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The appeal and evaluation of the OVA "Totsukuni no Shoujo"

"Totsukuni no Shoujo" is an OVA based on the manga of the same name by Nagabe, and was released on March 10, 2022. It was released as an original animation DVD bundled with the comic "Totsukuni no Shoujo [dear.] Extra Edition," and was a long-awaited film adaptation for fans. This OVA is characterized by high-quality animation by WIT STUDIO and a story development that faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and evaluation of this work.

Story and worldview

The story of "The Girl from the Other Side" takes place in two far-away countries, "Inner Country" and "Outer Country." "Inner Country" is a peaceful place where people live, while "Outer Country" is a feared place where monsters that bring curses live. One day, on the border between "Inner Country" and "Outer Country," a monster picks up a girl from amongst a corpse. The girl calls herself "Shiva" and adores the monster that picked her up, calling her "Sensei." The story centers on a secret melody that unfolds after two incompatible people meet.

The worldview of this work is visualized in a way that preserves the atmosphere of the original work, fusing visual beauty with deep themes. In particular, the contrast between the "Inner Land" and the "Outer Land" leaves a strong impression both visually and narratively. The story of the bond and understanding that is born when a monster and a human girl meet and spend time together will deeply move viewers.

character

The main characters of "Totsukuni no Shoujo" are Sensei and Shiva. Sensei is a cursed "outsider" with a deformed, pitch-black appearance, but he has a medical background and picks up Shiva and lives with her. Shiva is a human girl who was abandoned in the outer world and picked up by Sensei. She has white hair and wears a white dress. She is innocent and unafraid of Sensei, even though he has a deformed appearance. She is skilled at making flower crowns, and her purity and kindness are important elements that add color to the story.

The role of Sensei is played by Jun Fukuyama, and the role of Shiva is played by Rie Takahashi. Jun Fukuyama's calm voice and Rie Takahashi's clear voice bring out the charm of the characters to the fullest. In particular, Shiva's innocence and Sensei's deep kindness are further enhanced by the voice actors' performances.

Production staff and animation

The directors of "Totsukuni no Shoujo" are Yutaro Kubo and Satomi Yonetani, who are also in charge of character design. The animation produced by WIT STUDIO faithfully reproduces the beautiful visuals of the original work while adding its own unique appeal as a film. Professionals from various fields, such as art director Yusuke Takeda, cinematographer Takeru Yokoi, editor Akari Saito, music composer Schroeder-Headz, and sound director Shoji Hata, have come together to raise the quality of the work.

In particular, WIT STUDIO's technical capabilities are reflected in the visual beauty of the design of the deformed Sensei and the subtle changes in Shiva's facial expressions. The background art also vividly depicts the contrast between the Inner Lands and the Outer Lands, creating a strong visual impact. The music and sound effects also play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story and eliciting the emotions of the viewer.

Episode structure

The OVA for "Totsukuni no Shoujo" is made up of three episodes. Each episode is short at 27 minutes, but it is packed with a dense story and beautiful images. Below is an overview of each episode.

• Episode 1 (2022/03/10) : The episode begins with Shiva being picked up by Sensei, and depicts the beginning of their meeting and bond. This episode highlights Shiva's purity and Sensei's kindness.
• Episode 2 (2022/03/10) : Depicts the daily lives of Sensei and Shiva, and how their relationship deepens. The scenes where Shiva makes a flower crown and Sensei protects Shiva are memorable.
• Episode 3 (March 10, 2022) : This is the climax of the story, and the episode where the bond between Sensei and Shiva is put to the test. The touching ending will leave a deep impression on viewers.

Theme songs and music

The theme song for "Totsukuni no Shoujo" is "Touch of Hope," with lyrics by Yuho Iwasato, music by Hinako Tsubakiyama, and vocals by Yui Makino. The song features a gentle melody and lyrics that symbolize the relationship between Shiva and Sensei, further enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In addition, the music by Schroeder-Headz used as background music is also an important element that stirs emotions as the story progresses.

Ratings and Recommendations

The OVA of "Totsukuni no Shoujo" is highly recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for viewers who seek beautiful animation and a deep story. WIT STUDIO's technical skills and the story development that faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work will be highly praised both visually and narratively. In addition, the relationship between Sensei and Shiva and the themes depicted through the contrast between the Inner Kingdom and the Outer Kingdom will deeply move viewers.

In particular, the story of the encounter and bond between a monster and a human girl raises universal themes and makes viewers think. This work, which combines visual beauty with deep themes, boasts a very high level of completion even as an OVA. I hope that many viewers will enjoy this work.

Additional Information and Recommended Content

After enjoying the OVA of "Totsukuni no Shoujo," we recommend you read the original manga. Nagabe's beautiful visuals and deep story have a different appeal from the OVA. We also recommend checking out other works produced by WIT STUDIO. In particular, "Attack on Titan" and "Vinland Saga" are works that allow you to feel the charm of WIT STUDIO's technical skills and storytelling.

Other recommended works that depict the relationship between monsters and humans include "Tokyo Ghoul" and "Parasite." These works also have deep themes and are visually beautiful, and fans of "Totsukuni no Shoujo" will enjoy them.

The OVA of "Totsukuni no Shoujo" is highly recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for viewers who seek beautiful animation and a deep story. I hope you will experience the story of Sensei and Shiva through this work.