The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY II ~Anotoki no Bokura Vol.1 Review: What is the appeal of the spin-off?

The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY II ~Anotoki no Bokura Vol.1~ Detailed review and recommendation

The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY II ~Anotoki no Bokura Vol.1 is a spin-off of the OVA series based on the popular manga The Prince of Tennis by Takeshi Konomi. The film was released by Bandai Visual on August 26, 2011, and is made up of one 48-minute episode. It is directed by Tada Shunsuke and animated by Production IG, with Trans Arts participating as a production associate.

story

This OVA is made up of two episodes. Episode 1, "Birth of Captain Shiraishi Kuranosuke," depicts Shiraishi Kuranosuke, who has been appointed as the new captain of the Shitenhoji Tennis Club, struggling to recruit new members in order to keep the club going. Targeting new member Zaizen Hikaru, Shiraishi and his team use various methods to try to get him into the club, but are challenged by Zaizen's cool attitude. The final climax is when Koishikawa Kenjiro challenges him with his best material.

In the second episode, "The Seven Mysteries of Seishun Academy," Ryoma Echizen and the trio of first-years learn of the seven terrifying mysteries of Seishun Academy and struggle to solve them. However, they are confused by the mysterious behavior of the third-years who suddenly leave the clubroom. Shusuke Fuji begins to talk about the events of two years ago, and the truth behind the seven mysteries of Seishun Academy becomes clear. This episode is a moving story that depicts the history of Seishun Academy and the growth of its characters.

cast

In the first episode, "Birth of Manager Shiraishi Kuranosuke," the voice actors Yoshimasa Hosoya plays the role of Shiraishi Kuranosuke, Satoshi Hino plays the role of Koishikawa Kenjiro, Jun Fukuyama plays the role of Oshitari Kenya, Rei Naito plays the role of Kinjiro Koharu, Taku Kumbuchi plays the role of Ichiuji Yuji, Hirofumi Araki plays the role of Zaizen Hikaru, and Koji Yusa plays the role of Watanabe Osamu. The individuality of each character is vividly expressed by the voice actors' performances, and the cool character of Zaizen Hikaru and the humorous character of Koishikawa Kenjiro are particularly memorable.

In the second episode, "The Seven Wonders of Seishun Gakuen," Junko Minagawa plays Ryoma Echizen, Ryotaro Okiayu plays Kunimitsu Tezuka, Takayuki Kondo plays Shuichiro Oishi, Yuki Kaida plays Shusuke Fuji, Kenjiro Tsuda plays Sadaharu Inui, Hiroki Takahashi plays Eiji Kikumaru, Sei Kawamoto plays Takamura Takashi, Masaya Onosaka plays Takeshi Momoshiro, Kohei Kiyasu plays Kaoru Kaidou, Shizuka Okodaira plays Sumire Ryuzaki, Junno Yamazaki plays Satoshi Horio, Kei Watanabe plays Katsuo Mizuno, and Rei Nakagawa plays Kachiro Kato. All the main characters of Seishun Gakuen are here, and their individual performances that shine are a highlight.

Main Staff

The original work is by Takeshi Konomi, the director is Shunsuke Tada, the character designs are by Meiji Ishii and Nariyuki Takahashi, the sound director is Takuya Hiramitsu, and the music is by Cher Watanabe. With high-quality animation from Production IG and production support from Trans Arts, the world of the original work is faithfully reproduced. In addition, the production by NAS and The Prince of Tennis Project has made it a satisfying work for fans.

Main Characters

In the first episode, "Birth of the Club President! Kuranosuke Shiraishi," the main characters are Kuranosuke Shiraishi, Kenjiro Koishikawa, Kenya Oshitari, Koharu Kaneiro, Yuji Ichiji, Hikaru Zaizen, and Osamu Watanabe. Kuranosuke Shiraishi struggles to keep the club going as the new club president, while Kenjiro Koishikawa tries to recruit Hikaru Zaizen using humor. Hikaru Zaizen's cool character adds depth to the story.

In the second episode, "The Seven Wonders of Seishun Academy," Ryoma Echizen, Kunimitsu Tezuka, Shuichiro Oishi, Shusuke Fuji, Sadaharu Inui, Eiji Kikumaru, Takashi Kawamura, Takeshi Momoshiro, Kaoru Kaido, Sumire Ryuzaki, Satoshi Horio, Katsuo Mizuno, and Kachirō Kato appear as main characters. As Ryoma and the other first-year students attempt the Seven Wonders of Seishun Academy, and Shusuke Fuji talks about the events of two years ago, the characters' growth and bonds are depicted.

subtitle

Episode 1: The Birth of the Club President, Kuranosuke Shiraishi Episode 2: The Seven Mysteries of Youth Academy

Related Titles

"The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY II ~Anotoki no Bokura Vol.1" is a tie-in between "The Prince of Tennis" and "The New Prince of Tennis." "The Prince of Tennis" is a popular manga written by Takeshi Konomi, which has also been adapted into a TV anime and a movie. "The New Prince of Tennis" is its sequel, and features an even deeper story and characters. For fans who enjoyed these works, "The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY II ~Anotoki no Bokura Vol.1" is a work that allows them to rediscover the charm of the characters from a new perspective.

Detailed Review

"The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY II ~ Anotoki no Bokura Vol.1" is a must-see for fans of the original work. In particular, the first episode, "Birth of Captain Shiraishi Kuranosuke," is a comedic episode depicting the struggles of Shiraishi Kuranosuke, the new captain of the Shitenhoji Tennis Club, and is full of scenes that highlight the personalities of the characters. The contrast between Zaizen Hikaru's cool character and Koishikawa Kenjiro's humorous character is interesting, and the story unfolds in a way that is both funny and moving.

The second episode, "The Seven Wonders of Seishun Academy," is a mystery-inspired episode themed on the seven terrifying wonders of Seishun Academy, and is a moving story that depicts the growth and bonds of the characters. In particular, the scene in which Shusuke Fuji talks about the events of two years ago gives fans a sense of the history of Seishun Academy and the growth of the characters, making it a scene that fans will not be able to watch without crying.

The animation quality is also high, fully demonstrating Production IG's technical capabilities. The character designs faithfully reproduce the images of the original work, while adding the movements and expressions that are unique to animation. In terms of sound, the sound effects and background music by sound director Takuya Hiramitsu liven up the story, and Watanabe Cher's music expresses the emotions of the characters.

Recommendation

"The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY II ~Anotoki no Bokura Vol.1" is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who enjoy anime, comedies, and mysteries. In particular, the humorous scenes in episode 1 and the moving story in episode 2 will be enjoyed by a wide range of people. In addition, the story, which depicts the personalities and growth of the characters, will appeal to those who like youth dramas and sports anime.

To enjoy this work, it is recommended that you watch "The Prince of Tennis" or "The New Prince of Tennis" beforehand, so that you can gain a deeper understanding of the characters' backgrounds and relationships. You can also enjoy it even more if you check out the other works in the OVA series. In particular, the "The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY" series is a spin-off of the original work that depicts new sides to various characters, making it a work that fans cannot miss.

"The Prince of Tennis OVA ANOTHER STORY II ~Anotoki no Bokura Vol.1" is a wonderful work that faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work while depicting the charm of the characters from a new perspective. I hope that many people will watch it and share the excitement and laughter.