The story of "Rent-A-Girlfriend" follows the protagonist Kazuya, who, after being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, tries to cope with his loneliness and anger by renting a girlfriend. However, through a series of unexpected events, he begins to have a personal relationship with Chizuru, the same girlfriend he rented out. Have you seen the anime adaptation? Whenever a popular manga is adapted into an anime, it inevitably comes with harsh criticism from fans of the original, who say, "This isn't it." While there are many other anime adaptations besides this one, there is always a divide between fans of the original and anime. However, this work is one that has created less of a divide between the two. Why has this work, among the many anime adaptations, been able to meet the expectations of fans of the original? In this article, we'll explore the appeal and mystery of this anime adaptation, introducing the original author and the anime production team.
Who is the author of the original manga?
First of all, the reason why an anime version of this work was produced was because of the overwhelming popularity of the story's author's plot and the fascinating characters that appear in it. From here, we'll introduce the author of this incredibly popular work.
Reiji Miyajima
The original author of this work is Reiji Miyajima. Miyajima is a manga artist who has been active in manga creation since the early 2000s, and has worked on many popular works in addition to this work. Some fans may have known Miyajima from his work prior to this work, "Rent-A-Girlfriend."
Springtime in Shonen Magazine
Miyajima's manga has primarily been published in Shonen Magazine. Shonen Magazine is known for its bold, graphic style, including dark works like "Attack on Titan" that cannot be published in Shonen Jump. Its readership is primarily comprised of teenagers, and it's not just children's favorites like "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" and "Jujutsu Kaisen."
This work is also published in Shonen Magazine!!
Since his debut, Miyajima has had numerous works published in Shonen Magazine, including this one, "Rent-A-Girlfriend." It features some very bold scenes that are difficult to find in Shonen Jump, so for Miyajima, who excels at drawing these suspenseful scenes, Shonen Magazine may be the magazine where he finds the most versatility.
Currently on social media!
Miyajima has brought numerous works to the world, including this one. In addition to publishing his manga, he also seems to be focusing on social media. He uses Twitter and Instagram to quickly share anime information and more! If you're a reader who wants to be the first to know about this anime, be sure to follow him!
Check out the illustrations too!
Miyajima's illustrations are especially popular on social media. Simply following him means you can see illustrations of many popular characters from the series, so there's no reason not to follow him!
A YouTuber?!
Even more surprising is that Miyajima actually runs his own YouTube channel! Many manga artists use social media to interact with fans and promote their work, but there aren't many who share their work on YouTube like Miyajima does. After all, just drawing manga is extremely hard work, so it really takes an incredible amount of energy.
"Videos Criticizing Fan Art" and More
Many of the videos posted on the YouTube channel are quite entertaining. For example, videos that teach drawing techniques while criticizing fan art are extremely educational not only for fans of the series, but also for those who want to improve their illustration skills.
There are plenty of videos other than illustrations!
Miyajima's YouTube videos aren't just about illustrations. He also has some very personal videos, like videos of his pets, so if you're interested in learning more about the manga artist behind this work, be sure to check it out!
Fans, check it out!
In any case, social media and YouTube are packed with information you'll need to enjoy the series even more, so fans of the series will definitely want to check it out!
What is animation production like?
Now that I've introduced the original author of this work, I'd like to introduce the anime production company. The role of the production company is extremely important: recreating the author's manga as an anime. It's disappointing when the original work is good but the characters are poorly drawn. Will the anime really be as good as the original? From here, I'd like to ease any concerns fans may have by introducing the production company.
TMS Entertainment
The company responsible for producing this anime is TMS Entertainment.
A Production Company with a Long History
Many readers may be familiar with the name TMS Entertainment. This company has been producing anime since 1964, making it a long-established company in the anime industry. In addition to this work, they have been involved in the animation of numerous popular titles.
"Lupin the Third" "Go! Producers of "Anpanman" and "Detective Conan"
When you think of TMS Entertainment, many people probably think of "Lupin the Third," "Anpanman," and "Detective Conan." While these works are also based on manga, TMS Entertainment has produced anime that perfectly captures the essence of the original work. This work is no exception, as it has been adapted into an anime that truly captures the essence of the original work.
One of Japan's leading animation production companies!
As such, TMS Entertainment, the production company behind this work, is one of Japan's leading anime companies, with a proven track record of producing numerous nationally beloved anime titles, including "Lupin the Third."
A track record of adapting numerous original works into anime
In addition to the works introduced here, TMS Entertainment has produced many other popular anime titles. If you enjoyed this anime adaptation, be sure to check out their other works!
What kind of person is the anime director?
Finally, I'd like to introduce the anime production director of this series. When considering the quality of an anime, the production company is important, but the person who most influences the quality of the anime is the anime director! The production capabilities of the animation production company and the leadership skills of the animation director combine to create a great work, so the director is an essential presence when discussing the anime production team!
Kazuomi Koga
The director of this new and highly anticipated anime is Kazuomi Koga.
He has been involved extensively in the Pokémon series!
Prior to directing this film, Koga was primarily involved in the production of the Pokémon anime. From Pokémon Advanced Generation to Diamond & Pearl, Black & White, he has been involved in the production of numerous Pokémon series, making him truly a driving force behind the development of the Pokémon anime series.
Perfect for anime fans in their 20s!
In particular, from the Advanced Generation to Diamond and Pearl, anime fans in their 20s today likely watched these shows as children. It's quite moving to see someone involved in the production of these anime series, which we all watched as innocent children back then, now directing anime aimed at young adults.
Making his directorial debut with "Rainy Color Cocoa: Welcome to Rainy Color!"
After working on the Pokémon series as a production staff member for a while, Koga made his directorial debut with "Ameiro Cocoa: Welcome to Rainy Color!" Fans who are waiting for the second season of this anime to air should definitely check this out.
Summary
What did you think? This time, we've introduced the original author of this work, the production company involved in the anime's production, and the director. This series has been wildly popular since the first season of the anime, so many fans are probably already planning to watch the second season. But it's fun to learn about the people behind the production of this second season, as it gives you a glimpse into the surprising connections between this series and other works!
