Impressions and reviews of the second episode of "Space Something Kotetsu-kun"

"Space Something Kotetsu-kun" Season 2 - A heartwarming anime about dreams and challenges in space

Overview

"Uchu Nanchara Kotetsu-kun" is a TV anime series based on the popular web comic by Nishimura Yuji, and we will introduce in detail the second season that began airing on NHK E-Tele on April 7, 2022. This anime is a heartwarming story about dreams and challenges in space, and is loved by a wide range of people from children to adults.

■Broadcast information

Broadcast period: April 7, 2022 ~
Broadcast time: Thursday 18:40~
Broadcasting station: NHK Educational TV Running time: 10 minutes

■ Original story and staff

Original work: Yuji Nishimura Director: Hazumu Sakuta Series composition: Yoichi Kato Animation production: Fanworks Production and copyright: Chokkura Tsuki Made Committee 2

■ Story

It's been a little over 50 years since mankind landed on the moon, but Animal Kingdom has been left far behind by humans in space projects. "We're going to plant our flag on the moon too!" Animals are excited when Prime Minister Animal declares space exploration. This declaration marks the beginning of the era of space development in Animal Kingdom. In order to make space development a success, Animal Kingdom Space Academy is born! The protagonist of the story is Kotetsu, a first-year pilot student at Space Academy. Set at Space Academy, Kotetsu and his friends aim for space. Go to the moon!

■Explanation

This TV anime is based on a web manga by popular creator Yuji Nishimura, who draws cute, humorous, and human characters such as "Gokigen Panda" and "Konezumi". This is the first anime adaptation of Yuji Nishimura's work. The broadcast time changed from Wednesday 18:45 to Thursday 18:40 from April 2022. The basic structure, style, and staff remain the same as the first season, but the name of the production committee and the ending theme were changed. In the 48th episode of the second season, guest voice actor Junji Inagawa, who is famous for his ghost stories, performed "Space Ghost Story Night" (a homage to Junji Inagawa's nationwide ghost story tour "Junji Inagawa's Ghost Story Night"). Takuya Onishi, an astronaut who appeared in the 51st episode, appeared as a human.

■Cast

Kotetsu: Natsumi Fujiwara Nico: Junya Enoki Lou: Masashi Tamaki Hikaru: Ayana Taketatsu Lamb: Akane Yamaguchi Michiko: Ayasa Ito Grandpa: Kappei Yamaguchi Principal: Yo Aoyama Tobio: Takeshi Koyama Teacher Izumi: Kensuke Nishi
DAXA-kun: Tsuyoshi Muro Narration: Tsuyoshi Muro

■ Main Characters

Kotetsu: Pilot course. The protagonist aims to become an astronaut at the Space Academy. His dream is to become an astronaut and solve the mysteries of the universe. He's a bit of a coward, but he's a straightforward, hardworking person who works hard to achieve his goals.
Nico: Pilot course. Top of the class, loves studying. Dreams are to shake hands with an alien. Looks cool, but actually likes cute things. She tries to hide it.
Lou: Spacecraft Development Department. Researches rockets. Her dream is to create a car that can go into space. She is usually kind and easygoing. When it comes to science and technology, she can sometimes get so engrossed that she loses sight of what's going on around her.
Hikaru: Space Attendant Course. Currently studying how to entertain guests going to space. Her dream is to introduce the stars in a fun way. She is curious and innocent. When she finds something that interests her or is fun, she pushes ahead of everyone else.
Otama: Space Food and Beverage Department. She is studying space food. Her dream is to become the best chef in space. She is cheerful, confident, and has a strong spirit of adventure. Although she can be a bit clumsy, she is earnest at heart. She speaks with an accent, but thinks she is speaking standard Japanese.
Michiko: A classmate of Koteu who skipped a grade and enrolled in the school. She has a high pride and is a little childish. She hates to lose and wants to be the best at everything. She is a little foul-mouthed.
Grandpa: Kotetsu's grandfather. He has been fascinated by space since he was young, and encouraged Kotetsu to become an astronaut. He sometimes talks in an exaggerated way, which sometimes surprises Kotetsu.
Principal: The principal of Space Academy. He tends to talk too much because he is trying to convey the wonders of space. He makes a lot of puns, which makes the students dumbfounded, but he is actually very knowledgeable about space. He is friendly with the students.
Tobio: The manager of "Hormone Yaki Tobio", a restaurant that Kotetsu and his friends frequent. He looks wild, but he's actually a caring and reliable adult. He's been friends with the principal for a long time.
Izumi Sensei: Kotetsu and his classmates' homeroom teacher. He teaches kindly and sometimes strict so that everyone can become good astronauts. He is very trusted by the students.
DAXA-kun: DAXA's mascot character. He teaches us all kinds of space knowledge in "Today's Trivia."

■Subtitle

Episode 33: The Moon is Important (2022/04/07)
Episode 34: Guide (2022/04/14)
Episode 35: The Man Who Went to the Moon (2022/04/21)
Episode 36: Pure White Puzzle Test (2022/04/28)
Episode 37: Big Bang (2022/05/12)
Episode 38: The Smell of Space (2022/05/19)
Episode 39: What's wrong? (2022/05/26)
Episode 40: Dark Matter (2022/06/09)
Episode 41: Today's Soup (2022/06/16)
Episode 42: Alan and Motsuni (2022/06/23)
Episode 43: Flight Director (2022/07/07)
Episode 44: Radio from a Comet (2022/07/14)
Episode 45: Planetary Trial (2022/07/21)
Episode 46: Filmmaking (2022/07/28)
Episode 47: Aliens on the Wall (2022/09/01)
Episode 48: Inagawa-san's Space Ghost Story Night (2022/09/08)
Episode 49: Space Weather Forecast (2022/09/15)
Episode 50: Marathon (2022/09/22)
Episode 51: Special lesson by Astronaut Takuya Onishi (2022/09/29)
Episode 52: Space Calendar (2022/10/13)

■ Theme songs and music

Ending theme: MI-RA-I miracle circle
Lyricist: Q-MHz
Composer: Q-MHz
Arrangement: Saeki youthK
Vocals: Aika Kobayashi

■ Evaluation and impressions

The second season of "Uchu Nanchara Kotetsukun" was widely accepted by new viewers as well as fans from the previous season. In particular, the storyline depicting the dreams and challenges of space not only inspires children, but also inspires adults. Although each episode deals with a different theme, the show has been praised for conveying a consistent message throughout.

The characters' personalities are also appealing, and the story depicts the growth and friendship of each character, including Kotetsu. In particular, Kotetsu's hard-working attitude, the gap between Nico's cool appearance and her inner self, and Lou's passion for science all resonate with viewers. In addition, the episodes featuring guest voice actors Junji Inagawa and Takuya Onishi provided fresh surprises for viewers.

The quality of the animation is also high, and the colorful visuals created by Fanworks realistically express the beauty of the universe. The ending theme "MI-RA-I miracle circle" is also soothing, with Aika Kobayashi's voice providing healing to viewers.

■ Recommendation points

I recommend the second season of "Space Something Kotetsu-kun" for the following reasons.

1. **Educational value**: The knowledge about space introduced in each episode provides an opportunity for children to learn. DAXA-kun's "Today's Trivia" is also a popular corner where children can learn while having fun.

2. **Charm of the characters**: The characters, including Kotetsu, have rich personalities and deeply empathize with the viewers. In particular, the themes of friendship and hard work are relatable to children and adults alike.

3. **Story Development**: Although each episode deals with a different theme, the show has been praised for conveying a consistent message throughout. In particular, the story of the dreams and challenges of space is deeply moving to the viewers.

4. **Appearance of guest voice actors**: The appearance of guest voice actors such as Junji Inagawa and Takuya Onishi provides fresh surprises for viewers and further enhances the appeal of the work.

5. **Animation Quality**: Fanworks' colorful visuals realistically express the beauty of space, making it a visual treat that's sure to please.

6. **Ending Theme**: "MI-RA-I miracle circle" sung by Aika Kobayashi provides healing to viewers with its soothing melody and singing voice.

■ Related Products

There are also many products related to the second season of "Uchu Nanchara Kotetsu-kun" on sale. Here are some examples:

1. **DVD/Blu-ray**: DVDs and Blu-rays containing each episode have been released and are very popular among viewers. They also come with bonus footage and booklets, making them a must-have item for fans.

2. **Character Goods**: There are many merchandise designs featuring characters such as Kotetsu and Nico on sale. Stuffed toys, key chains, T-shirts, and more are must-have collection items for fans.

3. **Original Manga**: The original manga by Yuji Nishimura has also been well received and is available in book form. You can also enjoy the differences between the anime and the original manga.

4. **Soundtrack**: The soundtrack, which includes the anime's background music and theme songs, has also been released and is popular among viewers. In particular, the ending theme "MI-RA-I miracle circle" is loved by many fans.

■ Summary

The second season of "Uchu Nanchara Kotetsu-kun" is a heartwarming anime about the dreams and challenges of space. It is full of many charms, including educational content, the charm of the characters, the development of the story, the appearance of guest voice actors, the quality of the animation, and the ending theme. It is a work that is loved by a wide range of people, from children to adults, and we highly recommend watching it.