Q's Mind: Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora

Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora
魔法遣いに大切なこと～夏のソラ～
[魔法使的注意事项～夏之空]

Aired: 03.07.2008 till 18.09.2008
TV Series, 12 episodes
Genre: Magic
Producers: Hal Film Maker

Story:
In this world, Nami has the power of using magic, but with her clumsy nature she has no means of controlling it, although it's secondary to the way of controlling her feelings. When she meets Ryotaro Tominaga by crashing his bike, she becomes more and more anxious to understand her first love, while Ryotaro is despising her. Nami has a kind heart and soul, but she lacks courage and spirit to make crucial decisions especially in the last year of high-school. Here Nami and her friends reside in the world of magic, mixed feelings, missunderstanding, unrequited love, hate and passion to realize where they all belong.

Suzuki Sora is a cheerful country girl from the small town of Biei. She made a promise to her father, and following this promise applied and is accepted for a magic intership in Tokyo, where she will face the life in a big city. While training to get better with her magic, she meets a mysterious boy also practicing to become a mage. While he can not use magic that well and he seems distant and cold at first, Sora's fate intertwines with his and the two are thrown together, learning a lot of new things about life and each other.

Based on the Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~ shounen manga by Yamada Norie and illustrated by Yoshizuki Kumichi, serialised in Shounen Ace in 2008.

The story is set in present day Tokyo. Much of the setting is based upon real areas, the more obvious ones being the Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Tower. The main backdrop of the series where they all reside is in Shimokitazawa, roughly 6 minutes west of Shibuya on the Keio Inokashira Line. In Tokyo is the Bureau of Magic, which employs Mage Labour for certain special requests by everyday people. However, the mages must only use their magic with special permission, and any unlicensed use results in a penalty.

Q: I just finished watching episode 1 of this amazing title and is so thrilled that I immediately blogged this up! I must say that this is one title that I gave my 5-star rating from merely less than 3 mins into episode 1. Yep, most of the backdrop of this anime is based on real actual areas, so you get to see Tokyo in its very true form! What to look out for is how the production and camera crew went through the efforts to capture the real life scene. Its not easy capturing such scenes especially when you have to cope with human traffic and timing. Appreciate their efforts!