Anime & Manga News

Anime Project for 'Summer Pockets' Visual Novel in Progress

by Vindstot
Dec 29, 2021 11:36 AM | 25 Comments

The Key Channel 2-Hour Special Program: Lunaria Special Edition #2 & Staff Year-End Livestream confirmed on Wednesday that an anime project for the Summer Pockets visual novel is in production.

Visual Arts' president Takahiro Baba originally teased an anime for the visual novel in the February 2018 issue of Dengeki G's magazine in December 2017. Baba once again mentioned the anime project earlier this year in a blog post for the company's roadmap.

Key released a demo version of the visual novel in April 2018 before releasing the complete game in June that year. The game was ported to iOS and Android platforms in December 2018 and Nintendo Switch in June 2019. Visual Arts published the game in English on Steam last February.

Key released Summer Pockets: Reflection Blue—the updated version of the visual novel featuring new routes and contents—last June. Software company Prototype published the game on Nintendo Switch on July 1. The smartphone version on iOS and Android devices were subsequently updated to include the new contents.

Based on the original concept by Jun Maeda (Angel Beats!, Clannad), Kai (Harmonia, Rewrite: Cradles Tale) directed the visual novel. Kai, Hasama (Tokyo Babel), and Yuu Niijima (Hatsuyuki Sakura) penned the scenarios.

Na-Ga (Little Busters!), Tsubasu Izumi (Akane Iro ni Somaru Saka), Yuunon Nagayama (Hatsukoi*Syndrome), and Humuyun (Lunaria: Virtualized Moonchild) are credited for the original character design.

Synopsis
Summer Pockets is set on an isolated, rural, and peaceful island on the Seto Inland Sea called Torishirojima, which has a population of about 2,000 people. The protagonist, Hairi Takahara, grew up in an urban setting, but after an unpleasant incident, he uses the recent death of his grandmother as an excuse to come to the island to take care of her estate sale.

Once there, he gets to know four girls, who are the focus of the story: Shiroha Naruse, who forgot her summer vacation; Ao Sorakado, who is pursuing the legends of the island; Kamome Kushima, a high-class girl looking for a pirate ship; and Tsumugi Wenders, a younger girl trying to find herself. (Source: Wikipedia via VNDB, edited)

Summer Pockets visual novel official site: http://key.visualarts.gr.jp/summer/
Summer Pockets: Reflection Blue official site: https://key.visualarts.gr.jp/summer_rb/

Source: Key official Twitter

Summer Pockets on MAL

20 of 25 Comments Recent Comments

Looks interesting,

Jan 6, 2022 7:57 PM by isekaiedchibi

Another Key banger incoming lesgooooooo.

Time to do a binge rewatch of the other works by 2023, lol

Jan 6, 2022 6:23 PM by FullyCharged

Nachtwandler_21 said:
Gar_Logan said:


Same. Really hoping it isn't JC or 8Bit.


I found LB adaptation just fine. Considerin Bibury Animation did videos for the game, it may be them. But they already have a bunch of projects for this year.


It might be an unfair comparison, but seeing how incredible adaptations of KEY works can be (esp the KyoAni ones), even a "just fine" adaptation feels like a missed opportunity.

Jan 1, 2022 6:42 PM by Gar_Logan

Gar_Logan said:
Hoppy said:
Hopefully a good studio gets it, so it won't be below average like Little Busters.


Same. Really hoping it isn't JC or 8Bit.


I found LB adaptation just fine. Considerin Bibury Animation did videos for the game, it may be them. But they already have a bunch of projects for this year.

Jan 1, 2022 3:42 PM by Nachtwandler_21

key fantastic
I am looking forward to the new anime
I wish he adhered to the old principles of storytelling to create another masterpiece again.

Jan 1, 2022 10:13 AM by P-D-Ace

Hoppy said:
Hopefully a good studio gets it, so it won't be below average like Little Busters.


Same. Really hoping it isn't JC or 8Bit.

Dec 31, 2021 2:20 PM by Gar_Logan

OMG??? HELL YEAH. Hopefully it’s an adaptation of Reflection Blue. Please let it be at least 2 cours.

Dec 31, 2021 6:52 AM by Xenocrisi

Love that we got another Key and Jun Maeda production to look forward to next year

Dec 31, 2021 6:12 AM by Tokoya

I knew it.
I knew there was a reason behind Kaginado and we'll get an announcement once it finishes airing.
Either Summer Pockets or some readaptation.

Dec 30, 2021 11:44 PM by Piromysl

MajinBreaker said:
KANLen09 said:
Ooh, another Key work, sign me up!

But considering that the VN came out like 3 years ago, plus the fact that Jun Maeda's writing starts to show that laziness, I can't help but be 50/50 on this.
He didn't write this lol, he just had the concept for it.
Ah right, shoot, thanks for correcting that.

Lucky he only worked for the concept, but time will only tell who's the anime's scriptwriter or series composer that'd give this a nail in the coffin.

Dec 30, 2021 8:28 AM by KANLen09

Ooh, another Key work, sign me up!

But considering that the VN came out like 3 years ago, plus the fact that Jun Maeda's writing starts to show that laziness, I can't help but be 50/50 on this.

Dec 30, 2021 8:02 AM by KANLen09

Nice, Key works are usually not that hard to adapt compared to other VNs (though yeah, there have been accidents...) so very much looking forward to seeing it animated.

Dec 30, 2021 6:19 AM by Fantyyy

Watch them cram 70+ hours of gameplay in 12 episodes

Dec 30, 2021 4:39 AM by Ronninn

Amazing! Hope it will be series, not movie.

Dec 29, 2021 11:51 PM by Memore

The VN was pretty average so I'm not expecting much.

I'm hoping we get at least some love in the animation. VN adaptation have terrible animation these days. I'd be beyond happy if we got P.A works or Kyoani so it's visually pleasing but I don't mind if we get another studio as long as it's presentable.

Would also be nice if we got the reflection blue addition.

Dec 29, 2021 11:03 PM by Thai777

The last Key anime was okay, not hoping much from this.

Dec 29, 2021 10:46 PM by MegamiRem

Banzaiii, finally... Samapokeee. got this news a few months ago but it's finally official news from key

Dec 29, 2021 7:23 PM by Syureria

I wonder if they'll adapt stories from Reflection Blue as well.

Dec 29, 2021 4:16 PM by Shirayukin

Let’s gooo it’s been a while since visual novels were being adapted.

Dec 29, 2021 4:15 PM by naosthighs

Can't really go wrong with some Key. Will watch this lol.

Dec 29, 2021 2:41 PM by NextUniverse

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