The emotion and reviews of "ef - a tale of memories. ～recollections～": Revisiting a beautiful story

The appeal and evaluation of "ef - a tale of memories. ～recollections～"

■Overview of the work

"ef - a tale of memories. ~recollections~" is an OVA released on September 26, 2008, based on the 18+ game "ef - a tale of memories." It is made up of one 63-minute episode, and was released by Geneon Entertainment. Animation was handled by Shaft, with a stellar staff including director Onuma Shin and supervisor Shinbo Akiyuki. The original work was written by minori, Kagami Yuu, and Mikage, and is set in the town of Otoha, depicting various love stories between boys and girls.

■ Story

Kei is a girl who has a crush on her childhood friend Hiro. However, Hiro is being pushed around by the free-spirited girl Miyako. Meanwhile, Kyosuke, a member of the film club, takes an interest in Kei and follows her to film a movie about her. Meanwhile, Renji, whose father is an architect, meets Kei's twin sister, Chihiro, on the train platform. Set in the town of Otowa, various love stories of boys and girls intertwine, creating a beautiful visual and moving story.

■Character Introduction

Miyako Miyamura

A high school student with beautiful looks and all-around athletic ability. She's good at cooking and hates being tied down to anything. Although she sometimes misses classes or leaves early, she seems to have it all. However, she feels that something is crucially missing. Deep down, she wants to be accepted by someone.

Kei Shindou

She is the twin sister of Chihiro Shindo, a first-year student and a regular player on the basketball team. She hates to lose, and is known for her tomboyish way of speaking, punching, and kicking. However, she is unable to express her feelings to her childhood friend Hiro. She does not get along well with Miyamura Miyako.

Chihiro Shindou

She is the twin sister of Kei Shindo, and is the complete opposite of her sister, being a liberal arts-oriented and quiet person. Although she appears calm and collected, when you talk to her she has a childish and airheaded personality. She lost her left eye in an accident several years ago, and is currently undergoing treatment and not attending school. She spends her time quietly reading on benches at train stations.

Hiro Hirono

She is a high school student who is also a manga artist, and her pen name is "Nagi Shindo." She is a childhood friend of Kei Shindo, and her father, a painter, does not acknowledge the fact that she is a manga artist. She is so busy with her studies and work that she has no time to rest, and her attendance is close to failing the year, but she is a kind-hearted person who makes time for others when they rely on her.

Kyosuke Tsutsumi

He is a classmate of Hiroshi and belongs to the film club, but he doesn't get along with the other members because he sticks to his own way. He is serious about filming, but he can be frivolous with women. He is interested in Kei, and follows her on video in order to film her.

Renji Asou

A young man of mixed race whose father is a German architect. His father is currently on a business trip, so he lives with his mother. He loves novels, and has been moving around overseas since he was a child due to his father's work. Because of this, he grew up without knowing what deep friendships or love were like. He meets Chihiro, who loves reading, and they start a relationship...

Yuko Amamiya

She looks like a nun, but she is not affiliated with the church. Her true identity is completely unknown, and she appears to be older than Hiro and his friends, but we don't know what she does. She is a mysterious presence who appears out of nowhere and seems to see through Hiro and his friends' fate.

Yu Himura

Their identity is unknown, but they claim to be engaged in some kind of business. They suddenly appear in front of people they are interested in, and brusquely leave meaningful advice or warnings.

■ Production staff

The director is Onuma Shin, the supervisor is Shinbo Akiyuki, and the series composition and script are by Takayama Katsuhiko. The character designer and chief animation director is Sugiyama Nobuhiro, the color designer is Hibino Jin, the art director is Kato Megumi, the director of photography is Uchimura Shohei, the editor is Seki Kazuhiko, the music is by Tenmon and Yanagi Eiichiro, the sound director is Tsuruoka Yota, the executive producer is Sekido Yuichi, the producers are Matsuda Akio, Kazuma Eiji, Kanba Kozue, Shibata Mitsuteru, Kubota Mitsutoshi, and the production producer is Amemiya Shigeyuki. The animation is produced by Shaft, and the production is handled by the "ef" Production Committee (Geneon Entertainment, minori, Movic, Frontier Works, Shaft).

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "euphoric field" with lyrics by Nobukazu Sakai, music and arrangement by Tenmon, and singing by ELISA. The ending theme is "I'm Here" with lyrics by Nobukazu Sakai, music by Tenmon, arrangement by Eiichiro Yanagi, and singing by Hiroko Taguchi, who plays Miyamura Miyako.

■ Related works

Related works include "ef - a tale of memories." and "ef - a tale of melodies." These works also depict love stories between boys and girls set in the town of Otowa.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"ef - a tale of memories. ~recollections~" is a work that features beautiful visuals and a moving story. The innovative direction of director Onuma Shin and supervisor Shinbo Akiyuki, combined with Shaft's animation production, make for a visually appealing work. In addition, the characters' relationships and psychological descriptions are carefully drawn, drawing the viewer in.

In particular, characters such as Miyamura Miyako, Shindo Kei, and Hirono Hiro have strong personalities, and their respective worries and conflicts are depicted realistically. The characters are fascinating in their multifaceted nature, with Miyako's free-spiritedness and inner loneliness, Kei's tomboyish personality and shy side, and Hiro's struggles as a shojo manga artist. Sub-characters such as Tsutsumi Kyosuke, Asou Renji, Amemiya Yuko, and Himura Yu also have unique personalities, adding depth to the story.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of the work. The opening theme "euphoric field" has recorded long sales, and the ending theme "I'm Here" also livens up the emotional scenes. The music by Tenmon and Eiichiro Yanagi further enhances the atmosphere of the story and stirs the emotions of the viewer.

Taking advantage of the OVA format, this work was released as a compilation that included new scenes. After it ended broadcasting as a much-talked-about work in 2007, a new series began broadcasting and the original PC game "ef - latter tale." was also released. It was highly praised for its pop visuals, dramatic melodies, and innovative direction that went beyond the boundaries of animation, and it was particularly popular among the anime of the fall of 2007.

■ Recommendation points

"ef - a tale of memories. ~recollections~" is recommended for those who want to enjoy beautiful images and a moving story. It is especially perfect for those who like romance dramas between boys and girls and youth stories. It is also recommended for those who are interested in the personalities and psychological portrayals of the characters. The music is also wonderful, and you can enjoy the afterglow of the movie after watching it.

Furthermore, this work has been released as a compilation that takes advantage of the OVA format, including new scenes, so even those who have already seen "ef - a tale of memories." can enjoy it from a fresh perspective. This is a work that should be checked out by anyone who wants to enjoy the new series and the original PC game.

Overall, "ef - a tale of memories. ~recollections~" is a work well worth watching, combining beautiful visuals, a moving story, unique characters, and wonderful music. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.