"Ryukojikan" review: A masterpiece anime that depicts the sadness and healing of everyday life

"Railroad Crossing Time" - The brilliance of youth packed into a short space of time

"Fukkiri Jikan" is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired in 2018 and is based on the manga of the same name by Satoyoshi. It aired on TOKYO MX from April 10 to June 26, 2018, every Tuesday at 1:15am. This anime garnered attention for capturing a moment of youth in just five minutes.

Original story and anime adaptation

The original is a manga serialized by Satoyoshi in Futabasha's "Monthly Action", depicting the human drama that arises from small everyday events. For the anime adaptation, Yoshio Suzuki was the director, Misuzu Chiba was in charge of series composition and scriptwriting, Kaori Takamura was in charge of character design, and EKACHI EPILKA was in charge of animation production, and they succeeded in bringing out the charm of the original to the fullest.

Story and Characters

The setting of "Railroad Crossing Time" is a railroad crossing in everyday life. The protagonists Ai and Tomo meet various people while waiting for the crossing and grow through conversations with them. Ai is Tomo's senior, and is a character who questions the idea of ​​simply waiting for the crossing. On the other hand, Tomo is Ai's junior, and is passionate about social justice. From the perspectives of these two characters, the story depicts episodes of people they meet at the crossing.

The main characters Ai and Tomo are played by the talented voice actors Ayaka Senbongi and Yui Ogura. Their acting brings out the charm of the characters even more. In addition, the story is enriched by the unique characters who appear as supporting characters, such as Majima-san, the teacher, the SNS siblings, the goth girl who is suffering, and the Hassaku man.

Episodes and themes

Each episode revolves around the story of people who meet at a railroad crossing. Episode 1, "Two Youths," begins with Ai and Tomo's meeting, while episode 2, "Mashima-san is Erotic," depicts an episode about Mashima-san. Episode 3, "With the Teacher," depicts the encounter with the teacher, and episode 4, "SNS Brothers and Sisters," depicts the relationship between the brothers and sisters through social media. Episode 5, "Gothic Suffering," depicts the story of a girl in Gothic Lolita fashion, and episode 6, "Me and Uncle Hassaku," depicts the encounter with Uncle Hassaku. Episode 7, "Poet at the Railroad Crossing," depicts the story of a man who recites poetry at a railroad crossing, episode 8, "SNS Brothers and Sisters 2," is a sequel to the SNS Brothers and Sisters, and episodes 9, "Toden Heart Letter, Part 1," and 10, "Toden Heart Letter, Part 2," depict episodes on the Toden. Episode 11, "Mashima-san is Erotic ②," is a continuation of Mashima-san's story, while episode 12, "The Youth of Two People ②," depicts the growth of Ai and Tomo.

Through these episodes, "Crossing Time" depicts themes such as "the extraordinary in the ordinary," "meeting and parting with people," and "moments of youth." In the limited time and space of a railroad crossing, the lives of many different people intersect, and the drama that emerges from this moves viewers.

Production and staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Fukkori Jikan". Director Yoshio Suzuki successfully incorporated the atmosphere of the original work into the anime, making full use of his techniques to develop the story in a short time. Misuzu Chiba, who was in charge of the series composition and scriptwriting, clarified the theme of each episode and succeeded in depicting the growth of the characters. Kaoru Takamura, the character designer, faithfully reproduced the characters from the original work in the anime while adding his own unique charm. EKACHI EPILKA, in charge of animation production, provided high-quality animation in a short time. Staff members such as art director Miyuki Kawashima, color designer Ayaka Nagano, and cinematographer Keiji Oshima also contributed to improving the quality of the work.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"Fukyori Jikan" was well received by viewers for its depiction of youthful moments in a short time span and for its unique characters. In particular, the method of depicting an extraordinary drama within the everyday scene of a railroad crossing was highly praised. Another reason for its popularity is that each episode had a clear theme, making it easy for viewers to empathize with. Furthermore, the voice acting of Senbongi Ayaka and Ogura Yui was highly praised, successfully bringing out the charm of the characters.

Recommendations and related works

"Fukkiri Jikan" is recommended for those who like youth anime and slice-of-life anime. In particular, it is a perfect work for those who like human dramas depicted in a short time and unique characters. In addition, the original manga is also very interesting, so it is also recommended to read the original after watching the anime.

Related works include "Nichijou" and "K-On!", which also depict the human relationships that arise from small everyday events. These works also have themes in common with "Fukkori Jikan" as they depict moments of youth and friendship. In addition, "Your Lie in April" and "Sound! Euphonium" are also recommended as short-lived episodic works.

Conclusion

"Fukkori Jikan" is a work that captures a moment of youth in just five minutes. Although the setting is the everyday scenery of a railroad crossing, the way it depicts an extraordinary drama there has been praised and has moved viewers. One of the reasons for its popularity is the unique characters and the clear theme of each episode. This is a work that should be watched by anyone who likes youth anime or slice-of-life anime. The original manga is also very interesting, so it is also recommended to read the original after watching the anime. Other related works that you should check out include "Nichijou," "K-On!," "Your Lie in April," and "Sound! Euphonium."