Review of "Kyoukai no Rinne": A humorous fantasy about coexistence with ghosts

All-round evaluation and recommendation of RINNE

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 4, 2015 to September 19, 2015 Every Saturday 17:30-18:00

■Broadcasting station

NHK Educational TV

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 25

■Original Story

Rumiko Takahashi

■ Director

Sugawara Shizuka

■ Production

Animation production: Brain's Base Production: NHK Enterprises Production and copyright: NHK Shogakukan Shueisha Productions

■Works

©Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, NHK, NEP, ShoPro

■ Story

Rinne Rokudo, a young shinigami, and Sakura Mamiya, a girl who can see ghosts, attend the same high school. Rinne solves the problems of spirits from all over the school and lives off the donations he receives from them, but due to certain circumstances, he is very poor! He can't even buy exorcism supplies and ends up borrowing money from Sakura. What will happen to the relationship between the two, which is not progressing despite their mutual interest? And who is Rinne's nemesis? Rinne, Sakura, Rokumon, and other unique friends will have a fantastic after-school experience that even involves the spirit world!

■Explanation

A romantic comedy following in the footsteps of the hugely popular "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2". A comedic depiction of a young shinigami boy who is clueless about love and a calm and collected girl solving mysterious phenomena one after another, but there are also heart-tugging developments before the case is solved. An anime that can be enjoyed by parents and children of all ages, not just teens.

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

Story and Characters

"RINNE" is a work filled with Rumiko Takahashi's unique worldview and humor. The protagonist, Rinne Rokudo, is depicted in a humorous way as he struggles to survive as a Shinigami and lives a poor life. Rinne's partner, Sakura Mamiya, has the special ability to see ghosts, but she is calm and reliable. The story unfolds in a wonderful way, with a mixture of laughter and emotion, as the two meet and solve the problems of spirits together.

Additionally, characters with unique personalities, such as Rinne's contracted black cat, Rokumon, and Rinne's nemesis, the messenger of hell, Kuroki, add excitement to the story. Rokumon's tsukkomi (comic comments) and Kuroki's villainous presence leave a strong impression on viewers. The relationships and growth of the characters are also points not to be missed, and the feelings of each character are carefully depicted, such as the delicate distance between Rinne and Sakura and Rokumon's loyalty to Rinne.

Animation and performance

Brain's Base, the animation production company, has faithfully reproduced the original work by Takahashi Rumiko, while succeeding in drawing viewers in with its own unique direction. In particular, the depiction of the spirit world and the visuals of the exorcism items used by Rinne bring out the unique charm of anime without compromising the atmosphere of the original. In addition, under the direction of director Sugawara Shizuka, the direction of each episode is skillfully constructed, with an excellent balance between comedy and serious scenes.

The character designs also capture the imagery of the original manga, while adding original elements to the anime to create a more appealing visual. Rinne's expressive movements and Sakura's dignified demeanor are particularly impressive. The background art also skillfully expresses the mysterious atmosphere of the spirit world, providing plenty of visual enjoyment.

Music and voice acting

The music was provided by a number of talented artists, including Yoko Takahashi, who sang the opening theme "Kiseki" (Miracle), and Megumi Nakajima, who sang the ending theme "Smile Next to Me." The refreshing melody of the opening theme and the gentle singing voice of the ending theme further deepen the worldview of the story. The background music was also carefully selected to match each scene, playing a role in bringing out the emotions of the viewer.

The voice actors are also impressive, with Kaito Ishikawa as Rinne, Ai Kayano as Sakura, and Etsuko Kozakura as Rokumon, all of whom express the individuality of each character. Kaito Ishikawa's voice for Rinne in particular is able to handle a wide range of scenes, from humorous to serious, leaving a deep impression on viewers. Ai Kayano's voice for Sakura also brings out the charm of the character, with a performance that combines calmness and kindness.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"RINNE" was popular with many viewers when it was first broadcast. In particular, fans of Rumiko Takahashi highly praised the animation, which faithfully reproduced the atmosphere of the original work, and the appeal of the characters. It was also accepted by a wide range of generations, from teens to adults, and attracted attention as a work that could be enjoyed by parents and children together.

The show was also a hot topic among viewers on the Internet, with many comments such as "The relationship between Rinne and Sakura is interesting," "Rokumon's tsukkomi is the best," and "The spirit world setting is unique and interesting." The story development and character growth in each episode were also highly praised, with many fans watching the series repeatedly.

Recommended points

"Rinne" is recommended for those who want to enjoy Rumiko Takahashi's unique worldview and humor, those who like the combination of romantic comedy and supernatural phenomena, and those who want to be moved by the growth and relationships of the characters. It is also a great work that parents and children can enjoy together, so it is a good choice for watching with the whole family.

In particular, the work is packed with various elements, such as the delicate relationship between Rinne and Sakura, Rokumon's tsukkomi, and the unique setting of the spirit world. The animation quality and the voice actors' performances have also been highly praised, making it a work that can be enjoyed both visually and aurally. Please give it a watch.

Related works and recommendations

For those who enjoyed "RINNE", we also recommend "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2", both of which are by Rumiko Takahashi. These works also have a unique worldview that combines romantic comedy and supernatural phenomena, and are sure to entertain viewers. "Gintama", which was also produced by Brain's Base, like "RINNE", is also recommended as a work filled with humor and action.

In addition, "Yu Yu Hakusho" and "BLEACH" are also recommended as works that deal with the spiritual world and supernatural phenomena. These works depict the spiritual world and supernatural phenomena in a different approach than "Kyoukai no Rinne", and are sure to attract the interest of viewers.

summary

"Rinne" is a work that combines romantic comedy and supernatural phenomena, and is filled with Rumiko Takahashi's unique worldview and humor. It is filled with various elements such as the delicate relationship between Rinne and Sakura, Rokumon's tsukkomi, and the unique setting of the spirit world, which will entertain viewers. The animation quality and the voice actors' performances have also been highly praised, making it a work that can be enjoyed both visually and aurally. Please give it a watch.