What is the theme of Glasslip anime?


I don't get what the theme of the story is. Although I can follow the romance
aspect of the anime, I don't get what the story is trying to tell us.

It may have been due to Glasslip being the first original anime that P.A.
Works has made. Other series (which are adaptations) were not so confusing,
and some were successful at sending their message to the viewer. _Hanasaku
Iroha_ was about self-discovery. _Nagi no Asukara_ was centered around "Love
brings people together".

So what was the theme of Glasslip? What is the story trying to tell us?




I think this question **is** opinion-based, but not to an extent where it
cannot be reasonably answered. Anyway, that's a decision someone else can
make.

Glasslip is about teenage life, but without many of the cliches that are in
many shows - characters are uncertain about many things - love, friendship,
future, and in general growing up.

This is why not much happens during the show - the characters are nervous
about the fact that they can now date within the group, that a new person has
disrupted their social circle, that they will soon be separated as they move
on to new schools and new areas.

These uncertainties are shown abstractly in character's interations:

  * Touko feels 'invisible' in her vision of watching the fireworks where she is ignored by all her friends.

  * Kakeru has many internal monologues with different instances of himself, showing his internal conflicts. He also sleeps outside in a tent as it gives him a sense of safety and belonging, which he usually lacks because of his family's constant moving.

  * Yanagi takes up running in frustration of her unrequited love

It's interesting to note that Sachi and Hiro, who do not dwell on their
friend's potential reactions to their relationship have an unwavering devotion
to each other (apart from Sachi's misleading which causes a small stir).

And it is true that this was a turning point in all their lives: Touko's life
was disrupted by the visiting stranger, Sachi & Hiro are now in a loving
relationship, Yanagi has left for her modelling career, Yuki has stopped
running and has split off from the group. Kakeru also has travelled somewhere
new, but experienced the same conflicted emotions that Touko did over the
summer

If one is looking for a _meaning_ in Glasslip, I would say it is to not worry
about other people's perceptions of you, that growing up is a confusing,
emotional time and that you find who your true friends are during testing
times.

I recommend reading these reddit analyses of the final episodes:

<http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/2grlj5/spoilers_glasslip_episode_12_discussion/cklxbkn>

<http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/2hfo2a/spoilers_glasslip_episode_13_final_discussion/>

