Anime Column] Midterm Review of Spring 2017 Anime by Anime Writers

A mid-term review of the spring 2017 anime, which has been running for about two months since its start. We have "Tsuki ga Kirei," about adolescent junior high school students; "Atom the Beginning," based on Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece; Toei Animation's original CG anime "Correct to Kill Kado;" "Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head: Mobile Emergency Police," a visual adaptation of a popular toy; "Mameruna! Aku no Gudan! based on Aozora Tokui's manga.

Tsuki ga Kirei

Original TV animation about junior high school romance. The story carefully depicts the mutual attraction between Kotaro Azumi, the main character who dreams of becoming a novelist, and Akane Mizuno, the heroine of the track team. The film is based on interviews with actual junior high school students, and the highlights of the film are their life-size, realistic school life.
In this film, school is represented as a place where one can hear the voices of others. Classrooms are filled with the chatter of classmates, club members are shouting on the playground, and students' mouths never close, even during the opening ceremony. The noise prevents Kotaro and Akane from having a special relationship; they meet in the library, a place where conversation is forbidden, and keep in touch on LINE, which uses text and pictures, as if to escape from the voices. Where will they end up when they seek a place where no one can trick them?

→Tsuki ga Kirei" Director Seiji Kishi Long Interview
→Interview with Nao Higashiyama for "Tsuki ga Kirei" OP/ED "Imakoko / Tsuki ga Kirei

Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head: Mobile Emergency Police

The first TV animation of Tomica, a miniature car brand of Tomy, in its 47th year of existence. The story follows a group of elementary school students who use Drive Head, a machine that transforms into a bipedal walking form, to protect the peace of the town. The cockpit is connected to the vaulting boxes in the gymnasium and the piano in the music room, and in the event of an emergency, they can leave the school directly. Even the name of the main character, Goh Kurumada, gives a sense of the power that only simplicity can reach.
One of the most appealing aspects of kids' anime is the main character's mother, and in this work, the role is filled by the infirmary teacher and operator, Ms. Megumi Shinkado. The skits that interspersed throughout the episode, in which Gou tries to stop Gou from revealing his true identity to his classmates by using headlocks and other forms of forceful action, become increasingly addictive. In addition, TBS announcer Yuri Sasagawa makes a regular appearance as herself, and her fist-pumping is depicted with unusual power in the OP animation, which also appears in the live-action section after the end roll. This is one film that shows the seriousness of TBS, including the depiction of the TBS symbol, the big hat, on the base.

Atom The Beginning

An animated adaptation of a popular comic serialized in the monthly magazine "Heroes. The story is about two young geniuses, Goutaro Tenma and Hiroshi Ochanomizu, who would later create Astro Boy. The story revolves around the autonomous robot "A106 (A106)" developed by the two, which is equipped with the next-generation artificial intelligence "Bevstozine," and how he acquires a sense of self.
A106's speech is more faltering than in the original story, which contrasts favorably with Goutarou and his friends, who are overly talkative. In the battle scene with the enemy robot in the second episode, the two pilots silently exchange blows with each other, creating a tense atmosphere. I am looking forward to seeing how the A106's inner feelings will be expressed when it develops a soul.

Correct Answer Caddo

Toei Animation's first original CG TV animation. Koujiro Mamichi, the chief administrative officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is captured inside Kado, a giant cube that has appeared at Haneda Airport. Although it is a science fiction animation, there are no giant robots, and the film depicts mankind's confusion at first contact with an intelligent life form, while also incorporating world affairs.
Why did Kado appear, what is the purpose of Yahakui Zashnina, and what is the "correct answer" sought by humankind? The main character, Mamichi, is a human who acts as a negotiator on the side of Zashnina, an alien being. In the end, will he choose between humanity and the other side, or will he take a different path?

Don't give up! Aku no Gudan!

is a short anime based on a four-frame manga created by voice actor Tokui Aozora. It is a daily sci-fi comedy in which Don-sama, Pepu-chan, and Chiku-chan, who have come to Earth as the first step toward conquering the universe, are at the mercy of the people of Earth. The three comical characters are really cute as they take aim at the shopping district to start their invasion, or cry when their spaceship burns up. The entire film was produced digitally, and the soft outlines and colorful colors are a perfect match for the heartwarming worldview.
Tetsuaki Genda plays the role of Don-sama, a man who burns to conquer the universe but is timid inside. The actor's skill in portraying the various personalities of the characters in "Konna Konna Konna Irukana" shines through in this production as well. Each episode is narrated by "KAKUWA☆Re~shonzu," a group of voice actors with close ties to Tokui, who support Don-sama's invasion with their cute voices. Although Tokui himself has stated that he will not be voicing the character, one wonders if he will appear as a voice actor.

(Text: Katsunori Takahashi)

(c) 2017 "Tsuki ga Kirei" Production Committee
(c) TOMY/Drive Head/TBS
(c) TEZUKA PRODUCTIONS, YUKI Masami, Kasahara Tetsuro, HERO'S/Atom the Beginning Production Committee
(C) TOEI ANIMATION/KINOSHITA GROUP/TOEI
(C) Tokui Aozora/Bushiroad Media