With You and the Rain
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How would you describe your experience with pets and animal companions? For me, they are beings who bring us limitless joy and fond memories but leave behind the greatest pains of loss and emptiness once they’re gone. Typically, their lifespans are short and energetic, as if they were built to make the most of their time and to bestow unconditional love and care on their chosen human companion. So whether they saved your life or you saved theirs becomes irrelevant as the happy days pass, with something new and fun every day, but you dread the inescapable separation looming on the horizon…
“With You and the Rain," also known as “Ame to Kimi to” or “Rain, You, and...,” is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from July 6 to September 21 in summer 2025. It was produced by TV Asahi, Kodansha, Shin-Ei Animation, KlockWorx, NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan, Crunchyroll, JR East Marketing & Communications, FuRyu, BS Asahi, and INSPION Edge and was brought to life by Studio Lesprit. The main staff behind it includes Tsukimisato Tomohiro as director, Yoshida Kouhei as sound director, Sugawara Kei on theme song performance, and Suzuki Mamiko on theme song lyrics, composition, and performance. Featuring the Slice of Life genre alongside the themes of Adult Cast and Pets, it is targeted at the Seinen demographic and earned a PG-13 rating for teenagers 13 years old or older. Each episode has a runtime of 22 minutes, aired on TV Asahi's NUMAnimation block, and was also released on Blu-ray as a box set on the 24th of December, 2025.
The anime is based on the manga series of the same title, created by author and artist Nikaidou Kou. It began publication on the 17th of August 2020 and is still ongoing, getting serialized weekly in Young Magazine. It was first released as a web manga on the author's Twitter account starting on the 10th of May 2020, while official serialization began later. It has also been published digitally in English by Kodansha USA since the 23rd of November 2021.
The story centers on a novelist named Fuji, who is returning home on a fateful day amid a rainstorm. At that moment, something very peculiar catches her attention: a small animal that somewhat resembles a dog, pleading with her to take it in. Despite her initial reluctance, this sweet creature somehow manages to hand her an umbrella, and she ends up welcoming it into her apartment. As time passes, Fuji comes to realize that the animal is far more intelligent than she initially thought because it begins communicating with her in writing! Thus begins their shared journey together, be it just the two of them or the duo spending time with their friends and family; this cute little friend named “You” never falters when it comes to keeping people entertained with its smart and whimsical actions.
The series focuses on a basic and endearing concept, a "dog" in the form of a tanuki sharing a very heartwarming and meaningful connection with protagonist Fuji, amidst the backdrop of rain. Personally, I’m more of a sunny-weather enjoyer myself, but this show actually made me appreciate the rain a bit more. The plot is very straightforward yet refreshing, as it simply lets you vibe and chill alongside the adult human characters and an odd little pet who brings many lighthearted, comedic moments. Your reactions may be shown on plain pen and paper, but they are in no way lacking impact and substance, leaving us with a plot that is almost anecdotal but is actually a hand-crafted love letter to every beautiful little moment of peace and happiness in our lives.
The episodes are like warm sunlight upon your skin, reminding you to treasure those fleeting, seemingly mundane moments more, while the return of the rain will always feel welcoming and light. So, as we experience these small moments from the duo's everyday lives, where nothing particularly special or dramatic happens, they serve as a clear indication that even polar opposites can find tranquility together. Fuji starts off cold and distant, but we slowly learn of her sensitivities thanks to You’s expressive and endearing nature. The friendship between the duo progresses very naturally, and it even extends to those around them, keeping the narrative from stalling, since it’s easy for a series like this to feel static and boring. At the end, I felt deeply moved, not because something big happened, but because of how soothing this series was for the soul.
Something I noticed when watching this series was that the characters all felt very real. Clearly, the writer knew people like these personally and shared many experiences with them, applying those to the cast and allowing them to feel so organic and unique. Everyone works in tandem with Fuji herself and leaves nothing to be desired, except for a few characters who felt indifferent and plain towards the end. She has unique chemistry with her college friend, neighbor, elementary school friends, veterinary surgeon, twin, and, most of all, her "dog," resulting in realistic and loving interactions. Perhaps we all need a tanuki in our lives to help us get unstuck, and it might be a good idea to be a little more open from time to time.
The art and animation department is truly amazing in its own way. The character designs look simple, charming, and memorable, and the beautiful backgrounds show a lot of effort while evoking a sense of serenity. The show employs many first-person views, enhancing immersion and adding perspective, making each moment more captivating than it would normally be. The rain is particularly well portrayed, to the point where I could feel the refreshing impact of every single droplet falling and even the mesmerizing footstep amid the rain. The umbrellas create a unique vibe of their own here, making for such an enchanting scene in the pouring rain.
In the Sounds and Music department, every note I heard was relaxing and felt like ASMR. The opening theme is "Ame to" by Mamiko Suzuki, and the ending theme is "filled" by Kei Sugawara, both of which give me lo-fi vibes, and the visual sequences are purely slice-of-life-oriented. The OSTs, alongside the sounds of crisp rain, are intricately woven with a lo-fi vibe yet again. Every sound works perfectly in tandem with whatever is transpiring on screen, masterfully delivering a relaxing and pleasant audio experience. Special credit to Hayami Saori, Fuji’s voice actress, who portrays the novelist peerlessly, showcasing her incredible range and bringing this laid-back, calm character to life. She is right at home here, elevated to another level by You’s sounds and expressions, voiced by Mugiho Anna, who brings this adorable creature to life. Even the supporting cast delivers impressive performances that add a lot of variety and contrast to the show. Honorable mention to the character Krause Kii Ella, voiced by Yumoto Yuzu, who is a little girl herself, adding even more meaning to her performance.
Overall, “With You and the Rain” might not be for everyone, as the goal here was to create a genuinely wholesome and relaxing show for audiences who appreciate the happiness that good slice-of-life series offer. It won’t keep you on the edge of your seat or make you rack your brain to understand what happened; it will simply calm you and help you enjoy the little things in life. Say you had a hectic day at work, then this show is perfect for you to unwind while also feeling relatable and realistic, as the majority of the cast are grown adults who act like such. There are beautiful sights to take in and amazing sounds to soothe your ears alongside this laid-back story, and you’ll also start to feel a growing attraction to the rain and pets. The pacing is obviously slow as well, the kind that will lazily carry you alongside the soft currents, and by the end you’d have had a truly unique experience. I recommend this show for anyone looking for an endearing tale, realistic adult characters, adorable pets, and anything to do with the rain. If you enjoy it as much as I did, you will miss Fuji and “You” by the end and will be hoping for a sequel.
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Anime Blu-ray Box Set (Series Page):
With You and the Rain – Anime Blu-ray (CDJapan)
With You and the Rain – Anime Blu-ray & Merchandise (CDJapan)
Opening Theme Single – Ame by Mamiko Suzuki
With You and the Rain – Soundtrack & Theme Song (CDJapan)
Amazon Affiliate Links
Manga Vol. 1 (English, Kodansha USA)
With You and the Rain Vol. 1 Manga (Amazon)
Full Manga Series
With You and the Rain Manga Series by Ko Nikaido (Amazon)
Anime – Digital Purchase / Prime Video With You and the Rain Anime – Watch on Amazon Video
Pinned Up Ink covers anime and manga from a Gen X perspective. Support the blog through our affiliate links — it keeps the lights on and the reviews coming. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
