Myself; Yourself review: moving story and deep characters

"Myself; Yourself": Changes brought about by time and regeneration of the soul

■Overview of the work

Myself; Yourself is a 13-episode anime series that aired in 2007, based on the game Yeti and Resistor. It was directed by QZo (Kuroda Yasuhiro), animated by Doga Kobo, and produced by the Myself; Yourself Production Committee (Marvelous Entertainment, Happinet, 5pb., Pony Canyon Enterprises). It aired from October 3 to December 26, 2007 on tvk, Chiba TV, Teletama, TV Aichi, TV Osaka, and AT-X. Each episode is 30 minutes long, and is a heartwarming love story about youth and growing up.

■ Story

The protagonist, Hidaka Sana, moved to Tokyo five years ago due to her parents' work, but returns to her hometown of Sakuranomori Town as a high school student. She is surprised at how much the townscape and her friends have changed, but is especially troubled by the change in her childhood friend, Yashiro Nanaka. Nanaka, who once had a bright and innocent smile, has now become gloomy and withdrawn. The story depicts Sana growing up together with her friends, while struggling with the gap between her memorable memories and reality.

■ Characters

The main characters of this work are as follows:

• Nanako Yashiro : 16 years old, second year high school student. Sana's childhood friend, she is beautiful but has a blank expression and is silent. She was cheerful and friendly when she was young, but now she has changed. She has excellent grades and is good at playing the violin.
• Oribe Maoi : 17 years old, third year high school student. Sana's childhood friend, a super-natural big-breasted girl with glasses. Although she is older than him, she has a childlike side. Her hobbies are reading and cooking.
• Akari Wakatsuki : 16 years old, second year high school student. Sana's childhood friend, boyish and straightforward. Shusuke's twin sister, they are so close that they fight. Her special move is the electric massager.
• Hinako Mochida : 10 years old, 5th grade elementary school student. She is a beautiful girl, but cheeky and wants to act like an adult. She gets angry when people treat her like a child, but she also has a childish side appropriate for her age.
• Fujimura Yuzuki : 25 years old, a female teacher in charge of Sana's class. She teaches science and is loved by her students for her straightforward personality. Her hobby is giving "rewards" to students who work hard.
• Hoshino Asami : 16 years old, second year high school student. Well behaved and friendly. Class representative for the class next to Sana, her hobbies are baking sweets and volunteering. She loves animals.
• Hidaka Sana : 16 years old, second year high school student. Calm personality, medium build. An indoor type who likes games. She was mischievous when she was young, but now she can play the piano a little.
• Shusuke Wakatsuki : 16 years old, second year high school student. Sana's childhood friend, he is an active person who loves sports. He is the mood maker for everyone and the younger twin brother of Shuri. He is a member of the Kendo club and his hobby is lure fishing.

■Cast

The voice actors who play each character are as follows:

• Nanako Yashiro - Ami Koshimizu
• Mao Oribe - Tomoko Kaneda
• Shuri Wakatsuki - Yukari Tamura
• Hinako Mochida - Ayumi Murata
• Yuzuki Fujimura - Megumi Toyoguchi
• Asami Hoshino - Mai Nakahara
• Sana Hidaka - Shinnosuke Tachibana
• Shusuke Wakatsuki - Takehito Koyasu

■ Staff

The main staff involved in the production of this work are as follows:

• Original story - Yeti, Register
• Director: QZo (Yasuhiro Kuroda)
• Series composition and scriptwriting - Zappa
• Character design - Mutsumi Sasaki
• Character design and chief animation director: Tomoya Hiratsuka
• Yeti-kun character design - Sakura*Sakura
• Chief Director - Tetsuya Matsuda
• Art director: Shinji Takasuka
• Color design - Kei Ishiguro
• Director of photography - Kunihiko Ito
• Edited by Masaki Sakamoto and Yuri Tamura
• Sound Director - Hamanaka Kazuzo
• Music - 5zizz
• Producers: Makoto Ito, Mariko Kusuhara, Michiko Koyanagi, Tetsuko Kotani
• Animation Producer: Ryu Ishiguro, Hajime Kamata
• Animation Production - Doga Kobo
• Produced by: Myself; Yourself Production Committee (Marvelous Entertainment, Happinet, 5pb., Pony Canyon Enterprises)

■ Episode

The subtitles and broadcast dates for each episode are as follows:

• #1 Nostalgic Place (2007/10/02)
• #2 Important Melody (2007/10/09)
• #3 Cookies and Pebbles (2007/10/16)
• #4 I'm not a kid (2007/10/23)
• #5 Unblooming cherry blossoms (2007/10/30)
• #6 I'm an adult (2007/11/06)
• #7 Teacher's Caramel (2007/11/13)
• #8 Secret Post (2007/11/20)
• #9 Go for it! Animengers! (2007/11/27)
• #10 For the Cherry Blossoms (2007/12/04)
• #11 Confession (2007/12/11)
• #12 Red Memory (2007/12/18)
• #13 Kizuna (2007/12/25)

■ Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

• OP1: "Tears Infection"
• Lyricist: Chiyomaru Shikura
• Composer - Chiyomaru Shikura
• Arrangement - Toshimichi Isoe
• Song - KAORI
• ED1 "You, the Night Sky, and the Hillside"
• Lyricist: Chiyomaru Shikura
• Composer - Chiyomaru Shikura
• Arrangement - Toshimichi Isoe
• Song: Kanako Ito

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Myself; Yourself" is a work that depicts the bittersweetness of youth and the pains of growing up. In particular, it delves deeply into the theme of the changes that time brings and the accompanying regeneration of the heart. The story of the protagonist Sana returning to her hometown and growing through reunions with her childhood friends has resonated with many viewers. Additionally, the changes in Yashiro Nanaka and the tragic past behind them will touch the hearts of viewers.

The characters' personalities are also appealing, and the process in which Yashiro Nanaka, who has a taciturn and gloomy personality, gradually opens up is particularly moving. In addition, the charms of each character, such as Oribe Maoi's airheaded character and Wakatsuki Shuri's boyish personality, enrich the story. The voice actors are also luxurious, with voices perfectly suited to each character, such as Koshimizu Ami and Tamura Yukari.

The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening theme "Tears Infection" and the ending theme "You, the Night Sky, and the Slope" have beautiful melodies that bring out the emotions of the story. In particular, the music written and composed by Shikura Chiyomaru resonates deeply in the hearts of viewers.

The animation was produced by Doga Kobo, and the quality of the work is high, with the beautiful scenery of Sakuranomori Town and the detailed depiction of the characters' expressions impressive. Director QZo (Kuroda Yasuhiro) also skillfully directs the work, visually expressing the development of the story and the emotions of the characters.

■ Recommendation points

"Myself; Yourself" is a work that can be recommended to many viewers as it depicts the bittersweetness of youth and the pains of growing up. The following points are particularly appealing:

• Deep Themes : The themes of change over time and spiritual regeneration are explored in depth, providing thought-provoking material for the viewer.
• Attractive characters : Each character has a rich personality, and the growth of Nanako Yashiro is particularly moving. The voice actors also give excellent performances.
• Beautiful Music : The opening and ending songs enhance the emotions of the story and resonate deeply with the viewer.
• High-quality animation : Doga Kobo's quality is high, and the depiction of the scenery and characters is beautiful. The director's direction is also skillful, making the story visually enjoyable.

Related information

"Myself; Yourself" was widely accepted not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. The original game is an adventure game in which the player progresses through the story from Sana's perspective, and part of that is depicted in the anime version. In addition, soundtracks and character song CDs have also been released as related products, and are loved by fans.

Furthermore, related goods are sold at fan events and Comic Markets, supporting the popularity of the work. Even after the anime ended, fans continue to actively create derivative works and doujin activities, expanding the worldview of the work.

Conclusion

"Myself; Yourself" is a moving work that depicts the bittersweetness of youth and the pains of growing up. It delves deeply into the themes of change brought about by time and the regeneration of the heart, making the viewer think. Many elements enhance the work's appeal, including charming characters, high-quality animation, and beautiful music. This is a work that can be widely recommended not only to fans of the original game but also to anime fans. Please give it a watch.