The appeal and evaluation of the video extras in "Today's 5-2"

"Today's 5-2 Video Bonus" - The charm of OVA where nostalgia and freshness intersect

"Kyou no 5-2 Video Bonus" is an OVA based on the popular manga by Sakuraba Koharu, and is included in the "Kyou no 5-2 Collectible Box" released by Avex Pictures on January 30, 2008. This OVA depicts a slapstick comedy starring childhood friends Sato Ryota and Koizumi Chika and their unique classmates. In just 30 minutes, it's packed with stories that will make viewers laugh and sometimes warm their hearts.

■Overview of the work

Today's 5-2 Bonus Video is released as an OVA and is based on the manga by Sakuraba Koharu. It was directed by Norikura Makoto and animated by Shinkukan and Lyrics. It is produced by Avex Entertainment, Shinkukan, Lyrics, Panorama Communications, Wako, New Line, @Entertainment, and Adness. Copyright belongs to Sakuraba Koharu, Kodansha, and the 5th Year 2nd Class Class Meeting.

■ Story

Childhood friends Ryota Sato and Chika Koizumi are students in the same elementary school, in class 5-2. Their classmates, both boys and girls, are all unique, and they lively and lively lively lives, causing pranks and happenings. Why not take a peek at the bright and fun life of class 5-2?

■Explanation

This is an OVA adaptation of Sakuraba Koharu's comic, which depicts the slightly erotic slapstick comedy of the protagonist Sato Ryota, a fifth-grader, and his childhood friend Koizumi Chika. The OVA version maximizes the appeal of the original work while adding new entertainment value through the unique expressions of anime.

■Cast

• Sato Ryota: Kobayashi Yu
• Chika Koizumi: Asami Shimoda
• Kazumi Aihara: MAKO
• Yuuki Asano: Satomi Akesaka
• Natsumi Hirakawa: Kana Asumi
• Megumi Hidaka: Yoko Honda
• Koji Imai: Megumi Yamato
• Tsubasa Kawai: Aya Takagaki

■ Main staff

• Original author: Sakuraba Koharu
• Director: Makoto Noritake
• Character design: Masashi Kojima
• Art director: Mio Miyamoto
• Color setting: Manami Aoyama
• Director of photography: Jin Tamura
• Music: Toru Yukawa
• Sound Director: Tetsuro Orita
• Producers: Shunji Sakai, Yuichiro Takabatake, Yusuke Kono, Tatsuhiko Hirata, Hiroaki Fujishima
• Animation production: Shinkukan, Lyrics
• Produced by Avex Entertainment, Shinkukan, Lyrics, Panorama Communications, Wako, New Line, At Entertainment, Adness

■ Main Characters

• Ryota Sato: Boys' attendance number 12. He loves eating and playing, but is dull when it comes to romance and sex. Perhaps because of that, he is a wasteful boy who often doesn't notice when he encounters a sexy situation with a girl. He is childhood friends with Chika Koizumi.
• Chika Koizumi: The 10th girl in attendance. A strong-willed girl with a competitive personality. She is Ryota's childhood friend, and although she often makes fun of Ryota for his childish behavior, she still ends up taking care of him, which makes her seem like she has the potential to be a good wife and mother. She sometimes acts boldly towards Ryota...
• Kazumi Aihara: Number 1 in the girls' attendance. A silent, expressionless, mysterious girl, no one has ever seen Kazumi smile. Despite her expressionless habit, she often takes eccentric actions, surprising those around her. She is a member of the health committee, just like Ryota.
• Yuuki Asano: Number 2 in the girls' attendance list. Cheerful and lively, she loves to chat and joke around, and is the source of trends in her class. On the other hand, she is surprisingly innocent, and is very concerned about the size of the girls' breasts, such as when she randomly measures their chest circumferences.
• Natsumi Hirakawa: Girl's attendance number 17. She's a very athletic girl, and despite being a girl, she's boyish and uses the pronoun "boku". She's the shortest in her group, and is a bit self-conscious about it. She can be a bit airheaded. She hates dark places.
• Megumi Hidaka: Girl's attendance number 16. A girl with long black hair and glasses who can barely see anything without them. She has good growth, is the tallest and has the biggest chest, and because of this, she is concerned about her weight gain and sometimes goes on diets. She has a surprisingly clumsy personality, which often gets her teased by those around her.
• Kouji Imai: Boys' attendance number 3. Ryota's best friend and rival. He always competes with Ryota, but most of the time the match ends without a conclusion. He is refreshing and kind to girls, but he used to be a habitual skirt-flipper.
• Tsubasa Kawai: Boys' attendance number 8. He is Ryota's friend with an innocent smile, and the three of them, including Koji, often play together. He acts as a referee when Ryota and Koji compete, and also volunteers to mediate when they are about to get into a fight.

■Subtitle

・Extracurricular Classes/Mizukake (2008/01/30)

■ Related works

• Today's 5-2 OVA version
• Today's 5 of 2 CHASE cast version
• Today's 5-2 TV broadcast version
• Today's 5-2 After School

■ Theme songs and music

• OP1: Baby Love
  • Lyricist: Seiko Fujibayashi
  • Composer: Funta
  • Arrangement: Funta
  • Sung by: Chika Koizumi (Mai Kadowaki), Yuuki Asano (Mikako Takahashi), Kazumi Aihara (Mamiko Noto)
• ED1: Sakurairofu
  • Lyricist: marf
  • Composer: Yoichi Sakai
  • Arrangement: Yoichi Sakai
  • Vocals: Mai Kadowaki

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Today's 5-2 Bonus Video" is a work that fans of the original will feel nostalgic for, but can also enjoy from a new perspective. In particular, the relationship between Sato Ryota and Koizumi Chika, and the slapstick comedy of the unique classmates are sure to make viewers smile. Because it is an OVA, it was necessary to pack the story into the short 30-minute time frame, but even so, it managed to bring out the essence of the original work.

The character designs are by Masashi Kojima, who faithfully reproduces the images of the original work while adding the movements and expressions unique to anime to create even more appealing characters. In addition, the beautiful backgrounds and colors by art director Mio Miyamoto and colorist Manami Aoyama also add to the atmosphere of the work.

The music also plays an important role, and Toru Yukawa's music creates a bright and cheerful atmosphere. The opening theme "Baby Love" and the ending theme "Sakurairo Kaze" in particular further enhance the worldview of the work. The voices of singers Mai Kadowaki, Mikako Takahashi, and Mamiko Noto also help bring out the personalities of the characters.

■ Recommendation points

"Today's 5-2 Video Bonus" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original work, but also to people who like anime and comedies. In particular, the following points are recommended points.

• A fusion of nostalgia and freshness : For fans of the original work, the appeal is that while it will bring back memories, it can also be enjoyed from a new perspective that only an anime can provide.
• Unique characters : Sato Ryota, Koizumi Chika and other unique characters will bring a slapstick comedy to your heart's content.
• Beautiful visuals : The character designs, backgrounds, and color settings are beautiful and add to the atmosphere of the work.
• Enjoyable music : The opening and ending themes and background music enhance the world of the work and entertain the viewer.

Related information

By enjoying "Today's 5-2 Video Bonus" together with other related works, you can experience the world view of the work more deeply. In particular, there are various versions such as the OVA version, CHASE cast version, TV broadcast version, and after school version, so it is fun to enjoy the differences between them. Also, by reading the original manga, you can understand the background and story of the characters more deeply.

In addition, fan events and merchandise sales are also held, so it is recommended that you enjoy sharing information with other fans. In particular, character songs and drama CDs are also released, so you can rediscover the charm of the characters through music.

Conclusion

"Today's 5-2 Video Bonus" is a work that fans of the original will feel nostalgic for, but can also enjoy from a new perspective. It is packed with various elements such as slapstick comedy of unique characters, beautiful visuals, and fun music, and is sure to make viewers smile. Please pick up this OVA and take a peek into the bright and fun world of Class 5-2.