Netflix is joining forces with award-winning manga artist Yoko Kamio and Wit Studio to bring you the brand new original coming-of-age anime series, Love Through A Prism. Kamio is back two decades after completing her best-selling work, Boys Over Flowers, to create an engrossing, fresh story set in 20th-century London. Gifted young artist Lili Ichijoin (Atsumi Tanezaki) takes the biggest risk of her life as she leaves Japan to attend an elite English art academy. Alone in a strange land and far from everything she has ever known, Lili will have to work harder than she ever has before in order to compete with her gifted aristocratic classmate and keep her artistic dreams alive. Keep reading to learn more about how Love Through A Prism can add some color and warmth to your winter season streaming.
Opening Shot: A girl awakens on a steamboat before hurriedly getting dressed in a kimono and arriving ondeck. There, she basks in the ocean views and fresh sea air as her destination, England, looms in the distance.
The Gist: It’s the early 1900s, and young Japanese woman Lili Ichijoin (Atsumi Tanezaki) has left her homeland to become a painting student at the world-renowned Saint Thomas Art Academy in London, England. Lili enters the institution on the enthusiastic recommendation of her art teacher back home, who lauded her as a young woman of exceptional talent. At this elite academy, it doesn’t matter if you’re a man, woman, nobility, or commoner; everyone is equal and given the chance to create art that will make an impact in the world. Here, raw talent alone isn’t enough to succeed, and students must push themselves in every discipline to have a hope of making it as an artist.
Although Lili is overwhelmed by her new surroundings, she finds guidance and companionship in her spunky dormmate, Dorothy Brown (Megumi Han). As Dorothy shows Lili around, she also points out gallery displays featuring the top three students from their graduating class, and Lili is especially struck by the work of the “undisputed number one,” Kit Church (Koki Uchiyama). Lili’s strict mother (Yuhko Kaida) only allows her to attend Saint Thomas under the condition that, within six months as an exchange student, Lili must finish at the top of her class or return home and give up her artistic dreams to focus on marriage and taking over the family kimono business.
With the gifted Kit as her top competition, Lili has a steep uphill battle to fight if she wants to reach the top. And as if his unparalleled artistic prowess isn’t enough, two strange initial meetings with the gifted blonde make Lili view him as a bizarre, rude, and irreverent boy who digs through other people’s belongings and eats charcoal-covered bread. But despite their less-than-ideal first impressions of one another, Lili and Kit just might find that their shared love of art could be enough to overcome their differences and begin a breathtaking romance.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Love Through A Prism may remind viewers of other art-centric anime series like Blue Period, Honey and Clover, and Arte. Additionally, the overall vibe of the series and its world seem remiscent of the nostalgic, picturesque, and emotionally layered spirit of Studio Ghibli films like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Only Yesterday.
Our Take: When a show’s plot revolves around art, it’s hard not to have high expectations about the visuals depicted in the series. Luckily, Love Through A Prism not only meets expectations but exceeds them with its vibrant, detailed, and period-accurate renderings of London’s landmarks, streets, and fashion, not to mention the intricate illustrations of art within the art. From the eye-catching mix of 2-D and 3-D works to the unique, colorful character design, the visuals are imbued with depth, life, and care that immediately pull you in and immerse you in the world.
Based on the first episode, this seems to be a humorous, relaxing, and character-driven show, but there are also hints at deeper themes like societal expectations, familial obligations, gender norms, and cultural differences. The scene where Dorothy assumes that Lili is a shuriken-carrying samurai might seem silly on the surface, but it also hints at just how isolated our protagonist might feel in a faraway land where no one really understands her (although luckily, there doesn’t seem to be a language barrier issue so far). Kit also makes a strong first impression, and I’m intrigued to see where his character arc and relationship with Lili go from here.
Performance Worth Watching: Right away, Lili Ichijoin stands out as a warm, spirited, and likable protagonist. It’s easy to be charmed by her determination and energy as she crosses oceans and embraces the unknown to achieve her ambitious artistic dreams.
Parting Shot: Lili appraises the talented, messy, oddball top student Kit as she remembers her mom’s ultimatum to rise to the top of Saint Thomas Art Academy within six months or move back home. As Kit starts snoozing in the midst of a confrontation without a care in the world, Lili internally resolves that she’s going to beat this guy and become the new number one.
Sleeper Star: Mysterious, strange, and gifted artist Kit Church certainly stands out despite his limited screentime in the pilot, and we look forward to seeing more of his eccentric antics and learning more about him in the episodes to come.
Most Pilot-y Line: “Father, Mother. I’ve managed to arrive safely. I, Lili, am in London now!”
Our Call: Love Through A Prism starts strong with an engaging, visually appealing, and charming first episode that will leave you hungry for more. If you love period pieces, history, or slice-of-life romances driven by likable characters, then this is the show for you. STREAM IT!
