ToHeart
From Free net encyclopedia
ToHeart (トゥハート) is a visual novel by Leaf/Aquaplus released in 1997 for the PC. It was later ported to the PlayStation and given voice acting. A second PC version, titled "ToHeart PSE" was released containing the PlayStation version as well as omake games. The new computer version and PlayStation version had the adult scenes removed.
It was also made into a 13-episode TV anime by KSS in 1999. A second anime, ToHeart: Remember My Memories aired from October 2004. ToHeart is an influential ren'ai game with a large cult following; it has been the inspiration for a great deal of fan art in the dōjinshi community.
Before ToHeart, the visual novel genre was donimated by leading company ELF. The company ultilized the sci-fi and fantasy concepts, and stressed on the importance of story background. Visual novel players often concern themselves more about the overall story, rather than paying attention on main character's personality and emotion. "ToHeart" was one of the first games which specifically allowed and encouraged the player to fall in love with normalcy, and started the trend of school related visual novels. Players symphatize with situations leading characters are in, and concern themselves more with characters, instead of the overall story.
Main script writer Tatsuya Takahashi's idea of "visual novel" is widely adopted today by many Japanese games, regardless of the genre.
ToHeart expended its cult following to non-visual novel players when the KSS anime and Playstation Version were released. Furthermore, the original anime was one of the first cases where a anime adaptation of a video game would prove to be succeseful among viewers who didn't even play the game, although it is debatable if it could be considered one of the most popular animated series adaptation of a game. However, ~remember my memories~ and to a lesser extent, the ToHeart2 anime didn't receive as much praise as the original series. The KSS anime became a stepping stone for many famous voice actresses in regular anime we see today.
Contents |
History
- May 23, 1997 - ToHeart: Leaf Visual Novel Series No. 3 Released (18 up)
- March 25, 1999 - Playstation version released (All ages)
- April 1, 1999 - Anime version begins airing
- June 24, 1999 - Anime ends
- October 27, 1999 - Drama CD "Piece of Heart" released
- August 23, 2000 - Piece of Heart rereleased, after previous distribution ceased following some legal confusion
- June 19, 2003 - Original PC version repackaged and rereleased
- June 27, 2003 - ToHeart PSE released (All ages)
- October 2, 2004 - ToHeart ~Remember my Memories~ starts airing
- December 28, 2004 - ToHeart2 is released on Playstation 2
Game
Image:Toheart boxart.gif Template:Main
ToHeart was originally released on the PC in 1997 as a hentai visual novel love adventure: the third in its series. Produced by Aquaplus/Leaf, it is credited to having helped to lift the company out of obscurity.
In 1999, two years after the original PC release, ToHeart was converted to the Playstation and released. All adult scenes and themes were removed from this version, but full voice acting and omake games were added.
Four years after, the game was again rereleased on the PC, which was known as the PSE version. The version here used the Playstation version as the basis for its conversion.
The game was also included in the special ToHeart2/ToHeart bundle, which was one of three packages ToHeart2 was released in. The game was made for the PS2 and is not available individually.
Anime
Two anime series have been produced and released: ToHeart and ToHeart ~remember my memories~. The first was known for its watercolour like art, as well as slow and slice-of-life storytelling. Template:Main The second series was released five years later in order to generate interest in ToHeart2, and coincided with the marketing blitz that ToHeart2 was receiving. The anime's storyline continued from the original series and completed the actual story (deviating from the game). The future of Akari, Hiroyuki and Multi were also shown.
All voice actors and actresses for the game were also used for the anime.
Characters
- 藤田浩之 (ふじた ひろゆき) Fujita Hiroyuki
- 神岸あかり (かみぎし あかり) Kamigishi Akari
- 長岡志保 (ながおか しほ) Nagaoka Shiho
- マルチ Multi (HMX-12)
- セリオ Serio (HMX-13)
- 保科智子 (ほしな ともこ) Hoshina Tomoko
- 来栖川芹香 (くるすがわ せりか) Kurusugawa Serika
- 来栖川綾香 (くるすがわ あやか) Ayaka Kurusugawa
- 宮内レミィ (みやうち れみぃ) Miyauchi Lemmy
- 松原 葵 (まつばら あおい) Matsubara Aoi
- 姫川琴音 (ひめかわ ことね) Himekawa Kotone
- 雛山理緒 (ひなやま りお) Hinayama Rio
- 佐藤雅史 (さとう まさし) Satō Masashi
Character design differences
There are several design differences between the game and the anime:
- The eyes of the characters are more slanted in the game. The eyes were made more rounded in the anime, but in ~remember my memories~ they reverted to the original game design; something that Hiroyuki remarked in the sixth omake episode of the first anime series.
Audio CDs
- ToHeart: Original Sound Track
- ToHeart: Animation Sound Track
- Feeling Heart: ToHeart Single
- ToHeart: Piece of Heart
- ToHeart: ~ Remember my Memories ~ Soundtrack & Image Song
- Daisukidayo ｢大好きだよ」 (Into Your Heart)
- Leaf Piano Collection Vol 1
Manga
There are several manga versions available in Japan and are all published by different companies. Most of them are one off stories written and illustrated by dojinshi authors, before being complied into volumes although the Daioh magazine offers a coherent story.
Two manga versions by Ukyou Takao is also available in Japan by Dengeki Comics 「電撃」. The first version published in 1999 was based on and roughly followed the original ToHeart story. It has since been complied into three books.
At present, there is also a manga running titled ToHeart ~remember my memories~ based on the anime continuinity of the same name. It is also by Ukyou Takao and is currently being serialised in Dengeki Daioh (where ToHeart2 manga is also been serialised). The second ToHeart manga is still ongoing, and has been complied into one book so far.
- ToHeart Vol. 1
- ISBN 4-07-309789-X
- 550 yen (excluding tax)
- Published: September 15, 1998
- ToHeart Vol. 2
- ISBN 4-8402-1221-X
- 550 yen (excluding tax)
- June 6, 1999
- ToHeart Vol. 3
- ISBN 4-8402-1460-3
- 550 yen (excluding tax)
- Published: February 15, 2000
It was also published in the US by ADV Manga.
Omakes
There were several games and fan made products that have used the ToHeart franchise.
- Leaf Fight
A card based game featuring the heroines from ToHeart, along with other characters in the Aquaplus/Leaf franchise.
- The Queen of Heart
Template:Main A fan-made 2D fighting game made by the same group that would later create Melty Blood. It features characters from the games being pitted against one another.
Books
Game Related
トゥハート公式ガイドブック―The essence of ToHeart
- 1,260 yen (excluding tax)
- 143 pages
- Size: 26 cm
- Publisher: エンターブレイン
- Published: Second Printing (2000/06)
- ISBN 4757701063
This book contains a comprehensive walkthrough for the entire To Heart game. It also includes a gallery of all the obtainable CG, as well as stage-by-stage descriptions of all three omake games included in the Playstation and PSE versions.
ToHeart ビジュアルファンブック (Visual Fun Book)
- 1,400 yen (excluding tax)
- ISBN4-8402-1278-3
- Publisher: Mediaworks (メディアワークス)
Contains images from the Playstation game.
Anime Related
KSS Perfect Collection Series: TV Animation ToHeart Full name: ToHeart ケイエスエス パーフェクトコレクションシリーズ
- Consists of two books
- 1,700 yen (excluding tax)
- VOL.1:ISBN4-87709-383-4
- VOL.2:ISBN4-87709-384-2
- Publisher: KSS (ケイエスエス)
The first volume covers episodes 1 to 7 of the TV animation, while the second book covers episodes 8 to 13. The second book has interviews with staff, as well as a collection of all the colour images in Japanese magazines and posters printed to promote ToHeart during that period.