The appeal and reviews of "Densharundesu": A thorough analysis of its infectious fun

"Contagious" - An OVA with a surreal world view and unique humor

"Densha Otoko" is an OVA based on the surreal comedy manga by Yoshida Sensha. Released in 1992, this work became a hot topic as it was adapted into an anime while keeping the unique worldview and humor of the original work intact. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of this work.

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

August 5, 1992
August 5, 1992: Both volumes released at the same time
Rental began on June 26, 1992

■Release and sales

Takara

■Frequencies

51 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 2

■Original Story

Yoshida Tank

■ Director

・General Director: Yoshida Sensha

■ Production

Produced by Shogakukan, Takara, Garcon, Asahi Advertising, Three D

■Works

©Shogakukan/Sensha Yoshida, Takara, Garcon, Asahi Advertising

■ Story

Pedro and Gary Tomita are pounding mochi. When Michie tries to go back into the house to pour warm water into the mochi, someone throws mochi at her. Michie gets angry and leaves the house.

■Explanation

This is an animated version of a surreal gag manga that was serialized in "Weekly Big Comic Spirits." To commemorate the sixth anniversary of "Big Comic Spirits" becoming a weekly magazine, the first and second volumes were released at the same time. Rental began before the video was released, and both volumes were bundled together. The product name is "Utsurundesu Video," but the title of the main work is the same as the original. In addition to the video, a key chain was also included with the product. Yoshida Sensha, the original author, was appointed general director, and the film is an omnibus format that not only includes animation, but also live-action and puppet show parts.

■Cast

・Mitchy/Hisakawa Aya ・Toru/Takato Yasuhiro ・Gary/Gori Daisuke ・Ringo 8/Tatsuta Naoki ・Announcer/Gori Daisuke ・Reporter/Touma Yumi ・The greengrocer's father/Tatsuta Naoki ・The florist's wife/Kawasumi Ayako ・The miso maker/Kishino Yukimasa

■ Main staff

・Original Story: Sensha Yoshida ・Planning: Big Comic Spirits ・Planning Cooperation: Keita Sato ・Production: Shogakukan, Takara, Garson, Asahi Advertising ・Production: Three D ・Production Cooperation: Polar Expedition ・Producers: Teruhito Yamashita, Naoki Miya, Takeji Iwai, Satoshi Shimodaira

・Screenplay and General Director: Yoshida Sensha ・Directors: Kira Keizo, Tanaka Norikazu ・Chief Animation Director: Kira Keizo ・Background: Eisha ・Cinematography: Hiro Animation Stand ・Assistant Director: Kimura Mitsuhiro ・Production Cooperation: Project Team SARA, Ueda Shinichiro

・OP1
・"Otter Song"
Lyrics: Yoshida Sensha; Composition: Sobue Masumi; Arrangement: Uemoto Hajime; Vocals: Kawauso Boys and Girls Choir

■ Main Characters

Michi: A girl who dreams of world domination. She is naive and tries to make her tea lukewarm by adding water from the bathroom, and tries to add lukewarm water to her rice cakes.

・Tooru Michi's lover.

・Gary Tomita A middle-aged man who speaks broken Japanese.

Pedro is Toru's friend. He is quiet and rarely talks. His family owns an apple farm.

Mr. Kawauso A otter with an unusual obsession with Hawaii. He is deeply jealous of his friend, the frog, and Kappa, who have both been to Hawaii.

■ Related works

・OVA "Contagious" (2009)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・"Otter Song"
Lyrics: Yoshida Sensha; Composition: Sobue Masumi; Arrangement: Uemoto Hajime; Vocals: Kawauso Boys and Girls Choir

The appeal and evaluation of "Contagious"

"Densha Otoko" is an animated version of Yoshida Sensha's unique surreal comedy, and its humor and worldview have captivated many fans. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and evaluation of this work.

Surreal world view and humor

Yoshida Sensha's original work is characterized by surreal gags and eccentric characters. "Contagious" faithfully recreates that worldview, drawing viewers into a whirlwind of laughter. In particular, scenes such as Micchy pouring lukewarm water into the mochi rice cakes and Kawauso-kun's obsession with Hawaii have been animated with the atmosphere of the original intact. These scenes not only provide viewers with laughs, but also allow viewers to feel Yoshida Sensha's unique perspective.

Omnibus format

This work is an omnibus format that combines not only anime but also live-action and puppet show parts. This allows viewers to enjoy the story through various means of expression. In particular, Yoshida Sensha himself appears in the live-action part, allowing viewers to directly experience the world as seen from the original author's perspective. In addition, the puppet show part also provides visual enjoyment with the characters' movements and expressions depicted more realistically.

Character Appeal

Each character in "Contagious" is unique and charming. Michi is a girl who dreams of world domination, but also has a naive side. Tohru supports Michi as her lover, and Gary Tomita provides laughs as a middle-aged man who speaks broken Japanese. Pedro is a quiet character who rarely speaks, but his background is deeply depicted as his family is an apple farmer. Kawauso's obsession with Hawaii is symbolic of his character and leaves a strong impression on the viewer. The story woven by these characters has the power to draw the viewer in.

The appeal of music

The theme song for "Contagious" is "Kawauso Ondo", written by Yoshida Sensha and composed by Sobue Masumi. The song is sung by the Kawauso Boys and Girls Choir and is an important element in livening up the atmosphere of the work. The arrangement by Uemoto Hajime also enhances the charm of the song. This theme song not only reminds viewers of the work, but also plays a role in further deepening the worldview of the work.

Background and Evaluation

"Densha Otoko" was produced to commemorate the sixth anniversary of "Weekly Big Comic Spirits" becoming a weekly magazine. The first and second volumes were released at the same time, and it became a hot topic that rentals began before the video was released. The product also came with a key chain as well as the video, which was a nice bonus for fans. By appointing the original author, Yoshida Sensha, as general director, it was possible to faithfully reproduce the worldview of the original work. These production backgrounds are factors that have increased the work's acclaim.

Related Works and Their Influence

"Contagion" was remade as an OVA in 2009. This remake was well received by fans of the original work as well as new audiences. As a companion work, this OVA provides an opportunity to rediscover the appeal of the original work and further expands the world of Yoshida Sensha's surreal gags. The existence of companion works also demonstrates the influence and popularity of the original work, providing viewers with an opportunity to enjoy the world of the work even more deeply.

Recommendations and how to watch "Contagious."

"Contagion" is highly recommended for viewers who enjoy surreal gags and a unique worldview. It is especially a must-see for fans of Yoshida Sensha's original work and viewers who want humorous anime. Another appeal is that it is produced in the form of an OVA, so it can be enjoyed in a short amount of time.

How to watch

"Contagious" is available to purchase on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on online streaming services, particularly on services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. When watching, it is best to watch both volumes back to back to get a deeper understanding of the story. You can also enjoy the worldview of the series even more by watching the related OVAs.

Conclusion

"Densha Otoko" is an OVA based on the surreal comedy manga by Yoshida Sensha, and its unique worldview and humor are its appeal. Various elements such as the omnibus format, unique characters, and attractive music have the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the production background and the existence of related works are also factors that increase the work's evaluation. We highly recommend it to viewers who want to enjoy surreal comedy and a unique worldview.