Anime Writers' Review of Spring 2019 Anime Wrap-Up! Five new anime including "Cinderella Nine in August" and "Rilakkuma and Kaoru-san!" [Anime Column

A comprehensive review of the spring 2019 anime that have reached their final episodes. Cinderella Nine in August," an anime adaptation of a popular smartphone game; "Rilakkuma and Kaoru-san," a time-lapse anime from Netflix; "RobiHachi," a sci-fi Oisei visit; "Midara na Aochan ga Gakkou ga Dekinai," based on a romantic comedy series from Shonen Magazine Edge; and the virtual Five YouTuber dramas "April 1st, Mr. and Mrs. Ichi's House" were picked up.

Cinderella Nine in August

The film begins with a scene in which Tsubasa Arihara, a girl who loves baseball, recruits members for the women's hardball club. At Satogahama Municipal High School, where no baseball club exists, there are no gloves, balls, or other equipment, and the ground is covered with weeds. Since there are not enough club members to begin with, they have no choice but to play with the children on an improvised triangular base. Despite these circumstances, Tsubasa never ceases to smile during games because "Cinderella Nine in August" depicts the wonderful thing about being able to play baseball.
This is probably not unrelated to the fact that the theme is women's baseball, which is said to have "once disappeared from the public arena. The subtitle of each story is a striking reference to Jackie Robinson, who devoted herself to baseball while fighting racial discrimination, or Lou Gehrig, who was forced to retire due to an incurable disease. In this film, the joy of beginners when they catch their first fly and get a hit is carefully expressed. Watching the girls as they gradually get better at baseball makes me want to go out and play grass baseball for a while.

Rilakkuma and Kaoru

A time-lapse animation series featuring the popular character Rilakkuma. Kaoru, an office worker in Tokyo, spends a year with Rilakkuma, who has somehow taken up residence in her house. Despite Rilakkuma's cute visuals, Kaoru's daily life is surprisingly serious. When she cancels an appointment to go to a cherry blossom viewing party, she gets drunk and tries to borrow the power of a mysterious mushroom in order to change her life. The way she complains to Rilakkuma, who does not speak a word, gives off a sense of disquiet.
Animation production was handled by Dwarf, known for "Domo-kun. When Rilakkuma walks, the zipper on his back sways from side to side like a ponytail. The food, which was a highlight of "Mog and Perol on Mollymolly Island," also looks delicious: egg rolls, dumplings, taiyaki, pancakes, etc. The "Rilakkuma and Kaoru-san Exhibition," which opens on July 31, is also something to look forward to.

RobiHachi

This is an original title directed by Shinji Takamatsu, who has been involved in long-term series such as "Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo" and "Gintama. Set in the near future when super-light speed navigation is possible, Robi Yaj and Hutch Kita set off on a space trip in search of Isekandar, a power spot that will make them happy. They cause commotion on various planets.
The basis of this work is the Edo period comic book "Yajikita" or "Tokaido Chu Hizakurige. In the beginning of the film, they visit Mars and Pluto, but along the way, planets modeled after Tokaido's inns such as Odawara, Hakone, and Hamamatsu appear. The bullshit of escaping the solar system and getting rather close to the earth is interesting. The film begins with a campaign commercial for Isekandar, which also skillfully incorporates the chaotic atmosphere of television. In particular, the giant robot Hizakurigar, piloted by the main characters, is so good that a standard-size black-and-white OP animation and even an insert song sung enthusiastically by Akira Kushida are played out. The commercial song, which simply repeats, "Let's go, I-secondar, let's go!

Misana Aochan can't study.

In this slapstick romantic comedy, Ao Horie, a high school student aiming for a famous national university, is confessed to by her classmate Takumi Kishima, a handsome guy. Ao, whose father is a sensual novelist, has no experience in love, but has a wealth of sexual knowledge. He only sees men as a lump of sexual desire, but while dealing with the surprisingly pure-hearted and serious Kijima, his erotic fantasies begin to explode. It is even rather refreshing to see obscene words being exchanged among the main cast.
The center of attention is Kenjiro Tsuda, who plays the role of Hanasaki, the father. His voice is usually high-pitched due to his two-headed character, but when he utters erotic words, his voice changes to a very sexy tone. In episode 8, he sang obscenities using two different voices, a role that will never be forgotten.

The April 1st Family.

This 3DCG animation attracted attention for its attempt to have a virtual YouTuber take on the role of an actor. It depicts the daily lives of the three April 1st sisters who lost their parents, and employs a situation comedy in which the entire story takes place in the house. Since it was aired on TV Tokyo's late-night "Drama 25" slot, it is treated as a drama rather than an anime, and is classified as a drama on HDD recorders.
Each episode has its own characteristics, with some episodes featuring a mystery and others featuring comic dialogue. It is also impressive that many of the episodes are related to love. The April 1st house, where the story takes place, is also unique in that it is decorated with books, paintings, and a Roomba, which makes you feel attached to the house itself where the girls live.

(Text by Katsunori Takahashi)

(C) Akatsuki Inc. / "Cinderella Nine in August" Production Committee
(C) SAN-X CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
(C) TAIGA UMAYA / DON2 CO.
(C) Koi Kawahara/ Kodansha/ Misarana Aochan Production Committee
(C) "April 1st at Home" Production Committee