A thorough review of the film version of "Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! -Take On Me-"!

Detailed review and recommendation of the movie "Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! -Take On Me-"

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Light novel

■ Release date

January 6, 2018 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Shochiku

■Frequencies

96 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Original story: Torako (KA Esuma Bunko/Kyoto Animation)

■ Director

・Director: Tatsuya Ishihara

■ Production

Animation Production: Kyoto Animation Production: Chuunibyou Demo Production Committee

■Works

© Torako/Kyoto Animation/Chuunibyou Demo Production Committee

■ Story

"Eighteen years old. Last year of high school. And yet Rikka... still had chunibyo."

It's summer vacation, the third year of high school, and the university entrance exams are in sight. Yuuta Togashi is still living with Rikka Takanashi. However, it seems he still hasn't been able to sign a senior contract...

One day, Tohka's older sister announces that she's taking Rikka to Italy. She says that her job has stabilized and they're moving there as a family. Yuuta is anxious, but Tohka's opinion that they can't just leave Rikka like this, with her chances of getting into university in jeopardy, is sound.

If things continue like this, the two will be torn apart. Worried about this, the usual group of friends, including Ninyu, suggest that Yuuta elope. Thus begins the two's getaway across Japan.

■Explanation

The final chapter of the hidden dark myth is about to be told. Come on! Let's go on a journey together!

■Cast

Yuta Togashi/Jun FukuyamaRikka Takanashi/Maaya UchidaShinka Nibutani/Chinatsu AkasakiKumin May 7/Asanami AsakuraSanae Tokomori/Sumire UesakaTomone Nanamiya/Juri NagatsumaMakoto Isshiki/Soichiro HoshiTohka Takanashi/Eri SendaiKuzuha Togashi/Kaori FukuharaNanase Tsukumo/Kikuko InoueRikka's mother/Junko Iwao

■ Main staff

・Original work: Tora Tora (KA Esuma Bunko/Kyoto Animation)
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara; Screenplay: Touki Hanada; Character design: Kazumi Ikeda; Art director: Mutsuo Shinohara; Color design: Akiyo Takeda; Setting: Hiroyuki Takahashi; Director of photography: Akihiro Ura; 3D director: Rin Yamamoto; Sound director: Yota Tsuruoka; Music: Nijine; Theme song artist: ZAQ
Animation Production: Kyoto Animation Production: Chunibyo Demo Production Committee Distribution: Shochiku

■ Main Characters

A girl with a chuunibyou syndrome who calls herself the user of the Evil King's True Eye. For various reasons, she lived with Yuuta, who lived in the same apartment building, but was taken to Italy by her older sister Touka. If she could have gone on to university, she could have stayed in Japan, but she can't expect that kind of academic ability... Yuuta, who has no choice but to elope, takes her away from Touka.

・Togashi Yuuta A former chuunibyou boy who once called himself the Dark Flame Master. He is now in a relationship with Rikka, who is also a chuunibyou, and they live together. However, he still can't even kiss her properly, and he doesn't seem to be worried about it. Then, he finds out that Rikka is being taken to Italy, and he feels anxious about the fact. As a result, with Kumin's advice, he decides to elope.

・Ninutani Morika A friend of Yuuta and the others. She used to suffer from chuunibyou and called herself "Morisummer", but now she regrets her past so much that she wants to erase it. She is frustrated by the lack of progress in Yuuta and Rikka's romantic relationship, and often criticizes Yuuta for not being manly. That's why she supported the two of them running away together, but when Tohka finds out about her weakness, she suddenly finds herself chasing after him.

Kumin May 7th A girl who loves sleep so much that she always carries a pillow with her and can sleep anywhere. She is a senior student of Yuuta and the others and graduated this winter, but she still frequents the club room because she feels comfortable there. When Yuuta asked her for advice about Rikka being taken to Italy, she was the one who suggested that they elope.

Tokomori Sanae A girl with a chuunibyou syndrome who worships Rikka, who has the True Eye of the Evil King, and calls herself her Servant. However, she also has a serious side, currently serving as the Student Council President of Ginkgo Academy. Toka also has a weakness for her, and in order to protect herself, she chases after Rikka with Nyuya.

・Nanamiya Tomone A girl with chuunibyou who calls herself Magical Ruined King Girl Sophia Ring SP Saturn VII. An old friend of Yuuta, she was once in love with Yuuta, but chose to be a chuunibyou over love. Unlike Rikka, she is aware of her chuunibyou. She supports the two in their elopement, and keeps them updated while they are on the run. She worries about Rikka more than anyone else, as she is in a similar position to him.

Takanashi Tohka Rikka's older sister, who is known to Rikka as the "Priestess of the Invisible Boundary Administration Bureau" and is wary of her. Rikka has a hard time dealing with her chuunibyou, and she brushes it off. As an older sister, she worries about Rikka's future, and tries to take Rikka to Italy, believing that things can't go on like this. She has a very shrewd personality, and mercilessly pursues Yuuta and his friends, who have eloped.

■ Related works

・Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!/KA Esuma Bunko

■ Theme songs and music

OP1
・JOURNEY
・Song -/ZAQ

ED1
・The Name of the Heart・Song -/ZAQ

Detailed review of the movie "Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! -Take On Me-"

The film "Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! -Take On Me-" is an animated feature film produced by Kyoto Animation and released in 2018. The film is based on the light novel "Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!" by Torako, and has been widely accepted by fans of the original work as well as new audiences. Below, we will take a detailed look at the story, characters, production background, music, and recommendations for viewers of this film.

The appeal of the story

The story of the movie is about Yuuta Togashi and Rikka Takanashi during the summer vacation of their third year of high school. When Rikka's sister, Tohka, declares that she will take Rikka to Italy, Yuuta fears being separated from Rikka and decides to elope with her after receiving advice from his friends. The story revolves around this elopement and is an exquisite blend of the bittersweetness of youth and the unique worldview of chuunibyou.

The relationship between Yuuta and Rikka is particularly impressive. The two live together, but they have yet to make a senior contract (a kiss), which resonates with viewers. In addition, the process in which the bond between the two deepens through the bold act of eloping is carefully depicted, giving the film plenty of appeal as a coming-of-age film.

In addition, the story takes place all across Japan, adding visual richness to the film. The depiction of the scenery and culture of each region makes it easier for viewers to empathize with Yuuta and Rikka's journey. This is another element that enhances the film's appeal.

Character Appeal

The characters in the movie are all unique and charming. In particular, the character settings of the protagonists Yuuta and Rikka have inherited the charm of the original work while adding a unique depth to the movie.

Yuuta is a boy who used to be a chuunibyou (middle school second-year syndrome) in the past. His growth and feelings for Rikka resonate with viewers. Meanwhile, Rikka is a girl who calls herself a chuunibyou, and her unique words and actions add humor and emotion to the story. The setting of her "Evil King's True Eye" will be familiar to fans of the original work, but it is explored even further in the movie.

Sub-characters such as Nibutani Shinka, Satsuki Nanaka Kumin, Tokomori Sanae, and Shichimiya Tomone also play an important role in adding excitement to the story. In particular, Shinka's tsukkomi to Yuuta and Kumin's unique character provide laughs to the viewers. Sanae and Tomone's characters also add depth to the story through their relationships with Rikka.

The character of Rikka's older sister, Tohka, is also not to be missed. Her calm and calculating personality drives Yuuta and Rikka into a corner, but her affection as a sister can also be felt. The multifaceted nature of this character adds tension and drama to the story.

Background of the production and the achievements of the staff

The film "Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! -Take On Me-" is produced by Kyoto Animation, a studio known for beautiful visuals and meticulous animation, and this film shows off their technical prowess to the fullest.

Director Tatsuya Ishihara has created an original story for the film while respecting the worldview of the original work. His direction encourages the viewer to empathize with the characters and skillfully controls the tempo of the story. In addition, screenwriter Jukki Hanada has drawn out the charm of the original work while plotting the story in line with the length of the film.

Character designer Ikeda Kazumi faithfully recreated the characters from the original work while adding his own unique visuals to the film. In particular, the depiction of Rokka's "Evil King's True Eye" has a very strong visual impact. Art director Shinohara Mutsuo and color designer Takeda Akiyo added beautiful backgrounds and colors to the story. Cinematographer Ura Akihiro and 3D director Yamamoto Lynn pursued the beauty of the images, moving the audience.

Sound director Yota Tsuruoka created sound effects and background music that brought out the best in the voice actors and stirred the emotions of the viewers. Musician Nijioto provided beautiful melodies that matched the atmosphere of the story and captured the hearts of viewers. Theme song artist ZAQ sang the theme of the story in the opening song "JOURNEY" and the ending song "Kokoro no Namae". Thanks to the achievements of these staff members, the film boasts a very high level of perfection both visually and aurally.

The appeal of music

The film's music is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the opening theme "JOURNEY" and ending theme "Kokoro no Namae" by ZAQ resonate deeply with viewers. "JOURNEY" is a powerful song that symbolizes the journey of Yuuta and Rikka, evoking a sense of adventure in the viewer. Meanwhile, "Kokoro no Namae" is a moving song that sings of the bond and love between the two, and will move viewers to tears.

In addition, Nijine's background music is also skillfully placed in accordance with the development of the story. In particular, the music plays a role in enhancing the emotions of the viewer in the scene where Yuuta and Rikka elope and the scene where he confronts Tohka. These pieces of music further enhance the appeal of the movie.

Recommendation to viewers

The movie "Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! -Take On Me-" is a work that can be strongly recommended not only to fans of the original work, but also to new viewers. The story, which combines the bittersweetness of youth with the unique worldview of chuunibyou, will evoke empathy and emotion in viewers. In addition, the unique and attractive characters play an important role in adding excitement to the story.

Furthermore, the film's beautiful visuals and careful animation by Kyoto Animation, as well as the moving music by ZAQ and Nijine, add to its appeal. Viewers will empathize with Yuuta and Rikka's journey and be moved to tears by the bond and love between the two.

This film is a must-see for fans of coming-of-age films and animation, fans of the original work, and new audiences alike, so be sure to catch it in theaters or on streaming services and experience the moving story of Yuuta and Rikka.