The appeal and evaluation of the first part of The Tale of Genji: The beauty of the classics that resonates in the modern age

"Genji Part One": A love story that transcends time and space

Released as an OVA on May 21, 1992, "Genji Part 1" is based on the manga of the same name by Kouga Yun. Published by Soubi Kikaku and produced by JCSTAFF, it consists of two 45-minute episodes. Directed by Yasumura Ryo, he faithfully recreated the worldview of the original while adding his own unique interpretation, making it a work beloved by many fans.

story

High school student Katsumi Ebata is searching for his missing lover, Sakura Hasegawa. She is Princess Sakura of Nagoya Castle in "Japan," a parallel world to ours. Katsumi plunges into a world where the Genji and Heike clans are fighting, and struggles to reunite with Sakura. This is an epic fantasy about love and adventure that transcends time and space.

cast

The cast of this work is impressive, with Sasaki Nozomu as Katsumi Ebata and Kawamura Maria as Sakura Hasegawa. Many veteran voice actors also take part, such as Inoue Kazuhiko as Yoshitsune, Hironaka Masashi as Benkei, and Nozawa Masako as Zakuro/Kenreimon'in. The voice actors who support the unique characters are also lined up, with Tobita Nobuo and Kikuchi Masami as brothers playing the roles of Taira no Kiyomori, Hayami Shou as Kuya, and Takayama Minami as Nagami.

Main Staff

Based on Yun Kouga's "Wings" (published by Shinshokan), the project producer was Toshinori Takatsuka, the executive producer was Masayoshi Kojima, and the producers were Hiroshi Ichinohe and Michihisa Abe. The director and scriptwriter was Ryo Yasumura, the director was Nanako Shimazaki, the character designer was Michitaka Kikuchi, the sub-character designer was Masafumi Yamamoto, the armor designer was Yasuyasu Moriki, the animation director was Masafumi Yamamoto, the art director was Chisato Sunagawa, the color setting was Satoko Shiho, the special effects were Go Abe, the director of photography was Akihiko Takahashi, the editors were Kazuhiko Seki and Shigeyuki Yamamori of J Film, the sound director was Fusanobu Fujiyama, the sound production was Zack Promotion, the music was Kentaro Haneda, and the production manager was Masatomo Nishizawa. Shinshokan and Studio Tron also worked together to produce the series, with Tee Up and JCSTAFF producing, and Soubi Kikaku producing.

subtitle

This work is divided into two parts, "Volume 1" and "Volume 2". Each volume has a different theme and development, and is characterized by storytelling that draws the viewer in.

Theme songs and music

The music for this series is by Kentaro Haneda, and a different theme song is used for each episode. The opening theme for the first volume is "Endless Dream -Continuous Love-", with lyrics and composition by Takehiko Iida, arrangement by Akira Sakai, and singing and performance by TAG. The opening theme for the second volume is "Mad Summer", with lyrics by Anju Mana, composition and arrangement by Makoto Mitsui, and singing by Nozomu Sasaki. The ending theme for the first volume is "Deai no Hoshi de", with lyrics by Manabu Takeuchi, composition by Takehiko Iida, arrangement by Akira Kubota, and singing and performance by TAG. The ending theme for the second volume is "Ai, Wasurenaide", with lyrics by Anju Mana, composition and arrangement by Makoto Mitsui, and singing by Nozomu Sasaki and Maria Kawamura. These songs deeply express the emotions of the story and resonate with the hearts of viewers.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Genji: Part 1" has been highly praised for its skillful animation of the fantasy elements of the original work. In particular, the story of love that transcends time and space strongly attracts the hearts of viewers. The character designs and background art are beautiful, making it very visually appealing. In addition, the performances of the stellar voice actors are superb, and the personalities of each character are vividly portrayed. Music is also an important element in adding excitement to the story, with the theme song and inserted songs deeply expressing the emotions of the story.

This is a must-watch for fantasy and romance lovers. Fans of the original work will especially enjoy the animated worldview, and the detailed drawings and storytelling that make the most of the OVA format will be enjoyable for modern anime fans as well.

Recommended points

The reasons why we recommend "Genji Part One" are as follows:

• A love story that transcends time and space : The love story between the protagonists Katsumi and Sakura is depicted on a grand scale that transcends time and space. Viewers can enjoy the touching story while rooting for their adventure and reunion.
• Beautiful character designs and background art : The character designs by Michitaka Kikuchi and background art by Chisato Sunagawa are visually stunning. In particular, the depiction of the otherworldly "Japan" is stunning and has the power to draw the viewer in.
• A luxurious voice cast : Many veteran voice actors, including Nozomu Sasaki, Maria Kawamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Masashi Hironaka, etc. Their performances bring out the personalities of the characters and help you understand the story more deeply.
• Emotional Music : The music by Kentaro Haneda and the theme songs for each episode deeply express the emotions of the story. The vocals by TAG, Nozomu Sasaki, and Maria Kawamura will especially touch the hearts of viewers.

Related works and information

"Genji Part 1" is based on the manga "Genji" by Yun Kouga. The original manga was serialized in "Wings" (published by Shinshokan) and was loved by many fans. In addition, the OVA of this work faithfully reproduced the world view of the original while adding the anime's own interpretation, and was widely accepted not only by fans of the original work but also by a new audience.

Sequels and related works include sequels to the original manga, other works by Yun Kouga, and other OVAs, also produced by JCSTAFF, which will be of interest to viewers who enjoy fantasy and romance.

Additionally, other works that the production staff and voice actors of this work have participated in will also be of interest to viewers. For example, other works directed by Ryo Yasumura, and other anime starring Nozomu Sasaki and Maria Kawamura are also must-sees for fans.

summary

"Genji Part 1" is a fantasy OVA that depicts a love story that transcends time and space. It faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work while adding its own unique interpretation, making it a work that has been loved by many viewers. It is full of visual and auditory appeal, including beautiful character designs and background art, a luxurious voice cast, and moving music. It is a must-see for viewers who love fantasy and romance.

By watching this film, you can be moved by the story of love that transcends time and space, and enjoy the beautiful animation and music. Please watch "Genji Part 1" and experience its charm.