The animation doesn't just support the story, it is the story, bending perspective and color and movement to show you exactly what love feels like in each moment. This prologue introduces you to two men circling the same woman, but the real tension lives in how the show renders their jealousy, their longing, their refusal to look away from each other. By the time the credits roll, you're already invested in a love triangle that hasn't even begun to break your heart yet.

This special serves as the prologue to ef: a tale of memories. It came out on its own DVD two months ahead of the TV series premiere. The single episode is a drama with a music focus, and it sets the stage for the television run that follows.