Shigofumi Unreleased Version: Promising New Developments and Their Evaluation

Shigofumi Unreleased Version - The profound world of posthumous writing

"Shigofumi Unreleased Version" is an OVA released on September 26, 2008, based on the light novel by Yuro Yuzawa. It was directed by Tatsuo Sato, produced by JCSTAFF, and produced by Bandai Visual and Genco. The theme of this work is "Shigofumi," the final letter sent from the dead to the living, and the story revolves around the delivery girl Fumika and her partner Kanaka. It depicts a profound theme in a short 24-minute episode.

story

The story of "Shigofumi (Unaired Version)" begins with "posthumous letters" sent from the dead to the living. Deliveryman Fumika and her partner Kanaka are responsible for delivering the thoughts and messages of the dead to the living world. What happens in the hearts of living people when these posthumous letters arrive, and what is the message that the dead want to convey? By asking such questions, this work will move viewers deeply and encourage them to think.

Specifically, the story begins when Fumika and Kanaka meet Nojima Kaname, a high school student from Kamome City. Nojima Kaname grew up in a family where his father was a police officer, and is an honor student but gives off a somewhat cold impression. Through his interactions with Fumika and the others, he learns of the existence and meaning of posthumous writings. Furthermore, Chiaki, who is also a Shigofumi deliveryman like Fumika, and his partner Matoma also appear, and the story is told from multiple perspectives.

character

The charm of this work lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

Fumika

Fumika is a "Shigofumi Delivery Girl" who delivers "Shigofumi", messages from the dead, to the living. She is a mysterious girl who usually speaks bluntly and gives off a somewhat philosophical impression. However, when it comes to her mission of delivering Shigofumi, she is very serious, sometimes too serious. She looks like a retro postman, wearing a purse shoulder bag and a large kepi hat. She also holds a large talking stick called "Kanaka" in her hand, which serves as her support.

Kanaka

Kanaka is a large stick that Fumika carries with her, and can speak. She supports the Shigofumi deliveryman's duties, and all Shigofumi deliverymen carry this stick. She is female, and compared to the quiet Fumika, she is a talkative, cheerful, and straightforward girl. Although she can be a bit childish, she is a good partner for Fumika.

Nojima Kaname

Nojima Kaname is a 17-year-old boy who attends high school in Kamome City. He is an honor student, but gives off a somewhat cold impression. He wears glasses and grew up in a family where his father is a police officer. Through a series of events, he meets Fumika and her friends and becomes involved with them. His character is depicted growing through the story after his death, deeply moving the viewer.

Chiaki

Chiaki is also a "Shigofumi delivery person" like Fumika. Although her delivery area is different from Fumika's, she happens to meet Fumika on the ground. Chiaki seems more cheerful and mature than Fumika, which may be due to her motivation for becoming a Shigofumi delivery person. Her character adds depth to the story through her contrast with Fumika.

Matoma

Matoma is a staff that Chiaki has and is male. He is a colleague of Kanaka, who is owned by Fumika, but is more intelligent and capable than Kanaka. Like Kanaka, he can transform into a winged form and combine with Chiaki. Matoma's character plays an important role as a support for Chiaki.

Production background and staff

"Shigofumi Unreleased Version" is based on the light novel by Yuro Yuzawa, and many staff members were involved in adapting the deep themes of the original work into an anime. The director was Tatsuo Sato, the assistant director was Katsushi Oumi, and the series composition and script were handled by Ichiro Okouchi. The character design was by Tetsuya Kawakami, the prop design by Mayumi Okamoto, and the visual concept by Masahiko Suzuki. The art director was Makoto Shiraishi, the color design by Mayumi Tanahashi, the cinematography by Yoshio Okouchi, the editor by Shigeru Nishiyama, the sound director by Yota Tsuruoka, and the music by Hikaru Nanase. The music producer was Shunji Inoue, the music production was by Lantis, the production manager was Akira Kato, the setting production by Akira Fujishima, the production by GENCO, and the producers were Jun Yukawa, Nobuhiro Osawa, and Yuji Matsukura. The animation was produced by JCSTAFF, and the production was handled by Bandai Visual and Genco.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme for "Shigofumi Unaired Version" is "Kotodama" by ALI PROJECT, and the ending theme is "Chain" by Snow*. The lyrics for "Kotodama" were written by Takarano Arika, and the music and arrangement were handled by Katakura Mikiya. The lyrics for "Chain" were written by Kodama Saori, and the music and arrangement were handled by Page Jun. These songs deeply reflect the theme of the story, and resonate with the hearts of viewers.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Shigofumi (Unaired Version)" succeeds in depicting a deep theme in a short time. The setting of a "posthumous letter" sent from the dead to the living provides an opportunity for viewers to think about death and life. In addition, the characters such as Fumika, Kanaka, Nojima Kaname, and Chiaki add depth to the story through their individual personalities and growth.

In particular, the contrast between Fumika's seriousness and Kanaka's cheerfulness leaves a fresh impression on the viewers. Also, the story of Nojima Kaname's growth depicts how he changes through his death sentence, moving the viewers. The appearance of Chiaki and Matoma expands the story further and draws the viewers' interest.

The efforts of the production staff are also commendable. Director Tatsuo Sato faithfully adapted the theme of the original work into an anime, successfully moving viewers deeply. The character designs and music also reflect the theme of the story, resonating with viewers in their hearts.

Related works and recommendations

"Shigofumi Unaired Version" is based on the light novel "Shigofumi" by Yuro Yuzawa, and there are other related works such as "Shigofumi" and "Shigofumi Picture Drama". These works also depict deep stories with the theme of posthumous writings, and are highly recommended for those who are interested.

For those who enjoyed "Shigofumi: Unreleased Version," we also recommend "Angel Beats!" and "Clannad," which also deal with themes of life and death. These works also depict deep themes and leave a deep impression on viewers.

Conclusion

"Shigofumi (Unaired Version)" succeeds in depicting a deep story on the theme of "posthumous letters" sent from the dead to the living. Characters such as Fumika, Kanaka, Nojima Kaname, and Chiaki add depth to the story through their individual personalities and growth, moving the audience. The efforts of the production staff are also commendable, and the theme song and music reflect the theme of the story. There are many related and recommended works, so if you are interested, this is a work that you should definitely watch.