Slope Apollon: A moving story of youth and jazz

"Kids on the Slope": A moving story where jazz and youth intersect

"Kids on the Slope" is a TV anime series that aired in 2012 and is based on the manga of the same name by Yuki Kodama. The show is a touching story about jazz music and youth growth, and was loved by many viewers. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of this work.

Overview

Set in Kyushu in 1966, "Kids on the Slope" tells the story of high school students Nishimi Kaoru and Kawabuchi Sentaro as they grow closer and develop a friendship through jazz. The original manga was written by Kodama Yuki and serialized in the monthly magazine Flowers. The anime aired from April 13 to June 29, 2012, with a total of 12 episodes, each 30 minutes long.

Broadcast information

The broadcasting stations were diverse, including Fuji Television and other local stations nationwide, BS Fuji, Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, etc. More specifically, Kansai Television, Tokai Television, Akita Television, Iwate Menkoi Television, Sendai Broadcasting, Sakuranbo Television, Fukushima Television, Niigata Sogo Television, Television Shizuoka, Television Shin-Hiroshima, Television Ehime, Television Nishinippon, Saga Television, Television Kumamoto, and Kagoshima Television.

Staff and cast

The film is directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, known for works such as "From Up on Poppy Hill" and "Space Pirate Captain Herlock," and the animation was handled by MAPPA and Tezuka Productions. The screenplay was written by Ayako Kato and Yuko Kakihara, the character design was by Nobuteru Yuki, and the chief animation director was Yoshimitsu Yamashita. The music was also composed by Yoko Kanno, whose unique sensibility adds depth to the film.

The main cast includes a star-studded cast of voice actors, including Ryohei Kimura as Kaoru Nishimi, Yoshimasa Hosoya as Sentaro Kawabuchi, Yuka Nanri as Ritsuko Mukae, Aya Endo as Yurika Fukahori, and Junichi Suwabe as Junichi Katsuragi. Other cast members include Yoshinori Kitajima as Tsutomu Mukae, Nobuhiko Okamoto as Seiji Matsuoka, Ayumu Murase as Shigetora Maruo, and Amina Sato as Mariko.

Main Characters

Nishimi Kaoru (CV: Kimura Ryohei) is a gifted young man who moves from Yokosuka to his uncle's house in Kyushu during the summer of his first year of high school. Having changed schools many times since childhood, he tends to close himself off to those around him, but this changes when he meets Sentaro and discovers the joy of jazz. He is also highly skilled in classical piano and is in charge of jazz piano.

Sentaro Kawabuchi (voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya) is a rebellious first-year high school student whom Kaoru meets at Higashi High School, where she has transferred. He is feared as a "notorious bad guy," but he is tall, cheerful, and has a bold personality. He develops a relationship with Kaoru through jazz, and is the drummer.

Ritsuko Mukae (CV: Yuka Nanri) is Sentaro's childhood friend and a classmate of Kaoru and her classmates. She is a kind and cheerful high school freshman with charming freckles. She is the poster girl for the record store "Mukae Records" and spends her time with her jazz friends in the studio in the basement of the store.

Yurika Fukahori (CV: Aya Endo) is a senior student at Higashi High School, where Kaoru and the others attend. Although she is a young lady from a wealthy family, she has an active and curious personality. She is a member of the art club and gets to know Junichi, a university student, through Sentaro and the others.

Junichi Katsuragi (CV: Junichi Suwabe) is someone Sentaro adores and calls "Big Brother Jun". He has been friends with Sentaro and Ritsuko since childhood, and is currently attending university in Tokyo. Every time he returns home, he stops by Mukae Records and enjoys playing jazz on the trumpet.

Episodes and subtitles

The subtitles for each episode are named after jazz pieces, and symbolize the characters' growth and feelings as the story progresses. Below are the subtitles for all 12 episodes.

• Episode 1: "Morning"
• Episode 2: "Summertime"
• Episode 3: "Someday My Prince Will Come"
• Episode 4: But Not for Me
• Episode 5: "Lullaby of Birdland"
• Episode 6: "You Don't Know What Love Is"
• Episode 7: Now's the Time
• Episode 8: These Foolish Things
• Episode 9: "Love Me or Leave Me"
• Episode 10: "In a Sentimental Mood"
• Episode 11: "Left Alone"
• Episode 12: "All Blues"

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Sakamichi no Melody" by YUKI, with lyrics by YUKI and music and arrangement by Yoko Kanno. The ending theme is "Altair" by Motohiro Hata, with lyrics and arrangement by Motohiro Hata and music by Yoko Kanno. These songs are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the work.

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Kids on the Slope" is a story about friendship, love, and growth in youth, set against the backdrop of jazz music. In particular, the rhythm of jazz matches perfectly with the emotions of the characters, deeply moving viewers. In addition, by setting the story in Kyushu in the 1960s, the atmosphere and culture of the Showa era are realistically reproduced, making the historical background one of the attractions.

The characters' growth and changes in their relationships are also carefully depicted, and the friendship between Kaoru and Sentaro in particular has captured the hearts of many viewers. Furthermore, Yoko Kanno's music adds depth to the story and plays an important role in stirring the emotions of the viewers.

This work was popular not only with jazz fans, but also with people who love youth dramas and human dramas. The animation quality is high, and the character designs and background art are beautifully drawn. In particular, the jazz performance scenes are realistic and immersive, and have the power to draw the viewer in.

Recommended points

"Kids on the Slope" is a moving story about jazz music and the growth of youth. Here are some reasons why we highly recommend it:

• The appeal of jazz music : The jazz rhythm and the emotions of the characters match perfectly, making this a must-see for music lovers.
• Youthful friendship and growth : The friendship and growth between Kaoru and Sentaro is carefully depicted, capturing the hearts of viewers.
• Showa-era atmosphere : Set in Kyushu in the 1960s, the atmosphere and culture of the Showa era is realistically recreated.
• Yoko Kanno's music : Yoko Kanno's music adds depth to the story and stirs emotions in the viewer.
• High-quality animation : The character designs and background art are beautiful, and the jazz performance scenes are realistic and immersive.

As mentioned above, "Kids on the Slope" is a touching story of jazz and youth, and is loved by many viewers. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes jazz music and youth dramas.