Name: Tokimeki Memorial OVA 1 (79.77% in 44 votes) Type: ANIME Platform: VHS/VCD Company: Konami Release date: 1999 Reviewed by: Orochi
"5 years after the debut of the popular PC Engine dating simulation game, the OVA had finally been release..."
The above phrase was taken from the TV commercial for the OVA of Tokimeki Memorial.
It's certainly had been 5 years since the release of the original PC Engine game and now Konami had finally decide to give every fan of the game what they had been anticipated for a long time,the OVA series of the game.
It seems that Konami plan to release the OVA like what they had did for the Drama Series in different volume with each one concerntrating on different characters. Currently they had only release the first volume of the OVA, and based it on Shiori Fujisaki.
Now about the story in the first volume of the OVA,Shiori is in her third year of high school and she had to decide if she is in love as she interact with her class and schoolmates as they go about giving their experience of being with the one they like.
Here's my rating after watching the OVA.
Story: 8/10 The OVA runs like one of the Drama Series game, so that makes it a romantic drama. An interesting point about the OVA is that it seems Konami will be piecing up all the stories in their Drama Series games together as all the Drama Series sub-characters (so does the original characters form GB color version of the game ) are present in the OVA with the main cast.The male star, however, did not make a apperance throughout the OVA. I do not know if this suit the female fans of the game as a romantic drama as the focus are all on the girls. One of my girl friend watch the OVA and asked me if it is lesbo anime.
Artwork: 9/10 Almost perfect.But it's unlike the opening animation for the game.The characters were redrawn and had lose their bubbly looks from the game, making them look more mature. I must comment the background for this OVA are the most detailed and well drawn I had seen for this type of anime.
Voice Acting: 9/10 The seiyuu cast remains the same as game,so they must had known their characters well after 5 years.So they fit into their characters perfectly naturally.
Music: 8/10 The music are from the game but had been remixed, so if you like the original music in the game, you'll love the music for this one.The opening theme song remains the same as in the game, but it's given a rock feel to it.The ending theme's different though.
Rewatch Value: 8/10 The plot might not be easily understood by some as the story switch focus to different characters at times.You might have to watch it for about 1 or 2 more times to completely understand it.But the artwork is so well done that I recommend you watch it a third time just for it.
Overall: 9/10 This anime certainly is in a class of it's own. Good artwork and a nice plot. One worth getting even if you are not a fan of the game, but is looking for a good romantic drama anime to watch.
