is a 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...

ese anime

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 by ufotable

Ufotable

is a Japanese animation studio founded in October 2000 and located in Nakano, Tokyo Prefecture. A unique hallmark seen in many of their works is a claymation sequence.-TV series:*Weiß Kreuz Glühen *Mobile Suit Gundam SEED...

. The series ran for 13 episodes from 7 April 2005 to 30 June 2005. The show features many of the characters from the original Futakoi

Futakoi

is a light novel, visual novel and anime series created by Hina Futaba and Mutsumi Sasaki. The anime series aired in Japan in 2004. It replaced Sister Princess as Dengeki G's Magazine premier flagship title.-Story:...

, though the story and settings are completely different. A 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...

 adaptation of the show is illustrated by Kanao Araki

Kanao Araki

is a female Japanese manga artist.-External links:...

.

Story

Futakoi Alternative tells the story of Rentarō Futaba and his detective agency. One day a set of twins, Sara and Sōju, show up at his doorstep. They move in with him and work as secretaries for his agency.

Classifying Futakoi Alternative as a specific genre is extremely difficult, although at its core, it is most similar to a romantic comedy. The first handful of episodes are lighthearted, but the series becomes more serious as it approaches its conclusion. The criticisms about the show is normally the same as its accolades: namely, that it never settles completely into any one genre or style and switches between them from episode to episode (being almost equal parts romance, action, scifi/fantasy and comedy). However, it is a love story at its core.

Characters

Rentarō Futaba is the main character and the son of a legendary detective. He is very good at fighting, though he does not fight often. He has a lot of luck around twins and eventually they all fall for him.

Sara Shirogane is high spirited and more outgoing than her twin sister. She is always bossy with Rentarō, although she really respects him and seems to have a strong affection toward him.

Sōju Shirogane is a foil for her sister; she is quiet, and not as outgoing as Sara. She is good at cooking, and also has a strong affection toward Rentarō.

Kaoruko Ichijō is a shrine maiden along with her twin sister Sumireko.

Sumireko Ichijō is Kaoruko's twin sister, and like her twin, a shrine maiden.

Kira Sakurazuki is one of the twin granddaughters of the local yakuza boss. Occasionally the twins dress up as masked heroines battling against the yakuza's various underground activities.

Yura Sakurazuki is Kira's twin sister.

Ruru Hinagiku is one of the pair who are the youngest twins in the series. She along with her sister Rara appear to be involved in some sort of military special operations

Special operations

Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...

, being experts in various weapons from handguns to rifles, and even explosives and rocket propelled weapons, carrying all their weapons in their backpacks. They appear in the first episode locked in a battle against an invading alien on board a stricken military transport plane, before they detonate the plane and bail out with their parachutes.

Rara Hinagiku is the twin sister of Ruru Hinagiku.

Ui Chigusa and her twin sister Koi Chigusa run a veterinary clinic. They request the aid of the Futaba Detective Agency to track down a missing dog.

Koi Chigusa is the twin sister of Ui Chigusa.

Ai Momoi and her twin sister Mai Momoi were once classmates with Rentarō and had a relationship with him similar to his current relationship with the Shirogane twins. Since their school days, they have had a falling out, both with Rentarō and with each other.

Mai Momoi is the twin sister of Ai Momoi.

Music

Opening Theme

"New World" by Bae Yumi (배유미) (of M.I.L.K

M.I.L.K

M.I.L.K. was a K-pop girl group signed under SM Entertainment's sister label, BM Entertainment in 2001. The name M.I.L.K. stands for Made in Lovely Kin. They disbanded when Bae Yumi left the group in 2003. Now each member has gone off to do their own individual projects such as acting, singing,...

)

Ending Theme

"Bokura no Jikan" (ぼくらの時間) by eufonius

Eufonius

Eufonius is a Japanese progressive rock music group which debuted on October 11, 2003 with the release of their first album Eufonius which was also an independent release. The band has produced songs for various anime and video games, such as Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl, Himawari!, Noein, True...

Episode list

>

#	Title	Original air date

External links

• ufotable's official Futakoi Alternative website
• Starchild's official Futakoi Alternative website