The appeal and reviews of "Love Begins Today": A touching youth love story

The appeal and full details of the OVA "Love Begins Today"

"Love Begins Today" is a hugely popular shojo manga by Kanan Minami that has sold over 9 million copies. The work was released as an OVA in 2010, with two episodes, an animated version of the popular episodes from the original work. Here, we will take a deeper look into its appeal and details.

story

The main character, Hibino Tsubaki, is a diligent, studious high school student. She has such an old-fashioned personality that she could be called a "Showa-era girl," and she thought that romance and fashion had nothing to do with her. However, her encounter with Tsubaki Kyota on her first day of high school changes her life dramatically. Kyota is the most popular guy in school and also has top grades. After a fight with him, Tsubaki loses her first kiss. Although she is confused at first, she gradually becomes attracted to Kyota, and the story depicts her growth and love life.

Overview of OVA

The OVA for "Love Begins Today" was released in the limited special editions of Shogakukan's Volumes 9 and 10 of the manga on June 23rd and October 23rd, 2010, respectively. Each episode is about 23 minutes long and is animated by JCSTAFF. The director is Shigeyasu Yamauchi, and the character designer and animation director is Junichi Hayama.

Cast and crew

The main cast includes Kanae Ito as Tsubaki Hibino and Daisuke Namikawa as Kyota Tsubaki. Other notable voice actors include Sayuri Yahagi as Sakura Hibino, Mariya Ise as Miho Ichikura, and Ryoko Yuzuki as Yuki-senpai. Many professionals are involved in the production, including the original author, Kana Mizunami, planner Shinichiro Tsuzuki, animation producer Yuji Matsukura, and producers Keiichi Yamakawa and Tomoya Negishi.

Main Characters

Hibino Tsubaki is a serious, studious high school girl. She had no interest in fashion or romance, but after meeting Kyota, she makes an effort to change herself. She is good at hair arrangements, and her favorite animal is polar bears. Meanwhile, Tsubaki Kyota is a flashy, popular guy, but he is also an honor student who is the top of his class. He loves the moon and space, and dreams of studying aerospace engineering in the future. The story depicts how his love, which began as playfulness, gradually turns into something serious.

Subtitles and episodes

The first episode was released on June 23, 2010, and the second episode on October 23, 2010. Although the specific subtitles have not been released, the anime is an adaptation of popular episodes from the original manga, depicting the moment when Tsubaki and Kyota first realize their mutual feelings, and the scene where they spend Christmas together. These episodes are especially touching for fans of the original manga.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "If", with lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto, music by Takehiko Iida, arrangement by Yoichi Sakai, and singing by French Kiss. ​​There are two ending themes, "Mirai Kinenbi" (lyrics and music by rino, arrangement by Masayuki Fukutomi, singing by Kanae Ito) in the first episode, and "Ijiwaru na Koi" (lyrics and music by rino, arrangement by Takuya Watanabe, singing by Kanae Ito) in the second episode. These songs are important elements that liven up the atmosphere of the story.

Related Titles

"Love Begins Today" is not only available as an OVA, but also as a digital comic and movie comic. Through these related works, you can enjoy the charm of the original even more deeply. The digital comic version in particular faithfully reproduces the story of the original while adding movement and sound to bring out new charm.

Ratings and Recommendations

The OVA of "Love Begins Today" has been highly praised by fans for its animation of popular episodes from the original work. It has been especially praised for its careful portrayal of Tsubaki and Kyota's love story and their growth. The high-quality production by the gorgeous cast and staff has also been a factor in its support from viewers.

This work is recommended not only for girls' manga fans, but also for those who like romance and those who want to enjoy youth dramas. In particular, the OVA has a story that is easy to understand so that even those who have not read the original work can enjoy it. In addition, the beautiful animation and moving music combine to draw viewers in.

In addition, the original manga has been drawing attention again to coincide with the release of the OVA. By reading the manga, you can learn about episodes and character backgrounds that are not depicted in the OVA, allowing you to enjoy the work on a deeper level. Furthermore, by checking out the digital comic and movie comic versions, you can experience the world of "Love Begins Today" from multiple angles.

Conclusion

The OVA of "Love Begins Today" brings out the best of the original work, and has succeeded in delivering emotion and excitement to viewers. The combination of many elements, such as high-quality production by a stellar cast and staff, beautiful animation, and moving music, has the power to draw viewers in. This work is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like romance and youth dramas. Please enjoy the romance and growth of Tsubaki and Kyota through this OVA.