The appeal and evaluation of "Koedo Shigoto! The ANIMATION take .2"

"Koedo Shigoto! The ANIMATION take .2" review and recommendation

■Overview of the work

"Koe de Oshigoto! The ANIMATION take .2" is an OVA based on the popular manga "Koe de Oshigoto!" by Konno Azure. It was released by Pony Canyon on May 11, 2011, and consists of 30-minute episodes. It was directed by Hosoda Naoto and animated by Studio Gumi. It is a humorous and moving story about Aoyagi Kanna, an ordinary high school student, struggling to become a voice actress for erotic games.

■ Story

On her 16th birthday, Aoyagi Kanna is introduced to a job as a voice actress for erotic games by her older sister Yayoi. Though she is hesitant at first, Kanna grows as a voice actress for erotic games. Her purity and hard work draws in the people around her, and the story unfolds as she aims to succeed as a voice actress. Through Kanna's growth and her interactions with the people around her, the appeal and difficulties of the job of a voice actress are depicted.

■ Characters

The main character, Aoyagi Kanna (CV: MAKO), is a bright and energetic high school girl who is a member of the track and field club. Although she is confused about her job as a voice actress for erotic games, she uses her natural concentration and imagination to bring out her talent. Her older sister, Aoyagi Yayoi (CV: Watanabe Akino), is the manager of the 18+ game brand Blue March, and is an important character who supports Kanna. Kanna's senior, Warazono Fumika (CV: Ishikawa Ayano), is a professional voice actress who trains Kanna, but is also portrayed as struggling with her own lack of romantic experience. Kanna's classmates and people in the erotic game industry are also portrayed with unique personalities, adding excitement to the story.

■ Production staff

Director Hosoda Naoto has paid close attention to detail in his direction to bring out the best in the original work. Suzuki Masashi, who was in charge of series composition and scriptwriting, carefully portrayed Kanna's growth and her relationships with the people around her. Character designer and animation director Kiyomaru Satoru has faithfully reproduced the illustrations from the original work while adding movements unique to anime. Pony Canyon, in charge of music production, has provided music that matches the atmosphere of the work and enhances the emotions of the viewer.

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme "Love Magic" is performed by the unit "Orange Blossom" consisting of MAKO, who plays Kanna Aoyagi, and Ayano Ishikawa, who plays Fumika Warazono. This song evokes Kanna's purity and energy, and is a perfect fit for the theme of the series. The ending theme "Kuchibiru Zipper" is performed by the Koegoto Girls of Takashima Minami High School (MAKO, who plays Kanna, Juri Nagatsuma, who plays Hazuki, and Maina Shimagata, who plays Kotori), and is a song that evokes the brilliance of friendship and youth.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Koe de Oshigoto! The ANIMATION take .2" firmly retains the charm of the original work while bringing out new appeal through the unique expressions of anime. Through Kanna's growth and her interactions with the people around her, it depicts the rigors and joys of the job of a voice actor, providing viewers with emotion and laughter. In addition, the story woven by the unique characters has the power to draw viewers in.

Although this work is set in the unique genre of erotic games, it has universal themes of youth and friendship, effort and growth. Therefore, it is recommended not only for those who are interested in voice actors and erotic games, but also for those who like youth dramas and comedies. In particular, those who can empathize with the purity and effort of the main character, Kanna, will enjoy this work.

■ Additional Information

"Koe de Oshigoto!" began serialization in Wani Books' "Monthly Comic Gum" in July 2008 and has since become extremely popular. The original manga not only depicts Kanna's growth as a voice actress, but also the relationships between the people around her and the behind-the-scenes of the industry, making it an appealing story with a deep plot. The anime adaptation has been carefully adapted to include as much information as possible into the short 30-minute length while still retaining the essence of the original.

In addition, because this work deals with the theme of erotic games, caution is advised for viewers under the age of 18. However, the work itself does not overly depict the erotic game content, and instead focuses on Kanna's growth and interactions with the people around her, making it enjoyable for a wide range of viewers.

■ Recommendation points

• I can empathize with the purity and hard work of the main character, Kanna Aoyagi.
• The relationships between the unique characters are fascinating
• A realistic story depicting the rigors and joys of being a voice actor
• The theme of youth and friendship is universal
• While retaining the charm of the original work, you can enjoy the unique expressions of anime.

■ Related works

For fans of "Koe de Oshigoto!", we also recommend the following works:

• "K-ON!" - A musical anime about youth and friendship
• "Sound! Euphonium" - A coming-of-age drama set in a brass band club
• "Girls und Panzer" - A story of girls growing up through tank warfare

■ Summary

"Koe de Oshigoto! The ANIMATION take .2" is a moving story about Aoyagi Kanna's growth as a voice actress and her interactions with the people around her. While faithfully retaining the charm of the original work, it brings out new charms through the unique expressions of anime. Although it deals with the unique genre of erotic games, it has universal themes of youth and friendship, effort and growth, making it a work that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people. We hope you will enjoy this work and experience Kanna's growth and the charm of the job of voice acting.