not help but compare them to Natsuzora.

1. The pacing: as I said above, the pacing is good throughout the drama is pretty good. But it felt a little slow and somewhat limited as an Asadora, which is generally supposed to be about the main lead's life. I was having doubts when Natsu was still a child at close to the end of the second week. The pace does pick up but she does not start animation until almost 1/3 to 1/2 into the drama and the drama ends when she in her mid-to-late thirties. Women's lives don't end at age 36; in fact, some women start their lives at that age. You can still grow and experience change - I think of how Asa ga Kita was planning on opening a university at that time and Beppin-san was expanding her financial pursuits. The real-life animator Natsu's character was based on, Reiko Okuyama, had some great works later in life. She lived until 2007 and was working as an animator until she passed away.

2. Animation: Especially in light of this focusing on Natsu's journey through Japanese animation, which hits it really big globally 20 years later, ending the drama so early seems like wasted potential. The drama ends with hints of the team going on to achieve even better things and ending themes of 'a new future' or 'beginning again' or 'going on to achieve our dreams.' But really, why? If you're going to make a drama about someone working on achieving their dreams, why not actually show them achieving it? As I stated above, the drama stops around the mid-1970s, when Natsu is in her mid-to-late 30s. She would have been around to see the birth and success of the infamous Studio Ghibli and shows like Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z or Pokémon become household names across the world. I think those scenes would have really added depth to her life as an animator and be really moving to watch as a viewer.

3. The cast of characters: this one is kind of minor tbh. Having a huge cast of characters seems to be an Asadora hallmark. However, it felt like with the other few Asadoras I've watched, despite the huge list of characters, there were no "wasted" characters. Whether they had a major or minor role, almost all of the characters had a good amount of development and/or important roles that influenced the plot. This did not seem to be the case here and some characters felt more like props. Akemi is a good example - she is there but we never get to know her. Of course, some characters (like Yumiko) got better development later as well.

So overall, it's still a good drama I would recommend hands-down but just with a lot of wasted potential.