Yotsunoha (OAV) – Pseudo-Lolis with kansai-ben are fine too!

As I was browsing through the links for Hatenkou Yuugi, I found a mysterious anime that I have not seen before. Since I am born with the curiosity of a cat, I decide to check out what it is. It turns out that it is Yotsunoha, an original anime video adapted from a PC H-game that depicts the story of four people returning to an abandoned school. They have planted a time capsule three years ago, and they have returned to take a look at what is inside that time capsule.

I did not expect anything from this as I have no background knowledge of the game, but it is always the unexpected that excites me.

Screenshots: http://www.sendspace.com/file/ejnw9j

Story summary

Nono, a pseudo loli, is discouraged by Nanami, her distant relative to go out due to various natural disasters that do not exist. She is on her way to fulfill a promise to meet her three other friends to open a time capsule they left in the school three years ago. During the burial Matsuri, one of the girls, left in tears. Two of them, Makoto and Yuzune arrived and Yuzune’s bag was stuck on the bus’s door. Eventually, all the contents from her bag dropped out, revealing tons of snacks. Makoto was the rather kindly perverted male while Yuzune is the rather ditzy, airy bishoujo. Makoto went to the tree where they made the promise, only to realize that a teacher replaced the contents with his letter. He added in his letter that the hints to find the letter is dispersed all around the school.

Makoto and Yuzune goes to the teacher’s office, only to find Nono cleaning up to prepare their arrival. Nono is tricked by Makoto, and he makes fun of her lack of “growth”. They wonder about Matsuri. Makoto says that he has not contacted her, and Nono warns him to ask for forgiveness. Makoto wonders if she will come, but Nono says she will. Yuzune and Nono has prepared food for a night out, and decides to stay here. Makoto remembers the time where Nono often comes to his house to prepare food for him. They also notice Nana, a cat that Matsuri likes. The cat is bandaged recently and it is clear Matsuri is here. Makoto remembers the day when they are about to graduate, when he had a talk with Matsuri about Nana and their personal experiences. He remembers that when he says that no one will care for the stray cat, Matsuri calls him cruel.

Another memory is about Matsuri pressing them to go to a school, and she prepares notes for everyone. Nono regrets that she went to Osaka instead. Nono decides to prepare dinner for them, while they find hints. Makoto thought that he saw a mirage of Yuki. He remembers a swimming lesson with some awkward situations. He also saw the shadow of Matsuri as he chases her up the stairs. Matsuri says she has no interest to meet them, and Makoto promises to be away from her if she is willing to meet Nono and Yuzune. She adds that she is here to erase her memories. Makoto asks if she is angry over their betrayal. Yuzune appears with her energetic side, and drags Matsuri down.

They found a hint, and Makoto suggests Matsuri to have an answer. Matsuri says she has no idea. Nono says Matsuri looks mature, and Makoto adds that even her panties are alluringly black. Makoto says that Matsuri must be popular with the guys, but says that he is too busy to have a girlfriend. Matsuri says she is about to leave, but Makoto taunts her to play reverse since she is scared to lose to him. At night, Makoto and Nono walks to the teacher, and Nono asks if Makoto likes black panties. Makoto says that compared to black panties, Nono is more suited to wear cotton white panties (for little kids).

Nono asks why Makoto never calls her, but it turns out that Nanami has blocked all connections with her. It seems that Nanami thinks that all males are wolves. Makoto thought that Nono hated him. Makoto finds a fortune book about love (recently placed), and Makoto says that Nono always likes such times. Nono adds that she wants to know whether they are compatible and Makoto says that her food is compatible with his tongue. She says she does not mean this way as she remembers an incident where her friends say that they look like a loving brother-sister. When Makoto says no after her friends left, he says they look more like father-daughter. Another flashback includes Makoto lectured by a teacher because he is making use of Nono’s inability to say no.

Makoto remembers another incident where Nono is the cat deity in a haunted house. It seems that many people wants to enter after they went in, and it’s probably due to Nono being absolutely cute. Despite the suggestive position (Nono on top of Makoto), Makoto does not seem to have any sexual vibes at all. Back to the present, Makoto says he is shocked when Nono suddenly appears. She says there is no effect since he is hugged by a child-like body, but Makoto says she has matured. They start to play cards and it is clear that Makoto is only good at reversi. Matsuri decides to bathe, while Matsuri drags Nono to accompany her to the toilet.

Makoto remembers she has fear of darkness. When she suddenly screams, Makoto rushes in only to realize that it’s merely a rat. Matsuri is surprised that Makoto did not contact Nono. Makoto says that he did not contact anyone the past three years. Makoto says that Matsuri did not change, but Matsuri says it’s impossible not to change after three years. Makoto talks about the time when she cried at the swimming pool three years ago. Matsuri is dragged down to the water by Makoto, as Matsuri is annoyed at his “perverted look”. Makoto says that he is tired of her ponytail. Matsuri is surprised how he dared to talk back and started crying. She screams out that she hates them because they can still laugh when they are about to leave when her heart is hurting so badly.

On hindsight, Makoto asks for Matsuri’s forgiveness as she is the one that cared most about their friendship. He says that he never understood her gentleness. Matsuri admits that she thinks that their friendship is going to end on that day, and her heart is close to being broken. She starts to cry and jumps into Makoto’s arms. She says that she feels this strange emotion when she is hugged by Makoto. As Nono comes out to tell them that the bedding is done, she is shocked to see the two hugging together.

Thoughts

The graphical quality of this OVA is pretty good, despite some over-simplified character designs. I do not really see too much deterioration at any point of time. The Seiyuu that are casted are pretty good, with Yuko Goto, Kaori Fukuhara and Yui Sakakibara. They do have rather distinctive voices, even though I thought that Yui Sakakibara’s kansai-ben is just so darn cute. I also like the music composition of this anime, which is pretty much well done. Most of the songs bring a nice ambiance to the storytelling.

This OVA suffers from the pain of many other romantic OVAs around: the story seems somewhat weak. The premise is that the four friends return after three years to see the time capsule buried under their school. Nevertheless, the weak premise brings out a compelling romantic story, where three out of the four characters are decently fleshed out in this 37 minute OVA. I personally feel that Yuzune’s character is placed just for the sake of a ditsy energetic sister-type.

However, the other two, Nono and Matsuri are decent characters that are somewhat stereotyped. Nono is the loving pseudo loli looking character that likes the main guy while Matsuri is the green haired tsundere bishoujo. As you can tell, the two stereotypes are stereotypes that I like a hell lot, so I definitely wallop all of them up with happiness. The story has quite a few laughs. They are not the laugh out loud type of story, but more of giggle fits.

As you can tell from my thoughts, the story is rather bland but it is still worth watching by any chance. If you have some time to spare, it is not going to be a waste of your time. It’s just not spectacular, but merely average.