"Bokurano" review: A profound theme and a moving story

"Bokurano": A grand story depicting the weight of life and the agony of choices

■Overview of the work

"Bokurano" is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Kitoh Mohiro, which aired from April 8 to September 30, 2007. It consists of 24 episodes, each 30 minutes long. Animation was by GONZO, production was by Izumi Project, and the director was Morita Hiroyuki. The work is known for its profound storyline, depicting the harsh fate faced by boys and girls and their search for a way of life in the midst of it all.

■ Story

Fifteen boys and girls are at a nature school during summer vacation. There, 14 junior high school first-years, excluding elementary school student Kana Ushiro, suddenly make a contract with a mysterious person who calls himself Kokopelli. The contract states that if they lose the battle or the battle is unsuccessful after 48 hours, the Earth will be destroyed and all life on Earth, including all humankind, will be wiped out. The pilot is a person selected from those who made the contract in advance, and the robot must be operated by a single person, and it is not allowed to be changed at will. The robot runs on human life force, and there is a harsh rule that in exchange for fighting, the pilot must take his or her life. The end of the world or our deaths? This is the story of the boys and girls who are forced to make this ultimate choice.

■Explanation

"Bokurano" is a story that depicts the fates that boys and girls face and the choices they make in the game, centering on the harsh rules of the game in which piloting the robot means death. Fourteen boys and girls in their first year of junior high school suddenly make a contract with a mysterious person who calls himself Kokopelli. The contract states that if they lose the battle or the game is unsuccessful after 48 hours, the Earth will be destroyed and all life will be wiped out. Each robot is piloted by a single person, and no changes are allowed. The robot runs on human life force, and in exchange for fighting, there is a harsh rule that the pilot's life will be taken. The end of the world or our deaths. This is the story of the boys and girls who are forced to make this ultimate choice.

■Cast

The cast of this film is as follows:

• Jun Ushiro/Junko Minagawa
• Kana Ushiro/Kana Asumi
• Kanji Yoshikawa/Kenji Nojima
• Yoko Machi/Yuko Sanpei
• Aiko Ozumi/Yui Makino
• Takami Komoda/Mamiko Noto
• Yosuke Kirie/Shintaro Asanuma
• Manki Ano/Kumiko Higa
• Kunihiko Moji/Koki Miyata
• Chizuru Honda/Aoi Takahashi
• Isao Kako/Keisuke Fujita
• Mako Nakai/Yuka Iguchi
• Daiichi Yamura/Tomokazu Sugita
• Masaru Odaka/Soichiro Hoshi
• Takashi Wakui/Daisuke Sakaguchi
• Kokopelli/Hiroki Tochi
• Koemushi/Akira Ishida

■ Main staff

The main staff of this work are as follows:

• Original work: Mohiro Kitoh
• Director: Hiroyuki Morita
• Assistant Director: Kawabata Elkin
• Character design: Kenichi Konishi
• Mechanical visor/Tsutomu Suzuki
• Color design: Takae Iijima
• 3D Director: Katsunori Ohno
• Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda
• Art setting: Shigemi Ikeda, Shuichi Okubo
• Director of photography: Kenji Fujita
• Edited by Kiyoshi Hirose
• Sound Director: Aketagawa Jin
• Music by Yuji Nomi
• Music producers: Junji Fujita, Keiichi Nozaki
• Music Production: Future Vision Music, Victor Entertainment
• Producers: Osamu Nagai, Hideyuki Namba
• Animation production: GONZO
• Produced by Izumi Project

■ Main Characters

The main characters of this work are as follows:

• Takashi Waku (aka Waku), 1st year middle school student, 155cm, blood type B
• Masaru Kodaka: Nicknamed Kodama, 1st year middle school student / 145 cm Blood type: O
• Aiko Tokosumi (aka Anko), 1st year middle school student, 150cm, blood type B
• Honda Chizuru: Nicknamed Chizu, 1st year middle school student/150cm, blood type AB
• Kunihiko Moji (also known as Moji), 1st year middle school student, 150cm, blood type AB
• Mako Nakarai (also known as Nakama), 1st year middle school student, 150 cm, blood type A
• Kirie Yosuke: Nicknamed Kirie, 1st year middle school student / 140 cm Blood type: A
• Isao Kako: Nicknamed Kako, 1st year middle school student/150cm Blood type: B
• Takami Komoda (also known as Komo), 1st year junior high school student, 155 cm, blood type A
• Kanji Yoshikawa (also known as Kanji), 1st year junior high school student, 160 cm, blood type: O
• Daiichi Yamura (also known as Daichi), 1st year middle school student, 150cm, blood type A
• Ano Maki: Nicknamed Maki, 1st year junior high school student/145 cm Blood type: O
• Yoko Machi (aka Machi), 1st year middle school student, 145cm, blood type B
• Jun Ushiro: Nicknamed Ushiro, 1st year middle school student/150cm Blood type: A
• Kana Ushiro (aka Kana), 4th grade elementary school student, 130 cm, blood type: O
• Koemushi: An unidentified creature. It plays a supporting role in the battles of Zearth. However, there are many mysteries surrounding it.
• Kokopelli: UNKNOWN.

■ Main robot items

The main robots in this game are as follows:

• Zearth: A giant robot that is piloted by boys and girls who make a contract with it.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of this series are as follows:

• Episode 1/Game
• Episode 2: The Earth
• Episode 3: Secret
• Episode 4: Strength
• Episode 5: Weakness
• Episode 6: Lust
• Episode 7: Scar
• Episode 8: Revenge
• Episode 9: Family
• Episode 10: Friends
• Episode 11: Life
• Episode 12: The Connection of Lives
• Episode 13: Earth
• Episode 14: Hesitation
• Episode 15: Self-Destruction
• Episode 16: True Identity
• Episode 17: Love
• Episode 18: Reality
• Episode 19: Mother
• Episode 20: Fate
• Episode 21: The Truth
• Episode 22: The Journey
• Episode 23: Snow Scene
• Episode 24/Story

■ Related works

The related works of this work are as follows:

• Our Omnibus

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music for this work are as follows:

• OP1
  • Period: 1-24
  • Uninstall
  • Lyricist: Chiaki Ishikawa
  • Composer: Chiaki Ishikawa
  • Arrangement: Masala Nishida
  • Vocals: Chiaki Ishikawa
• ED1
  • Period: 1-12
  • Little Bird
  • Lyricist: Chiaki Ishikawa
  • Composer: Chiaki Ishikawa
  • Arrangement: Masala Nishida
  • Vocals: Chiaki Ishikawa
• ED2
  • Period: 13-24
  • Vermillion
  • Lyricist: Chiaki Ishikawa
  • Composer: Chiaki Ishikawa
  • Arrangement: Masala Nishida
  • Vocals: Chiaki Ishikawa

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Bokurano" has attracted many viewers with its profound storyline and deep themes. In particular, the harsh fate the boys and girls face and the way they search for life in that environment left a strong impression on viewers. The individuality and growth of each character is also depicted, allowing viewers to empathize with their fates as they follow the story.

GONZO, the animation production company, captivated viewers with their realistic character designs and powerful battle scenes, while director Hiroyuki Morita faithfully reproduced the profound storyline of the original while incorporating unique animation techniques to bring out the best in the work.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of this work, and the theme song "Uninstall" sung by Ishikawa Chiaki conveyed a powerful message that symbolized the theme of the story. In addition, the ending theme of each episode also changed according to the development of the story, enhancing the emotions of the viewers.

■ Recommendation points

"Bokurano" is a magnificent story that depicts the weight of life and the pain of choice, and is a work that is appealing for its deep themes and profound storyline. It is particularly recommended for those who are interested in the harsh fates that the boys and girls face and the way they seek to live within them. In addition, the realistic character designs and powerful battle scenes are also highlights, and it is recommended for those who enjoy the quality of animation production. Furthermore, the theme song and ending theme sung by Ishikawa Chiaki are important elements that enhance the appeal of the story, so it is also recommended for those who enjoy music.

■How to watch

You can watch "Bokurano" in the following ways:

• Bandai Channel: All episodes available to watch on the official streaming site
• DVD/Blu-ray: Each episode is available on DVD or Blu-ray and can be viewed by purchasing it.
• Rental: Each episode can be rented on DVD or Blu-ray at a rental store.

■ Related Products

The following products are related to "Bokurano".

• Original manga: The original manga by Mohiro Kitoh is published by Shogakukan
• Character Song CD: CDs containing character songs for each character are available for sale.
• Figures: Figures of each character are available
• Merchandise: T-shirts, key chains, and other merchandise are available.

■ Summary

"Bokurano" is a magnificent story that depicts the weight of life and the pain of choice, and is a work that is appealing for its deep themes and profound storyline. It is highly recommended for those who are interested in the harsh fates that the boys and girls face and the way they seek to live within them. In addition, the realistic character designs and powerful battle scenes are also highlights, and it is recommended for those who enjoy the quality of animation production. Furthermore, the theme song and ending theme sung by Ishikawa Chiaki are important elements that enhance the appeal of the story, so it is also recommended for those who enjoy music. Please watch this work and feel its charm.