English Dub Review: Smile Down The Runway; “This Is Your Story”

After only the first episode, we’ve got plenty of reasons to smile. 

 

 

Overview

Two high-schoolers meet by chance; the aspiring model Chiyuki and the aspiring fashion designer Ikuto. Together, they’ll find their paths converge and begin their journey to their dream jobs. 

Our Take

I have to admit, fashion is personally far outside my wheelhouse. But, fortunately, this seems like it will be a story about people at its core, and is willing to teach newcomers some of the ins and outs of the fashion world. 

Chiyuki, a beautiful teenager and aspiring fashion model, wants to join her father’s modeling agency, Mille Neige. However, height is essential to a model, and Chiyuki, unfortunately, stopped growing after the age of ten. Deemed unfit for a modeling career, she is constantly disparaged by her father and the adults at the agency, constantly telling her to give up her dreams. 

I’m not sure how truly integral height is in being a successful model. One would think there would be some kind of work available for shorter models, especially one with Chiyuki’s looks. Either way, the way her father and Shizuku keep trying to kick her legs out from under her is depressing and may even be approaching abuse. 

But I suppose it is the contrast between the adults’ pessimism and Chiyuki’s positivity that helps define her character. No matter how many times Chiyuki is knocked down, she always gets back up and is as happy to keep pursuing what she wants as she was before. She doesn’t let her attractiveness or her potential go to her head; she is cheerful, boisterous, and kind at heart, if a little blunt at times. She’s a truly likable protagonist and that makes rooting for her very easy. 

Our other protagonist, Ikuto, is sort of the opposite of Chiyuki. He’s unremarkable at first glance, diminutive in demeanor, and is occasionally picked on by his classmates because of this. But beneath his appearance is an industrious clothes maker and aspiring fashion designer. He doesn’t hide any of this at all either, which is something I appreciate. He could’ve been bullied for being a high school boy who likes fashion, or he could’ve been embarrassed by it and desperately try to hide it. Instead, his hobby is treated like the completely normal thing it is, sidestepping a tired trope and allowing the plot to advance smoothly.

Ikuto is also a youth whose dreams are impeded by circumstance. He has three talented younger sisters and a sick mother, and supporting them is his number one priority, putting his designer dreams indefinitely on the back burner. But he does not actively begrudge what he cannot control; on the contrary, he is dedicated to his family and is willing to give up his time for them. 

Thus, we have a familiar plot: two earnest teenagers, different in disposition but with corresponding goals, resolve to help each other achieve their dreams. And so far, it appears this will be a good iteration of this tale, bolstered by the likability of its characters and the unique theme of fashion. It also benefits from a briskly paced plot; what was written above could’ve sufficed as the introductory first episode, but there is, in fact, more. 

When Chiyuki is first introduced to Ikuto’s hobby he asks her if he has any chance of making it with his current situation. Before she realizes that their passions overlap, she instinctively blurts out that the has no chance of making it as he is. Shortly thereafter, she realizes that she has just shot down his dreams in the same way others have been doing to her. This gives her a shock, causing her to lament and reevaluate. 

In truth, her remark was not that egregious; Ikuto asked her if he could be hired as a designer with just a diploma. She said no, which is most likely true, as fashion probably requires specialized education. Despite the fact that her answer was actually reasonable, her self-criticism shows that she has the ability to reflect on her actions and feel remorse, strengthening her as an empathetic person.

Chiyuki tries another agency for work and is accepted, much to her joy. But then, after an exchange with her teacher about her career plans, she remembers that she really wants to work for Mille Neige. Doubling down on her efforts, she asks Ikuto to design clothes for her next audition, which ends up getting her accepted. It’s a bit weird that she somehow forgot her dream for a moment there and involved another agency that she’ll have to turn down. 

When asked who designed the clothes she used for the audition by a journalist, Chiyuki fumbles and falsely attributes it to Mille Neige. When the agency starts getting requests to buy the clothes, the beans are soon spilled and Ikuto is called to the office. Chiyuki’s father apologizes, offers to buy the design from Ikuto, and offers him a job at Mille Neige in one convenient fell swoop. 

With our heroine and hero readily on the road to their dream jobs, we have a solid foundation for a feel-good coming-of-age drama. No doubt there will be trials and tribulations in store, but hopefully, they can be overcome with the same enthusiasm we saw here.