The appeal and reviews of "ToHeart2ad": A moving experience that fans must see

The appeal and reviews of "ToHeart2 ad": A story of amnesiac Takaaki and the heroines

■Overview of the work

"ToHeart2 ad" is an OVA released on March 26, 2008, and is an animation based on the 18+ game "ToHeart2" created by AQUAPLUS. The two-part work was released by IMAGICA Imageworks and distributed by Frontier Works and Geneon Entertainment. It is directed by Junichi Sakata, with assistant director Yasuhisa Kato, and animation by Chaos Project and AQUAPLUS, with production by TH2Vad Works. Each episode is 30 minutes long, and the story begins when the main character, Takaaki Kono, loses his memories of the past.

■ Story

Kono Takaaki loses his memories due to a certain incident. While concerned about him, the heroines see this as an opportunity and begin to fill him in on a convenient past. Will Takaaki be able to recover his memories? And what is the reason for his memory loss? These mysteries are at the heart of the story. This setting asks viewers deep questions such as "What is memory?" and "How do people shape who they are?"

■Explanation

"ToHeart2" was released as a PlayStation2 software in 2004, and has been a very popular work ever since. In 2007, it was released as an original video animation consisting of three volumes, which was highly praised by fans. "ToHeart2 ad" is a series that has been re-released in response to enthusiastic requests from fans, and is produced by the same main staff as the previous series, so high quality is guaranteed. This work is widely accepted not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans.

■Cast

The cast of "ToHeart2 ad" is as follows.

• Konomi Yuzuhara: Yurika Ochiai
• Tamaki Kosaka: Shizuka Ito
• Yuma Tonami: Hitomi Nabatame
• Yuki Kusakabe: Rina Sato
• Aika Komaki: Noriko Rikimaru
• Princess Lily Coral: Sayori Ishizuka
• Princess Lily Lapis Lazuli: Konami Yoshida
• Sasara Kusugawa: Ryoko Ono
• Maryan: Hidema Kogure
• Ilfa: Emiko Hagiwara
• Lucy Maria Misora: Rio Natsuki
• Karin Sasamori: Saki Nakajima
• Yuji Mukaizaka: Kosuke Toriumi
• Takaaki Kono: Jun Fukuyama

These voice actors are the same ones from the original game, and they express the individuality of the characters well. In particular, Jun Fukuyama's Takaaki Kono plays the difficult role of a man with amnesia, and he plays it naturally, leaving a deep impression on viewers.

■ Main staff

The main staff of "ToHeart2 ad" are as follows:

• Planning: Naoya Shimokawa
• Original author: AQUAPLUS
• Director: Junichi Sakata
• Assistant Director: Yasuhisa Kato
• Original character design: Mitsumi Misato, Kawata Hisashi, Kanroji, Nakamura Takeshi
• Character design: Masahide Yanagisawa, Kenichiro Katsura, Yasuhisa Kato
• Storyboard and direction: Junichi Sakata, Senrin Kobayashi
• Chief animation director: Masahide Yanagisawa
• Art Director: Inoo Manabu
• Color designation: Chikako Kamata
• Background: Kusanagi
• Director of photography: Yuichi Katsumata
• Sound Director: Takatoshi Hamano
• Edited by: Toshihiko Kojima
• Photo: Tripad
• Animation production: Chaos Project, AQUAPLUS
• Produced by: TH2Vad Works

These staff members have used their experience from the previous series to provide a deeper story and beautiful visuals. In particular, director Junichi Sakata's direction has the power to draw the viewer into the story.

■ Main Characters

The main characters of "ToHeart2 ad" are as follows.

• Konomi Yuzuhara: Takaaki's childhood friend, one year younger than him. She still has a childish side and is a bit spoiled. She likes to exercise, but isn't very good at studying. Her way of thinking is a bit off.
• Tamaki Kosaka: A young lady from an old family, but with a friendly personality. She is good at everything from sports to studying to housework. She is caring and acts like an older sister, so she is called "Tama-nee" by Takaaki, just like her younger brother Yuji, and is sometimes loved and sometimes feared.
• Komaki Aika: She is called "Iincho". She is a hard worker and takes good care of others. Although she is relied on by those around her, she is a reserved person and often refuses help from others. She is a member of the literary committee and often visits the library.
• Kusugawa Sasara: The student council president of the school and a senior who is one year older than Takaaki. She has a somewhat strict personality and doesn't let people get close to her, so the other students are afraid of her.
• Maryan: Former student council president. She has a very unconventional personality and goes out of control with words and actions that far exceed common sense. However, she is considerate towards her junior, Kusugawa Sasara, who is also the current student council president, like a younger sister.
• Takaaki Kono: Childhood friends with Tamaki, who is one year older than him, and Konomi, who is one year younger than him. He is not very good at interacting with women, and is a bit of a softie who can easily be deceived.

These characters are depicted with a rich personality in the animation, while retaining the charm of the original game. In particular, the relationships and psychological portrayal of the heroines surrounding Takaaki, who has lost his memory, are beautifully expressed.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for "ToHeart2 ad" are as follows.

• #1: Scars of Memories (March 26, 2008)
• #2: happy new year (August 8, 2008)

These episodes depict Takaaki's memory loss and the subsequent events, leaving viewers impressed and surprised. In particular, "The Scars of Memories" is an important episode in which the cause of Takaaki's memory loss and the heroines' intentions are revealed.

■ Related works

"ToHeart2 ad" has deep connections to the following related works.

• ToHeart2 TV version
• ToHeart2
• ToHeart2 ad Short Story
• ToHeart2 ad plus
• ToHeart2 ad next
• ToHeart2 Dungeon Travelers

These works further expand the worldview of the original game and provide new entertainment for fans. In particular, "ToHeart2 ad plus" and "ToHeart2 ad next" are sequels to "ToHeart2 ad" and delve deeper into the story of Takaaki and the heroines.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music for "ToHeart2 ad" are as follows.

• OP1: Rainbow Bridge
• Lyricist: Rena Uehara
• Composer: Junya Matsuoka
• Vocals: Rena Uehara
• ED1: What you left behind
• Lyricist: Rena Uehara
• Composer: Junya Matsuoka
• Vocals: Rena Uehara

These songs not only enhance the atmosphere of the story, but also have melodies and lyrics that resonate deeply with the viewers. In particular, "Rainbow Bridge" is a beautiful song that symbolizes the bond between Takaaki and the heroines.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"ToHeart2 ad" is a work that is widely accepted not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. Centered around the theme of memory loss, the heroines' relationships and psychological portrayals are carefully drawn, deeply moving the viewer. In addition, the beautiful visuals and moving music also enhance the appeal of this work.

I would especially recommend this to people who have played the original game. You will gain a deeper understanding of the game's worldview and discover new sides to the characters. It is also recommended for anime fans. This work explores the depths of the human heart through the theme of memory loss, and will provide viewers with many moving and surprising experiences.

■ Detailed information and supplementary information

The following are detailed information and supplements for "ToHeart2 ad".

• Background: ToHeart2 ad was created in response to enthusiastic fan requests. Following the popularity of the original game and the success of the previous series, it was created to provide a deeper story and beautiful visuals.
• Character Growth: Through Takaaki's memory loss, the heroines grow and change. In particular, Konomi Yuzuhara's sweet side and Tamaki Kosaka's sister-like behavior are impressive.
• Beautiful visuals: The visuals of "ToHeart2 ad" have evolved even more beautifully, taking advantage of the experience gained from the previous series. The beauty of the backgrounds and colors in particular has the power to draw the viewer into the world of the story.
• Musical appeal: The theme songs "A Bridge to the Rainbow" and "What You Left Behind" sung by Rena Uehara not only add to the atmosphere of the story, but also have melodies and lyrics that resonate deeply with viewers. These songs are an important element in further enhancing the moving impact of the work.

As mentioned above, "ToHeart2 ad" is a work that will be widely accepted not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. This work explores the depths of the human heart through the theme of memory loss, and will provide viewers with many moving and surprising experiences. Please give it a watch.