The appeal and reviews of "Kamisama Kiss": A soothing anime depicting the daily life of gods

"Kamisama Kiss": A fusion of myth and youth

■Overview of the work

Kamisama Kiss is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Julietta Suzuki. Airing on TV Tokyo from October 1st to December 24th, 2012, the 13-episode series follows the story of a high school girl who suddenly takes on the role of a god. Animation was handled by TMS Entertainment and the series was directed by Heitarou Daichi.

■ Story

The protagonist, Momozono Nanami, becomes homeless when her father disappears after racking up debts. She meets a suspicious man named Mikage in the park and inherits a house, but it turns out to be a shrine for the local god. Mikage's true identity is that of the local god, and in exchange for living at the shrine, Nanami is forced to do the work of a god. The shrine's messenger, a fox spirit named Tomoe, has a terrible personality and bullies Nanami, eventually leaving the shrine. In order to control Tomoe, a "kissing" contract is required, and the story follows Nanami as she fulfills her role as a god, depicting her relationships with others and her own growth.

■ Characters

The appeal of this work lies in its unique characters. The main character, Momozono Nanami, is voiced by Mimori Suzuko and is portrayed as someone who stays positive even in difficult situations. Tomoe is played by Tachibana Shinnosuke and is characterized by his cool, tsundere personality. The work is also livened up by a luxurious cast including Kishio Daisuke as Kurama, Okamoto Nobuhiko as Mizuki, and Ishida Akira as Mikage.

■ Production staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of Kamisama Kiss. ​​The character designer and chief animation director was Junko Yamanaka, the art director was Takashi Aoi, the color designer was Kayoko Nishi, the cinematographer was Akemi Sasaki, the editor was Ikuyo Fujita, and the music was Toshiro Masuda. The sound director was Kazuya Tanaka, the sound effects were Noriko Izumo, the literary director was Masako Iwata, the production manager was Takuya Yasuei, and the producers were Ikumi Hayashi, Ryoichi Ishihara, Ryo Tomoda, Shinsaku Hatta, Hideyuki Namba, and Goro Shinjuku.

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Kamisama Kiss" by Hanae, with lyrics, composition, and arrangement by Manabe Shuichi. The ending theme is "Kamisama Onegai" also sung by Hanae, with lyrics and composition by Matsuzaki Yuji and arrangement by Manabe Shuichi. In addition, a special ending theme "Kamisama Onegai" Datenshi☆Mix is ​​used in episode 10, sung by KURAMA (CV. Kishio Daisuke) featuring Hanae. Insert songs "Datenshi DA☆TEN☆DIE" and "Tenshi LA☆TEN☆SEE" also appear, adding to the atmosphere of the series.

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Kamisama Kiss" is a fascinating work with a story that combines mythology and youth. The protagonist Nanami's growth as she fulfills her role as a god moves viewers. Other highlights include the relationships between the unique characters and the beautiful animation. In particular, the depiction of her relationship with Tomoe and her efforts to fulfill her responsibilities as a god deeply moves viewers.

■ Recommendation points

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Fusion of myth and youth : The story of a high school girl who plays the role of a god is a new genre that combines myth and youth.
• Unique Characters : Unique characters including Nanami and Tomoe add excitement to the story.
• Beautiful animation : Beautiful animation by TMS Entertainment enhances the appeal of the work.
• A moving story : Nanami's growth and changes in relationships are depicted, leaving viewers with deep emotions.

Related information

The original manga of "Kamisama Kiss" was serialized in Hakusensha's "Hana to Yume" and has a large fan base. In 2015, a sequel, "Kamisama Kiss ◎", was broadcast, further expanding the story. By enjoying both the original manga and the anime sequel, you can gain a deeper understanding of the work.

Conclusion

"Kamisama Kiss" is a work of a new genre that combines mythology and youth, and is attractive for its unique characters, beautiful animation, and moving story. This work deeply moves the viewer, so it is definitely worth watching at least once. By enjoying the original manga and sequels, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding and be moved even more.