The appeal and rating of DC side episodes: Special stories that fans must see

DC Side Episode - Da Capo Side Episode - Appeal and Evaluation

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

18+ games

■ Broadcast period

August 24, 2003 - November 23, 2003

■Broadcasting station

・Broadcasting/UHF ^{independent UHF station}

■Frequencies

5 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

・Original work: CIRCUS

■ Director

・Director: Yuji Moriyama

■ Production

・Animation Production/Chaos Project

■Works

©CIRCUS/Da Capo Production Committee

■ Story

Hatsunejima is a crescent-shaped island where mysterious cherry blossoms bloom all year round. The protagonist, Junichi Asakura, a student at Kazami Academy, has the ability to make other people see his dreams, and a small magic to create Japanese sweets that he learned from his grandmother, a witch.
It seemed like he had a dream about someone while sleeping today as well. In that dream, for some reason, a childhood friend appeared. However, he was woken up by his younger sister, Otomu Asakura, and was dragged back to his daily life.
To be precise, Junichi and Otomu are not blood relatives, but they share a bond that is deeper than that of real siblings. It's almost as if they are lovers.
An ordinary day in which he wakes up in the morning and goes to Kazami Academy. His childhood friend and junior, Amakase Miharu, also known as "Dog", Shirakawa Kotori, the school idol, and Mizukoshi Moe and Mako sisters, who for some reason eat "nabe" (hot pot) for lunch at school.
It was supposed to be another peaceful day with them. However, Yoshino Sakura, who was supposed to have moved to America when she was a child, suddenly appears. Junichi and Otomu are surprised. And at the end, Sakura says, "I've come to fulfill a promise we made when we were young."

■Cast

・Nemuro Asakura／Sakura Nogawa・Sakura Yoshino／Yukari Tamura・Kotori Shirakawa／Yui Horie・Miharu Amakase／Akemi Kanda・Moe Mizukoshi／Yui Izuki・Mako Mizukoshi／Yuki Matsuoka・Yoriko Sagisawa／Miyu Matsuki・Utamaru／Haruko Momoi

■ Main staff

・Original work: CIRCUS
・Character design: Naru Nanao ・Director: Yuji Moriyama ・Art director: Yoji Nakaza ・Director of photography: Masato Sato ・Music: Yoshiki Minami ・Music production: Lantis ・Animation production: Chaos Project

■ Main Characters

・Asakura Nemu When she was young, her parents died in an accident. She was taken in by the Asakura family. She was raised with her older brother Junichi as if they were real siblings. She is very popular at school, but in fact she seems to have a different face, one that she shows only to Junichi, and one that she shows to everyone else.
Yoshino Sakura is close friends with Junichi and Otomu, and is especially related to Junichi as a cousin. She moved to America when she was young, but one day she suddenly returned. Despite her very childish appearance, she has a genius mind that puts scholars to shame.
・Shirakawa Kotori The most popular student at Kazami Academy. The school's idol. She is skillful enough to quickly open up to people she meets for the first time, has a singing voice good enough to enter a music competition, and is also intelligent. She is also very frank in her conversations with Junichi.
・Amakase Miharu is childhood friends with Junichi and Otomu. She is especially attached to Otomu, and is always with her as a member of the discipline committee. Perhaps because of this, she is nicknamed "Puppy". She has a lively and cheerful personality, and always puts people around her at ease. She is famous for loving bananas.
Moe Mizukoshi A 100% airheaded older sister who falls asleep while eating, talking, and even walking. She always has a xylophone hanging around her neck, making a clanging sound all the time. She also hosts hotpot parties on the rooftop.
・Makoto Mizukoshi is Moe's younger sister and Junichi's classmate. She's beautiful but has a headstrong personality. Perhaps because of her personality, she is very popular with the younger girls, and sometimes receives love letters from the same sex. She is the second organizer of the rooftop hotpot party.
・Yoriko Sagisawa After being bullied in the park, Junichi saves her and she ends up working as a maid at the Asakura household... The cat ears on her head look real, but who is she?

■Subtitle

・1
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12

■ Related works

・DC Da Capo ・DCSS Da Capo Second Season

■ Theme songs and music

・ED1
・Tranquil Corda

■ Evaluation and impressions

"DC Side Episode - Da Capo Side Episode -" is a short animated series that was broadcast in 2003, and is originally a spinoff of the 18+ game "DC Da Capo" by CIRCUS. The story is set on Hatsune Island, an island where mysterious cherry blossoms bloom, and depicts the daily life of the protagonist Junichi Asakura and the unique characters that surround him. Below, we will discuss the appeal and evaluation of this work in detail.

■ The appeal of the story

"DC Side Episode" provides viewers with healing and laughter by depicting the daily lives of the characters in a short 5-minute time slot. In particular, fantasy elements such as the protagonist Junichi's ability to see other people's dreams and his magic to make Japanese sweets add color to the everyday scenes. In addition, interactions with childhood friends and the sudden return of Yoshino Sakura add depth to the story.

The relationship between Junichi and Otomu is also not to be missed. Despite not being related by blood, the deep bond between the two is deeply moving to the viewer. In particular, the depiction of Otomu switching between the face she shows to Junichi and the face she shows to other people gives a glimpse into her complex inner world, adding realism to the story.

■Charm of the characters

The greatest charm of this work is the unique characters. Each character has their own charm, such as Asakura Nemu's special feelings for Junichi, Yoshino Sakura's genius intellect and the contrast with her childish appearance, Shirakawa Kotori's brilliance as an idol, Amakase Miharu's lively and bright personality, Mizukoshi Moe's airheadedness, Mizukoshi Mako's headstrong nature, and the mysterious Sagisawa Yoriko.

In particular, Amakase Miharu's nickname "Puppy" and her love of bananas make her character even more lovable. The Mizukoshi sisters' rooftop hotpot party also provides laughs to viewers and gives them a sense of the warmth of everyday life. Sagisawa Yoriko's cat ears and role as a maid also give the story a unique atmosphere.

■ Evaluation of the production

Director Yuji Moriyama has succeeded in drawing out the best in the characters in a short time frame. The beautiful visuals by art director Yoji Nakaza and cinematographer Masato Sato also enhance the appeal of the work. Additionally, the music by Yoshiki Minami and the music production by Lantis also add depth to the story.

Chaos Project, the animation studio, has succeeded in meticulously depicting the characters' movements and expressions, allowing the viewer to empathize with them. It is not easy to express the individuality of each character in a short 5-minute film, but this film has done so beautifully.

■ Comparison with related works

"DC Side Episode" focuses more on daily life than related works such as "DC Da Capo" and "DCSS Da Capo Second Season". "DC Da Capo" is a work that depicts the love affair between Junichi and the heroines, while "DCSS Da Capo Second Season" develops a new story that advances the timeline. On the other hand, "DC Side Episode" aims to provide viewers with healing and laughter by depicting the daily lives of the characters.

For viewers who are familiar with the related works, this work is a valuable opportunity to learn new sides to the characters, and for viewers who are not, it is a good entry point into experiencing the charm of the characters.

■ Evaluation of theme songs and music

The ending theme, "Seimi naru Corda," is a beautiful song that perfectly expresses the atmosphere of the series. This song allows viewers to reflect on the characters' daily lives and provides a time of emotional healing. Furthermore, the music by Minami Yoshiki stirs emotions as the story unfolds, deeply moving viewers.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"DC Side Episode - Da Capo Side Episode -" is highly recommended for viewers who want to feel the warmth of everyday life and the charm of the characters. It is especially perfect for viewers who are looking for healing and laughter. It is also a valuable opportunity for viewers who are familiar with related works to learn new sides of the characters.

This work was broadcast on UHF radio, and is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, and streaming services. In particular, by watching it together with related works on streaming services, you can enjoy the story in greater depth.

Conclusion

"DC Side Episode - Da Capo Side Episode -" is a work that provides viewers with healing and laughter by depicting the daily lives of characters in a short time. The work has a wide range of appeal, including unique characters, beautiful images, and music. It is a work that can be enjoyed by viewers who are familiar with related works as well as those who are not, and is highly recommended.