Review of "Sora no Manimani": The intersection of the mysteries of the universe and the everyday

"Sora no Manimani" - The charm of the starry sky and the brilliance of youth

"Sora no Manimani" is a TV anime series that aired in 2009, originally based on the manga of the same name by Asami Kashiwabara. It was serialized in Kodansha's "Monthly Afternoon", and its unique world view and the charm of its characters attracted many fans. This anime is set in the Astronomy Club of Soei High School, and depicts the passion for the starry sky and the brilliance of youth. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this work, as well as recommended points.

Overview

"Sora no Manimani" aired for a total of 12 episodes from July 7 to September 22, 2009. It was broadcast on AT-X and UHF, with each episode lasting 30 minutes. It was directed by Takamatsu Shinji, animated by Studio Comet, and produced by Soei High School Astronomy Club (Marvelous Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, AT-X, Pony Canyon Enterprises, Lantis).

story

In the spring of his first year of high school, Oyagi Saku returns to the town where he spent two years from the first grade of elementary school. There he is reunited with his nemesis, Akeno Mihoshi, who left a traumatic memory in his childhood. Saku wants a peaceful school life, but he is dragged into Mihoshi's pushy pace and ends up joining the astronomy club, which is on the verge of being disbanded. The astronomy club has insufficient facilities and budget, and is also under the eye of the student council president, Kotozuka Fumie (Fumin). However, together with unique members such as Mihoshi's best friend Yarai Sayo, Makida Hime, who has a crush on Saku, Health Club Director Roman, who is frail but has a passion for the stars more than anyone else, and Edogawa Masashi, who is a member of the photography club but also frequents the astronomy club, Saku gradually begins to love the starry sky.

character

The charm of "Sora no Manimani" lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

• Saku Oyagi (voice actor: Tomoaki Maeno) is a first-year student at Soei High School. His hobby is reading, and he is forced by Mihoshi to join the astronomy club. Due to a childhood trauma, he does not like Mihoshi, but he gradually grows along with the other members of the astronomy club.
• Akeno Mihoshi - Voice actor: Ito Kanae A second-year student at Soei High School. She is a cheerful girl who belongs to the astronomy club and loves the stars. She is a bit reckless and a troublemaker, and is also the cause of Saku's trauma.
• Hime Makita (voiced by Haruka Tomatsu) is a first-year student at Makita High School. She has feelings for Saku and joins the astronomy club to get closer to him. She has a strong sense of rivalry with Mihoshi. She feels inferior about her naturally curly hair.
• Fumie Kotozuka - Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu A second-year student at Soei High School. She is a talented girl who serves as the student council president and is a member of the Literature Club. She is hostile towards Mihoshi, and shares a common interest with Saku in that they both love books.
• Sayo Yarai (voiced by Saori Hayami) is a second-year student at Soei High School. She is Mihoshi's best friend and has been friends with her since the fourth grade of elementary school. She is also Mihoshi's supervisor and is a member of the astronomy club.
• Masashi Edogawa (voice actor: Reiko Takagi) A first-year student at Soei High School. He is Saku's classmate and belongs to the photography club, but for some reason he also frequents the astronomy club. He is a cheerful and easy-going guy.
• Takeyasu Roma - Voice actor: Junji Majima A third-year student at Soei High School. He is the captain of the astronomy club, and although he is frail, he has more passion for astronomy than most. He is knowledgeable about myths related to astronomy.

staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Sorano Manimani." The main staff members are introduced below.

• Original author : Asami Kashiwabara
• Serialised in Monthly Afternoon (published by Kodansha)
• Director : Shinji Takamatsu
• Character design and chief animation director : Watanabe Hajime
• Art Director : Kuniaki Nemoto
• Art design : Yuho Taniuchi
• Color Coordination - Kaiho Shigenobu
• Director of photography - Jin Saito
• CG Director - Shin Misawa
• Edited by Hideaki Murai and Yoshitaka Miyake
• Sound Director : Miwa Iwanami
• Music : CooRie, Kaoru Okubo
• Music Producer - Yoshiyuki Ito
• Music Production - Lantis

Theme songs and music

The theme song and insert songs of "Sora no Manimani" also enhance the appeal of the work. Below are the main songs.

• Opening theme - "Super Noisy Nova"
  Lyrics: Aki Hata, Composition: rino, Arrangement: Nijioto, Singer: Sphere
• Ending Theme
  • "Stardust Surround"
    Lyrics and composition: rino, Arrangement: Kaoru Okubo, Sung by CooRie (episodes 1-3, 5-8, 10-11)
  • Like a star blooming in the darkness
    Lyrics and composition: rino, Arrangement: Kaoru Okubo, Sung by CooRie (4 episodes)
  • "Super Noisy Nova"
    Lyrics: Aki Hata, Composition: rino, Arrangement: Nijioto, Sung by Sphere (Episode 12)
• Insert song - "Star Drops"
  Lyrics and composition: rino, Arrangement: Kaoru Okubo, Sung by CooRie (Episode 9)

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode also add to the appeal of the series. Below are the subtitles for all 12 episodes.

• Episode 1 - Welcome to the Astronomy Club! (2009/07/07)
• Episode 2 - First Star (2009/07/14)
• Episode 3 - Planetarium (2009/07/21)
• Episode 4 - Until Dawn (2009/07/28)
• Episode 5 - Star of Words (2009/08/04)
• Episode 6 - Nice to meet you (2009/08/11)
• Episode 7 - The Moon and the Sweet Osmanthus (2009/08/18)
• Episode 8 - Illuminate Ground (2009/08/25)
• Episode 9 - High School Astronomy Network (2009/09/01)
• Episode 10 - Together (2009/09/08)
• Episode 11 - It's like white snow (2009/09/15)
• Episode 12 - Starry Sky Loop (2009/09/22)

Rating and Recommended Points

"Sora no Manimani" has been highly praised as a work that depicts the passion for the starry sky and the brilliance of youth. Below we introduce the reviews and recommended points of the work.

evaluation

"Sora no Manimani" faithfully reproduces the charm of the original work while adding depth with the expressiveness that only anime can provide. The characters' personalities stand out, and Mihoshi's innocence and Saku's growth are particularly well-portrayed. Additionally, the elements of friendship and romance depicted through the astronomy club's activities are appealing and have the power to draw viewers in. The music also matches the atmosphere of the work, and the opening and ending songs are particularly memorable.

Recommended points

• Passion for the starry sky - Through the activities of the astronomy club, the passion for the starry sky is realistically depicted. The stargazing and planetarium scenes are beautiful and leave a deep impression on the viewers.
• The appeal of the characters - The unique characters make the story more exciting. In particular, Mihoshi's lively personality, Hime's purity, and Saku's growth are beautifully portrayed.
• The Brilliance of Youth - This drama depicts the brilliance of youth among high school students, and is rich in elements of friendship and romance. There are many scenes that remind viewers of their own youth, making it easy to empathize with the viewers.
• Music - The opening and ending songs really set the mood, especially Sphere's "Super Noisy Nova" and CooRie's "Hoshikuzu no Surround."
• Differences from the original work - Episodes from the original work have been reconstructed in the anime to make them more dramatic. Even fans of the original work will find something new to discover.

Related Titles

There are special DVD features for "Sora no Manimani," including never-before-aired scenes and cast interviews, allowing you to get a deeper understanding of the show's appeal.

Conclusion

"Sora no Manimani" is a wonderful work that depicts passion for the starry sky and the brilliance of youth. It has a wealth of elements of growth, friendship, and romance among the unique characters, and has the power to draw viewers in. The music also enhances the atmosphere of the work, and the opening and ending songs are particularly memorable. Even fans of the original work will find something new to discover. If you haven't seen this work yet, be sure to give it a watch. You'll surely be captivated by its charm.