The appeal and reviews of "ICE": Icy beauty and a profound story

"ICE": An OVA depicting a post-apocalyptic worldview and profound themes

"ICE" was released as an OVA in 2007, and was written by Yasushi Akimoto and directed by Makoto Kobayashi. This work, which consists of three episodes, is set in a world where men have died out due to dramatic changes in the environment and unknown pollutants, and only women have survived, and depicts a battle over a sample of "ICE" that will determine the survival of humanity. Below, we will introduce detailed information about this work, its evaluation, and recommended points.

Overview

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

May 25, 2007

■Release and sales

・Distributor: Bandai Visual ・Publisher: PROJECT-ICE

■Frequencies

40 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 3

■Original Story

Yasushi Akimoto

■ Director

Makoto Kobayashi

■ Production

・Animation production: P.P.M.
・Produced by Oniro ・Produced by E-NET FRONTIER, PROJECT-ICE

■Works

© Yasushi Akimoto/PROJECT-ICE

story

The story of "ICE" is set in a post-apocalyptic world and depicts a battle over a sample of "ICE" that threatens the survival of humanity. The setting of the near future, 2012, makes the viewer feel a sense of reality and enhances their immersion in the story. In addition, the setting of a world where men have died out highlights profound themes such as gender issues and the survival of humanity.

The sample of "ICE," which is at the center of the story, is an important item that has the potential to save humanity, and the fight over it heightens the tension of the story. By setting the story in a specific location, the central district of Tokyo, viewers can follow the story while linking it to the real world. In addition, the sea of ​​trees-like worldview creates a visual impact and further enhances the atmosphere of the story.

cast

The cast of "ICE" is mainly made up of members of AKB48. This was a natural choice, considering that Yasushi Akimoto is the creator of the original work. In particular, the appearance of popular AKB48 members, such as Erena Ono as Yuki and Yuko Oshima as Rinne, is thought to have helped raise the profile of the work.

The voice actors for each character express the individuality of their characters well, especially Junko Minagawa as Hitomi, who skillfully portrays the strength and inner conflict of an excellent soldier, and Akira Ishida as Julia, who exudes dignity and cold-heartedness as the commander of the guards, heightening the tension of the story.

Main Staff

The main staff of "ICE" is made up of talented people, including Yasushi Akimoto. It is especially noteworthy that Makoto Kobayashi is in charge of both the director, mecha design, storyboard, and art direction, and you can feel his vision reflected throughout the film. Masaya Onishi, who was in charge of character design and animation direction, also provided beautiful character designs that enhance the film's appeal.

The screenplay was written by Yasushi Hirano and Makoto Kobayashi, and the plot and character development are well-written. Won Il Woo's soundtrack also plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. The voice actors' performances are also enhanced by the sound director Yota Tsuruoka.

Main Characters

The main characters of "ICE" are depicted as each with a different position and background, but acting towards the common goal of the survival of humanity. In particular, the characters of Hitomi and Yuki are at the center of the story, and their growth and conflicts are important factors that drive the story.

Hitomi is a complex character who, while an excellent soldier, has doubts about the very existence of the Eiga Corps. Her inner conflict and feud with Julia add depth to the story. Meanwhile, Yuki is a girl from the last generation on Earth, and her purity and strength give hope to the story. Characters such as Julia and Kisaragi are also portrayed acting according to their own beliefs, which adds to the tension of the story.

subtitle

The subtitles of "ICE" are set according to the progression of the story, making it easier for viewers to follow the story. In particular, the wordplay of "HATO - HEART -", "RURU - RULE -", and "ASA - ANSWER -" symbolizes the theme of the work and the feelings of the characters, leaving a deep impression on viewers.

Related Titles

In addition to the OVA, there is also a movie version of "ICE". The movie version expands on the story of the OVA and depicts the theme of the survival of humanity from a broader perspective. By watching both the OVA and the movie version, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the world view of the work and the background of the characters.

Theme songs and music

The theme song for "ICE", "Aisareru to Iu Koto", was written by Yasushi Akimoto, composed by Yo Yamazaki, and arranged by Akihisa Matsuura, and is sung by ICE from AKB48. The song sings about the story's themes of love and the survival of humanity, and features a melody and lyrics that resonate deeply with viewers. It is also believed that the fact that it is sung by members of AKB48 helped to raise the profile of the work.

Evaluation and recommendation points

"ICE" is a work that depicts a post-apocalyptic worldview and profound themes, and has been highly praised for the quality of its story, characters, and staff. Below, we will introduce specific evaluation points and recommended points.

Evaluation points

• Worldview : The setting of the near future in 2012 and the unique worldview of a world where all men have died out give the viewer a sense of realism and tension, enhancing the sense of immersion in the story. In addition, the visuals of a sea of ​​trees create a visual impact and further enhance the atmosphere of the work.
• Theme : The story explores the profound theme of the survival of humanity, and makes us think about gender issues and the true nature of humanity. In particular, the characters Hitomi and Yuki portray universal themes such as hope, despair, love and faith.
• Characters : Although each character has a different position and background, they are depicted acting towards the common goal of the survival of humanity, which resonates with viewers. The voice actors' performances also express the individuality of each character, adding excitement to the story.
• Staff : The team is made up of talented staff including Yasushi Akimoto, and Makoto Kobayashi's vision is especially reflected in the entire work. The high quality of the character designs, music, sound, and other aspects enhance the work's appeal.

Recommended points

• People who like post-apocalyptic worldviews : The setting of the near future in 2012 and the unique worldview of a world where men have died out will appeal to those who like post-apocalyptic works. In addition, the visuals, such as the sea of ​​trees, also have a visual impact and further enhance the atmosphere of the work.
• People who like works with profound themes : This work depicts the profound theme of the survival of humanity, and makes you think about gender issues and the true nature of humanity. In particular, it depicts universal themes such as hope, despair, love and faith through the characters of Hitomi and Yuki, so it is recommended for people who like works with profound themes.
• AKB48 fans : Many members of AKB48 are in the cast of "ICE", especially popular members such as Erena Ono as Yuki and Yuko Oshima as Rinne. The theme song is also sung by ICE from AKB48, so it's a must-see for AKB48 fans.
• Fans of Yasushi Akimoto's work : This is an interesting work for fans of his work, as Yasushi Akimoto created the original work. Also, Yasushi Akimoto's vision is reflected throughout the work, so this is a must-see for his fans.

Conclusion

"ICE" is an OVA that depicts a post-apocalyptic worldview and profound themes, and has been highly praised for the quality of its story, characters, and staff. In particular, the setting of the near future in 2012 and the unique worldview of a world where all men have died out give viewers a sense of realism and tension, enhancing their immersion in the story. It also depicts the profound theme of the survival of humanity, making viewers think about gender issues and the true nature of humanity. Although each character has a different position and background, they are depicted acting toward the common goal of the survival of humanity, which resonates with viewers. It features a talented staff including Yasushi Akimoto, and in particular, the vision of Makoto Kobayashi is reflected throughout the work. The high quality of all aspects, including character design, music, and sound, enhances the appeal of the work. This work is recommended for people who like post-apocalyptic worldviews, people who like works that depict profound themes, AKB48 fans, and people who like Yasushi Akimoto's works.