The appeal and evaluation of "Tomoe ga Yuku!": A new standard for passionate anime

"Tomoe ga Yuku!": The appeal and background of the OVA based on a 90s shojo manga

■Overview of the work

Tomoe ga Yuku! is an OVA series based on the shojo manga by Yumi Tamura, released in two parts between 1991 and 1992. The original story was serialized in Shogakukan's Bessatsu Shojo Comic from 1987 to 1990, and its popularity led to the decision to make it into an anime. The OVAs were released by Movic and Media Ring, each 45 minutes long, with Sakura no Sho released on October 21, 1991 and Honoo no Sho released on January 21, 1992. An "Original Remix Version" was also released in 1992, re-editing both episodes and adding new footage.

■ Story

"Tomoe Goes!" is set on the Shuto Expressway at night. The main character, Oshima Tomoe, is known as a delinquent girl and is called "Tomoe Gozen of the Shuto Expressway." She is known for her distinctive appearance as she speeds down the Shuto Expressway on roller skates, and her talent is recognized and she is scouted by the stuntman training school "Green Ship." However, this training school is a spy training institute for the Tojo Zaibatsu, and when Tomoe finds out about its true nature, she decides to escape. Tomoe was in love with her instructor, Himuro Kazusa, but when she found out his true identity, she broke up with him. Meanwhile, a beautiful young man named Tojo Iori who calls himself "Yoshitsune" appears before her. Iori is the illegitimate child of the Tojo Zaibatsu, and while he and Tomoe fall in love, they become embroiled in the Zaibatsu's extreme family feud.

■ Characters

The main character, Oshima Tomoe, is a 17-year-old delinquent high school girl who is an excellent athlete and her action scenes are very flashy. After escaping from Green Ship, she meets and falls in love with Tojo Iori, who is the 19-year-old illegitimate son of the head of the Tojo Group and a potential successor. He acts with his pet dog, Kazemaru, and is attracted to Tomoe's spirit, calling himself "Yoshinaka" and becoming close to her. Himuro Kazusa is an instructor at Green Ship, and scouts Tomoe and takes an interest in her, but despite his cruel personality, he is unable to kill her. Oshima Shizuka is Tomoe's older sister, who works as a cabin attendant and is skilled in martial arts. Aoyagi Tsukasa is a female secretary at the Tojo Group, and although she is submissive to Mrs. Tojo, she has feelings for Himuro Kazusa.

■ Production staff

The director and sound director was Takaaki Ishiyama, the producers were Makoto Kubo and Kazuhiko Ikeguchi, the scriptwriter was Mami Watanabe, the character designer was Mantsuri Okuda, the director was Harumi Tamano, the animation director was Masayuki Goto, the art director was Mitsuharu Miyamae, the director of photography was Kazunori Hashimoto, and the music was Yoshihiro Kunimoto. It was produced by Animate Film with production cooperation from the Galactic Empire. The ending themes "MISSING LOVER" and "ACTION" were sung by Mie Yamamoto, with lyrics by Yukinojo Mori, music by Toshiyuki Sekiguchi, and arrangement by Tatsumi Yano.

■ Evaluation and impact

"Tomoe ga Yuku!" attracted attention as an anime based on a girls' manga during the OVA boom of the 90s. In particular, the scene in which the main character Tomoe races down the Shuto Expressway on roller skates is visually very impactful and has captivated many fans. The story also incorporates elements such as a spy organization and a family feud within a financial conglomerate, making it entertaining beyond the bounds of a girls' manga. The characters all have strong personalities, and the story depicts a diverse range of human drama, including the love story between Tomoe and Iori and the dark charm of Himuro Kazusa.

Taking advantage of the characteristics of the OVA medium, this work succeeded in drawing out the charm of the original work to the fullest. In particular, the quality of the visual expression was highly praised, setting it apart from other OVA works of the time. The music also played an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the ending themes "MISSING LOVER" and "ACTION" are still loved by fans today.

■ Related works and subsequent developments

The OVA series of "Tomoe ga Yuku!" was re-edited as the "Original Remix Version" in 1992, and a new version with additional footage was released. This version delved deeper into the essence of the original work, allowing fans to enjoy the work from a new perspective. Many of Yumi Tamura's other works have also been adapted into anime and live-action films, and the worldview of her shojo manga is widely supported.

■ Recommendation points

"Tomoe ga Yuku!" is an OVA from the 90s that still has timeless appeal. In particular, the main character Tomoe and her running scenes are visually striking and play a central role in the story. The story combines a variety of elements such as romance, espionage, and family feuds within a financial conglomerate, making it enjoyable for a wide range of people, not just shoujo manga fans. Furthermore, the quality of the music and visual expression is high, making this a work that shows the potential of the OVA medium.

To enjoy this work, we recommend that you also read the original manga. By gaining a deeper understanding of the world depicted by Tamura Yumi, the OVA will be even more appealing. It is also an important work for understanding the OVA boom of the 90s, and you can get a feel for the culture and trends of the time. "Tomoe ga Yuku!" is highly acclaimed not only as an anime based on a shojo manga, but also as an entertainment piece, and is definitely worth watching at least once.

Conclusion

"Tomoe ga Yuku!" is an OVA series based on the shojo manga by Yumi Tamura, and was a big hit during the OVA boom of the 90s. The work, which combines the main character Tomoe's character and her running scenes, the diverse story development, and high-quality visual expression and music, is still loved by many fans today. Enjoying it together with the original manga will give you a deeper understanding and a deeper feeling. Please try experiencing this entertaining work.