Review of "To Me, the One Who Loved You": A moving love story and its appeal

"To Me, the One Who Loved You" - A moving love story and the charm of parallel worlds

■Overview of the work

"To Me, the One Who Loved You" is an animated feature film released on October 7, 2022, based on a novel by Otono Shihoji. It was distributed by Toei and animated by TMS Entertainment. Each episode is 98 minutes long and is based on a popular novel that has sold over 310,000 copies.

■ Story

One day, Koyomi Hidaka, an elementary school student whose parents are divorced and who lives with his father, meets a girl named Shiori Sato at the Virtual Science Institute, where his father works. Koyomi and Shiori fall in love with each other, but are informed that their parents are remarrying. The two decide to elope to a parallel world where they will not be siblings, but what fate awaits them there?

■Explanation

"To the One Me Who Loved You" is depicted as a "single story" of "two worlds" that can travel between parallel worlds. This fall, a new love story was born, and it is based on a novel that became a hot topic on TikTok. Otono Shihoji's novels "To All the You I've Loved" and "To the One Me Who Loved You" (published by Hayakawa Bunko), published in June 2016, are love stories in which a man falls in love with a girl in each world. Although the two works are independent of each other, when you read them, you will find a hidden, innovative setting in which the two worlds intertwine and intersect, and you will realize that each world supports the other. This content was introduced on TikTok and became a hot topic, and the total number of copies published has exceeded 310,000.

The two works, which combine a unique setting with a heart-wrenching love story, are produced by different production studios. "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" is produced by BAKKEN RECORD, a new studio label within Tatsunoko Productions, which made waves with its new animation expression in the promotional video for Nissin Food Products, "HUNGRY DAYS: Are You Still Alive?". Meanwhile, "To the One I Loved Before" is produced by TMS Entertainment, which created a worldview that beautifully mixed two works by different authors in 2013's "Lupin the Third vs. Detective Conan: The Movie," a huge hit that recorded box office revenue of 4.26 billion yen.

■Cast

• Hidaka Calendar: Miyazawa Hio
• Sato Shiori: Aya Makita
• Genko Sato: Miki Mizuno
• Kazune Takigawa (Waon who has become a grandmother): Kimiko Yo
• Hidaka Calendar (The Calendar of the Old Man): Tokuma Nishioka

■ Main staff

• Original story: Otono Shihoji ("To Me, the One Who Loved You" (published by Hayakawa Bunko))
• Director: Kenichi Kasai
• Main directors: Susumu Kudo, Ken Ogiwara, Katsuhiko Bizen, Masahiko Matsunaga
• Screenplay: Riko Sakaguchi
• Music: Takashi Omama
• Character design: shimano
• Planning and production: Kenzo Ishiguro
• Producers: Yukari Tachibana, Tomoyuki Saito
• Associate producers: Kento Sudo, Jun-take Shishido
• Character design: Shinichi Machida
• Stylist: Shinichi Mita
• Animation directors: Yukari Takano, Erina Kojima, Norihiro Murata
• Art Director: Yasutada Kato
• Director of photography: Yusaku Murakami
• Color design: Akiko Saito
• CG Director: Tomohiko Suga
• Edited by: Keisuke Yanagi
• Sound Director: Takuya Hiramitsu
• Animation producers: Takeshi Yamakawa, Tetsuho Takayoshi
• Animation Production: TMS Entertainment/6th Studio
• Animation production cooperation: Sakuraku Create
• Production: “Bokuai” “Kimiai” Production Committee
• Production manager: Dentsu
• Distributor: Toei
• Special sponsor: AHKAH

■Main Characters

• Hidaka Reki: After his parents divorced, he lives with his father. He meets Shiori, the director's daughter, at the Virtual Science Research Institute where his father works.
• Sato Shiori: Daughter of the director of the Institute of Fictional Science where Hidaka Reki's father works.
• Genko Sato: Shiori's mother and director of the Virtuality Science Institute.

■ Related works

• To all the you I loved

■ Theme songs and music

• TM1 "Shion"
• Lyricist: Shinya Ishihara
• Composer: Saucy Dog
• Arrangement: Saucy Dog, Kazuma Nagasawa (agehasprings)
• Sung by: Saucy Dog
• IN1 "Longing for Clouds"
• Lyricist: Suda Kenna
• Composer: Suda Kenna
• Arrangement: Keinagi Suda, PRIMAGIC
• Vocals: Suda Kenna
• IN2 "Summer Daydream"
• Lyrics: Shinya Ishihara, Saucy Dog
• Composer: Saucy Dog
• Sung by: Saucy Dog

■Detailed review

"To Me, the One Who Loved You" is a love story that skillfully incorporates the science fiction element of parallel worlds. The story is set in the Virtuality Science Institute, a facility that researches technology to travel between the real world and parallel worlds, and depicts the pure love story between Hidaka Reki and Sato Shiori, who meet there. Director Kasai Kenichi maintains an exquisite balance between science fiction and love story, pursuing visual beauty and emotional depth.

Particularly memorable is the scene where they decide to elope to the parallel world. The moment when Koyomi and Shiori confirm their feelings for each other and jump into the new world to spend their future together deeply moves the audience. Furthermore, the relationship between the two worlds that is revealed towards the end of the story deeply moves readers and viewers. The unique worldview of Otono Shihoji's original novel has been beautifully brought to life by the staff of TMS Entertainment.

The acting of the cast is also superb, especially the delicate emotional expression of Hidaka Koyomi played by Miyazawa Hio and the purity of Sato Shiori played by Makita Aiju, which enhance the story. The music also plays an important role, with Omama Ko's beautiful melodies enriching the emotion of the story. The voice of Saucy Dog, who sings the theme song "Shion", also matches the worldview of the work.

■ Recommendation points

"To Me, the One Who Loved You" is a new work that combines science fiction and a love story. The storytelling, which makes use of the parallel world setting, will provide the audience with fresh surprises and emotions. The beautiful visuals and moving music are also not to be missed. This is especially recommended for those who are looking for a sad element in their love story or who enjoy a science fiction setting.

Furthermore, you can gain a deeper understanding and be moved by watching this film in conjunction with "To All the Girls I've Loved Before." By comparing the two films, you will be able to appreciate the charm of parallel worlds and Otono Shihoji's unique worldview more deeply.

Conclusion

"To Me, the One Who Loved You" is a moving work that combines a unique setting of parallel worlds with a heartbreaking love story. The beautiful visuals, moving music, and the wonderful acting of the cast enhance the story. This is a must-see for those who enjoy the fusion of science fiction and a love story, and those who are looking for a moving story.