Ayane's High Kick
Encyclopedia
is a two-episode anime
series produced by Nikkatsu Corporation
and Rikuentai. It was originally released as an original video animation
(OVA) in Japan
in 1997 and was licensed for release in North America
by U.S. Manga Corps
in 1998. It follows the story of a girl named Ayane Mitsui who wishes to become a professional wrestler
, but due to series of events, she becomes a kickboxer
instead.
like her idol Manami Toyota
of the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
circuit. However, despite many auditions, she cannot qualify. A brilliant kickboxing
coach, Kunimitsu, notices potential within the girl and persuades her to train with him. Ayane hates kickboxing and is very vocal about it, but happens to have a greater potential with the sport and sticks with it. Meanwhile, some of the less-savory teachers from her high school have become aware of her extracurricular activities and threaten to expel
her if they get proof. And if that's not enough, another kickboxer, Sakurako Miyagawa, has taken notice of the girl and wants to fight her in the ring.
and Rikuentai, directed by Takahiro Okao, and written by Isao Shizuya. Originally planned to be six parts, only two episodes of the OVA series were released in Japan
between January 21 and April 25, 1997. The anime was licensed in North America
by U.S. Manga Corps
for VHS on April 7, 1998. The series was released on DVD for the first time on October 6, 1998. It received a second DVD release alongside Baki the Grappler
on May 28, 2002. Ayane's High Kick aired several times on the Japanese AT-X
television network in 2008.
The music for Ayane's High Kick was composed by Nittoku Inoue. The anime features the opening theme "Fight For Yourself" by The Street Beats and the closing theme sung by Masako Miyamura. A CD soundtrack
composed of 25 songs was released by Victor Entertainment
in Japan on April 23, 1997. A one-shot manga
written and illustrated by Ihara Hiroshi was published by Comic Nora on August 16, 1998.
gave Ayane's High Kick a positive review, calling it "loads of fun, not complicated to follow, cute and completes its mission: entertaining the viewer". He noted that although the plot is cliché
for a sports anime, it is executed very well, has "cool" character designs, simple yet dynamic animation, an appropriate soundtrack, and healthy mix of action and comedy. Mania.com's Chris Beveridge similarly noted a light story, copious amount of humor, fairly well defined stereotype characters, and decent artwork for its production period. Jason Bustard of THEM Anime Reviews summarized, "Ayane's High Kick is a fun, charming, double episode pilot that like many others of its era, never managed to take off and become a full series. Fun characters and an interesting premise are marginalized by its short length and obnoxious cliches, but for what it's worth, it's a fun ride."
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series produced by Nikkatsu Corporation
Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
and Rikuentai. It was originally released as an original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
(OVA) in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1997 and was licensed for release in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by U.S. Manga Corps
Central Park Media
Central Park Media was an American multimedia entertainment company based in New York City, New York, that was active in the distribution of East Asian cinema, television series, anime, manga and manhwa titles in North America prior to its bankruptcy in 2009...
in 1998. It follows the story of a girl named Ayane Mitsui who wishes to become a professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, but due to series of events, she becomes a kickboxer
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
instead.
Plot
Ayane Mitsui is a very athletic high school girl who wishes dearly to become a great professional wrestlerProfessional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
like her idol Manami Toyota
Manami Toyota
is a professional wrestler best known for her work with the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling wrestling promotion. Following AJW's closure she has continued to work in other joshi promotions such as GAEA and NEO...
of the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
, nicknamed Zenjo was a joshi puroresu promotion established in 1968 by Takashi Matsunaga and his brothers. The group held their first card on June 4 of that year...
circuit. However, despite many auditions, she cannot qualify. A brilliant kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
coach, Kunimitsu, notices potential within the girl and persuades her to train with him. Ayane hates kickboxing and is very vocal about it, but happens to have a greater potential with the sport and sticks with it. Meanwhile, some of the less-savory teachers from her high school have become aware of her extracurricular activities and threaten to expel
Expulsion (academia)
Expulsion or exclusion refers to the permanent removal of a student from a school system or university for violating that institution's rules. Laws and procedures regarding expulsion vary between countries and states.-State sector:...
her if they get proof. And if that's not enough, another kickboxer, Sakurako Miyagawa, has taken notice of the girl and wants to fight her in the ring.
Media
Ayane's High Kick was produced by Nikkatsu CorporationNikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
and Rikuentai, directed by Takahiro Okao, and written by Isao Shizuya. Originally planned to be six parts, only two episodes of the OVA series were released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
between January 21 and April 25, 1997. The anime was licensed in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by U.S. Manga Corps
Central Park Media
Central Park Media was an American multimedia entertainment company based in New York City, New York, that was active in the distribution of East Asian cinema, television series, anime, manga and manhwa titles in North America prior to its bankruptcy in 2009...
for VHS on April 7, 1998. The series was released on DVD for the first time on October 6, 1998. It received a second DVD release alongside Baki the Grappler
Baki the Grappler
Grappler Baki , or Baki the Grappler, is a manga series written and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki. It was originally serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1991 to 1999, lasting 42 collected volumes...
on May 28, 2002. Ayane's High Kick aired several times on the Japanese AT-X
AT-X (company)
is a Japanese anime television network owned by . AT-X, Inc. was founded on June 26, 2000 as a subsidiary of TV Tokyo Medianet, which, in turn, is a subsidiary of TV Tokyo. Its headquarters are in Minato, Tokyo. AT-X network broadcasts anime via satellite and cable since December 24, 1997.AT-X is...
television network in 2008.
The music for Ayane's High Kick was composed by Nittoku Inoue. The anime features the opening theme "Fight For Yourself" by The Street Beats and the closing theme sung by Masako Miyamura. A CD soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
composed of 25 songs was released by Victor Entertainment
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
in Japan on April 23, 1997. A one-shot manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
written and illustrated by Ihara Hiroshi was published by Comic Nora on August 16, 1998.
Voices
| Character | Japanese voice actor | English voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Ayane Mitsui | Yuko Miyamura Yuko Miyamura ' is a Japanese voice actress, actress, J-pop singer and director of audiography. Her married name is ', although she still works under her maiden name. Miyamura was born in Kobe, and graduated from the theater division of the Tōhō Gakuen College of Drama and Music. Her pet name is '... |
Debora Rabbai Debora Rabbai Debora Rabbai is an American voice actress who is also credited as Debbie Rabbai and Angora Deb.- Anime Roles :* Agent Aika - Aika Sumeragi* Alien 9 - Kumi Kawamura* Ayane's High Kick - Ayane Mitsui... |
| Kunimitsu Tange | Akio Ōtsuka | Greg Wolfe |
| Kappei Inagagi | Maria Kawamura Maria Kawamura , better known by the stage name , is a Japanese voice actress. Kawamura is a freelancer and was a former affiliate of Arts Vision.On November 8, 1991, she married Japanese manga artist Mamoru Nagano, of Five Star Stories fame... |
Jonathan Briggs |
| Saruraku Miyagawa | Maria Kawamura Maria Kawamura , better known by the stage name , is a Japanese voice actress. Kawamura is a freelancer and was a former affiliate of Arts Vision.On November 8, 1991, she married Japanese manga artist Mamoru Nagano, of Five Star Stories fame... |
Rose Markisello |
Reception
Martin Ouellette of Protoculture AddictsProtoculture Addicts
Protoculture Addicts was a Canadian-based North American anime and manga magazine published by Protoculture Inc., an Anime News Network company...
gave Ayane's High Kick a positive review, calling it "loads of fun, not complicated to follow, cute and completes its mission: entertaining the viewer". He noted that although the plot is cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
for a sports anime, it is executed very well, has "cool" character designs, simple yet dynamic animation, an appropriate soundtrack, and healthy mix of action and comedy. Mania.com's Chris Beveridge similarly noted a light story, copious amount of humor, fairly well defined stereotype characters, and decent artwork for its production period. Jason Bustard of THEM Anime Reviews summarized, "Ayane's High Kick is a fun, charming, double episode pilot that like many others of its era, never managed to take off and become a full series. Fun characters and an interesting premise are marginalized by its short length and obnoxious cliches, but for what it's worth, it's a fun ride."