Review of "Wind -a breath of heart- Special Advance Edition": What is the appeal of Serial No. 0?

The appeal and evaluation of "Wind -a breath of heart- Pre-release special edition Serial No.0"

■Overview of the work

"Wind -a breath of heart- Special Pre-release Edition Serial No.0" is an OVA released on May 28, 2004, and is an animation based on the 18+ game "Wind -a breath of heart-" by minori. It was released by KSS and consists of 30-minute episodes. It was directed by Tominaga Tsuneo and animated by Vennett. The work is set in the nostalgic and mysterious city of Kazeoto, and tells the story of a brother and sister who return to their hometown to search for their mother.

■ Story

The wind in this town has always been gentle...

"Kazeoto City" is a town filled with nostalgia and mystery. It is the hometown of Okano Makoto and his sister Hinata. The siblings have returned to this town for the first time in many years to search for their mother who suddenly disappeared... A childhood friend welcomes them back to their hometown. Through their encounters, Makoto begins to realize something important...

■Explanation

The wind in this town was always gentle.

The hit game "Wind - a breath of heart -" originally created by minori has finally been made into an anime! The crystal clear world of this game is beautifully and delicately depicted in this OVA.

■Cast

• Makoto Okano/Hisayoshi Suganuma
• Minamo Narukaze/Miwa Kozuki
• Hinata Okano/Ritsuko Kasai
• Wakaba Fujimiya/Sayaka Aoki
• Nozomi Fujimiya/Junko Okada
• Aya Tsukiyo/Riko Hirai
• Shikoin Temple Mist/Satomi Kodama
• Tsutomu Tachibana/Akio Suyama
• Akihito Narukaze/Jin Horikawa

■ Main staff

• Original story/minori
• Planning: Masao Nakamura
• Director: Tsuneo Tominaga
• Screenplay by Mami Watanabe
• Character design: Rie Nishino
• Color design: Kayoko Nishi
• Art Director: Hideto Nakahara
• Director of photography: Eiji Tsuchida, Yoshihiro Sekiya
• Edited by Jun Takuma
• Music by Minami Nozaki
• Music producer/Mitsunori Yokoyama
• Sound Director: Koichi Iizuka
• Animation producer: Yoshihiro Shintani
• Animation Production: Vennett
• Produced by KSS

■ Main Characters

• Okano Makoto is a refreshing young man. He is active and quick-witted. He returns to his hometown, Kazeoto City, with his younger sister Hinata to search for their mother who suddenly disappeared.
• Minamoto Narukaze is a calm, yet proactive girl who cares about her father. The sound of the harmonica that Minamoto plays connects her to Makoto.
• Hinata Okano is Makoto's younger sister. She is a mood maker who always has a bright atmosphere. She can do all kinds of housework and seems reliable, but in reality she is quite dependent on her older brother, Makoto.
• Nozomi Fujimiya is a ponytailed swordsman. She loves her younger sister Wakaba a lot. She usually works part-time at the coffee shop "ONE DAY". She's terrible at housework.
• Wakaba Fujimiya is a calm, kind and shy girl. She adores her older sister, Nozomi. She works part-time at "ONE DAY" with Nozomi.
• A mysterious girl whom Ayana Tsukishiro met in the city at night. She holds the key to this story.
• Shikoin Kasumitsu's best friend. She is a reliable person who calms down the out-of-control(?) Kasumitsu and acts as a big sister to everyone. She is actually a young lady from a good family.
• Tachibana is a true friend who is perfect in both work, play and study. He is childhood friends with Makoto and Hinata, and has known Kasumi for a long time.

■ Related works

• Wind -a breath of heart- TV version
• Wind -a breath of heart- Serial No.1～3

■ Theme songs and music

• OP1
  Story Without a Map Lyrics by Ryo Mamama Music by Hideo Saito Arrangement by Hideo Saito Singer by Masami Nakaji
• ED1
  Shining Lyrics: Ryo Mamada Music: Ritsuko Miyajima Arrangement: Yasunari Nakamura Singer: Masami Nakaji

■The appeal of the work

The biggest appeal of "Wind -a breath of heart- Pre-release special edition Serial No.0" is its beautiful visuals and delicate storytelling. Fans of the original game will enjoy seeing familiar characters come to life again in animation, and can enjoy the story from a new perspective. In addition, by taking advantage of the OVA format, the essence of the original work is condensed into a 30-minute story, making it easy for viewers with limited time to enjoy.

In particular, the scenery of Kazeoto City and the expressions and movements of the characters stand out with the beauty that can only be achieved through animation. The delicate touch of character designer Nishino Rie, working under director Tominaga Tsuneo, faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work. In addition, the use of colors by color designer Nishi Kayoko also enhances the atmosphere of the work.

The story carefully depicts the feelings of a brother and sister who return to their hometown to search for their mother. In particular, the importance of family and friendship can be felt through the growth of the main character, Okuno Makoto, and his interactions with his friends. The presence of the mysterious girl, Tsukishiro Aya, also adds depth to the story and draws the viewer in.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

This work is recommended not only for fans of the original game, but also for viewers who want beautiful animation and a deep story. In particular, it offers a heartwarming story for those who like works with themes of family and friendship. Another appeal is that it can be easily enjoyed in the OVA format, making it easy to watch even during busy daily lives.

The acting of the cast is also superb, especially the change of feelings of Okano Makoto played by Suganuma Hisayoshi and the kindness of Narukaze Minamono played by Kozuki Miwa capture the hearts of viewers. The music also adds to the atmosphere of the work, with Nozaki Minami's music and Nakaji Masami's singing voice adding depth to the story.

There are also related works such as the TV version and Serial No. 1-3, so viewers who are interested should check those out as well. In particular, the TV version offers a deeper storyline, while Serial No. 1-3 feature condensed episodes that are unique to OVAs.

Overall, "Wind -a breath of heart- Pre-release special edition Serial No.0" is a work filled with beautiful visuals, a moving story, and respect for the fans of the original work. Please watch it once and experience its charm for yourself.