The appeal and reviews of "Seraphim Call": A thorough analysis of the deep story and the appeal of the characters

Seraphim Call: A look back at a hidden gem from 1999

"Seraphim Call," which aired on TV Tokyo in 1999, was a short but powerful anime series. It was a 12-episode TV anime series produced by Sunrise and based on a video game. It aired for just three months, from October 7 to December 23, 1999, every Wednesday at 1:45am. Although it was only 15 minutes long, it left a deep impression on viewers.

Original story and production background

The original character design for "Seraphim Call" was published in Dengeki G's Magazine and was written by Aoi Nanase. Aoi Nanase is an illustrator known for her character design, and her unique touch is one of the charms of this work. The production team includes director Tomomitsu Mochizuki, series composition by Toshihisa Arakawa, animation character design by Maki Fujii, sound director Katsuyoshi Kobayashi, and art director Seiko Akashi, bringing together a stellar cast of staff that fully demonstrates Sunrise's production capabilities.

Story and Characters

"Seraphim Call" is an omnibus series in which each episode tells the story of a different character. The main characters are called "Seraphim", and they move between the real world and the fantasy world while carrying their own worries and dreams. Below are the main characters and their episodes.

Yukina Kurimoto (voiced by Hiroko Kasahara)

The first episode, "Kurimoto Yukina - Sleeping Beauty Panic!", depicts how Yukina becomes drawn into the story of Sleeping Beauty. It is moving to see her find a new self in the fantasy world, even as she struggles with her own problems in the real world. This episode highlights Hiroko Kasahara's acting ability as a voice actress.

Tanpopo Teramoto (voiced by Taeko Kawada)

In the second episode, "Teramoto Tanpopo - Margarine in Danger", Tanpopo goes on an adventure to find margarine. Her bright and positive personality livens up the story and cheers up the viewers. Taeko Kawada's expressiveness as a voice actress is outstanding.

Sakurase Chinami (voiced by Yajima Akiko)

In episode 3, "Sakurase Chinami - The Taste of Western Confectionery", we see Chinami's growth as she makes Western confectionery. Her delicate emotions are carefully depicted, and the episode deeply touches the viewers. Akiko Yajima's acting ability as a voice actress shines through.

Hatsumi Kusunoki (voice: Eiko Ito)

Episode 4, "Kusunoki Hatsutsumi - Flying Angel", depicts Hatsutsumi's struggle to fulfill her mission as an angel. Her strong will and kindness enhance the story and move the audience. Emiko Ito's expressiveness as a voice actress is outstanding.

Murasame Shion (voice: unknown)

In episode 5, "Murasame Shion - To my sister in a dream", Shion is reunited with her sister in a dream. Her sad feelings are carefully depicted, making this an episode that deeply touches the viewers. The acting skills of the voice actors shine through.

Murasame Sakura (voice: unknown)

Episode 6, "Murasame Sakura: To My Sister in Love," depicts Sakura's determination to maintain her love as an older sister. Her strong will and kindness enhance the story, making this an episode that moves the viewer. The acting skills of the voice actors are outstanding.

Ayano Hiiragi (voice: unknown)

Episode 7, "Hiiragi Ayano: The Paradox of "I", depicts Ayano coming to terms with herself. Her inner conflict is carefully depicted, making this an episode that deeply moves viewers. The acting skills of the voice actors shine through.

Ayaka Rindo (voice: unknown)

Episode 8, "Rindo Ayaka - Acropolis International Rescue Team", depicts Ayaka's efforts as a member of the international rescue team. Her courageous actions add excitement to the story and inspire viewers. The voice actress' expressiveness is outstanding.

Kasumi Kurenai (voice: unknown)

Episode 9, "Kurenai Kasumi: The Legend of a Girl," depicts Kasumi's growth as a legendary girl. Her strong will and kindness enhance the story, making this an episode that moves viewers. The acting skills of the voice actors shine.

Kurumi Matsumoto (voice: unknown)

In episode 10, "Matsumoto Kurumi - Real Blue", Kurumi is shown living a positive life despite her worries in the real world. Her bright and positive personality adds excitement to the story and energizes the viewers. The voice actress' expressiveness is outstanding.

Urara Tachibana (voice: unknown)

Episode 11, "Tachibana Urara: My Inner World," depicts Urara facing her inner self. Her inner conflict is carefully depicted, making this an episode that deeply touches the viewer. The acting skills of the voice actors shine through.

Final Episode

Episode 12, "Seraphim's Holy Night," depicts the Seraphim celebrating their holy night. Their growth and bond enhance the story, making this an episode that deeply moves viewers. The acting skills of the voice actors are outstanding.

Animation and Music

The animation of "Seraphim Call" is based on the character designs of Aoi Nanase, and Maki Fujii is in charge of animation character design. Aoi Nanase's unique touch is reproduced in the animation, making it visually appealing. In addition, the music by sound director Katsuyoshi Kobayashi also enhances the atmosphere of the work, deeply moving the viewers.

Evaluation and impact

"Seraphim Call" is a work that left a strong impression on viewers despite its short broadcast period. The omnibus format, in which each episode tells the story of a different character, was fresh and deeply moving to viewers. In addition, the visual appeal of the series was also highly praised, thanks to the combination of Aoi Nanase's character designs and Sunrise's production skills. The music also enhanced the atmosphere of the work, deeply moving viewers.

This work had a major impact on the anime industry in 1999. It led to an increase in omnibus-style works and a renewed awareness of the importance of character design. It also led to a reevaluation of Sunrise's production capabilities, influencing subsequent works.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Seraphim Call" is a short work that left a strong impression. The omnibus format, in which each episode tells the story of a different character, is fresh and deeply moving to the viewer. In addition, the character designs by Nanase Aoi, combined with the production skills of Sunrise, have also been highly praised for their visual appeal. The music also enhances the atmosphere of the work, deeply moving the viewer.

This work can be viewed on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on streaming services. It is especially recommended for those who like omnibus-style works, those who are particular about character design, and those who are interested in Sunrise's production capabilities. Please give it a watch.

summary

"Seraphim Call" is a short but powerful anime series that aired on TV Tokyo in 1999. Based on a game, this 12-episode TV anime series produced by Sunrise uses an omnibus format, with each episode telling the story of a different character. The character designs by Aoi Nanase, combined with the production skills of Sunrise, earned high praise for its visual appeal. The music by sound director Katsuyoshi Kobayashi also enhanced the atmosphere of the series, deeply moving viewers. This series had a major impact on the anime industry in 1999, triggering an increase in omnibus-style works and a renewed recognition of the importance of character design. Please give it a watch.