A thorough review of private detective Toki Shozo's Trouble Notes! What is the appeal of his hard and loose writing?

"Private Detective Shozo Toki's Trouble Notes: Hard & Loose": The appeal of a hard-boiled detective drama

■Overview of the work

"Private Detective Toki Shozo Trouble Notes Hard & Loose" (hereafter referred to as "Hard & Loose") is an OVA released by Nippon Columbia on July 1, 1992. It is based on the manga of the same name by Karuno Marei and Kawaguchi Kaiji, and was directed, scripted and storyboarded by Ishiguro Noboru, with animation produced by Artland. This work is a hard-boiled drama in which Toki Shozo, a tough detective who loves boxing and horse racing, takes on various cases.

■ Story

Toki Shozo is a private detective who loves boxing and horse racing. He receives a request from a former boxer to uncover the truth behind a certain incident. Toki accepts the request and proceeds with the investigation using his own unique method. Through Toki's human detective work, the story depicts the lives and conflicts of various people.

■ Characters

Masazo Toki

Toki Shozo is a private detective who is not very successful, but is not lacking in work. Contrary to his tough appearance, he has a warm personality and takes on even the smallest of requests. His skills as a detective are top-notch, and he solves cases with his own network and insight. He is voiced by Watanabe Hiroyuki, whose deep voice brings out the character of Toki even more.

Tashiro

Tashiro is Toki's friend and informant. Voiced by Koichi Yamadera, Tashiro adds color to the story with his witty talk and quick-witted actions.

Shugoro Onishi

Onishi Shugoro is a former boxer who brings the request to Toki. Otsuka Akio's powerful voice conveys his past suffering and his current determination.

Kuniko

Kuniko is a woman who works in Toki's office and supports his life. Shimamoto Sumi's soft voice conveys her warmth and strength.

■Production Background

In order to recreate the hard-boiled atmosphere of the original work in the OVA format, director Ishiguro Noboru also wrote the script and storyboard for "Hard & Loose." Character design and animation director was Sugimitsuto, direction was Hanai Shinya, art director was Akashi Teiichi, cinematography was Torigoe Kazushi, sound director was Hayase Hiroyuki, special effects were Yamamoto Akira, color design was Koyama Naomi, music was Watanabe Masaru, sound effects were Matsuda Akihiko, and production was handled by Watanabe Hidenobu. Nippon Animation also provided production cooperation.

■ Evaluation and appeal

The greatest appeal of "Hard & Loose" is its hard-boiled atmosphere and the charming character of Toki Shozo. Toki's human detective work deeply moves viewers. The OVA has also been highly praised for faithfully recreating the realistic worldview of the original work. In particular, the meticulous storytelling by Ishiguro Noboru, director, scriptwriter and storyboard artist, has the power to draw viewers into the world of the story.

■ Recommendation points

"Hard & Loose" is highly recommended for those who like hard-boiled dramas and detective stories. It will also be enjoyed by those who are interested in the character of Toki Shozo. Furthermore, for fans of the original work, it is a work that allows you to enjoy the visual expression unique to OVA.

■ Related works

The original work of "Hard & Loose" is a manga by Marei Karuno and Kaiji Kawaguchi, which is also full of the hard-boiled atmosphere and charm of Shozo Toki. There are also many other interesting works by director Noboru Ishiguro and other OVAs produced by Artland, so be sure to check them out as well.

Conclusion

"Private Detective Toki Shozo Trouble Notes Hard & Loose" is a very attractive hard-boiled detective drama. It has been highly praised for the human detective activities of the character Toki Shozo and for faithfully recreating the realistic worldview of the original work in an OVA. This is a must-watch for fans of hard-boiled dramas and detective stories, as well as fans of the original work.