The appeal and reviews of "Pastel Memories": The balance between healing and adventure

Pastel Memories - A story about girls who protect the memories of Akihabara

The TV anime series Pastel Memories, which aired in 2019, is based on the game by Furyu. It aired from January 8 to March 26, 2019, and consisted of 12 episodes. It was broadcast on TOKYO MX and AT-X, and each episode was 30 minutes long. Animation was produced by project No.9, and the director was Yasuyuki Shinozaki.

story

The setting of "Pastel Memories" is Akihabara, which was known as the mecca of otaku culture. However, at the beginning of the story, Akihabara has been transformed into an office district, and people are gradually forgetting their memories of anime and manga. Specialty shops are closing one after another, and their numbers are rapidly decreasing.

What sustains this world are the "memories" of the work that remain in people's hearts. However, when the world of the work is destroyed by the virus, the work disappears from people's memories and memories. The protagonists fight to protect the "precious memories" of the work that everyone loves.

The story centers around 12 girls who work at a small shop called Usagigoya Honpo in a corner of Akihabara. They struggle to defeat the virus and return Akihabara to its former, fun-loving self.

cast

The main characters are voiced by:

• Izumi Asagi - Hiyori Nitta
• Ayaka Sakaki - Mariko Toribe
• Irina Leskova - Yumi Uchiyama
• Kaoruko Nijo-in - Yukiyo Fujii
• Yuina Machiya - Rie Murakawa
• Michi Edogawabashi - Naomi Ohzora
• Senju Minami - Ai Yamamoto
• Maiko Chimari - Yui Ogura
• Mejiro Nagisa - Hanamori Yumiri
• Rei Kurushima - Yurika Kubo
• Small Town in Satonaka - Megumi Toda
• Saori Rokugo - Kotori Koiwai
• Twisted Rabbit - Chitose Morinaga
• Maya - Tomoaki Takahashi

Main Staff

The following staff members were involved in the production of "Pastel Memories":

• Original work: "Pastel Memories" (Flu)
• Director: Yasuyuki Shinozaki
• Assistant Director - Hirokazu Yamada
• Series Composition - Tamai Go
• Character design - Nasikinelo
• Character design - Shinya Segawa
• Prop design - Hiroyuki Yoshii
• Art setting - Takahashi Maho
• Art Director - Katsura Lin
• Color design: Satoshi Inoue, Yasunori Yasuda
• Special effects - Tomoki Murakami
• Director of Photography - Akio Hayashi (PRA)
• Edited by Akari Saito
• Sound Director - Yuichi Imaizumi
• Music - Akiko Tateyama
• Music Production - MAGES.
• Animation production - project No.9

Main Characters

The main characters of Pastel Memories are:

• Izumi Asagi - A childhood friend of the manager of Usagi Koya Honpo, she is a bright and energetic girl who calls herself an apprentice otaku. She is a high school student who is curious about everything and has the ability to become friends with anyone.
• Ayaka Sakaki - A very smart and knowledgeable, but slightly shy girl. She is a top cosplayer and for some reason loves mushrooms.
• Irina Leskova - A half-Russian high school girl who speaks fluent Japanese. She is a strict and stubborn girl who loves Japan and military goods.
• Nijouin Kaoruko - A daughter of a wealthy family, she is blessed with talents in all areas, including academics, martial arts, and the arts. She loves anime and can be arrogant, but she is very kind to her friends.
• Machiya Yuina - A free-spirited, emotional girl with a cat-like personality who loves to play pranks. She has a strong preference for maid uniforms and has the talent to quickly become friends with anyone.
• Michi Edogawabashi - A mysterious girl whose hobby is playing with dolls. She doesn't show her emotions very often, so no one can predict what she will do.
• Minami Senju - A very kind and homely girl who enjoys playing training games. She has a generous personality and rarely gets angry, so she acts as everyone's mother.
• Maiko Chimari - A serious and polite girl who is a history nerd and speaks politely to everyone. She is quite a coward and can faint when her fear reaches its limit.
• Mejiro Nagisa - A passionate girl who loves shonen manga and takes on any challenge with all her might. Although she has very high physical abilities, she also gets excited easily and is easily hurt.
• Kurushima Rei - A girl who likes building plastic models and has a cool, strong-willed personality. She often hides her true feelings and also has a contrary and shy side.
• Satonaka Komachi - A bit of a fool, but always smiling and a mood maker for everyone. Her hobby is photography, and she has a habit of taking pictures wherever and whenever she wants. She is very strong.
• Saori Rokugo - A naturally soft-spoken girl who always thinks positively. She is actually an inventor, a young genius scientist who creates inventions that surpass human understanding.
• Twisted Rabbit - A stuffed mascot for Usagi Koya Honpo that has developed a will of its own. Nicknamed Nejire Usa. In order to protect Akihabara, he connects the world of the work with the store and supports the girls on their adventures. He has a fun-loving personality, and his special skill is "pretending to be a stuffed animal" (although he often fails).
• Maya - An executive of the mysterious organization "Black Elite". A mysterious older sister who frequently appears in front of Izumi and the others and gets in their way. She hates anything unreasonable.

subtitle

The subtitles of each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1 - Welcome to Usagi Koya Honpo
• Episode 3 - Nano, the Rose-Colored Maiden
• Episode 4 - Elementary school students are the best!
• Episode 5 - Is this how it goes?
• Episode 6 - I don't really like hamsters...
• Episode 7 - Is it profitable to be a hero?
• Episode 8 - Showdown! A cooking battle!
• Episode 9 - Aiming to be a master of love
• Episode 10 - Goodbye, Nejiusa...
• Episode 11 - The Final Battle in Akihabara! Really?
• Episode 12 - Pastel Memories

Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

• OP1
  • Duration - Episodes 1 to 12
  • Song Name - Believe in Sky
  • Lyrics: Yuriko Mori, Yusuke Nomura
  • Composer - Yusuke Nomura
  • Sung by: Asami Imai
• ED1
  • Duration - Episodes 1 to 12
  • Song Name - Sparkle☆Power
  • Lyricist: Hazuki Miko
  • Composer - Shunsuke Tanaka
  • Arranged by: Shunsuke Tanaka
  • Song - Iketeru Hearts

Evaluation and Impressions

"Pastel Memories" is set in Akihabara, a mecca for otaku culture, and tells the story of girls who struggle to protect the world of the work. The theme of the anime is "the importance of memories," and the unique setting is that when the world of the work is destroyed by a virus, the work also disappears from people's memories. Through this setting, viewers have the opportunity to reconsider their own memories and important works.

The characters are all unique, with a diverse range of backgrounds and hobbies. The charms of each character, such as Izumi Asagi's cheerfulness and curiosity, Ayaka Sakaki's knowledge and passion for cosplay, and Irina Leskova's discipline and love of the military, enrich the story. Characters such as Nejire Usagi and Maya also add depth to the story.

In terms of visuals, the anime features beautiful character designs and background art. The streets of Akihabara and the interior of Usagigoya Honpo in particular are designed with great attention to detail. This is a work that truly showcases the technical capabilities of project No.9, the animation studio in charge.

In terms of music, the opening theme "Believe in Sky" and the ending theme "Sparkle☆Power" add to the atmosphere of the work. Asami Imai's powerful singing voice and Iketeru Hearts' cute singing voice capture the hearts of viewers. In addition, the background music by Akiko Tateyama also plays a role in enhancing the emotions as the story unfolds.

The story unfolds by digging deeper into different themes and character personalities in each episode. For example, episode 3, "Nano, the Rose-Colored Maiden," shows Nijouin Kaoruko's haughty side and kindness, while episode 8, "Showdown! Cooking Battle!", shows Machiya Yuina's passion for maid outfits. The final episode, "Pastel Memories," depicts the girls' growth and the future of Akihabara, culminating in a moving finale.

Recommended points

"Pastel Memories" is a work that will be particularly enjoyable for those who are interested in otaku culture and Akihabara. People who love subcultures such as anime, manga, and games will sympathize with the girls' struggle to protect the world of the work. In addition, the story, which depicts the personalities and growth of the characters, will be enjoyed by a wide range of viewers.

Another point not to be missed is the beautiful visuals and music. The beautiful character designs and background art, as well as the opening and ending songs, are enjoyable both visually and aurally. This is recommended not only for anime fans, but also for those who want to enjoy beautiful images and music.

"Pastel Memories" is a heartwarming story about the importance of memories, friendship, and growth. Enjoy the adventures of the girls as you experience the streets of Akihabara and otaku culture.