A thorough evaluation of the video extras in "Potemayo"! What are the must-see contents for fans?

"Potemayo Bonus Video": A Miraculous Story Born from a Refrigerator

"Potemayo Bonus Video" was released as an OVA in 2007, and is based on the manga "Potemayo" by Haruka Mikataya. This work is a humorous and warm story that revolves around the mysterious creatures "Potemayo" and "Guchuko" who suddenly appear in the daily life of a taciturn middle school student named Sunao Moriyama. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of this work.

■Overview of the work

Potemayo Bonus Video was released by Bandai Visual on September 25, 2007, and consists of 6 episodes, each about 7 minutes long, but packed with dense content. Animation was done by JCSTAFF, directed by Ikebata Takashi, with series composition and scriptwriting by Ikemi Yuta. Character design and general animation director was Oki Ryoichi, music by Kikutani Tomoki, and production was done by the Potemayo Production Committee (Bandai Visual, Futabasha, Lantis, JCSTAFF).

■ Story

Moriyama Sunao is a quiet junior high school student who loves bread. A mysterious creature named Potemayo suddenly appears from the refrigerator in his house. Potemayo is a strange character with two heads and black cat ears and a tail. Although she can barely speak, she can read people's minds. Sunao decides to call Potemayo "Potemayo" and they end up living together. Potemayo's soft, fluffy texture, appearance, and cute, warm behavior make her popular at Sunao's school.

In addition, a mysterious creature called "Guchuko" appears from the Moriyama family's refrigerator, just like Potemayo. Guchuko has a violent and shy personality, and for some reason sees Potemayo as a rival. Sunao's daily life becomes more and more lively and interesting, as she is surrounded by eccentric classmates.

■ Characters

・Potemayo : A mysterious creature found in the Moriyama family refrigerator. It has cat ears and a black tail, and often has a chick on its head. It can barely speak, but can read people's minds. Sunao gave it the name "Potemayo" after the name of a sweet bun. It is voiced by Kana Hanazawa.

・Guchuko : A mysterious creature that appeared from the Moriyama family refrigerator, chasing Potemayo. It cuts things in half with a sickle and repairs them with duct tape. Its favorite food is the "guchu balls" (truffles) that Kyo makes, and when Kyo saw them, he named it "Guchuko". It is voiced by Ayumi Tsuji.

・Moriyama Sunao : A cool middle school boy who rarely gets upset. He lives almost alone as he doesn't have a mother, but he has a passionate father. His voice actor is Kitamura Eri.

・Natsumikan : A classmate who has an honest unrequited crush. She is good at being alone and the slightest thing can trigger her intense delusions. Her family runs a greengrocer. She is voiced by Kawasumi Ayako.

・Takamisakari Kyo : Mikan's friend. She is good at cooking and baking, and has the sense to call truffles "guchutama". Her voice actor is Yuko Kaida.

・Kasugano Nene : Mikan's friend. She is the daughter of a very wealthy family, but is more of a cool queen. Her voice actor is Kugimiya Rie.

・Mudo Kirihara : Sunao's classmate. He has a strong "moe" for Potemayo and wants to get in touch with her somehow. His voice actor is Hikaru Tokita.

■ Episode

・Episode 1/2000% Increase (2007/09/25): The episode where Potemayo appears from the Moriyama family refrigerator. It starts with Sunao and Potemayo meeting, and Potemayo's cuteness becomes a hot topic at school.

Episode 2: Gravity Increased by 30% (2007/10/26): Guchuko appears and her relationship with Potemayo is depicted. The contrast between Guchuko's ferocity and Potemayo's kindness makes Sunao's daily life even more lively.

Episode 3: Inuyama-san's Daily Life (2007/11/23): An episode depicting the daily life of Inuyama-san, a classmate of Sunao. Potemayo and Guchuko have an impact on Inuyama-san's life.

・Episode 4/Shopping 2 (2007/12/21): An episode in which Sunao, Potemayo, and Guchuko go shopping together. The relationship between the three deepens through shopping.

Episode 5 / School Festival (2008/01/25): An episode set at the school's school festival. Potemayo and Guchuko are a big hit at the school festival, and Sunao's class is excited.

Episode 6 / Culture Festival Part 2 (2008/02/22): A sequel to the culture festival. The story follows how Sunao's class wins the championship thanks to the efforts of Potemayo and Guchuko.

■ Production staff

・Original story : Haruka Mikataya

・Director : Takashi Ikebata

・Series composition, script : Yuta Ikemi

・Character design and chief animation director : Ryoichi Oki

・Art director : Shichiro Kobayashi

・Color design : Tomomi Ando

Director of photography : Yoshio Okochi

Edited by Kentaro Tsubone

・Sound Director : Aketagawa Jin

・Music producer : Yoshiyuki Ito

・Music : Tomoki Kikutani

Producers : Toyota Todoroki, Goichi Nonaka, Yuka Sakurai, Yuji Matsukura, Tetsuro Satomi

・Animation Producer : Masahiro Tabetani

・Animation production : JCSTAFF

Produced by: Potemayo Production Committee (Bandai Visual, Futabasha, Lantis, JCSTAFF)

■ Related works

"Potemayo" is a manga by Haruka Mikataya that was made into an anime in 2007. The OVA "Potemayo Bonus Video" was produced as a bonus video for this anime.

■ Evaluation and appeal

"Potemayo Bonus Video" is a short but fascinating work with a dense story and unique characters. In particular, the contrast between Potemayo's cuteness and Guchuko's ferocity will provide viewers with laughter and emotion. Another highlight is Sunao's cool personality and his relationship with his eccentric classmates.

This work depicts the laughter and emotions that come from small everyday occurrences, giving viewers a warm and fuzzy feeling. In addition, each episode has a different theme, so you can enjoy it without getting bored.

■ Recommendation points

・Character appeal : The contrast between Potemayo and Guchuko is interesting, and Sunao and the other classmates also have rich personalities. In particular, Potemayo's cuteness soothes the hearts of viewers.

- Humor and emotion : The show is filled with laughter and emotion that comes from small everyday occurrences, leaving viewers with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

- Short but dense story : Although each episode is short at about 7 minutes, the content is dense and you will not get bored.

- The production staff's attention to detail : JCSTAFF's careful animation production and director Ikebata Takashi's direction enhance the appeal of the work.

■ Message to viewers

"Potemayo Bonus Video" is a work that depicts the laughter and emotions that come from small everyday events. Please watch it while paying attention to the contrast between Potemayo and Guchuko, and the relationship between Sunao and her classmates. It will surely heal your heart.