But it’s the running gag of whether fireworks are round or flat that unexpectedly brings the whole multiple realities concept together into one beautifully animated finale. It’s interesting to see how, for example, in one reality where Yusuke is shown to be trying (in his own passive-aggressive way) to set up Norimichi with the girl he likes despite his own feelings, in others he’s much more of a rival and wants her for himself.

However, at first, he doesn’t remember said changes, and instead of turning back time it plays off like ‘multiple realities’, which is similar to the 1998 flick Sliding Doors where one action can splinter off to create a whole new world and have massive consequences.

In the case of Norimichi, however, he uses it to change the life of the girl he likes and save her from her suffocating situation, with every instance of him changing reality to get her further away from their small town. The most notable comparison is The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, especially with the determined Norimichi having a lot of the same drive as Makoto – using a newfound gift to change their current reality for the better without thinking far ahead to consider the consequences. With a huge jump in time between adaptations however, you can see how Fireworks takes visual and story cues from a lot of similar stories that have been released since then. Luckily for us, knowledge of the original is not required to understand the new anime spin on the tale. However, a simple night of sparklers and romance turns into a complicated journey of firework mysteries, the pains of growing up, and how fate can be altered by the simplest of actions.įireworks is actually based upon a live action Japanese drama of the same name, released way back in 1993, originally only 50 minutes in length. One summer’s day before the fireworks festival, the boys have a swimming race with Nazuna, and the ultimate prize for the winning boy is to take her to the festival. Norimichi and Yusuke are high school friends who both have feelings for the aloof dark-haired girl in their class, Nazuna.

Fireworks Problem Visual Logic