My Inari Shrine. Bonus video: Kuu-chan's Bonus Theater - A thorough review of the fascinating special video

My Inari Shrine. Bonus Video: Kuu-chan's Bonus Theater - Detailed Review and Recommendation

Overview

"My Home Inari. Bonus Video: Kuu-chan's Bonus Theatre" is an OVA based on Shibamura Jin's light novel, with a total of 37 episodes released between July 25, 2008 and June 26, 2009. The series was released by Kadokawa Entertainment and was included as a bonus video in the limited editions of each volume. Although each episode is short, at around five minutes, it is packed with rich content and humorous stories.

■ Story

The story begins when Kuugen, the great fox spirit who is the guardian deity of the Mitsuzuchi family, is released from his shrine to protect Takagami Toru, the descendant of the Mitsuzuchi family, from unknown monsters. Contrary to the legend, Kuugen has a frivolous personality, and Toru calls him "Kuu-chan" fondly. With the addition of Kou, the Mitsuzuchi family's guardian, Toru and his brother Takagami Toru become embroiled in one mysterious event after another.

This OVA provides laughter to viewers by showing Kugen transforming into various forms and depicting trivial everyday events in a humorous way. For example, episodes in which Kugen wears cat ears, drinks coffee, and goes to the beach provide viewers with fresh surprises and enjoyment. Also, the setting in which Kugen forgets his gender adds a unique humor to the story.

■ Characters

The appeal of this work lies in its unique characters. In particular, Kuugen (Kuu-chan) can transform into either a man or a woman, and is characterized by his mischievous and frivolous personality. Voice actors Yukana and Yuichi Nakamura play the female and male Kuugen, respectively, bringing out the charm of the characters.

Kou, the guardian of the Mitsuzuchi family, has a calm and expressionless personality, but her occasional unbelievable actions add depth to the story. Saori Hayami's voice acting also makes Kou's character more realistic.

The brothers Takanori and Toru Takagami are also important characters. Although Toru has almost no powers as a priest, he is an excellent cook and is a reliable older brother who manages the household chores. On the other hand, Toru is often targeted by youkai, but he is a good-natured and gentle person, which makes him a charming character. The acting of Takanori Takashima and Yuu Shimamura also brings out the individuality of each character.

■ Production and staff

This OVA was animated by ZEXCS and directed by Yoshiaki Iwasaki. It faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work while adding the humor and light-hearted tempo that are unique to OVAs, providing new appeal to viewers.

Reiko Yoshida, who was in charge of the series composition, has skillfully constructed the story of each episode to keep viewers interested, while Yasunari Nitta's character designs are based on the illustrations of the original work, but also create unique visuals for the OVA.

The music was composed by Yasuharu Takanashi and produced by Columbia Music Entertainment. The light-hearted background music enhances the atmosphere of each episode and enhances the emotions of the viewers.

■Episodes and subtitles

Each episode of the 37 episodes has a different theme and is full of humor. For example, in episode 1, "Inari-sama Gets Cat Ears," Kugen transforms into cat ears, surprising viewers. Also, in episodes 13 to 16, "Inari-sama Goes to the Sea," Kugen causes all sorts of trouble at the sea, providing viewers with plenty of laughs.

The subtitles for each episode humorously express Kugen's actions and transformations, building up the viewer's anticipation. For example, in episode 32, "Oinari-sama Becomes Santa," Kugen transforms into Santa Claus, livening up the Christmas atmosphere.

■ Related works

This OVA was produced as a bonus feature for the TV anime series "My Little Inari". The TV series has a deeper story and character growth, so by watching it together with the OVA, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world of the work.

■Recommendation

"My Home Inari. Bonus Video: Kuu-chan's Bonus Theater" is an OVA with humor and a light-hearted tempo. It is especially recommended for viewers who like Kuugen's transformations and pranks. Also, each short episode has a different theme, so you can easily enjoy it even in your busy daily life.

This work can be enjoyed not only by fans of the original work, but also by viewers experiencing this world for the first time. Be sure to smile as you experience the unique characters of Kuugen, Kou, and the Takagami brothers, and the mysterious events they cause.

■ Detailed information

This OVA was released by Kadokawa Entertainment and is included in the limited editions of each volume. Each episode of the 37-episode series is provided as a new original bonus video, giving viewers a fresh surprise. Also, each episode is short, about 5 minutes long, so it can be enjoyed casually.

Details of the production staff and cast are as follows:

• Original author: Shibamura Jin
• Original illustration: Discharge Eizo
• Director: Yoshiaki Iwasaki
• Animation Production: ZEXCS
• Produced by: Inari-sama Production Committee (Kadokawa Shoten, Kadokawa Pictures, Clockworks, NTT docomo, Sony PCL, ZEXCS)
• cast:
  • Tenko Kugen (female): Yukana
  • Tenko Kugen (male): Yuichi Nakamura
  • Kou: Saori Hayami
  • High Rise: Takahiro Mizushima
  • Toru Takakami: Yu Shimamura
  • Ebisu: Daisuke Ono
  • Sakura Misaki: Kano Yui
  • Miyabe Momiji: Ito Shizuka
  • Six gourds: Kaori Mizuhashi
  • Tenko Tamayo (female): Mikako Takahashi
  • Tenko Gyokuyo (male): Wataru Hatano

Conclusion

"My Home Inari. Bonus Video: Kuu-chan's Bonus Theater" is an OVA with humor and unique characters. Kuugen's transformations and pranks, as well as his interactions with the Takagami brothers and Kou, will bring smiles and surprises to viewers. This work is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for viewers experiencing this world for the first time. Please enjoy this OVA.