Review of "Little Twins: Our Summer is Flying Away": A moving film depicting the brilliance of youth and the sense of loss

Little Twins: Our Summer Flying Away - A heartwarming animation depicting nostalgic summer memories

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

August 8, 1992 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Shochiku

■ Eirin Number

25847

■Frequencies

25 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Isamu Tsuchida "Little Twins"

■ Director

Yorifusa Yamaguchi

■ Production

Produced by Little Twins Project

■Works

©Little Twins Project

■ Story

One day, five children, Tafuru, Chifuru, Chita, Puff, and Babu, decide to stay overnight in a children's castle with their treasures as a summer memory. At night, when they start telling ghost stories, a real ghost appears. When Tafuru splashes water on the ghost, it goes away, but in fact, the ghost is Tafuru and Chifuru's father, Totem, who came to check on the children out of concern for them.

■Explanation

An animation depicting the summer memories of gentle little people who live among animals and plants in nature. It was released as an OVA in 1992, and a theatrical version was released in the same year. Other works shown at the "Summer Vacation Manga Festival" were "Flower Magician Mariebell: The Key of the Phoenix" and "Moominvalley: The Comet in Moominvalley". This work depicts the pure hearts of children and the bonds of family, giving viewers a sense of nostalgia and warmth.

■Cast

・Chifuru/Maaya Sakamoto ・Taful/Hiroo Masuda ・Tottem/Hiroya Ishimaru ・Michiru/Miyuki Ichijo ・Chitam/Yoichi Miyagawa ・Hara/Miyoko Aso

■ Main staff

Director: Yorifusa YamaguchiChief Producer: Kimiro YabukiChief Director: Toshio HirataOriginal Story: Isamu TsuchidaScreenplay: Junki TakegamiCharacter Design: Kazuo KomatsubaraChief Animation Director: Kazuo KomatsubaraStoryboard: Junichi SatoArt: Isamu TsuchidaMusic: Matthew MorseEditor: Hiroshi AdachiSound: Yukie Naito

■ Main Characters

Chifuru A dwarf girl who lives on Korokkur Island. She is Tafuru's twin sister.
A little boy who lives on Tafulkorokkur Island.

■ Related works

・OVA "Little Twins"

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Background and production of the work

"Little Twins: Our Summer is Flying Away" is a short animated film released in 1992, based on the original work by Isamu Tsuchida. It was directed by Yorifusa Yamaguchi, written by Junki Takegami, and had character designs and chief animation direction by Kazuo Komatsubara. The film was also released as an OVA and screened as a theatrical film. Its screening at the "Summer Manga Festival" in particular led to it becoming beloved by many children.

■ The appeal of the story

The story begins with a simple premise, with five children, including Tafuru and Chifuru, staying overnight in a cabin to make summer memories. As they enjoy ghost stories, a ghost appears, but it turns out to be the children's father, who has come to check on them out of concern for them. This surprises the children, but also gives a sense of the warm family bond. The film depicts the pure hearts of the children and the love of the family, providing viewers with a sense of nostalgia and warmth.

■Charm of the characters

The main characters, Chifuru and Tafuru, are twin dwarfs who live on the island of Korokkur, and their adventures and growth are at the center of the story. Chifuru is portrayed as a curious and kind character, while Tafuru is portrayed as a brave and leadership character, and the relationship between the two enriches the story. In addition, the other children and Totem are also unique and charming characters.

■Visuals and Music

The character designs are by Kazuo Komatsubara, and are characterized by their cute yet realistic touch. The background art is also by Isamu Tsuchida, and the beauty of the nature-rich island of Korokkur is carefully depicted. The music is by Matthew Morse, and its pleasant melodies add to the atmosphere of the story. The music in adventure scenes and moving scenes in particular has the effect of bringing out the emotions of the viewer.

■ Cast performances

The voice actors, including Maaya Sakamoto as Chifuru, Hiroki Masuda as Tafuru, and Hiroya Ishimaru as Tottemu, also deliver superb performances. Maaya Sakamoto's Chifuru is cute and strong, while Hiroki Masuda's Tafuru exudes bravery and kindness, adding excitement to the story. Hiroya Ishimaru's performance as Tottemu is particularly impressive, with a warmth that brings out the love of a father.

■ Related works and their influence

"Little Twins" was also released as an OVA, and is a work beloved by many fans. The OVA version contains a deeper story and character backgrounds, and can be enjoyed together with the theatrical version. In addition, "Flower Magician Mariebell: The Key of the Phoenix" and "Moomin Village: The Comet in Moomin Valley," which were screened at the same time, were also highly acclaimed as children's animations. It can be said that the appeal of "Little Twins" was conveyed to a wider audience by being screened alongside these works.

■Reasons for recommendation

"Little Twins: Our Summer is Flying Away" is a heartwarming story that depicts the pure hearts of children and the bonds of family. It is recommended for a wide range of audiences, from children to adults, as it evokes memories of summer, the fun of adventure, and the love of family. It is especially recommended for those who want to feel nostalgic and those who want to cherish time with their family. You can also enjoy the story more deeply by watching it together with the OVA version.

■How to watch

This work can be purchased on DVD and Blu-ray. It may also be available on some video streaming services, so if you're interested, check them out. By watching the OVA version as well, you'll gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment.

■ Summary

"Little Twins: Our Summer is Flying Away" is a short animated film released in 1992, a heartwarming work that depicts the pure hearts of children and the bonds of family. The character design, music, and acting of the cast are also superb, providing viewers with a sense of nostalgia and warmth. By watching it together with the OVA version, you will be able to enjoy a deeper story. It is a work that can be recommended to a wide range of people, from children to adults, so please give it a watch.