This three episodeOVA series, which adapts a manga of the same name, was originally released in Japan over 2007 and 2008.ADV Films gave the anime version its first American release in the first quarter of 2009, but it is now being rereleased bySentai Filmworks under itsSentai Selects label. That a market was seen for rereleasing this title is a probably a testament to the belief thatfan service sells even if the series it's in isn't very good. And, indeed,Indian Summer is not a good series, whether evaluated only as afan service series or an anime series in general.

The series' production date puts it just a little ahead of the redefining onset of heavyfan service shows in the late 2000s, so it's no wonder that it does not stand up well by comparison. Oh, to be sure, it does offer a plethora of attractive character and clothing designs – which are easily the series' greatest strengths – and has plenty offan service opportunities, whether it is a camera set at a low enough angle to catch panty shots, lots of bouncing breasts and boob-related humor, or even an occasional bit of semi-defined nudity. It also caters to tastes such as maid fetishes and those who find sexy waitress uniforms adorned with cowbell collars amusing, and it isn't hesitant about resorting to masturbation-related humor. However, it is simply not bold or sexy enough by current standards for that factor to carry the series on its own.

Helping a little is a fondness for making references to other anime titles. Wall posters in Murase's room refer toShakugan no Shana,Strawberry Marshmallow, andBludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan if a viewer watches closely, and one scene near the end of episode 2 looks like a reference to Team Rocket fromPokémon. The apparel worn by one of the teachers in episode 3 is a clear call-out toPlease Teacher!, and the first part of episode 3 as a whole is a spoof onMaria Watches Over Us, down even to using the same Japanese voice actress for one key character. One scene involving a maid robot competition conspicuously features characters from multiple other series, including Mahoro fromMahoromatic - Automatic Maiden, Mariel fromHanaukyo Maid Team, and Multi fromTo Heart, even down to being accompanied by the same masters.

Thefan service and anime references are about all that the series has going for it, though. It tries pretty hard to be a comedy for most of its run, with both foreground and background jokes going on. However, most of its efforts at humor stumble at best and outright fail at worst. This is a little surprising, given that directorTakayuki Inagaki had previously succeeded marvelously with the very funnyDesert Punk. (However, he did also direct the very hit-or-missRosario + Vampire series.) Combine that with a lack of plot, a shortage of significant or consistent character development, and no real setting development (we get no sense about why Yui is so humanlike and emotional, for instance) and you have a series which just meanders along, seemingly thinking it's funny and sexy but not really accomplishing anything. It does try to turn somewhat serious in the second half of its last episode, but simply doesn't have the foundation laid for that content to be effective. On the whole, it feels like someone took the highlight moments of a bigger story and strung them together, forgetting in the process that the linkage is just as important.

Daume (Please Teacher!,Minami-ke,Shiki) is not a studio which has ever been noted much for artistic excellence, and this production does not change that impression. Character art is reasonably clean, colorful, and sometimes even sexy, though its ability to stay on-model sometimes falls short. It is sometimes even a bit clever, such as making a running joke out of the stereotyped generic appearance ofotaku or the baby outfit Yui winds up wearing at one point, but it focuses much of its animation effort on portraying itsfan service, especially bouncing bosoms.

At least the artistry is better than the bland musical score. Outside of a peppy opener which sounds like it is ripping off the one forLucky Star, the musical themes are almost invariably light, nondescript numbers which do very little to enhance anything. The decent but also generic-sounding first closer is not much of an improvement, although the closer for episode 3 is a gentle and melodic but also more satisfying number.

The DVD-only release bySentai Filmworks has new cover art and menu designs but otherwise seems to be just an exact rehash of the 2009 release. It still does not have an Englishdub and includes only clean opener and closer for Extras. Interestingly, the subtitles translate “tsundere” as “hot-and-cold,” which is probably an apt description but also a sign of how things have progressed over the last seven years in anime releases, as that term would be less likely to be translated at all today.

Overall,Indian Summer is not devoid of entertainment value but it doesn't have enough that I could recommend it to any audience. It is an eminently forgettable show which is best off being forgotten about.