Natsuyuki Rendezvous: Complete Collection (2012/Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray)

Picture: B Sound: B Extras: C Episodes: B+

Hazuki is in love with his flower shop manager, Rokka, but only two things stand in his way. One, she is a widow and still in love with her deceased husband Shimao who died 3 years ago. And two, while Shimao IS deceased, his ghost far from gone, only Hazuki can see and hear him. The only reason why Shimao's ghost still hangs around Rokka is to prevent anyone one else from getting close with Rokka, but Hazuki isn't losing out to someone who is already dead in Natsuyuki Rendezvous: Complete Coillection (2012).

Rokka is in love with Shimao, and Shimao can be only seen by Hazuki, who works as a part timer for Rokka, but she doesn't realize his feelings. And while Shimao has been dead for 3 years, he doesn't want to leave Rokka or give her up to anyone else. When Shimao was alive he wanted her to move on and find someone new after he died, but did a complete reversal when he became a ghost. Shimao is dependent on Rokka, and Rokka is dependent on Shimao being dependent on her. When Hazuki tries to help Rokka move on with her life, Shimao tricks Hazuki to 'lend' him his body to make Rokka hate Hazuki and even tries to make Rokka to commit suicide to join him on the other side.

Guy is in love with a girl, girl is in love with someone else, and girl is oblivious to guy's feelings

...do the math; this is a comical romance anime. The story of 2 guys fighting for the same girl (expect one guy is a ghost). While it is usually consider romantic of love beyond the grave, when it is a ghost who can't let go of the living and picks on the only guy that can help him, it makes the ghost seems petty. In the end the main character Hazuki could of avoid all the trouble if he told the truth about being able to communicate with the dead, instead of letting a ghost take advantage of him and play him. But he won't.

The 1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image transfers are consistently good, if not Sentai's very best, while the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless 2.0 Stereo mixes on each episode are very well recorded and offer good Pro Logic-like surrounds. Extras includes clean opening and closing animation and trailers.

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Episode 1 - Hazuki finds out Rokka's has a ghost haunting her for the past 3 years, her deceased husband.

Episode 2 - Shimao meddles with Hazuki when he takes Rokka out on a date.

Episode 3 - Rokka gets sick and Hazuki takes care of her. Shimao learns he can move objects when he gets mad.

Episode 4 - Hazuki takes Rokka out on a date to the amusement park. But after getting drunk Shimao takes over Hazuki's body.

Episode 5 - Shimao spends Hazuki's money and gives him a (terrible) make over, while Hazuki's soul is stuck in a picture book fairy tale limbo.

Episode 6 - Hazuki continues to wander in Shimao's dream world, as Shimao takes advantage with Hazuki's body to seduce Rokka but it backfires when Rokka confesses she becomes more in love with Hazuki.

Episode 7 - Shimao takes Rokka to the beach and makes love to her, and then runs away to bury his old belongings in attempt to help Rokka (and himself) forget his past.

Episode 8 - Rokka chases after Shimao realizing Shimao has somehow taken over Hazuki's body.

Episode 9 - Rokka confronts Shimao, but is conflicted with either she wants Shimao or Hazuki.

Episode 10 - Hazuki realizes Shimao has tricked him and that HE is the ghost and that Shimao might never give his body back.

Episode 11 - Shimao considers maybe Rokka should die and join him on the other side, but finally relents and decides to let her live. Years later Shimao continues to haunt the flower shop and haunt Rokka and Hazuki's daughter.

- Ricky Chiang