The appeal and evaluation of "Yotsunoha": A new standard for soothing anime

The appeal and impressions of the "Yotsunoha" OVA: A story of reunion and growth with childhood friends

"Yotsunoha" was released as an OVA in 2008, and is based on an 18+ game created by High Quality Soft. The OVA is made up of two episodes, each of which is only 30 minutes long, depicting the reunion and growth of childhood friends. The story is set in a school that closed at the end of summer vacation, and tells the story of childhood friends reuniting while searching for a time capsule. Below, we will introduce the appeal and impressions of the work, as well as recommended points.

Story and Characters

The story of "Yotsunoha" is set in a school that closed at the end of summer vacation, and begins with the reunion of four childhood friends, Nono, Makoto, Matsuri, and Iori. When they parted ways three years ago, they buried a time capsule, but it was hidden by someone, and the four reunited and set out on a journey to find it. Through this journey, they reminisce about their past memories and reaffirm how their feelings and relationships have changed in the past three years.

The main heroine, Nekomiya Nono, is a childhood friend of Makoto's who lives next door to him and is one year younger. She is a good cook and grew up like family, so Makoto and Iori look up to her as their guardian. She speaks in a Kansai dialect and has a complex about her childish appearance, but even after three years, her appearance has hardly changed. Makoto is a boy who grew up like family with Nono, Matsuri, Iori, and others, and has a personality that makes him bad at expressing his feelings honestly. Matsuri is a childhood friend of Makoto's who is the same age as Makoto, and although she is very shy around strangers, she shows a cheerful personality when she is with her childhood friends. Iori is a childhood friend who is one year older than Makoto, and although she likes to act like an older sister to Makoto, she is a spoiled and easygoing person.

Other characters with unique personalities include Makoto's best friend Daisuke Shiba, Yuki Arissa who transferred to Mochizuki Academy, Nono's classmate Ruto Ren, Nono's cousin Nanami Minami, and Mochizuki Academy teachers Yukie Sato and Mr. Yamamoto. The relationships and growth of these characters make the story deeper and richer.

Background and production of the anime

The original version of "Yotsunoha" was a PC game released in January 2006, which was well received for its refreshing story of a reunion of childhood friends. The main heroine, Nekomiya Nono, in particular, gained particular popularity thanks to the character drawn by popular illustrator Hide and the unique Kansai dialect spoken by voice actress Sakakibara Yui. This led to the release of a fan disc featuring Nono as the protagonist, a dedicated website called "Nonotan.net," and the development of numerous character goods.

The OVA's story revolves around Nono as the heroine, and the character designs also follow the appeal of the original work. The production focused on the points that were important to users of the original work and Nono's fans, and animation was handled by Hal Film Maker in order to visualize the relaxed style of the work. The opening theme is performed by Sakakibara Yui, and the ending theme by Chata, both of whom also performed the theme songs for the original game, so it appeals to both anime and original work fans. The background music is also handled by I've Sound, and the music is of high quality.

Impressions and reviews

The OVA of "Yotsunoha" depicts the reunion and growth of childhood friends in a short space of time. In particular, there is a touching scene in which the four of them look back on their memories as they journey to find the time capsule and reaffirm how their feelings and relationships have changed over the past three years. The growth of the characters and the changes in their relationships are carefully depicted, deeply moving the viewer.

The OVA production team also succeeded in bringing out the best in the original work, with particularly high quality character design and music. Yui Sakakibara's Kansai dialect and Chata's singing voice also add to the atmosphere of the work, drawing viewers into the world of the story. Furthermore, I've Sound's background music also expresses the emotions of the story in a rich way, moving the hearts of viewers.

However, because the OVA is only two episodes long, it is difficult to depict everything from the original work, and some viewers may feel that the story development and character development are lacking. However, the story of the reunion and growth of childhood friends depicted in that short episode will surely move and sympathize with viewers deeply.

Recommended points

The Yotsunoha OVA is highly recommended for viewers who want to enjoy a touching story about the reunion and growth of childhood friends. It is especially a must-watch for fans of the original game and viewers who have an attachment to the character Nono. The OVA production team has also managed to bring out the best in the original work, so even viewers who are unfamiliar with it can enjoy it.

In addition, the quality of the music is also high, with the singing voices of Yui Sakakibara and Chata, and the background music by I've Sound, so it is also recommended for viewers who want to enjoy music. To make up for the shortness of the OVA, you can enjoy the story more deeply by playing the original game or fan disc.

The OVA of "Yotsunoha" is a work that will deeply move and sympathize with viewers thanks to the touching story of childhood friends' reunion and growth, and the production team's ability to bring out the best in the original work. Please give it a watch.