The appeal and evaluation of "Slow Step": Depicting the beauty of the slow pace of everyday life

Slow Step - The appeal and evaluation of youth romantic comedy

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

June 1, 1991

■Release and sales

Toho Video

■Frequencies

43 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 5

■Original Story

Adachi Mitsuru

■ Director

Kunihiko Yuyama

■ Production

Produced by Pastel, Toho, Youmex, OB Planning

■Works

©Mitsuru Adachi/Shogakukan, Youmex, OB Planning, Toho

■ Story

Nakazato Mika, a second-year student at Asaoka High School and the ace of the softball team, falls in love with Kadomatsu Naoto, who happens to see her disguised as "Sudo Maria." However, Mika is already liked by her classmates Akiba Shuu, a member of the boxing team, and Yamazakura Kango, the advisor of both the boxing and softball teams. Soon, a battle for Mika unfolds between three men.

■Explanation

This is an OVA adaptation of a youth romantic comedy manga set in high school that was serialized in Ciao. Five volumes have been released in total. Adachi Mitsuru's works are known for depicting the bittersweetness of youth, friendship, and the passion of sports, and Slow Step is part of that. In adapting it into an OVA, attention was paid to character design and storytelling in order to bring out the best in the original work. It is also an important work in understanding how the youth romantic comedy genre was portrayed during the OVA boom of the early 1990s.

■Cast

・Mika Nakazato/Minami Takayama/Shu Akiba/Kappei Yamaguchi/Naoto Kadomatsu/Ryo Horikawa/Kango Yamazakura/Akira Kamiya

■ Main staff

・Original story by Mitsuru Adachi ・Director by Kunihiko Yuyama ・Scenario by Toshimichi Saeki ・Character design and chief animation director by Norihiro Matsubara ・Art director by Mitsutaka Nakamura ・Color design by Miwako Tanaka and Kumiko Oka (#4~)
・Director of Photography: Shirai Hisao ・Music: Watanabe Hiroya ・Sound Director: Aketagawa Susumu ・Producers: Fujiwara Masamichi, Fujita Junji ・Co-Producers: Ooba Tatsuo, Tasaki Hiroshi, Okuno Toshiaki, Kanda Shukichi ・Production: Pastel ・Production: Toho, Youmex, OB Planning


・OP1
・"Without you, it's FRUSTRATION"
Lyrics by Goro Matsui
・Composition: Shinyu Saki ・Arrangement: Takeshi Fujii, Yoshiyuki Sato
・Song by Shinyu Saki

・ED1
・"ONLY FOR YOU"
Lyrics by Goro Matsui Music by Shinyu Saki
Arrangement: Takeshi Fujii, Yoshiyuki Sato
・Song by Shinyu Saki

■ Main Characters

・Mika Nakazato A pitcher on the softball team. She has a lively personality, but can also be a bit rough around the edges. Mika grows through sports and deepens her relationships with the people around her. Her character realistically depicts the worries and joys of adolescence, evoking sympathy from viewers.


Akiba Shuu is a classmate of Mika who is a member of the boxing club. He has a careless personality. He is interested in Mika. While Akiba aims for self-realization through boxing, he also has feelings for Mika, and the story depicts the process of building a relationship with her.

A third-year student at Jyosei High School who lives in the same apartment building as Mika. He is a member of the boxing club and is the high school boxing champion. He falls in love with Mika, who is in disguise. Naoto is portrayed as trying to balance his sincere feelings for Mika and his passion for boxing, making him a character who symbolizes the conflicts of youth.


・Yamazakura Kango: Advisor to the boxing and softball teams at Maoka High School. He has a perverted personality and likes to touch female students' butts on campus. Kango is depicted as torn between his responsibilities as a teacher and his personal desires, and he also serves as a comedic relief.

■Subtitle

Episode 1 (1991/06/01)
Episode 2 (1991/07/01)
Episode 3 (1991/08/01)
Episode 4 (1991/09/01)
Episode 5 (1991/11/01)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・"Without you, it's FRUSTRATION"
Lyrics by Goro Matsui
・Composition: Shinyu Saki ・Arrangement: Takeshi Fujii, Yoshiyuki Sato
・Song by Shinyu Saki

・ED1
・"ONLY FOR YOU"
Lyrics by Goro Matsui Music by Shinyu Saki
Arrangement: Takeshi Fujii, Yoshiyuki Sato
・Song by Shinyu Saki

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Slow Step" is highly regarded as a work that has a sports theme within the youth romantic comedy genre. The charm of Mitsuru Adachi's original work is faithfully reproduced in the OVA, and the characters' growth and changes in their relationships are carefully depicted, which has earned it high praise. It is also an important work for understanding how the youth romantic comedy genre was portrayed during the OVA boom of the early 1990s.

In particular, Nakazato Mika is an attractive character who is both lively and sensitive, and her growth and love life deeply move viewers. The male characters, such as Akiba Shuu, Kadomatsu Naoto, and Yamazakura Kango, also have different personalities and backgrounds, and are shown to grow through their relationships with Mika. The portrayal of these characters realistically expresses the worries and joys of adolescence, which is an element that draws sympathy from viewers.

The OVA production staff is also excellent, and high quality is maintained in all aspects, including character design, art, and music. In particular, the work of character designer Norihiro Matsubara captures the image of the original work well while bringing out the unique charm of the OVA. Furthermore, the music by Hiroya Watanabe also evokes the bittersweetness of youth, adding to the overall atmosphere of the work.

However, due to the nature of the OVA medium, it was necessary to complete the story in a short 5-episode series, making it difficult to cover everything in the original work. As a result, some fans of the original work have expressed their wish that it had been longer. However, it can be appreciated that the main episodes were well-contained within the limited number of episodes.

■ Recommendation points

"Slow Step" is recommended for those who want to enjoy a youthful romantic comedy and a work with a sports theme. It is especially a must-see for those who like Mitsuru Adachi's original work and those who are interested in OVA works from the 1990s. It is also recommended for those who are looking for a work that carefully depicts the growth of characters and changes in human relationships.

Furthermore, the quality of the OVA production staff is also high, and a high level is maintained in all aspects such as character design and music, so it is recommended for those who want to enjoy the completeness of the video work. In particular, the work of character designer Norihiro Matsubara and the music by Hiroya Watanabe enhance the charm of the whole work.

Furthermore, "Slow Step" realistically depicts the worries and joys of adolescence, and has many elements that will resonate with viewers. In particular, Nakazato Mika's character is an appealing presence, combining liveliness and sensitivity, and her growth and love life will surely move viewers deeply. The male characters, such as Akiba Shuu, Kadomatsu Naoto, and Yamazakura Kango, also each have their own unique personalities and backgrounds, and are shown to grow through their relationships with Mika. The portrayal of these characters realistically expresses the worries and joys of adolescence, and is an element that will resonate with viewers.

As mentioned above, "Slow Step" is a work that can be enjoyed by many viewers as a youth romantic comedy and sports-themed work. It can be recommended not only to fans of the original work, but also to those who want to enjoy OVA works and youth romantic comedies.