Seishun Buta Yarou wa Yumemiru Shoujo no Yume wo Minai - A masterpiece anime depicting the intersection of realistic youth and fantasy

"Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl" - A moving film depicting the pain and hope of youth

"Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl" is an animated feature film that was released on June 15, 2019. The film is based on the light novel series "Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl" by Kamoshida Hajime, directed by Masui Soichi and produced by CloverWorks. It was distributed by Aniplex and screened as a one-episode film of 89 minutes.

story

The story is set in Fujisawa, a city where the sky and sea sparkle. The protagonist, Sakuta Azusagawa, is a second-year student at Minegahara High School and is known as a notorious oddball at school. He has a large scar on his chest, which coincides with the time when his younger sister, Hanakaede, developed adolescent syndrome. Sakuta enrolled in Minegahara High School to look for his first love, Shoko Makinohara, but he was unable to find her. However, when his senior at the same school, popular actress Mai Sakurajima, develops adolescent syndrome, he begins dating her.

In the midst of all this, Sakuta's first love, Makinohara Shoko, suddenly appears in front of him. What's more, she has two forms: a "junior high school student" and an "adult." Sakuta is forced to live with the "adult Shoko," but this causes a strain on his relationship with Mai. Furthermore, it turns out that the "junior high school student Shoko" is suffering from a serious illness, and a new wound is engraved in Sakuta's heart.

cast

The cast of this film is as follows:

• Sakuta Azusagawa - Kaito Ishikawa
• Mai Sakurajima - Asami Seto
• Shoko Makinohara - Inori Minase
• Tomoe Koga - Nao Toyama
• Rio Futaba - Atsumi Tanezaki
• Toyohama Nodoka - Uchida Maaya
• Azusa River Flower Maple - Yurika Kubo

Main Staff

The main staff of this work are as follows:

• Original author: Kamoshida Hajime (Dengeki Bunko's "Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai" series)
• Original illustrations - Cage Mizoguchi
• Director: Soichi Masui
• Screenplay - Masahiro Yokotani
• Character design and chief animation director: Satomi Tamura
• Prop Design - Akira Takada
• Art setting - Kazushi Fujii
• Art director: Satoru Hirayanagi, Hisayo Usui
• Color design - Asuka Yokota
• CG Director: Yusuke Noma
• Director of photography - Yoshihiro Sekiya
• 2D design, monitor works, special effects - Saya Utsumi
• Edited by Akinori Mishima
• Sound Director - Miwa Iwanami
• Music - fox capture plan
• Created by: CloverWorks
• Production - Aobuta Project
• Distribution - Aniplex

Main Characters

We will introduce the main characters of this work in detail.

Sakuta Azusagawa

He is a second-year student at Minegahara High School and is known as a notorious oddball at school. He has a large scar on his chest, which coincides with the time when his younger sister, Hanakaede, developed adolescent syndrome. Sakuta enrolled in Minegahara High School to look for his first love, Makinohara Shoko, but he was unable to find her. However, when his senior at the same high school, popular actress Sakurajima Mai, develops adolescent syndrome, he begins dating her. Although Sakuta is troubled by his own scar and the adolescent syndrome of the people around him, he faces the problem with a strong will.

Mai Sakurajima

She is a third-year student at Minegahara High School and works as a popular actress. Due to her busy entertainment activities, she was unable to fit in with school life and was treated like air, which led to her developing adolescent syndrome in which people around her no longer recognized her. Through her encounter with Sakuta, she begins to reexamine herself and grow. Her character is portrayed as a symbol of the pain and hope of youth.

Shoko Makinohara

She is Sakuta's first love, whom he met on the beach at Shichirigahama two years ago. She is the one who taught Sakuta "kindness," but little is known about her other than her name, and she is shrouded in mystery. In the story, it is revealed that she has two personalities: a "junior high school student" and an "adult," which shakes Sakuta's heart. It is revealed that "junior high school student Shoko" is suffering from a serious illness, which leaves a new wound in Sakuta's heart.

Related Titles

This work is related to the TV anime "Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai". This TV anime is based on the light novel series "Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai", also by Kamoshida Hajime, and depicts the story that begins with the meeting of Sakuta and Mai. The movie version is positioned as a sequel to the TV anime, and develops deeper themes and a more moving story.

Theme songs and music

The theme song for this film is "Fushigi no Karute movie ver.", with lyrics by Kodama Akeko, music by Kawai Hidehiro, and sung by Sakurajima Mai (CV: Seto Asami), Koga Tomoe (CV: Toyama Nao), Futaba Rio (CV: Tanezaki Atsumi), Toyohama Nodoka (CV: Uchida Maaya), Azusagawa Kaede (CV: Kubo Yurika), and Makinohara Shoko (CV: Minase Inori). The beautiful melody and lyrics of this song, which symbolize the pain and hope of youth, the theme of the film, will deeply move viewers' hearts.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl" has been highly praised as a moving work that depicts the pain and hope of youth. The story revolves around a love triangle between Sakuta, Mai, and Shoko, and is appealing for its storytelling that skillfully incorporates the fantasy element of adolescent syndrome. In particular, the careful depiction of Sakuta's growth and the emotional movements of the people around him deeply moves the viewer.

Another major point of this work is the appeal of the characters. Sakuta's strong will and kindness, Mai's growth and conflict, and Shoko's mysterious presence all attract the hearts of viewers. The acting of the cast is also excellent, and the performances of Kaito Ishikawa, Asami Seto, and Inori Minase in particular have been highly praised.

Visually, CloverWorks' beautiful artwork and color design have been praised, with the beautiful scenery of Fujisawa and the expressions of the characters depicted realistically. The beautiful music by fox capture plan also adds excitement to the story and enhances the emotions of the viewer.

Recommended points

The reasons why we recommend this work are as follows:

• A moving story about the pain and hope of youth
• Attractive characters and their development
• Beautiful artwork and color design
• Inspiring music and theme songs
• A clever use of the fantasy element of adolescent syndrome

"Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl" is a moving work that depicts the pain and hope of youth. The story revolves around a love triangle between Sakuta, Mai, and Shoko, and deeply touches the hearts of viewers. This work, with its beautiful drawings, music, and charming characters, is one that many people should definitely see.