The appeal and reviews of Antique Bakery: A sweet story and deep characters

The appeal and reputation of "Antique Bakery"

"Antique Bakery" is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Yoshinaga Fumi, which aired from July 4 to September 19, 2008. The original manga has been serialized since 1999, won the 26th Kodansha Manga Award in the Girls' category, and is a popular work with a total circulation of approximately 1.7 million copies. It was also made into a TV drama in 2001, starring super-popular actors such as Takizawa Hideaki and Shiina Kippei, and recording a high average audience rating of 17.7%. A film adaptation in Korea is also currently in the works, and its popularity is spreading both domestically and overseas.

story

The story begins with Tachibana Keiichiro trying to open a Western-style pastry shop. He reunites with Ono Yusuke, a man he once rejected in high school, telling him, "Hurry up and die, you faggot!" Ono is now a genius pastry chef, and Tachibana, relieved that he doesn't remember him, begins to woo him. However, Ono has grown into a "devilish gay man," and Tachibana finds himself caught up in an unexpected turn of events.

Set in a pastry shop called "Antique," the story depicts the human drama of a group of handsome characters: Tachibana, the owner Tachibana, the genius pastry chef Ono, the former boxer Eiji, and the waiter Chikage. The story is enriched by an "incident" from Tachibana's childhood, Ono's bewitching gay charm, and even the cakes they create, and a special recipe that freely switches between comedy and seriousness unfolds.

character

The main characters are as follows.

• Keiichiro Tachibana : The grandson of a financial conglomerate's chairman and owner of "Antique." He experienced a traumatic incident as a boy.
• Yusuke Ono : A genius pastry chef and chef at "Antique." He is a charming character who is a devilish gay.
• Kanda Eiji : A former world champion boxer and assistant pastry chef at Antique. A strong character.
• Chikage Kobayakawa : Tachibana's aide. A very clumsy character with poor eyesight and stage fright. He also has a comical side.

Production and staff

The animation was produced by Nippon Animation and Shirogumi, and the director was Yoshiaki Okumura. The script was written by Natsuko Takahashi, the character design was Akio Uchino, the art direction was Tatsuo Shimamura, the director of photography was Jin Nishiyama, the color design was Fusako Nakao, the sweets design was Madoka Katto, the props design was Toshiyuki Komaru, the sound direction was Hiroyuki Hayase, the editing was Keiko Onodera, and the music was Takeshi Hatakeda. The music was produced by Fuji Pacific Music Publishing and Sony Music Entertainment, and the music producer was Hiroaki Sano. The sweets were produced by Toshihiko Yoroizuka (owner and chef of "Toshi Yoroizuka").

Broadcast information

"Antique Bakery ~Antique~" was broadcast on the following stations:

• Fuji TV: July 3, 2008 to September 18, 2008 (Every Thursday 24:45-25:15)
• Tokai Television: July 10, 2008 to September 25, 2008 (Every Thursday 26:05-26:35)
• Kansai TV: July 15, 2008 to September 23, 2008 (every Tuesday 25:59-26:29)
• Television Nishinippon: July 16, 2008 to October 15, 2008 (every Wednesday 26:10 to 26:40)
• Niigata Sogo TV: July 17, 2008 to October 16, 2008 (Every Thursday 26:00-26:30)
• Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting: August 3, 2008 to October 26, 2008 (Every Sunday 26:00-26:30)
• Kumamoto Television: August 26, 2008 to November 11, 2008 (every Tuesday 26:00-26:30)
• TV Shin-Hiroshima: October 29, 2008 to January 28, 2009 (every Wednesday 25:00-25:30)
• Fuji TV TWO: May 23, 2009 to June 27, 2009 (every Saturday from 24:00 to 25:00, two episodes broadcast consecutively)
• Animax: October 14, 2010 to January 6, 2011 (Every Thursday 22:00-22:30)
• Sendai Broadcasting: June 21, 2011 to September 6, 2011 (every Tuesday 25:45-26:15)

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Life goes on ~side K~" by CHEMISTRY, and the ending theme is "Life goes on ~side D~" by CHEMISTRY. Both songs were written and composed by Kaname Kawabata, Yoshikuni Douchin, and Naohisa Taniguchi, and arranged by Tomokazu "TOM" Matsuzawa and Naohisa Taniguchi, respectively.

episode

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Recipe 1: Sour Taste of Reunion (2008/07/03)
• Recipe 2: The spiciness of determination (2008/07/10)
• Recipe 3: Four New Tastes (2008/07/17)
• Recipe 4: The True Taste of Nightmares (2008/07/24)
• Recipe 5: Trial of Astringency (2008/07/31)
• Recipe 6: The Bitterness of Crisis (2008/08/07)
• Recipe 7: Christmas Eve Sweets (2008/08/14)
• Recipe 8: Chikage's Secret Ingredient (2008/08/21)
• Recipe 9: A Taste of Melancholy (2008/08/28)
• Recipe 10: Strange taste of heartbeat (2008/09/04)
• Recipe 11: The Pleasure of True Intention (2008/09/11)
• Recipe 12: Eternal Aftertaste (2008/09/18)

Evaluation and Appeal

"Antique Bakery" is highly acclaimed as an anime adaptation that brings out the best of the original work. In particular, the characters' personalities and relationships are skillfully portrayed, drawing viewers in. Another point not to be missed is the sweets produced by Toshihiko Yoroizuka, with the cakes and sweets that appear in the anime being so realistic that you'll want to eat them.

The story is a perfect blend of comedy and seriousness, allowing viewers to enjoy both laughter and emotion. The relationship between Tachibana and Ono, as well as each character's past and worries, are carefully depicted, allowing viewers to enjoy a deep story. Also, the subtitles of each episode are expressed in the form of "recipes," which is unique and gives viewers a fresh impression.

The animation production by Nippon Animation and Shirogumi is also impressive, with high-quality character design, art, color design, etc. In particular, the depiction of sweets by Shirogumi is very realistic and beautiful, and has great visual appeal.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Antique Bakery" is a work that is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for fans of the anime and drama. It is especially recommended for those who want to recreate the delicate style of the original and the charm of the characters in an anime, and for those who want to enjoy an original story that is different from the drama. It is also a work that should be watched by those who like sweets.

There are several ways to watch it, including re-broadcasts on various broadcasting stations, purchasing the DVD or Blu-ray, or using streaming services. Streaming services are particularly easy to watch, so they are recommended for first-time viewers.

summary

"Antique Bakery" is loved by many viewers as an animated adaptation that brings out the best of the original work. Its appeal lies in the characters' personalities and relationships, the realistic and beautiful depiction of sweets, and the story's fusion of comedy and seriousness. This is a must-watch for fans of the original work, drama fans, and sweets lovers. There are many ways to watch it, so it's easy to enjoy. Be sure to experience this wonderful anime.