"Darkness of the Sea, Shadow of the Moon": What is the appeal of this masterpiece anime that depicts the beauty and horror of the abyss?

"Darkness of the Sea, Shadow of the Moon": A world where mystery and supernatural powers intersect

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

October 14, 1989

■Release and sales

・Sold by Bandai Visual

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 3

■Original Story

・Original story by Chie Shinohara (serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Comics)

■ Director

・Director: Tetsu Dezaki

■ Production

・Production Producer: Yoshiyuki Matsuzaki ・Production Cooperation: Magic Bus ・Production: Visual 80
Produced by Bandai, Kamakura Super Station, Movic

■Works

© Chie Shinohara / Shogakukan / Bandai Kamakura Super Station / Movic

■ Story

Kobayakawa Ruka and Ryusui are close twin girls. They both like Touma Katsuyuki, a senior in their track and field club. One day, Ruka is confessed to by Touma, but knowing Ryusui's feelings for Touma, she is unable to give an answer and runs away. Then, while hiking with the girls' track and field club members, they take shelter from the rain, where they inhale a mysterious virus, and the members collapse and die one after another. Ruka and Ryusui also inhale the virus and lose consciousness, but miraculously survive. However, Ruka and Ryusui, who have been infected by the virus, have awakened to psychic powers, and Ryusui has changed into a character that commits murder behind closed doors.

■Explanation

An OVA of the mystery manga of the same title by Chie Shinohara. It was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Comic (Shogakukan)". After the first volume of the OVA was released on October 14, 1989, the sequels were released three consecutive months later, completing the series in three volumes.

■Cast

・Ryūfu Kobayakawa/Mayumi Sou ・Ryūsui Kobayakawa/Rei Sakuma ・Katsuyuki Touma/Toshihiko Seki

■ Main staff

●Main staff
・Planning: Soichiro Harada, Takao Asaga, Yutaka Takahashi ・Original story: Chie Shinohara (serialized in Shogakukan's "Weekly Shonen Comic")
・Producers: Yasuhiro Ito, Megumi Asano, Masaki Sawanobori, Yasuo Kageyama ・Cooperation: Shogakukan Weekly Shonen Comic ・Director: Tetsu Dezaki ・Adaptation: Koichi Mizude ・Music: Soichiro Harada ・Character design: Setsuko Yobunichi ・Color design: Yuko Nishikawa ・Special effects: Yoshitaka Kumai ・Art director: Shinichi Tanimura ・Director of photography: Hideo Okazaki ・Cinematography: IMG, Q Pro ・Sound director: Fusanobu Fujiyama ・Sound producer: Michiyoshi Minamisawa ・Sound effects: Junichi Sasaki (Anime Sound Production)
・Recording adjustment/Kazuo Umebayashi ・Recording/Toru Kadokura ・Recording studio/Tokyo Television Center, Tatsuo Tanaka ・Sound production/81 Produce, Toru Nakano ・Editing/Kazuo Inoue, Yuko Watase (Inoue Editing Office)
Title: MAKI Pro Development: Tokyo Development Laboratory Ending illustration: Chie Shinohara Production producer: Yoshiyuki Matsuzaki Production cooperation: Magic Bus Production: Visual 80
Produced by Bandai, Kamakura Super Station, Movic

■ Main Characters

・Kobayakawa Ryufu
She is Ryusui's twin sister. Although she is a little shy, she also has a passionate side. After being infected with the virus, she gradually begins to develop psychic powers.

・Kobayakawa River
She is Ryufu's twin sister. She was once a kind-hearted girl just like Ryufu, but after being infected with a virus, she awakened to psychic powers and began to commit murder.

・Katsuyuki Touma
A senior from the track and field club confesses his love to Ryufu. He can see the difference in appearance between Ryufu and Ryusui, which the other club members cannot tell the difference between.

■Subtitle

Chapter 1: The Curse Returns (1989/10/14)
Chapter 2: Premonition of a Nightmare (1989/11/14)
Chapter 3: Fateful Showdown (1989/12/14)

Appeal and evaluation of "Darkness of the Sea, Shadow of the Moon"

"Darkness of the Sea, Shadow of the Moon" was released as an OVA in 1989 and is based on the manga of the same name by Chie Shinohara. This work is characterized by a story development that skillfully combines the two elements of mystery and supernatural powers, and has the power to draw viewers in. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and evaluation of this work.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Darkness of the Sea, Shadow of the Moon" centers on twin sisters Kobayakawa Ruka and Ryusui. They are in love with their track and field club senior Touma Katsuyuki, and the story begins with Ruka confessing her feelings to Touma. However, knowing Ryusui's feelings, Ruka runs away unable to give an answer. At this point, viewers will be intrigued by the delicate relationship between the two sisters.

The story really gets going when the club members are infected with a mysterious virus while hiking. While the infected members fall ill one by one, Ryufu and Ryusui miraculously survive. However, the virus awakens their psychic powers, and Ryusui begins to commit murder. This development shocks the viewer and heightens the tension of the story.

The changes in Ryufu and Ryusui after they are infected with the virus evoke deep empathy from the viewers as they depict their inner conflicts. In particular, the process in which Ryusui's personality changes makes the viewers feel both fear and sadness. Additionally, the process in which Ryufu gradually gains control over his psychic powers also gives viewers hope.

Character Appeal

The characters in "Darkness of the Sea, Shadow of the Moon" each have their own unique personalities and leave a strong impression on the viewer. In particular, the characterization of the twin sisters Ryufu and Ryusui plays a central role in the story.

Ryufu has a shy and gentle personality, but also has a passionate side. Even after being infected with the virus, she does not lose her kindness, and her attitude of trying to control her psychic powers endears her to viewers. Meanwhile, Ryusui was a kind-hearted girl like Ryufu before she was infected with the virus, but after she was infected, she awakened to her psychic powers and began to commit murder. This transformation makes viewers feel both fear and sadness at the same time. Ryusui's inner conflict also evokes deep sympathy from viewers.

Katsuyuki Touma is a senior in the track and field club who confesses his love to Ruka, and is the only person who can see the difference in appearance between Ruka and Ryusui. His character plays an important role in the progression of the story and leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

The appeal of video and music

The visuals in "Dark Sea, Shadow of the Moon" reflect the unique style of director Tetsu Dezaki, leaving a strong impression on the viewer. In particular, the scenes where the characters are infected with the virus and when their psychic powers are activated are visually very impactful. In addition, Setsuko Yobuichi's character design plays a role in bringing out the individuality of the characters.

The music was composed by Soichiro Harada, and plays a role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the music has the effect of heightening the tension of the viewers in scenes where the characters are infected with the virus or when supernatural powers are activated. In addition, the ending illustration was created by the original author, Chie Shinohara, and plays a role in making the viewers feel the aftertaste of the story.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Darkness of the Sea, Shadow of the Moon" is characterized by a storyline that skillfully combines the two elements of mystery and supernatural powers, and has the power to draw viewers in. In particular, the characterization of the twin sisters Ryufu and Ryusui evokes deep empathy in the viewer. In addition, director Tetsu Dezaki's unique visual style and Soichiro Harada's music play a role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

This work is especially recommended for those who like mystery and supernatural themes, as well as those who enjoy deep character portrayals, and those who enjoy director Tetsu Dezaki's work and Chie Shinohara's original novel.

"Dark Sea, Shadow of the Moon" is a work that leaves a strong impression on the viewer and is a must-see for anyone who enjoys a world where mystery and the supernatural intersect.