Animation uniquely captures and expresses emotions artistically, particularly in the romance genre. The Japanese anime industry offers an incredible array of heartfelt romance anime in various styles. Ao Haru Ride, also famous as Blue Spring Ride, stands as one of the best coming-of-age romances in manga.
Ao Haru Ride is full of beauty, friendship, and romance between high school lovers Futaba and Kou, who reconnect after being apart since childhood. Although Futaba and Kou managed to steal every viewer’s heart, the voice actors behind the dream couple overcame many challenges to deliver such an impactful and memorable performance.
Futaba’s Voice Actor Reflects on Nostalgia and Fond Memories from Ao Haru Ride
Io Sakisaka’s Ao Haru Ride succeeded in garnering a huge following thanks to its adorable moments and compelling characters. Futaba Yoshioka wants to find her childhood crush, Kou Tanaka, who disappeared from her life during middle school.
Futaba’s past traumas and Kou’s calm and caring nature help them bond and support each other through thick and thin. Though Futaba and Kou won over many viewers with their adorable moments, the voice actors behind this beloved couple deserve immense praise for their dedication.
Interestingly, Ao Haru Ride not only allowed viewers to reminisce about their childhood but also transported the voice actors of Futaba and Kou back to nostalgic times. In an interesting interview, Futaba’s VA talks about her experience during the production of Ao Haru Ride. She said:
It’s not an everyday experience. It made me realize again that I found a good place to work. When we’re in the studio, it feels like we’ve been reverted to our high school days.
Maaya Uchida, the voice actor for Futaba, has garnered much approval and praise from fans for bringing this beloved character to life. She also mentioned that the entire production team created a wholesome atmosphere, allowing everyone to relive their high school days. Maaya added:
Everyone starts to resemble their own characters, and the atmosphere is very pleasant. Even the director and staff members begin to look like teachers.
Ao Haru Ride is beloved by fans for its thoughtful exploration of grim topics like death and its depiction of the coming-of-age journey. As Futaba dreams of reuniting with her childhood friend, Kou returns as a high school student in her school.
Futaba, though very happy, senses that Kou is not the same cheerful person he was years ago. This is because his mother passed away during their time apart, and he hasn’t come to terms with it. Futaba helps him through his grief, only for him to aid another friend, Yui, in her own grief and form a relationship with her.
Io Sakisaka’s Ao Haru Ride stands out amongst competitors thanks to its dramatic twists and effortless art. The anime has an IMDB rating of 7.6 and a MyAnimeList score of 7.75, reflecting its appeal among romance anime fans.
The Classic Rom-Com Anime Originally Planned to Promote Bloodshed and Dark Themes
Kaguya Sama: Love Is War has been a smash hit among romance and comedy fans alike. The anime follows the psychological warfare between two high-ranking student council members, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya.
Both of them refuse to confess their feelings for each other first, believing it would demonstrate weakness. This battle was drawn out for three seasonal anime, and at the conclusion of the third season, Miyuki finally confessed his feelings to Kaguya with an adorable surprise at the Cultural Festival.
Aka Akasaka once revealed that his original plan was to create a darker, bloodier series, but his editor recommended a different approach. It’s interesting that despite having no prior experience with the rom-com series, Akasaka successfully crafted a captivating and adorable story that has become the face of the Japanese romance anime genre.
Ao Haru Ride is available on Crunchyroll, whereas Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War is available to stream on Netflix
