Karakuri no Kimi - The charm of a unique world view and detailed storytelling

"Karakuri no Kimi" - A story of a girl and a mechanical doll in the Warring States period

Overview

Karakuri no Kimi is an OVA based on the manga by Kazuhiro Fujita, and was released by Shogakukan on March 24, 2000. Directed by Hirotoshi Takaya and produced by Shogakukan, Toho, and Tokyo Movie, it is a short but dense story at 42 minutes long. This work is a tale of adventure and growth centered around a small feudal lord, his daughter, and a mechanical doll during the Warring States period.

story

In the Warring States period in Japan, feudal lord Fumidori Kokonoe was absorbed in making mechanical dolls, and as a result, he was attacked and defeated by Karimata Sadayoshi. One day, a girl carrying a large basket visits the legendary ninja Kato, but the only person there is Yasaburo, a low-ranking ninja who has escaped from Karimata's castle. Then pursuers appear from Karimata Castle. The girl takes out the mechanical warrior Taromaru from her suitcase and overwhelms the enemy, the immortal ninja. Both Taromaru and the immortal ninja are dolls made by Kokonoe. And the girl's true identity is Kokonoe's daughter, Rangikuhime.

character

Manajiri Yasaburo

Voice actor: Norio Wakamoto. A genin who escaped from Karimata Castle. He works alongside Princess Rangiku and fights to protect her.

Ayawatari Rangiku

Voice actor: Akiko Yajima. Kokonoe's daughter, she is the girl who controls the Karakuri warrior Taromaru. She follows her father's last will and sets out on a journey to exact revenge.

Sadayoshi Karimata

Voice actor: Nakata Koji. The lord who destroyed Kokonoe. He has a ruthless personality and becomes the target of Princess Rangiku's revenge.

The Immortal Ninja

Voice actor: Takeshi Aono. The leader of the ninjas who serve Sadayoshi Karimata. He uses a mechanical doll to corner Princess Rangiku.

Narration

Voice actor: Mugihito. He acts as the narrator who helps move the story forward.

staff

plan

Fumio Ueda and Haruo Sai

Production

Shunzo Kato

Screenplay

Junichi Miyashita

Storyboard

Hirotoshi Takaya

Character Design

Hirotoshi Takaya

Karakuri Design

Tsutomu Suzuki

Art Director

Kazuhiro Arai

Color Settings

Kayoko Nishi

Director of Photography

Nishiyama Jin

edit

Terumitsu Okada

Sound Director

Katsuyoshi Kobayashi

Animation Director

Hirotoshi Takaya and Tsutomu Suzuki

music

Kaoru Wada

producer

Masahito Yoshioka

Appeal of the work

Set in Japan during the Warring States period, Karakuri no Kimi is a work that skillfully combines fantasy elements with a historical background. In particular, the design and movements of the Karakuri puppets have been highly praised for their visual appeal. Director Takatani Hirotoshi also serves as character designer and animation director, so the characters' expressions and movements are drawn with great detail and realism. Additionally, the techniques of Tsutomu Suzuki, who was in charge of the Karakuri puppet design, are superb, and the Karakuri puppets' presence adds excitement to the story.

The story is also notable for its moving development, with its themes of revenge and growth. Rangiku's growth and the human drama of the characters surrounding her deeply move viewers. In particular, Rangiku's friendship with Yasaburo and her determination to carry out her father's will have touched the hearts of many viewers. Furthermore, antagonist characters such as Karimata Sadayoshi and the leader of the Immortal Ninja are not simply villains, but are given depth through the portrayal of their backgrounds and motives.

Music and Sound

The music was composed by Wada Kaoru, and features impressive Japanese-style melodies that enhance the atmosphere of the Warring States period. In particular, the background music that heightens the tension in battle scenes and the gentle melodies in moving scenes contribute greatly to the progression of the story. Additionally, the sound effects by sound director Kobayashi Katsuyoshi and the performances of the voice actors also make the world of the work feel more realistic. The voices of Wakamoto Norio as Yasaburo and Yajima Akiko as Rangikuhime express the characters' emotions in a rich way, leaving a deep impression on viewers.

Recognition and Awards

"Karakuri no Kimi" was highly praised for its short but dense storyline and beautiful visuals. Anime fans especially praised the design and movement of the Karakuri puppets. The story development and character growth were also highly praised, with many viewers expressing their emotions. However, some say that it was difficult to depict everything in the short time of 42 minutes, and that if it had been a little longer, the work would have been even more profound.

Although it has not received any major awards, it has received a great deal of support from fans and stands out among other OVA works.

Recommendations and related works

"Karakuri no Kimi" is recommended for those who are attracted to the fantasy of the Sengoku period and the charm of Karakuri dolls. It is also perfect for those who want to enjoy a moving story of revenge and growth. Related works include "Sengoku BASARA", which is also set in the Sengoku period, and "Karakuri Circus", which is themed around Karakuri dolls. These works also have a historical background and fantasy elements, so we recommend that fans of "Karakuri no Kimi" check them out.

summary

"Karakuri no Kimi" is an OVA with a moving story and beautiful visuals set in Japan during the Warring States period. The design and movement of the Karakuri puppets, the character growth and human drama, and the world view woven together by the Japanese-style music will deeply move viewers. The dense story told in a short time frame makes it stand out among other OVA works. If you are attracted to the fantasy of the Warring States period and the charm of Karakuri puppets, this is a work you should definitely give a watch.