The appeal and evaluation of "Himegoto": A thorough analysis of the deep story and the appeal of the characters

Himegoto - The strange daily life of cross-dressers and the student council

Himegoto is a TV anime series that aired in 2014, based on the manga of the same name by Tsukudani Norio. It aired from July 7 to September 29, 2014, with 13 episodes in total, each five minutes long, but packed with dense content. It was broadcast on BS11 and streamed online on Niconico Video. While this anime is a comedy about cross-dressing, it also depicts the bittersweetness of youth through the activities of the student council and human relationships.

story

The protagonist, Arikawa Hime, is forced to cross-dress despite being a high school student and is made to swear to serve as the student council's dog. The student council pays off the debts of Hime's parents, and in exchange Hime spends her high school life as the student council's dog. The girls who belong to the student council at the same school save her from the "scary people" who are cornering her. Their condition is that Hime becomes the student council's dog and spends her high school life cross-dressing. Starting from this strange premise, "Himegoto" depicts Hime's daily life and her interactions with the members of the student council.

cast

The main cast is as follows:

• Hime Arikawa - Yuki Kuwahara
• Walking 18+ - Skyscraper Yuka
• Unko - Saki Ono
• Albertina II - Hisako Tojo
• Mitsunaga Oda - Ayane Sakura
• Kaguya Arikawa - Chinatsu Akasaki
• Tadokoro - Takuya Eguchi
• No. 1 - Minami Tsuda
• Hiro - Azusa Tadokoro

The cast members bring color to the work by playing unique characters. In particular, Yuki Kuwahara's performance as Hime, a difficult role of a cross-dressing boy, left a strong impression on viewers with her natural portrayal.

Main Staff

The following staff members are involved in the production of "Himegoto".

• Original story: "Himegoto" by Norio Tsukudani (Ichijinsha)
• Director and Production - Takeyuki Yanase
• Series composition, script - Hyodo Ippo
• Character design - Masaaki Sakurai
• Color design - Shuji Uemura
• Director of photography - Megumi Fujisaka
• Art Director: Masahiro Sato
• Edited by Akari Saito
• Sound Director - Kisuke Koizumi
• Animation production: Asahi Production

All of these staff members worked together to bring out the best in the original work. Director Takeyuki Yanase's direction in particular contributed to the effective development of the story in a short time frame. Masaaki Sakurai's character designs also faithfully reproduced the atmosphere of the original work while adding their own unique charm to the anime.

Main Characters

The main characters of Himegoto are as follows:

• Hime Arikawa - The heroine(?) cross-dressing boy. In exchange for paying off his parents' debts, he is kept as a dog by the Shimooka Student Council.
• Walking 18+ - The only daughter of the chairman of Shimoka High School and vice president of the student council. She has a very crazy personality, so most of the problems start with her.
• Unko - The airhead. But she's also the student council president. Her name is a bit strange, but it's actually pronounced "Sadako." Is there a reason why she chose a strange name...?
• Albertina II - Student council secretary. At first glance, she seems like a rich girl, but in reality, she has a dark, sharp tongue and a chuunibyou-like personality that stirs up trouble for those around her. However, she actually has an unexpected talent...!?
• Kaguya Arikawa - Hime's younger brother. In other words, this boy is also a cross-dressing boy. He (she?) is aware of his own charm and uses it as a weapon to have many servants on campus.
• No. 1 - Kaguya's servant, or rather, the one who looks after her. Although he looks very plain, he actually has a surprising secret.
• Mitsunaga Oda - Head of the school's disciplinary committee. He cross-dresses because of family traditions, meaning he is also a cross-dressing boy. He goes by the nickname "Mittan" and is the butt of everyone's teasing.
• Hiro - A cross-dressing boy with big breasts (fake) who has served the Oda clan for generations. While he dotes on his master Mitsunaga, he also doesn't forget to tease him because of how cute he is.
• Tadokoro - Hime's classmate and friend. He is basically a playboy and is seen that way by those around him.

The relationships and episodes woven by these characters are what make "Himegoto" so appealing. In particular, the relationship between Hime and the student council members draws viewers in with laughter and tears. In addition, through the theme of cross-dressing, there are also scenes that make viewers think about gender and identity, making it a deep work.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• #1 – I feel like I’ve failed as a woman.
• #2 - You can do it now
• #3 - Cute, damn it...
• #04 - What is that setting?
• #05 – I want you to wear something barely there!
• #06 - Are low angles okay?
• #07 - Is it okay to have my boobs exposed?
• #08 - It's my first time so please be gentle
• #09 - So? Did it end up sticking out?
• #10 - You're right, but let's shut up.
• #11 - It's a raid.
• #12 - Hime-nii is quitting the student council
• #13 - I'm sorry, Hime-kun

As you can tell from these subtitles, "Himegoto" is a humorous work. Each episode has a different theme and episode, so viewers will not get bored. Also, the story unfolds in a short time, so the fast-paced story is also one of its charms.

Theme songs and music

The theme songs for "Himegoto" are as follows:

• OP1 - Troublemaker
  • Lyricist: Genki Mizuno
  • Composer - Shuhei Mutsuki
  • Sung by: Aimai Meimaiin (Yuki Kuwahara, Yuka Matenrou, Saki Ono, Hisako Tojo)
• ED1 - Makeup!
  • Lyricist: Genki Mizuno
  • Composer - Shuhei Mutsuki
  • Sung by: Aimai Meemaiin (Yuki Kuwahara, Yuka Matenrou, Saki Ono, Hisako Tojo)

The opening theme "Trouble Maker" and the ending theme "Make Cap!" are important elements that liven up the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the singing of "Aimai Mei Mine" succeeds in bringing out the individuality of the characters, making it a song that will stay in the viewers' hearts.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Himegoto" is a work that depicts the bittersweetness of youth, friendship, and human relationships while dealing with the unique theme of cross-dressing. The story unfolds in a short time, so the fast-paced story and unique characters are appealing. There are also humorous episodes and scenes that make you think about gender and identity, making it a deep work.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Unique Theme - The theme of cross-dressing is not often seen in other anime, so it offers a fresh perspective.
• Unique characters - Each member of the student council has their own unique personality, so viewers will not get bored. The relationships between the characters are also one of the attractions.
• Humorous episodes - Each episode has a different theme and story, keeping viewers engaged with laughter and tears.
• Deep themes - There are scenes that make you think about gender and identity, making it more than just a comedy, it's a deep work.

"Himegoto" deals with the theme of cross-dressing, but also depicts the bittersweetness of youth, friendship, and human relationships. The story unfolds in a short time frame, and the fast-paced story and unique characters are appealing. There are also humorous episodes and scenes that make you think about gender and identity, making it a deep work. I recommend this work for four reasons: a unique theme, unique characters, humorous episodes, and a deep theme. Please give it a watch.