"MIX" Review: A new story of baseball passion and youth

MIX - Mix - Appeal and Evaluation

"MIX" is a TV anime series based on the manga by Mitsuru Adachi, which aired on Nippon Television Network from April 6 to September 28, 2019. It has 24 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and tells a youth story with a baseball theme. Animation was produced by OLM and directed by Yasuhiro Watanabe.

story

The setting of "MIX" is Meisei Gakuen, the same as "Touch". The story depicts the twin-like brothers "Tachibana Touma" and "Tachibana Souichirou", who are not related by blood but have the same birthday due to their parents' remarriage, advancing to Meisei Gakuen High School and joining the baseball team. Souichirou plays an active role as a catcher and batter, while Touma has an extraordinary talent for pitching and takes the mound as the ace of the first year. Tachibana Otomi, Souichirou's real sister and Touma's step-sister, is a popular third-year junior high school student. There is some commotion around the three Tachibana siblings, including Oyama Haruka, the coach's daughter who is curious about Touma and Souichirou's relationship with them, and Nishimura Takumi, who is chasing Otomi. Will the Tachibana brothers be able to step on the soil of Koshien? The story unfolds.

Commentary

"MIX" is set in a world about 30 years after the legend of "Touch", the main character, "Uesugi Tatsuya". Although it is set in the same Meisei Academy, the youth drama with new characters and story will give fans a fresh impression. The delicate portrayal of human beings by the original author Adachi Mitsuru and the story of growth through the sport of baseball will deeply move viewers.

cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Touma Tachibana: Yuki Kaji
• Runichiro Tachibana: Yuuma Uchida
• Otomi Tachibana: Maaya Uchida
• Spring and Summer Oyama: Kana Hanazawa
• Eisuke Tachibana: Wataru Takagi
• Mayumi Tachibana: Kikuko Inoue
• Isamu Nishimura: Ryusei Nakao
• Punch Puppy: Noriko Hidaka
• Narration: Noriko Hidaka

These voice actors skillfully express the individuality of each character, adding depth to the story. In particular, the performances of Kaji Yuki and Uchida Yuuma, who play the Tachibana brothers, realistically portray the brothers' delicate relationship and growth.

Main Staff

The following staff members were involved in the production of "MIX".

• Original author: Mitsuru Adachi
• Planning, Chief Producer: Koji Nagai
• Director: Watanabe Yasuhiro
• Series Composition: Atsuhiro Tomioka
• Character design: Takao Maki
• Action animation director: Shinji Matsuda
• Prop design: Kazumi Sato
• Art setting: Eiko Tsunagashira
• Art Director: Otsuka Gaku
• Color design: Yuki Hayashi
• Director of photography: Satoshi Namiki
• Edited by: Toshihiko Kojima
• Sound Director: Toshiki Kameyama
• Music: Norito Sumitomo
• Producer: Kaori Ito
• Animation producer: Hiroaki Kojima

Thanks to the cooperation of these staff members, "MIX" has maximized the appeal of the original work, resulting in a work that is both visually and aurally outstanding.

Main Characters

The details of the main characters are as follows:

• Touma Tachibana: He lost his mother at a young age, and his father remarried Souichirou's mother, so he is Souichirou and Otomi's stepbrother. He shares the same birthday as Souichirou. He is a right-handed pitcher and batter.
• Souichirou Tachibana: He lost his father at a young age, and his mother remarried Touma's father, so he became Touma's stepbrother. They share the same birthday, but he was born 10 minutes earlier, so he is Touma's older brother. He is a right-handed pitcher and left-handed batter.
• Otomi Tachibana: Miss Meisei and a popular girl. She is Soichiro's younger sister and Touma's step-sister. She plays the flute in the brass band.
• Haruka Oyama: A rhythmic gymnast. She met Touma when she was young. Her father is an alumnus of the Meisei High School baseball team and was in the same class as Eisuke, the father of the Tachibana brothers.

These characters impress viewers through their individual personalities and growth. In particular, the relationship between the Tachibana brothers and Otomi's presence are at the heart of the story and have the power to draw viewers in.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: Meisei's Ace
• Episode 2: I'm the big brother and you're the little brother
• Episode 3: Meisei Academy
• Episode 4: I want to trade
• Episode 5: The pitcher, right?
• Episode 6: When Spring Comes
• Episode 7: Worried?
• Episode 8: My Big Brother
• Episode 9: Big News
• Episode 10: Just a Walk
• Episode 11: Throw it
• Episode 12: Are you kidding me?
• Episode 13: Because we're brothers
• Episode 14: I'm Losing
• Episode 15: I Want to See That Face
• Episode 16: Lively
• Episode 17: Someone Else
• Episode 18: On a Rainy Day Like This
• Episode 19: Are you jealous?
• Episode 20: Praying to God
• Episode 21: What if...
• Episode 22: I care about my sister
• Episode 23: It's only a matter of time
• Episode 24: Don't you think they look alike?

These subtitles symbolize the content of each episode, allowing viewers to enjoy the story while predicting how it will unfold.

Related Titles

As a related work to "MIX", the Blu-ray and DVD of "MIX MEISEI STORY" was released on September 25, 2019. This allows viewers to enjoy the world of anime even more deeply.

Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes for "MIX" are as follows:

• Opening Theme
  • Period: Episode 1 to Episode 24
  • Song title: "VS"
  • Sung by: Porno Graffitti
  • Lyricist: Haruichi Shindo
  • Composer: Haruichi Shindo
  • Arranged by: Takashi Kondo, Yusuke Tanaka, Porno Graffitti
• Ending Theme
  • Period: Episode 1 to Episode 24
  • Song title: "The story I told you"
  • Sung by: Qyoto
  • Lyricist: Yuki Nakazono
  • Composer: Qyoto, Ryo Miyazaki
  • Arrangement: Qyoto, Tsurusawa Yumeto

These songs play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story and eliciting emotions from the viewer. In particular, Porno Graffitti's "VS" is a powerful song that symbolizes the fighting spirit of the Tachibana brothers, and the ending song "The Story I Told You" is a beautiful melody that evokes the sadness and hope of youth.

Ratings and Recommendations

"MIX" is a work that perfectly combines the delicate human portrayal of the original author, Mitsuru Adachi, with a youth drama through the sport of baseball. Viewers are moved and sympathized with the growth of the Tachibana brothers and their relationships with the characters around them. In addition, the performances of the voice actors and the technical skills of the staff have been highly praised, making it a work that is excellent both visually and aurally.

This work is recommended not only for baseball fans, but also for those who want to enjoy youth dramas and human dramas. In particular, fans of "Touch" will enjoy it as a new story set in the same Meisei Gakuen. Fans of Porno Graffitti and Qyoto can also enjoy the work through the theme songs.

"MIX" is a moving story that depicts the brilliance and sadness of youth. Please watch it and feel its charm.