Capricorn review: A compelling story and deep characters

Capricorn - An adventure to save another world and the Earth

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

April 5, 1991

■Release and sales

Continent Publishing

■Frequencies

48 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original work by Joji Manabe

■ Director

・Director: Takashi Imanishi

■ Production

Tairiku Shobo, Aubeck

■ Story

One day, an ordinary boy named Shimamura Taku gets lost in a space-time distortion and ends up in another world, Slafreze. There, he meets Mona, a young warrior from the dragon-human Yappi tribe. Taku learns that this other world is ruled by General Zorba, a tiger-like beastman, and his military regime, and that General Zorba is also trying to conquer Capricorn, or Earth. To save the other world, Slafreze, and Earth, Taku and Mona challenge General Zorba to a fight.

■Explanation

The original work is a fantasy adventure set in another world by manga artist Joji Manabe. The original comic was a long historical drama, but the author himself restructured the story for the anime adaptation. He made major changes to the original content and reorganized it into one volume of OVA software. As a result, the story unfolds completely differently from the original comic.

■Cast

・Mona/Naoko Matsui ・Taku Shimamura/Masami Kikuchi

■ Main staff

・Original work by Joji Manabe・Director, script, storyboard by Takashi Imanishi・Composition by Joji Manabe・Character design, animation director by Moriyasu Taniguchi・Mechanic design by Toru Yoshida・Mecha animation director: Kazuhiro Sasaki・Art director by Tsutomu Ishigaki・Director of photography by Toshio Shirai・Sound director by Sadayoshi Fujino・Music by Ikuro Fujiwara・Produced by Aubeck・Produced by Tairiku Shobo Co., Ltd.

■ Main Characters

・Mona: A girl warrior who lives in the other world, Slafreze. A descendant of the Yappi (pterosaur) tribe, she has dragon wings and a tail.
- Shimamura Taku: He was an ordinary high school student, but after getting lost in another world, he becomes embroiled in a battle that threatens the survival of the Earth.

Capricon's appeal and reputation

The appeal of the story

Capricorn is a work with a unique appeal, especially within the genre of fantasy set in another world. The setting, in which the protagonist, Shimamura Taku, is lost in the other world of Slafreze due to a distortion in space-time, provides a fresh surprise for many viewers. Taku's relationship with Mona, a young warrior he meets, and his confrontation with General Zorba, a powerful enemy, have the power to draw viewers into the story.

Particularly impressive is Taku's struggle to save both Earth and the other world. While otherworldly fantasy works often have the protagonist playing an active role in the other world, Capricorn is unique in that it is set in both Earth and the other world. The grand theme of saving these two worlds deeply moves the viewer.

Character Appeal

Each character in Capricorn is unique and captures the hearts of viewers. Mona is particularly appealing as a descendant of the dragon-human Yappi tribe, and her battle scenes and interactions with Taku are worth watching. Naoko Matsui's voice acting as Mona is also excellent, bringing out the charm of the character to the fullest.

The protagonist, Shimamura Taku, also moves us as he grows from an ordinary high school student into a hero in another world. Masami Kikuchi, who plays Taku, is also highly praised for her expressive voice acting, portraying Taku's growth realistically. The characters of General Zorba and his subordinates are also unique, adding depth to the story.

The appeal of video and music

Capricorn's visual beauty is at a very high level for an otherworldly fantasy work. The unique touch of character designer Moriyasu Taniguchi and the detailed designs of mechanic designer Toru Yoshida greatly enhance the visual appeal. Additionally, the otherworldly scenery by art director Tsutomu Ishigaki and the depiction of the battle scenes by mecha animation director Kazuhiro Sasaki are also superb.

The music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of Capricorn. The music by Ikuro Fujiwara not only enhances the atmosphere of the otherworldly world, but also effectively directs the battle scenes and emotional scenes. The music in the battle scenes in particular lifts the viewer's spirits and increases the tension of the story.

Evaluation of the Director and Staff

Imanishi Takashi, the director of Capricorn, was also in charge of the script and storyboards, and succeeded in maintaining a sense of unity throughout the film. Imanishi Takashi's skill as a director has been successful in bringing out the best in the original work while surprising viewers with new developments. In addition, the original author Manabe Joji was also involved in the composition, so the essence of the original work was firmly reflected in the anime.

The other staff members are also highly regarded in their respective fields, and the technical skills of cinematographer Toshio Shirai and sound director Sadayoshi Fujino also contributed to the film's perfection. The cooperation between Aubeck and Tairiku Shobo, who were in charge of production, also contributed greatly to the success of the film.

Capricorn's recommended points

For fans of otherworldly fantasy

Capricorn is a must-see for fans of fantasy set in other worlds. The epic story set in both another world and Earth and the unique characters will surely satisfy fantasy fans. The visuals and music are also of a high standard, providing a visual and auditory treat.

For fans of action scenes

Capricorn's action scenes are visually impressive, with detailed mechanical designs and detailed depictions of battle scenes. Morna's battle scene and the showdown between Tak and General Zorba are particularly impressive. This is a must-see for fans of action scenes.

For those who want to enjoy the voice actors' performances

The voice actors of Capricorn are all talented actors such as Naoko Matsui and Masami Kikuchi. Their acting brings out the best in the characters and deeply moves the viewers. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy the acting of voice actors.

For fans of the original

For fans of the original comic, the appeal is that the original author himself reconstructed the story for the anime adaptation. The story unfolds in a completely different way from the original, so you can enjoy Capricorn from a new perspective. This is a work that fans of the original should definitely watch.

More information on Capricorn

About the original work

The original work for Capricorn is a fantasy adventure set in another world, written by manga artist Joji Manabe. The original comic is written as a long historical drama, and has gained many fans. For the anime adaptation, the original author himself restructured the story and compiled it into one volume of OVA software, resulting in a completely different development from the original work. This restructuring allows you to enjoy the charm of the original work in a new way.

Background

Capricorn was released as an OVA on April 5, 1991. It was produced by Tairiku Shobo and Aubeck, and directed by Imanishi Takashi. The OVA format was chosen to compactly summarize the original's long story, and as a strategy to allow viewers to enjoy the story all at once. This strategy was successful, and it was well received by many viewers.

Character Settings

The characters of Capricorn are unique and appealing, as befits an otherworldly fantasy work. Mona is a descendant of the dragon-people Yappi tribe, and has the striking appearance of dragon wings and a tail. Shimamura Taku's growth from an ordinary high school student to a hero of another world is depicted, evoking sympathy from viewers. General Zorba is a beastman with the appearance of a tiger, and adds tension to the story as a powerful enemy.

Video Technology

Capricorn's visual technology was especially highly praised among OVAs of the time. The unique touch of character designer Moriyasu Taniguchi and the detailed designs of mechanic designer Toru Yoshida greatly enhanced the visual appeal. In addition, the otherworldly landscapes by art director Tsutomu Ishigaki and the depictions of battle scenes by mecha animation director Kazuhiro Sasaki were also superb, drawing the viewer into the story.

music

The music of Capricorn was composed by Ikuro Fujiwara, and not only enhances the atmosphere of the other world, but also effectively directs the battle scenes and emotional scenes. The music in the battle scenes in particular lifts the viewer's spirits and increases the tension of the story. Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of Capricorn.

Capricon Review and Impressions

Viewer ratings

Capricorn has been highly praised by viewers, especially fans of fantasy stories set in other worlds. It has been praised for many elements, including the appeal of the story, the individuality of the characters, the beauty of the visuals, and the quality of the music. In addition, viewers can enjoy a completely different plot from the original, providing a fresh surprise.

Expert Review

The film has also been highly praised by experts, especially for the skill of director Takashi Imanishi and the technical capabilities of the staff. It has been highly praised for successfully surprising viewers by adding new developments while maximizing the appeal of the original work. Experts have also praised the beauty of the visuals and the quality of the music.

thoughts

Capricon is a particularly fascinating work in the otherworld fantasy genre. Many elements have the power to draw the viewer into the story, such as the protagonist Shimamura Taku's setting in which he becomes lost in the otherworldly world of Slafreze due to a distortion in space-time, his relationship with Mona, and his confrontation with General Zorba. In addition, the visual beauty and music are of high quality, providing visual and auditory enjoyment. This is a work that can be recommended to many viewers, including fans of otherworld fantasy, fans of action scenes, people who want to enjoy the performances of voice actors, and fans of the original work.

Conclusion

Capricon is a particularly fascinating work in the otherworld fantasy genre, and has been highly praised by many viewers. Many elements, such as the appeal of the story, the individuality of the characters, the beauty of the visuals, and the quality of the music, have the power to draw viewers into the story. In addition, the fact that the story unfolds in a completely different way from the original provides viewers with a fresh surprise. This is a work that can be recommended to many viewers, including fans of otherworld fantasy, fans of action scenes, people who want to enjoy the performances of voice actors, and fans of the original work. Please watch Capricon once and experience its charm.