The appeal and reviews of BOYS BE...: Realistic depiction of youth and character development

The appeal and reputation of BOYS BE...

The TV anime series "BOYS BE..." that aired in 2000 is based on a manga serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine by Masahiro Itabashi and Hiroyuki Tamakoshi. This work was loved by many viewers as a youthful love comedy depicting the love lives of adolescent boys. Below, we will introduce detailed information about this work, its appeal, and its reviews.

Overview

"BOYS BE..." was broadcast on WOWOW from April 11 to July 4, 2000, and is a series consisting of 11 episodes. Each episode is 30 minutes long, and it was directed by Masami Shimoda, with series composition by Kenichi Kanemaki, character design by Itsuko Takeda, and music by Be-Factory. The sound director was Hideyuki Tanaka, the art director was Junichiro Nishikawa, and the color design was Yoshimi Kawakami.

Main Cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Kyoichi Kanzaki - Kenichi Suzumura
• Makoto Kurumizawa - Akira Ishida
• Yoshihiko Kenjo - Hideo Ishikawa
• Chiharu Nitta - Kazusa Murai
• Aki Mizutani - Yuri Shiratori
• Yumi Kazama - Miki Nagasawa

Main Characters

The appeal of this work lies in its unique characters. Details of each character are introduced below.

• Kyoichi Kanzaki (17 years old) - He has a gentle personality that is described as "so good-natured that it's almost stupid," and is popular with his peers. While he is quiet and sensitive, he can also be indecisive and timid. He is the eldest son of a middle-class family, belongs to the art club, and is good at drawing.
• Makoto Kurumizawa (17 years old) - He is a "timid, mischievous" character who likes to pick up girls, but he is actually shy and a "manual" guy. He is an only child in a single-parent household and does not belong to any club. His home is a coffee shop, so he is good at cooking.
• Yoshihiko Kenjo (17 years old) - A tough character with a strong sense of justice and a manly spirit, he is the leader of the group. He is known for his laid-back nature, acting at his own pace even without prior knowledge. The second son of a middle-class family, he is a member of the baseball team, but he rarely attends practice because he was forced to join because of his talent.
• Nitta Chiharu (17 years old) - A classmate of the three students mentioned above who could be described as a "romantic late honor student," she has a tomboyish and straightforward personality. She is fearless and a big sister type, and is best friends with the trendy Mizutani Aki and the eccentric Kazama Yumi. She is a member of the track and field club.
• Aki Mizutani , 17 years old - An active, trendy girl with a lot of curiosity, but she easily gets bored and has an eye for new things. Although she may seem frivolous at first glance, she is actually a dreamy girl.
• Kazama Yumi, 17 years old - A quiet, laid-back girl with an artistic sensibility, but her sense is not well understood by those around her.

episode

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1 - Sakura Fuwari
• Episode 2 - A Smile for the Tears of the Angel
• Episode 3 - A natural love story
• Episode 4 - All the smiles in the world are worthless
• Episode 5 - When the Sun Shines Again
• Episode 6 - I want to give you a blue sky
• Episode 7 - End of Summer
• Episode 8 - Rondo ~ Sixteenth Night Moon
• Episode 9 - Categories of Happiness
• Episode 10 - Embracing a sleepless night
• Episode 11 - Before Winter Comes

Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

• Opening theme - "Daijobu" (It's Okay) by Aki Maeda
• Ending theme - "Minna ga Iine" (Everybody's Nice) by Aki Maeda

Appeal of the work

The greatest appeal of "BOYS BE..." is that it depicts the realistic love lives of adolescent boys. The worries and conflicts each character faces, as well as their growth, are depicted so realistically that viewers empathize with them. In addition, each episode has a different love theme, and the way it depicts love from multiple angles has also been praised.

In particular, the characters' personalities stand out, such as Kyoichi Kanzaki's indecisiveness, Makoto Kurumizawa's shy side, and Yoshihiko Kenjo's laid-back sense of justice. The story woven by these characters conveys the bittersweetness and sadness of youth, and was loved by many viewers.

Ratings and Recommendations

"BOYS BE..." has been highly praised as a youthful romantic comedy. In particular, the realistic portrayal of the characters and the theme of each episode have been highly praised, making it a first-class work depicting adolescent love. In addition, the voice actors' performances are excellent, and the characters' emotions are expressed realistically.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Realistic portrayal of adolescence - The love lives of adolescent boys are portrayed realistically, resonating with viewers.
• Characters with Distinct Personalities - Each character has a distinct personality that adds excitement to the story.
• Multifaceted love themes - Each episode has a different love theme, depicting love from multiple angles.
• Great voice acting - The voice actors are amazing and convey the emotions of the characters so realistically.

"BOYS BE..." is highly recommended for those who like youth romantic comedies and those who are looking for a work that depicts a realistic love story. If you want to feel the bittersweetness and sadness of youth, this is a work you should definitely watch.

Additional Information

This work has been highly praised not only by fans of the original manga, but also by anime fans. In particular, the anime firmly incorporates the essence of the original while adding an original story, providing new appeal to fans of the original. The music also matches the atmosphere of the work, playing a role in evoking the emotions of the viewer.

Furthermore, this work is not only about the love lives of teenage boys, but also friendships and family ties, and has been praised for depicting youth from multiple perspectives. It is a work that gives viewers an opportunity to look back on their youthful memories, which is why it is loved by so many people.

Above, we have introduced the appeal and reviews of "BOYS BE...". If you haven't watched this work yet, please give it a try. You will be able to feel the bittersweetness and sadness of youth.