The appeal and reviews of "The Cool Two": A must-see youth comedy masterpiece

A cool couple - The brilliance of youth and the bittersweetness of love

The TV anime series "Iketeru Futari" aired on TBS in the winter of 1999 and is based on the manga of the same name by Takashi Sano. Although it was only broadcast for a short period of only 12 episodes, it gained many fans due to its unique world view and the charm of its characters. In this article, we will take a closer look at the appeal of "Iketeru Futari", the background of its production, and its subsequent influence.

Story and Characters

The setting of "The Cool Two" is Shibuya, Tokyo. The main characters are Kyosuke Saji, a powerful high school student, and Akira Koizumi, a mysterious beautiful girl who wanders around Shibuya. Kyosuke falls in love at first sight with the small, cute, and strong-willed Akira, and as he chases her, he realizes he is in true love. The two are surrounded by friends who are torn between friendship and romance, depicting the bittersweetness of youth.

The cast includes Shigeru Shibuya as Kyosuke and Kae Araki as Akira, and the characters' personalities are vividly portrayed. Akira's tsundere personality and Kyosuke's hot-bloodedness left a strong impression on viewers. The story is also enriched by unique supporting characters such as Yuki Umemiya (Miho Yamada), Ryoko Arigase (Ayumi Furuyama), and Maki Amakasu (Tomoe Hanba).

Production background and staff

"Iketeru Futari" was animated by JCSTAFF and directed by Yamaguchi Takeshi. The screenplay was written by Agatsuma Masayoshi and Kamo Yoshinobu, the character designs were by Oki Ryoichi, the art direction was Hirose Yoshinori, the music was by MOKA, and the sound direction was by Tanaka Kazuya. The series was produced in collaboration with TBS and Pioneer LDC, and is based on the original manga by Sano Takashi, which was serialized in Shonen Gahosha's Young King magazine.

The series was broadcast for just one month, from February 2nd to February 26th, 1999, in a short 10-minute time slot from 11:55 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is said that this short broadcast time was a strategy to allow viewers to enjoy the story all at once.

Episodes and subtitles

Each episode of "The Cool Two" is colored with a unique subtitle. Below are the subtitles of all the episodes.

• Episode 1: SOS! Alice in Shibuya
• Episode 2: Beats are pickin', big boobs are bouncin'
• Episode 3: The Easy-going Puri Puri
• Episode 4: At least in bed...
• Episode 5: Dangerous Lover? A Sudden Kiss
• Episode 6: If the retake exam blows, will the panties fly away?
• Episode 7: Breaking Friends! is attacked by a tingling attack... tingling?
• Episode 8: Sweetheart Valentine Special
• Episode 9: First move! Akira Koizumi's hot night ♥
• Episode 10: Everyone's Idol, Sakurai-kun♥Pao
• Episode 11: A Night of Kitty Printing in the Kotatsu!
• Episode 12: Pajama Party: Fly into Space!!
• Episode 13: The Wet Detective, Amakasu Story
• Episode 14: Squishy Memories - A Challenge from the Unknown!
• Episode 15: The biggest excitement in history♥ Where are you going, Koizumi?
• Episode 16: The Final Episode: Bouquets for these two cool guys!

As you can tell from the subtitles, "The Cool Couple" is a work that skillfully combines humor with the bittersweetness of youth. In particular, the scenes of love and friendship were full of scenes that grabbed the hearts of the viewers.

Theme song and music

The opening theme "Fall in YOU" was written by Makoto Asakura, composed and arranged by Daisuke Asakura, and sung by Yuki Kimura. This song has a sweet melody that symbolizes the love story between Kyosuke and Akira, and has captivated the hearts of viewers. In addition, MOKA's music, including the ending theme and insert songs, plays an important role in livening up the atmosphere of the story.

Influence and Evaluation of the Work

Although "Iketeru Futari" was only broadcast for a short time, it had a huge impact on the anime industry. It is especially known as the work that made the tsundere character type widely known. It is also highly regarded as a youth romance story, and continues to be loved by many fans.

Viewers commented that "Kyousuke and Akira's love story was realistic and I could relate to it," "The supporting characters were also attractive, so I never got bored of watching it," and "It was only on air for a short time, but the intense story development was impressive." Fans of the original manga also commented that "the appeal of the original work has been further enhanced by the anime adaptation."

Recommendations and related works

If you enjoyed "The Cool Two," we also recommend the following works:

• "Love Hina": A youth romance comedy, it features a tsundere character, just like "The Cool Two."
• "School Rumble": A story about love and friendship among high school students, filled with humor and emotion.
• "Fruits Basket": A work that depicts family love, friendship, and romance, and offers a deep human drama.

Just like "Iketeru Futari," these works will make you feel the brilliance of youth and the bittersweetness of love. Also, be sure to read the original manga of "Iketeru Futari." It contains more in-depth episodes and character backgrounds that were not depicted in the anime, making it a must-read for fans.

summary

Although "Iketeru Futari" was on air for a short time, it gained many fans with its charming characters and story. This work, which depicts the love story between Kyosuke and Akira, the friendship with the friends around them, and the brilliance of youth, continues to be loved by many people even today. Please watch it once and experience its charm.