A review of the moving and youthful "Tokyo Marble Chocolate - Zenryoku Shounen"

Tokyo Marble Chocolate -Zenryoku Shonen-: Its Appeal and Evaluation

Overview

"Tokyo Marble Chocolate - Zenryoku Shounen" is an OVA released on December 19, 2007, animated by Production IG in collaboration with BMG JAPAN. It is a 27-minute short anime with one episode, directed by Shiotani Naoyoshi, written by Ozaki Masaya, and character designed by Asano Kyoji. The story is a love story set at Christmas, depicting the romance between the main characters Yudai and Chizuru.

story

The story is set in a familiar townscape lined with two towers. The protagonist, Yudai, is earnest and kind, but a bit timid, and has trouble getting along with his girlfriend, Chizuru. Meanwhile, Chizuru is energetic and cheerful, but unlucky and clumsy, and her relationships don't last long. This is the first Christmas the two of them spend together. The present that Yudai has prepared for Chizuru is supposed to be a rabbit, but inside the box is a mini donkey. Chizuru chases the escaped mini donkey, but Yudai loses sight of it. The story depicts what answers the two will find as they spend their time apart.

character

Chizuru : Yudai's girlfriend. A lively and cheerful girl, but a little clumsy. She loves animals and is a reliable person at heart. Her voice actor is Nana Mizuki.
Yudai : Chizuru's boyfriend, a serious and kind but slightly timid boy. He is afraid of heights. His voice actor is Takahiro Sakurai.
Mini Donkey : A male donkey about the size of a rabbit. He is said to hold the key to the story. His voice actor is Mitsuo Iwata.
Miki : A lively and easy-going girl who Yudai apparently dated in the past. Her voice actor is Marina Inoue.
Yamada : He is the man who accidentally found Chizuru's cell phone and delivered it to her house. His voice actor is Yuichi Nakamura.

Production Staff

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of this work. Director Shiotani Naoyoshi is a native animator at Production IG who was responsible for the direction and animation direction of the anime "Tekkonkinkreet" and the opening of the third season of "BLOOD+". In addition, character design by Tanigawa Fumiko is a popular shojo manga artist, and animation director Asano Kyoji has worked on various anime works such as the "Ghost in the Shell SAC" series. In addition, a luxurious cast of voice actors are in charge of the character voices, including Mizuki Nana as Chizuru, Sakurai Takahiro as Yudai, Iwata Mitsuo as Miniroba, Inoue Marina as Miki, and Nakamura Yuichi as Yamada.

music

The theme song "Zenryoku Shounen" was written, composed, arranged, and sung by Sukima Switch. This song plays an important role in livening up the story as a symbol of the work's theme of "living life to the fullest."

Evaluation and Impressions

"Tokyo Marble Chocolate - Zenryoku Shounen-" manages to convey deep emotions in a short time. Through the relationship between Yudai and Chizuru and the events that occur on the special day of Christmas, it depicts the difficulties and importance of love. The unique character of Minidonkey adds color to the story and helps bring smiles to the viewers' faces.
The appeal of this work lies above all in its character design and the performances of the voice actors. Each character is vividly drawn, from Mizuki Nana's lively and cheerful Chizuru, Sakurai Takahiro's kind but timid Yudai, and Iwata Mitsuo's humorous Minidonkey. Director Shiotani Naoyoshi's direction is also superb, moving the story forward effectively in the short time frame.
Furthermore, the theme song "Zenryoku Shounen" by Sukima Switch perfectly expresses the theme of the work and resonates deeply with the viewers. The music and visuals work together to create a touching love story.

Related Titles

"Tokyo Marble Chocolate -Zenryoku Shounen-" is part of a series that also includes "Tokyo Marble Chocolate Mata Ai Mashou" and "Tokyo Marble Chocolate: The Movie." These works also tell touching stories with love themes, and can be enjoyed throughout the series.

Recommendation

"Tokyo Marble Chocolate -Zenryoku Shounen-" is recommended for those who like romance anime and those who want to enjoy a touching story in a short time. It is also recommended for fans of Production IG and voice actors such as Nana Mizuki and Takahiro Sakurai. Fans of Sukima Switch can also enjoy the theme song "Zenryoku Shounen", so it is a work not to be missed.
You will be able to feel the charm of this movie even more if you watch it on the special day of Christmas. It might be a good idea to watch it with your partner or friends and share the excitement. We hope you will experience this touching love story.