Description
"Zettai Shonen" is a 26-episode anime series that blends elements of mystery, fantasy, and slice-of-life storytelling. The narrative is divided into two distinct arcs, each focusing on a different protagonist and setting, but connected by overarching themes of childhood, supernatural phenomena, and personal growth.
The first arc, set in the rural town of Aizawa, centers on Ayumu Aizawa, a young boy who moves to the countryside with his family. Ayumu struggles to adjust to his new life, feeling isolated and disconnected from his peers. His life takes a turn when he encounters a mysterious girl named Miku, who claims to be a fairy. Miku introduces Ayumu to a group of supernatural beings known as the "Night Children," who inhabit the town and are tied to its folklore. As Ayumu becomes more involved with the Night Children, he uncovers secrets about the town's history and his own family. The arc explores themes of loneliness, friendship, and the transition from childhood to adolescence, as Ayumu navigates his relationships with both the human and supernatural worlds.
The second arc shifts focus to Tokyo, where the protagonist is Wataru Asahina, a high school student grappling with the pressures of academic life and familial expectations. Wataru's life becomes intertwined with a series of strange occurrences, including the appearance of a ghostly figure named Miku, who seems to be connected to the events in Aizawa. As Wataru investigates these phenomena, he discovers a parallel world known as the "Other Side," which exists alongside the real world and is inhabited by spirits and other supernatural entities. This arc delves into themes of identity, responsibility, and the struggle to reconcile personal desires with societal expectations.
Throughout the series, the two arcs are subtly linked by recurring characters and motifs, particularly the enigmatic figure of Miku, who serves as a bridge between the human and supernatural realms. The narrative structure allows for a gradual unfolding of the story's mysteries, with each arc providing a self-contained yet interconnected exploration of its central themes. The characters' journeys are marked by their encounters with the supernatural, which serve as metaphors for their internal struggles and growth.
"Zettai Shonen" stands out for its thoughtful pacing, character-driven storytelling, and its ability to blend fantastical elements with grounded, emotional narratives. The series offers a nuanced portrayal of childhood and adolescence, using its supernatural framework to explore universal experiences of change, loss, and self-discovery.
The first arc, set in the rural town of Aizawa, centers on Ayumu Aizawa, a young boy who moves to the countryside with his family. Ayumu struggles to adjust to his new life, feeling isolated and disconnected from his peers. His life takes a turn when he encounters a mysterious girl named Miku, who claims to be a fairy. Miku introduces Ayumu to a group of supernatural beings known as the "Night Children," who inhabit the town and are tied to its folklore. As Ayumu becomes more involved with the Night Children, he uncovers secrets about the town's history and his own family. The arc explores themes of loneliness, friendship, and the transition from childhood to adolescence, as Ayumu navigates his relationships with both the human and supernatural worlds.
The second arc shifts focus to Tokyo, where the protagonist is Wataru Asahina, a high school student grappling with the pressures of academic life and familial expectations. Wataru's life becomes intertwined with a series of strange occurrences, including the appearance of a ghostly figure named Miku, who seems to be connected to the events in Aizawa. As Wataru investigates these phenomena, he discovers a parallel world known as the "Other Side," which exists alongside the real world and is inhabited by spirits and other supernatural entities. This arc delves into themes of identity, responsibility, and the struggle to reconcile personal desires with societal expectations.
Throughout the series, the two arcs are subtly linked by recurring characters and motifs, particularly the enigmatic figure of Miku, who serves as a bridge between the human and supernatural realms. The narrative structure allows for a gradual unfolding of the story's mysteries, with each arc providing a self-contained yet interconnected exploration of its central themes. The characters' journeys are marked by their encounters with the supernatural, which serve as metaphors for their internal struggles and growth.
"Zettai Shonen" stands out for its thoughtful pacing, character-driven storytelling, and its ability to blend fantastical elements with grounded, emotional narratives. The series offers a nuanced portrayal of childhood and adolescence, using its supernatural framework to explore universal experiences of change, loss, and self-discovery.
Episodes
Staffel 1
1The depressed state of a strange summer
2The Tsukiyomi Observatory and Okakababa
3Arrival of the distinguished announcer
4Shrine of the luminating woods
5Weight of a promise and lightness of a dream
6The membrane of the world becomes thin
7The night of the third promise
8Within the narrowness of trancession and remembrance
9It is always the problem of priorities
10The thought which becomes complicated in the rain
11Run towards the rice field that look as if it is going to cry
12Dancing in the sky where cats dance
13Tanikawa Kisa and the unaccustomed existence
14The two competing powers
15Urban folklore
16The undiscernible huge thing
17That is a problem we cannot be involved in
18The encounters and desperation of a seventeen-year old
19The fish that grew wings
20Material Fairy
21Meaning of a good child
22Things that were lost and things that are born
23The light in the dark that calls out for happiness
24The girl's small adventure
25The membrane of the world is only a hole
26Unreliable Riches of a Winter's End
Cast
- Akiyuki Kishiro
- Hana Tokimiya
- Wakkun
- Shione Umino
- Asako Toudou
- Jirou Hatori
- Rieko YamatoTomoko Sadohara
- Miki Miyama
- Takuma Kaburaki
- Heigorou Suzuki
- Shigeki Kobayakawa
- Masaki Makabe
- Ryousuke Sakakura
- Miku Miyama
Comment(s)
Staff
- Director
- Script
- Episode DirectorShigeharu TakahashiKenichi ImaizumiYukihiro MakinoHiroki NegishiMitsutaka NoshitaniNobutaka ChikahashiRyuichi Kimura
- Original Character DesignSunaho Tobe
- Art DirectorKatsufumi Hariu
- Art designHiroshi Ōno
- Director of PhotographyKatsuyoshi Kishi
- Series Composition
- StoryboardYasuhito KikuchiMasami ShimodaShigeharu TakahashiKenichi ImaizumiRyuichi Kimura
- MusicHikaru Nanase
- Character DesignMasayuki Sekine
- Animation DirectorHiroyuki HoriuchiKenichi ImaizumiSeiya NumataMasayuki SekineYuji UshijimaEiichi TokuraHiroshi Kawaguchi
- Sound Director
- ProducerEizo KondoDaisuke ItōKoji MorimotoMasahiro Okamura
Production
- ProductionGENCOBandai VisualZettai Shonen Project
- Animation ProductionAjiado
Relations
Recommendations based on shared tags.
Music
Opening
“Hikari no Silhouette”
Ending
“Shonen Humming”





