Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2: Review and impressions of the fascinating special edition

"Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2" - The charm of a black comedy depicting the daily life of hell

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

September 20, 2019

■Release and sales

Kodansha

■Frequencies

26 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 3

■Original Story

Natsumi Eguchi

■ Director

Kazuhiro Yoneda

■ Production

Animation Production: PINE JAM

■Works

© Natsumi Eguchi, Kodansha, Hoozuki no Reitetsu Production Committee © Natsumi Eguchi, Kodansha, Hoozuki no Reitetsu OAD Production Committee © KING RECORD CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

■ Story

This is a story about "Hell". In Hell, which is still overflowing with the dead, King Enma's chief aide, Hozuki, is busy not only assisting the King, but also chastising the dead, instructing the prison guards, and inspecting the world of the living. Hozuki and his usual fun-loving companions are joined by some long-awaited demons from Western Hell, as well as some fierce princesses, cranes, and other monsters from fairy tales, and the noisy yet fun days in Hell continue!

■Explanation

Hozuki no Reitetsu is a Japanese manga by Natsumi Eguchi. It is a black comedy manga centered around the inhabitants of the Japanese hell. It also features many characters from myths, fairy tales, and ghost stories, including demons and monsters from Japan and abroad. It won first place in the "2012 Recommended Comics Chosen by Booksellers Nationwide" list.

■Cast

Hozuki/Yuki Yasumoto King Enma/Takashi Nagatsuji Shiro/Yumiko Kobayashi Kakisuke/Hiro Goto Kirio/Takashi Matsuyama

■ Main staff

Original story by Natsumi Eguchi (serialized in Kodansha's Morning magazine)
Director: Kazuhiro Yoneda Screenplay: Midori Goto Character design: Niiro Omatsuri Sound director: Shoji Hata Sound production: Sound Team Don Juan Animation production: PINE JAM

■ Main Characters

Hozuki: First aide to King Enma. He is strict with the dead and Enma, and his hobby is raising goldfish plants.
King Enma: The most powerful in Hell. He is also the strongest in Hell, able to withstand Hozuki's merciless blows.
Shiro: Former Momotaro's dog. He is attached to Hozuki and likes going for walks.
Kakisuke: A monkey who used to accompany Momotaro. He is traumatized by the cause of death in the Monkey and Crab Battle 600 years ago.
Rurio: A pheasant who used to be Momotaro's companion. Although he looks like a large bird, he has a very good voice.

■ Related works

Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2

The appeal and evaluation of "Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2"

"Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2" is an OVA based on Natsumi Eguchi's popular manga "Hozuki no Reitetsu" and was released on September 20, 2019. It is a short but dense 26-minute series with 3 episodes, and it fully brings out the charm of a black comedy depicting the daily life of hell. By depicting the daily lives of the residents of hell, this work creates a unique worldview that mixes laughter and emotion.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Hozuki's Coolheadedness OAD 2" depicts various episodes that occur during the busy days of Hozuki, the first assistant of Hell, who assists King Enma, instructs the dead, and inspects the world of the living. In particular, the appearance of demons from Western Hell and characters from fairy tales makes the daily life of Hell even more lively, and the story is full of laughs and surprises.

For example, the episode where Hozuki interacts with demons in Western hell is full of gags that arise from cultural differences, entertaining the viewers. Also, the appearance of fairy tale characters in hell makes the story both nostalgic and fresh. These episodes are praised for taking advantage of the extraordinary setting of hell while depicting themes that people can relate to in the real world, such as human relationships and work-related worries.

Character Appeal

The characters in this series are unique and charming. In particular, Hozuki's character, who combines cold-heartedness with compassion, captures the hearts of viewers. Hozuki is strict in his work and ruthless towards the dead and prison guards, but he is also shown to be passionate about his hobby of raising goldfish plants. These contrasts bring out Hozuki's humanity in a profound way, making him a character beloved by viewers.

In addition, characters such as King Enma, Shiro, Kakisuke, and Rurio are carefully drawn with their own personalities and backgrounds, and are important presences that color the daily life of Hell. In particular, the characteristics of each character, such as Shiro's loyalty to Hozuki, Kakisuke's trauma, and Rurio's beautiful voice, add depth to the story.

The appeal of production

"Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2" is produced by PINE JAM, and is praised for its faithful animation that recreates the atmosphere of the original work. Character design is by Omatsuri Niiro, who draws on the illustrations of the original work to create detailed drawings of the characters' movements and expressions, bringing out their charm. In addition, with the cooperation of sound director Hata Shota and sound team Don Juan, the voice actors' performances and background music are important elements that liven up the story.

In particular, the voice of Hozuki, played by Hiroki Yasumoto, expresses cold-heartedness and compassion in a perfect way, touching the hearts of viewers. In addition, the cast, including Takashi Nagatsuji as King Enma, Yumiko Kobayashi as Shiro, Hiroki Goto as Kakisuke, and Takashi Matsuyama as Rurio, also show acting that brings out the individuality of each character, enhancing the appeal of the work.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2" has been highly praised as a black comedy, and is a work that can be enjoyed not only by fans of the original work but also by new viewers. In particular, it has been praised for its story that makes use of the extraordinary setting of hell, its unique characters, and its careful production.

The reasons why I recommend this work are as follows:

• The appeal of black comedy : By depicting everyday life in hell, you can enjoy a unique worldview that combines laughter and emotion.
• Characters with Unique Personalities : The charms of the characters, including Hozuki, add depth to the story.
• Carefully produced : The animation faithfully reproduces the atmosphere of the original, and the voice actors' performances enhance the work's appeal.
• Relatable themes : The story depicts themes that people can relate to in the real world, such as human relationships and work-related worries.

"Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2" is recommended for those who like black comedies, those who want to enjoy unique characters, and those who are particular about careful production. Also, fans of the original work will be able to enjoy the daily life of hell from a new perspective.

Related works and their appeal

"Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 2" is based on the manga "Hozuki no Reitetsu" by Natsumi Eguchi, and there are many other related works. Below, we will introduce the related works and their appeal.

"Hozuki's Coolheadedness" (manga)

"Hozuki no Reitetsu" is a Japanese manga by Natsumi Eguchi, serialized in Kodansha's "Morning". It is a black comedy centered on the residents of Hell, and features many characters from myths, fairy tales, and ghost stories. Foreign demons and monsters also appear, and a diverse cast of characters colors the daily life of Hell.

This manga won first place in the "2012 Recommended Comics Chosen by Booksellers Nationwide" ranking, proving its popularity and high acclaim. In particular, the story, which depicts Hozuki's cold-heartedness and compassion, and the unique characters are appealing, and it has been highly praised as a black comedy.

"Hozuki's Coolheadedness" (anime)

"Hozuki no Reitetsu" is an anime based on a manga, which aired from 2014 to 2018. The anime, which consists of 36 episodes across 3 seasons, faithfully reproduces the atmosphere of the original while adding unique expressions that are unique to anime, making it a work that entertains viewers.

In particular, the story that depicts Hozuki's cold-heartedness and compassion, and the charm of the unique characters are highlighted in the anime. In addition, the voice actors' performances and background music are also important elements that liven up the story, making it a work that resonates with viewers.

"Hozuki's Coolheadedness OAD 1"

"Hozuki no Reitetsu OAD 1" is an OVA released in 2017. It is short but dense, with 3 episodes and 26 minutes, and it fully brings out the charm of a black comedy depicting the daily life of hell. This work is praised for its story that depicts Hozuki's cold-heartedness and compassion, and the charm of its unique characters.

In particular, the appearance of demons from Western hell and characters from fairy tales makes the everyday life of hell even more lively, and the story is full of laughs and surprises. The animation, which faithfully reproduces the atmosphere of the original, and the voice actors' performances also add to the appeal of the work.

summary

"Hozuki's Coolheadedness OAD 2" is an OVA based on Natsumi Eguchi's popular manga "Hozuki's Coolheadedness," and it fully brings out the charm of a black comedy that depicts the daily life of hell. In particular, the story that depicts Hozuki's coolheadedness and compassion, the unique characters, and the careful production are points that can be praised. In addition, it depicts themes that can be sympathized with in the real world, such as human relationships and work worries, making it a work that deeply moves viewers.

This work is recommended for those who like black comedies, those who want to enjoy unique characters, and those who are particular about careful production. Also, fans of the original work will be able to enjoy the daily life of hell from a new perspective. There are many related works, each with its own unique charm, so be sure to check them out.