Di Gi Charat in the Reiwa Era: A thorough review of the new era of moe anime

Reiwa Digi Charat - Reiwa no Digi Charat - Review and Recommendation

Reiwa Di Gi Charat is a TV anime series that aired from October 7, 2022 to January 3, 2023, and is based on the character Di Gi Charat. This series was broadcast as a short anime within the D4DJ program "D4DJ Happy Around! Extracurricular Activities Report" and was available to watch on various broadcasting stations and online streaming services. Although it is a short series of 16 episodes, each episode is only 5 minutes long, it is a work that allows you to fully enjoy the world of Di Gi Charat.

■ Story

Dejiko's time has come again! Dejiko and Puchiko have come to Earth from the planet Di Gi Charat. Usa has become a high school girl. The Black Gemagema Gang is noble and forges the path of evil. The already lively series is joined by new regulars Broccoli Inc.'s goddess Broccodess and Bushiroad Inc.'s guardian deity Bushiro-chan, and with no idea what's going to happen next, the new Di Gi Charat project has finally begun!!

■Explanation

Di Gi Charat was born in 1998 as a mascot character for Broccoli Co., Ltd. and its (then) directly managed store Gamers, and is the original media mix project that has expanded in many areas, including anime, comics, games, novels, radio, and music. It is a pioneer of "moe culture" that continues to be active for more than 20 years. Di Gi Charat (nicknamed Dejiko), the princess of the planet Di Gi Charat, comes to Earth to become a big actress. Contrary to her cute appearance with a cat ear hat and maid uniform, she has a nasty personality and a way of speaking that ends her sentences with "nyo".

■Cast

・Di Gi Charat / Asami Sanada・Petit Charat / Miyuki Sawashiro・La Vie en Rose / Kyoko Hikami・Gema / Yoshiko Kamei・2nd Di Gi Charat / Satomi Akesaka・Brockodes / Satomi Akesaka・Bushirodonomikoto / Ayasa Ito・Pyocola Analog III / Megumi Hayashibara・Riku Heisenberg / Kosuke Toriumi・Kai Schweitzer / Chihiro Suzuki・Kuu Erhardt / Tomo Saeki・Rinna Charat / Atsuko Enomoto・Mi-Ke Charat / Etsuko Kozakura・Aqua / Shimu Hirota・Yurin / Kaori Nazuka・Akari Usada / Yuka Iguchi・Yasushi Mencha / Kenji Nojima・Kiyoshi Mencha / Omi Minami・Isekai-san / Kaori Nazuka・Abarenbo / Ueda Yuji - Spoiled boy / Ueda Yuji - Store manager / Ichijo Kazuya - Akihabara's bigwigs / Ichijo Kazuya - Kimura Takuro / Okiayu Ryutaro - Minagawa Takuro / Minami Omi - Take / Naito Rei - Kimi / Morinori Hisashi - Di Gi Charat Mama / Hidaka Noriko - Narration / Ueda Yuji - Anime girl 1 / Takano Marika - Anime girl 2 / Aimi - Anime girl 3 / Senbongi Sayaka - Amazing producer / Matsuyama Takashi - Someone's passionate voice / Naito Rei - Invading space wrestlers / Ichijo Kazuya - Girl A / Akesaka Satomi - Child A / Kamei Yoshiko - Father A / Ichijo Kazuya - Puzzle team 1 / Naito Rei - Puzzle team 2 / Morinori Hisashi - Reincarnation shop / Ichijo Kazuya - Gel-kun / Ueda Yuji - Great Demon Lord Moretas / Ueda Yuji

■ Main staff

・Director: Hiroaki Sakurai ・Original story and character design: Kogedonbo*
・Character design: Atsuko Watanabe ・Executive production director: Takaaki Kidani ・Art director: Mio Miyamoto ・Color design: Sachiko Urushido ・Director of photography: Hisashi Matsumuki ・Editing: Masami Yamada (editors)
・Sound Director: Kazuya Tanaka ・Music: Toshiro Masuda ・Animation Production: LIDEN FILMS ・Music Production: Bushiroad Music Inc., FIRE WORKS LLC
Produced by Bushiroad Co., Ltd. Cooperation by Broccoli Co., Ltd.

■ Main Characters

Di Gi Charat Birthday: February 8 Height: 148cm (including cat ears)
Weight: 38kg
Age: 10 years old Blood type: O Favorite food: Broccoli Special skill: Eye beam

She is the first princess of the planet Di Gi Charat, and is working hard on Earth to become a great actress. She is loyal to her desires, and sometimes goes too far and ends up failing. She helps out at Gamers in Akihabara with Puchiko. Her special skill is eye beams.

Petit Carat Birthday: January 21st Height: 103cm
Weight: 18kg
Age: 5 Blood type: B Favorite food: Rare steak Special skill: Mekara beam

She is the younger sister who came from the planet Di Gi Charat with Dejiko. She is laid-back and sometimes sarcastic. She is known for ending her sentences with "nyu". She is currently practicing her "Mekara Beam".

La Vie en Rose Birthday: August 30th Height: 164cm (including heels)
Weight: Secret Age: 15 Blood type: Type A Favorite food: Sasa dango, persimmon seeds Special skill: Rabbit ears propeller

La Vie en Rose, real name Usada Hikaru. A gorgeous high school girl (poor). She works part-time at Gamers with the goal of becoming an idol. She is Dejiko's rival, and although she is arrogant, she is actually a kind and honest person. Her special skill is "bunny ear propellers."

・Gema Birthday: July 13 Height: ???
body weight:???
age:???
Blood type: O Favorite food: Broccoli Special skill: Blowgun

A round yellow creature who came from the planet Di Gi Charat to watch over Dejiko. He ends his sentences with "gema." He is often bossed around by Dejiko and the others.

・Pyocola Analog III Birthday: October 23 Height: 138cm
Weight: Secret Age: 8 Blood type: AB Favorite food: Butter sandwich cookies Special skill: Bazooka from mouth

The leader of the evil organization "Black Gemagema Gang." He plans to kidnap Dejiko for profit in order to save his poor hometown, Analog Planet. He lives with Riku, Kai, and Ku as if they were a family. His special skill is "a bazooka from his mouth."

Riku Heisenberg Birthday: April 4 Height: 192cm
Weight: 85kg
Age: 26 Blood type: AB Favorite food: Sushi (admiration), Yakisoba (regular food)

Marshal of the Black Gemagema Gang. He always thinks of bad things calmly, but his main job is as a veterinarian and he is always kind to animals. He is the father figure who watches over Piyoko.

Kai Schweitzer Birthday: March 3 Height: 168cm
Weight: 56kg
Age: 17 Blood type: A Favorite food: Mild curry

Lieutenant Commander of the Black Gemagema Gang. As a dentist, she always checks that Piyoko's teeth are brushed morning and night. She is a mother who takes care of the housework and the household finances. She worries about not standing out too much.

Kuu-Ehrhardt Birthday: May 5 Height: 156cm
Weight: 50kg
Age: 13 Blood type: O Favorite foods: Mochi, natto (started liking it after coming to Earth)

A major in the Black Gemagema Gang. He became a doctor at a young age. He is a childhood friend of Piyoko, and is the only one who speaks to her in a casual manner. The panda stuffed animal he always carries seems to be a precious keepsake.

・Brockodesu Birthday: March 25 Height: 148cm
Weight: 38kg
Age: Born in 1994 Blood type: brO (bro) Favorite food: Broccoli Special skill: Planning and production of character goods

The goddess of Broccoli Co., Ltd. She is usually soft-spoken, but when she gets going, she starts talking like a raging torrent. She is good at planning and producing character goods, and keeps an eye on Broccoli's stock price.

Bushirodonomikoto Birthday: July 4th Height: 148cm
Weight: 38kg
Age: Born in 2007 Blood type: BC (Bushi) Favorite foods: Silver rice, cod roe, oysters Special skill: Pro wrestling

The guardian deity of Broccoli Co., Ltd. He has a serious personality and speaks politely to everyone, but sometimes he slips into a samurai-like tone of voice. His special skill is pro wrestling, and he also has a surprisingly passionate side...

■Subtitle

・#1／Long time no see, Akihabara~(2022/10/07)
・#2／Is everyone here? (2022/10/14)
・#3／I'm going to do something bad (2022/10/21)
・#4/School Stories (2022/10/28)
・#5/Dejiko goes global (2022/11/04)
・#6/Gema and the Mysterious Geema (2022/11/11)
・#7／Brockon'n'Bushirol(2022/11/18)
・#8／Puchikomo New (2022/11/25)
・#9／Here he comes again(2022/12/02)
・#10／One-day store manager (2022/12/09)
・#11/I'm not doing anything (2022/12/16)
・#12/Another World Something or Other Reincarnation Something or Other (2022/12/23)
・#13／A Town Different from Akihabara (2022/12/30)
・#14／It's gotten so big! (2022/12/30)
・#15/Party Night 2023 (2023/01/03)
・#16／Casually Legendary Dejiko(2023/01/03)

■ Related works

・Di Gi Charat Panyo PanyoDi Gi Charat Di Gi Charat Theatre Leave it to Piyoko!
・Di Gi Charat Nyo・Winter Garden・Di Gi Charat Summer Special・Di Gi Charat Christmas Special・Di Gi Charat Cherry Blossom Viewing Special・Di Gi Charat Rainy Season Special・Di Gi Charat Summer Vacation Special

■ Theme songs and music

・TM1
Ambiguity, Theory of Happiness Lyrics by Masami Okui Music by Toshiro Yabuki Singer by Masami Okui

・IN1
・PARTY☆NIGHT (D-POP version)
Lyrics by Yuki Mori; Composition by Yusuke Sakamoto; Arrangement by Yusuke Sakamoto; Singers by Asami Sanada, Miyuki Sawashiro, Kyoko Hikami, Satomi Akesaka, and Ayasa Ito

review

Reiwa Di Gi Charat is the latest addition to the Di Gi Charat series, and is a long-awaited work for fans and an appealing story for new viewers. Taking advantage of the short anime format, each episode is only 5 minutes long, allowing viewers to fully enjoy the world of Di Gi Charat.

The story continues the basic premise of Dejiko and Puchiko, who come to Earth from the planet Di Gi Charat and aim to become big actresses in Akihabara, but with the addition of new characters Broccodes and Bushiro-chan, the story becomes even more lively and interesting. In particular, the characters of Broccodes and Bushiro-chan shine as new attractions for the series. Broccodes usually has a soft and gentle demeanor, but when he gets going, he starts talking like a raging torrent, which is impressive, and his special skill of planning and producing character goods is also appealing. On the other hand, Bushiro-chan is a serious character who speaks politely using honorific language, but shows an unexpected side of herself in her special skill of pro wrestling, making her a fascinating character with a contrast between their personalities.

The cast is also impressive, with a collection of talented voice actors, including Asami Sanada, Miyuki Sawashiro, Kyoko Hikami, Yoshiko Kamei, and Megumi Hayashibara. In particular, Asami Sanada's performance as Dejiko perfectly captures De Gi Charat's nasty personality and her "nyo" ending, drawing viewers in. Miyuki Sawashiro's performance as Puchiko, with her laid-back and sometimes sarcastic acting, also brings out the character of Puchiko perfectly.

The main staff, including director Hiroaki Sakurai, original author and character designer Kogedonbo*, and character designer Atsuko Watanabe, are all members who have supported the Di Gi Charat series, ensuring a stable quality. In particular, Hiroaki Sakurai's skill as a director is strong in his ability to portray the story clearly within the short anime format. Additionally, Atsuko Watanabe's character designs accurately express the adorable appearance of Di Gi Charat, making for plenty of visual appeal.

The main characters' settings are also detailed, with details such as Di Gi Charat's birthdays, heights, weights, ages, blood types, favorite foods, and special skills, providing plenty of information that fans will enjoy. In particular, Dejiko's special skill, "eye beams," and Puchiko's "eye beams," are iconic elements of the Di Gi Charat series and delight viewers. Additionally, each character's special skills, such as La Vie en Rose's "bunny ear propellers" and Pyocola Analog III's "mouth bazooka," are unique and interesting.

Each episode has a unique subtitle, catching the viewer's attention. The humorous titles, typical of the Di Gi Charat series, such as "Long time no see, Akihabara," "Are they all here?" and "Let's do something naughty," are particularly memorable. Additionally, titles that hint at the development of the story, such as "Dejiko advances into the world," "Manager for a day," and "Reborn in another world something or other," are also appealing.

The lineup of related works also evokes the history of the Di Gi Charat series, making it something fans won't want to miss. In particular, it includes important works from the Di Gi Charat series, such as "Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat," "Di Gi Charat Theater: Leave it to Piyoko Pyo!" and "Di Gi Charat Nyo," so you can enjoy the entire series. Also, don't miss the seasonal special episodes, such as "Winter Garden," "Di Gi Charat Summer Special," and "Di Gi Charat Christmas Special."

The theme songs and music, such as TM1's "Ambiguous Theory of Happiness" and IN1's "PARTY☆NIGHT (D-POP version)," are also memorable and capture the hearts of viewers. In particular, "Ambiguous Theory of Happiness" is an attractive song with Masami Okui's powerful singing voice and Toshiro Yabuki's beautiful melody, firmly expressing the worldview of the Di Gi Charat series. In addition, "PARTY☆NIGHT (D-POP version)" is a song that will excite viewers with the singing voices of Asami Sanada, Miyuki Sawashiro, Kyoko Hikami, Satomi Akesaka, and Ayasa Ito.

Recommendation

The Reiwa Di Gi Charat is a must-see for fans of the Di Gi Charat series, and is also appealing to new viewers. Taking advantage of the short anime format, each episode is only 5 minutes long, allowing viewers to fully enjoy the world of Di Gi Charat. There are also plenty of highlights, including a stellar cast and main staff, distinctive main characters, unique subtitles, related works, and memorable theme songs and music. Be sure to watch the Reiwa Di Gi Charat and rediscover the charm of Di Gi Charat.