"Kodomo no Omocha" review: A moving story and charming characters

"Kodomo no Omocha": A masterpiece anime depicting the brilliance and conflicts of youth

■Overview of the work

"Kodomo no Omocha" (Children's Toys) is an anime based on the school comedy manga of the same name by Obana Miho. It was shown at the "Ribon Wakuwaku Anime Theater" event from August 17, 1995, and was released on DVD in December of the same year. It is an anime adaptation of an early episode from the original work, and has a more serious content compared to the comedic touch of the original. It was produced by JCSTAFF and directed by Suzuki Yuki.

■ Story

Sana Kurata, a sixth grade elementary school student, is leading a smooth-sailing life in the entertainment industry, appearing on TV shows as a popular idol talent. However, her classmate, Hayama Akito, is causing chaos. Sana finally explodes with anger at the problem boy. This story depicts the brilliance and conflicts of youth through the relationship between Sana and Akito.

■ Characters

Sana Kurata

Voice actor: Chisa Yokoyama

Sana is a sixth grade girl with a strong sense of justice, a cheerful personality, and a tendency to get carried away, but she also has a sensitive personality. While she works as an idol talent, she is troubled by her relationship with her classmate, Akito Hayama, in her school life. Sana's character is exquisitely portrayed, with her cheerfulness and inner sensitivity resonating deeply with viewers.

Akito Hayama

Voice actor: Megumi Ogata

Akito is Sana's classmate, but he grew up in a complicated family environment, which made him a problem child at school. Through his encounters with Sana, Akito changes little by little. His character leaves a strong impression on viewers as the emotional scars and conflicts behind his problematic behavior are depicted realistically.

■ Production staff

・Original Story: Miho Obana・Director: Yuki Suzuki・Scriptwriter: Akane Suganuma・Character Design, Animation Director: Mamoru Sasaki・Storyboard: Shuji Iuchi・Direction: Nanako Shimazaki・Art Director: Chieko Enozaki・Director of Photography: Katsuyuki Otaki・Sound Director: Fusanobu Fujiyama・Layout Inspection: Masahiro Ando・Color Design: Satoko Shiho・Art Design: Akihiro Hirasawa, Tetsuko Mitsunaga・Music: Hiroshi Koga・Production: JCSTAFF
Produced and published by: Shueisha

■ Theme songs and music

Opening theme "Kodomo no Kimochi"
Lyrics and composition: Miho Obana Arrangement: Hiroshi Koga Vocals: Chisa Yokoyama

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Kodomo no Omocha" has been highly praised for its realistic portrayal of the brilliance and conflicts of youth. In particular, the relationship between the protagonists, Sana Kurata and Akito Hayama, deeply moves viewers. The characters' inner lives are carefully portrayed, such as Sana's cheerfulness and sensitivity, and the emotional scars behind Akito's problematic behavior, eliciting sympathy from viewers. In addition, the anime adaptation of episodes from the original work provides new appeal for fans of the original work.

The anime adaptation changed the original comedy touch to a more serious story, providing viewers with a new perspective. It is a work that brings together the efforts of the staff, including director Yuki Suzuki, screenwriter Akane Suganuma, and character designer Mamoru Sasaki. In particular, the opening theme "Kodomo no Kimochi" by composer Hiroshi Koga is a beautiful melody that symbolizes the theme of the work and resonates in the hearts of viewers.

■ Recommendation points

I would like to recommend "Kodomo no Omocha" to many viewers as a masterpiece anime that depicts the brilliance and conflicts of youth. In particular, the following points are the reasons for this recommendation.

1. Realistic character portrayals

The main characters, Sana Kurata and Akito Hayama, are drawn realistically, evoking deep empathy from the viewer. The characters' inner lives are carefully drawn, including Sana's cheerfulness and sensitivity, and the emotional scars behind Akito's problematic behavior. These character portrayals leave a strong impression on the viewer and enhance the appeal of the work.

2. Serious story development

The storyline has changed from the original comedy to a more serious one, providing viewers with a new perspective. Through the relationship between Sana and Akito, the brilliance and conflicts of youth are depicted realistically, deeply moving viewers. This serious storyline further enhances the appeal of the work.

3. Beautiful Music

The opening theme "Kodomo no Kimochi" by Hiroshi Koga is a beautiful melody that symbolizes the theme of the work and resonates in the hearts of viewers. This music further enhances the charm of the work and gives deep impressions to the viewers.

Related information

"Kodomo no Omocha" was shown at an event called "Ribon Wakuwaku Anime Theater" in 1995, and was released on DVD in December of the same year. The original is a school comedy manga of the same name by Miho Obana, serialized in Shueisha's "Ribon". The anime adaptation features episodes from the early days of the original, providing new appeal to fans of the original.

The voice actors, Yokoyama Chisa and Ogata Megumi, also deliver superb performances, realistically expressing the inner thoughts of their characters. In particular, Yokoyama Chisa's portrayal of Sana is particularly brilliant, as she perfectly portrays her cheerfulness and sensitivity, evoking deep sympathy from viewers. Ogata Megumi's portrayal of Akito also leaves a strong impression on viewers, as she realistically portrays the emotional pain behind his problematic behavior.

Conclusion

"Kodomo no Omocha" is a masterpiece anime that depicts the brilliance and conflicts of youth in a realistic way, and is a work that I would like to recommend to many viewers. The work is full of charms such as realistic character portrayal, serious story development, and beautiful music. Please watch this work and feel the brilliance and conflicts of youth.