Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi 世界一初恋 by Junjou Romantica 純情ロマンチカ mangaka Nakamura Shungiku 中村春菊 was aired in Japan on 8 April 2011.
Update: Well generally speaking, Sekai Ichi anime didn’t disappoint. I’ve watched the OVA and like to say that it reminded me of everything I loved about Junjou Romantica <3
From the looks of it, the art style of the manga/anime definitely looks very Junjou-ish. The main characters Onodera Ritsu and Takano Masamune also look like a younger Miyagi x older Shinobu from Junjou Terrorist.
By the way, the story is set at the same publishing company in Junjou Romantica, so we’ll get to see a familiar face or two from the manga, such as Isaka Ryuuichiro.
They’re also keeping the original cast from the drama CDs which is great. Generally, I find that in terms of the entertaining and comedic factor, Junjou Romantica is a lot funnier. I’ve read comments however that this series is a lot more believable and down-to-earth. What do you think?
As a sneak peak and commemorative gesture for the upcoming anime, a 20-minute anime DVD will be bundled with the manga that will be released in March 2011. I hope it has different content from the actual TV broadcast :)
Title: Sekaiichi Hatsukoi Vol. 5 Ritsu Onodera no Baai
「世界一初恋～小野寺律の場合～」
Price: 3800yen
Release date: 23 March 2011/ Season 2 October 2011 / Movie: 2014
Limited edition includes a bonus DVD (20 minutes) and a special box.
Summary (adapted and edited from animenewsnetwork)
The story follows the tension between a newly recruited manga editor and his tyrannical editor-in-chief – who happen to share a common past. Onodera Ritsu (Kondo Takashi) has just transferred from his father’s publishing company to Marukawa Shoten. Assigned to the shoujo manga division, he crosses path with the person he’d least expected to meet. Takano Masamune (Konishi Katsuyuki) is the editor-in-chief of the division Ritsu is assigned to, and the two seem to get off on the wrong foot right from the very start when Takano unexpectedly kisses him. However, there is more to it than what meets the eye… Takano is actually Saga, Ritsu’s senpai and high school love whom Ritsu had thought to have played him for a fool by taking his affections for granted and dumping him after he confessed.
Cast:
Kondo Takashi 近藤隆 as Onodera Ritsu 小野寺律
Konishi Katsuyuki 小西克幸 as Takano Masamune 高野正宗
Tachibana Shinnosuke 立花慎之介 as 吉野千秋
Nakamura Yuichi 中村悠一 as 羽鳥芳雪
Kamiya Hiroshi 神谷浩史 as 柳瀬 優
Horiuchi Kenyuu 堀内賢雄 as 横澤隆史
Morikawa Toshiyuki 森川智之 as Isaka Ryuuichiro 井坂龍一郎
Okiayu Ryoutarou 置鮎龍太郎 as Asahina Kaoru 朝比奈薫
Sekai Ichi vol. 1 DVD! XD Ordered!!!
2. Right-Click then Copy
3. Paste the HTML code into your webpage
Personally i love sekai-ichi hatsukoi! its my favourite anime and manga of all time -_- Yes i love Junjou as well (its my 5th favourite) but.. i die everytime i see takano and ritsu together… xD
@Lucy: I hope they make more too. Takano and Ritsu sure is a tsunere couple classic <3
I prefer Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi to Junjou Romantica. Junjou Romantica was SO repetitive in the second season, it’s hard to rewatch the episodes (regardless of how funny and ecchi they are). My only thumbs down on Sekai is the complete lack of anything sexual. The most action you get are kissing scenes (which are beautiful) but I tend to miss the action of Junjou.
The story in Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi with all three couples are more captivating to me though. If I want the sexiness, I just read the manga, they’ve got plenty of it there. LOL.
I remember reading Hybrid Child too…or trying to. Nakamura was in that rough drawing stage where I couldn’t really stomach her art. She’s improved A LOT so I look forward to an anime adaptation.
@Anita: Yeah, Sekai Ichi was probably “toned-down” because they wanted to have a broader reach? :-\ Sekai Ichi is a later work so sensei probably has more experience with writing a more varied plot :)
Hybrid Child was touching! (;_;) Although the original art style takes some getting used to, I’m still glad they’re making an anime of it :)
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22EHP4URF29
this is a survey funimation has started and guess what you can select sekaiichi hatsukoi and uraboku please get your mates to do this too, now if only cherry blossom psp will get this from a game company lol, yes its me lol, hows you oh and Junjo Mistake is coming alonge with hybrid child. lol
@m: Awesome info! Thanks :D I’ll make a post about it when I get back from work!
Your Welcome lol, glad i can help :)
@ Ponytale
thanks :) for replying so fast ..
This maybe has nothing to do with the topic, but does anyone knows
from which magazine i could get these Pencil Board
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sekai-Ichi-Hatsukoi-pencil-board-shitajiki-official-Japan-Yaoi-BL-Sekaiichi-/180725018818?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a140cf0c2
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sekai-Ichi-Hatsukoi-pencil-board-shitajiki-official-Japan-Yaoi-BL-Sekaiichi-/180732933706?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1485b64a
@Nyaa-: I’m not sure… If they’re magazine exclusives then I have no idea o.o I’ll keep a look out and let u know if I see them.
@Nyaa-: Maybe I’m too late UU”, but these shitajikis weren’t from any magazine. I only saw them at chara-ani site (already sold-out) and ebay, maybe exclusives?
@Izas/Nyaa: I found one of them that you can backorder from Animate Japan http://bit.ly/tt5bu9 The other one is sold out.
I became a fan of Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi in no time :)) But still my very favorite IS and will be Junjou Romantica :D I can’t help it, I just love Misaki and Akihiko (Usagi-san) :))) Also Nowaki and Hiroki and of course Shinoube and Miyagi but my favorites ARE the main characters.
Still Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi is a great anime, I’ll look forward to it :))))
@BentAnat: I watched the Sekai Ichi OVA that came with the manga and it reminded me of everything I loved about Junjou Romantica :D Sadly, I haven’t found the time to watch the ongoing episodic series yet but I know I’ll enjoy it too XDD
I think Junjo’s stories were more captivating and comedic. I still liked Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi, but the main couple gave off an aura of familiarity which gave me the feeling of been-there-done-that. Either way, I look forward to the anime and I do hope it’s either better or at least just as good as Junjo.
@Razberry: Icic ^^ I’m looking forward to it too cos it definitely looks very promising :D
@ponytale – yeah, i had nothing to complain about junjou’s quality, the art director completely nailed it, and compared to other BL animes, junjou was totally a master piece.
isn’t the anime for finder series supposed to be out in spring 2011 also?
@iced_wine: Yep ^^ it was such love and everything about it was so happy, bright and shiny <3
I haven't been following up on that. If Finder is going to be the same as Yebisu Celebrities (Animix) then it isn't going to be a fully animated work. But there are rumours that they may make it into something like Ikoku Irokoi Romantan OVA. Do correct me if I'm wrong :3
haha, i think we can expect great things from this anime. junjou romantica absolutely blew my mind~~
@iced_wine: Yep :3 I miss Junjou anime! At least we know there’s one cute BL anime to look forward to in 2011 XDD Although people complain about Studio DEEN quality, I think they did quite a good job for Junjou :3 I feel that the seiyuus played a huge part to the success too.