Oct 17, 2023
To put it simply, the Tokimeki Memorial OVA is a melodramatic tour de force. More elaborately, it is an extremely pointed work of fanservice for a very particular audience, though this isn't a bad thing at all. The OVA assumes the viewer has played through at least Shiori's route in the original game, and her perspective from that scenario forms the basis of the story.
Each of the girls are fleshed out as well, with their own scenes that tell of their struggles with unrequited love. Of course, Shiori is the queen at the end of the day, she is the true heroine after all... but
...
where does that leave everyone else?
*Spoilers Below*
A Tale of Young Love and All That Entails in All of its Glory
Tokimeki Memorial, the game and the OVA, forces you to think about jealously. Twelve girls, one man, they all want him. The OVA pulls no punches and right off the bat you know something is up, the girls know something is up. They all know that they don't stand a chance against the ideal girlfriend, Shiori Fujisaki, and it shows. The melancholy gazes they give towards the sky, the moon, to each other; their young high school lives are coming to a close and they all wish to make the best of it, they all wish to find love.
The OVA purely reflects the parts of Tokimeki Memorial that hit us the deepest, the careful balancing act of trying to make everyone happy, for everyone to have wonderful high school memories. But there are many delicate feelings in play, many hearts to be broken, and rumors can spread quickly. The OVA is able to pull off all of these dramatic aspects, but most importantly it portrays exactly what makes our main heroine Shiori so memorable, and what makes her an unmovable, cherished cornerstone of the genre.
She's Playing the Game
You may go into the game Tokimeki Memorial seeking your ideal partner: which one of these many girls is best for me? You talk to them, learn about them, and in turn learn about yourself, "what do I want from her? ...what does she want from me?"
What the OVA portrays is Shiori in the exact same conundrum, she's playing the same "game" that you are, a journey to find true love, "you" are the man she wants to be with forever. Shiori's ending in the game reveals that she wants to work up the courage to confess these feelings to you, but what exactly does that entail? The OVA shows exactly what that means, for those left on the sidelines to pick up the pieces, and for those who's hearts are most broken, like Miharu, who acts as Shiori's silent rival, yet in the end gives her the ultimate push towards her confession under the tree of legends.
In Conclusion
It's bittersweet, it's heartfelt, it's everything you want it to be if you're a fan of the game. Even if you're just jumping in it is still a wonderfully paced and directed tale of tender young romance, with scenes of classical music montages and wistful walks through the rain to pull you into its dramatic world. On top of the bottomless fanservice is even hints at other faint romances (like a potential lesbian/bisexual romance between Ayako and Nozomi). Although maybe in flower language, lavender had other meanings back in those days. Maybe many other feelings, symbols, and habits are lost to these times as well.
We may not remember all those things, but we can always remember Shiori Fujisaki.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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