Houkago no Tinker Bell (After School: Tinker Bell) is a one-shot OVA based on the second in a series of 23 (!) light novels by Hyuuga Shouichirou, all of which riff on a fairy tail, a literary work for children, or a historical figure. (This information comes from Justin Sevakis' excellent article on the show.) The novels are mystery stories, in which high-school students and next-door neighbors Akizuki Kenichi and Watanabe Misako solve puzzles set among their friends and schoolmates. The attraction is as much the byplay between the perpetually horny Kenichi and the somewhat ditzy Misako as it is the mystery itself.
In Tinker Bell, a conflict occurs between members of the Broadcast Club (in the US, it would be the Audio-Visual or A/V Club) and the Disciplinary Committee. The Broadcast Club's DJ, Ryoko, tries to show a tape of the wedding ceremony between two teachers. Keiko, the head of the committee, objects. A fight breaks out, and in the fracas, the tape gets broken. Then, Ryoko disappears. A letter arrives, apparently from a deceased former member of the club, Okazaki Koushin, claiming to have kidnapped and killed Ryoko. Kenichi and Misako must figure out what is happening.
There is some heavy stuff going on: Okazaki killed himself to remain forever young, like Peter Pan. Another member of the Broadcast Club is attacked and knocked out. Kenichi and Misako speculate endlessly on who might be Wendy (Peter's girlfriend) and who might be Tinker Bell (Peter's jealous companion). Despite the serious doings, the tone is mostly light and comedic. The stakes never seem very high, and a happy ending is inevitable.
The voice cast includes:
- Tobita Nobuo (Kenichi) played Lumial in the Angelique franchise, Ken Wakashimazu in the Captain Tsubasa franchise, Randy in Fake, Sinistra in Kiddy Grade, the title role in Locke the Superman, and Dayon in Osomatsu-san. He appeared in Genji, Part 1, Ziggy Sore Yuke! R&R Band, Condition Green, Eien no Filena, Choujikuu Romanesque Samy: MISSING 99, and Ore no Sora, all Orphan releases.
- Mizutani Yuuko (Misako) played Pinoko in all the Black Jack properties, as well as Hiromi in Milky Passion: Dougenzaka - Ai no Shiro, Rika in Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, Lila in Eien no Filena, Anna in Inochi no Chikyuu: Dioxin no Natsu, and Dr. Uematsu Kikue in Yume Kakeru Kougen, all Orphan projects.
- Fujiwara Keiji (Okazaki Koushin) took over the role of Dad in Crayon Shin-chan. He played Maes Hughes in Fullmetal Alchemist, Kenchirou in Antique Bakery, Hannes in Shingeki no Kyojin, Shirou in Blue Exorcist, Nue in Karas, Hinahono in Magi, and Shigure in Ushio to Tora TV. He played Hattori Hanzo Masanari in Sanada 10, Gentaku in Hidamri no Ki, Yoshitoki in Genji, Part 1, hostile student Fumio in Mellow, and the title role in Uchuu Neko: Mardock no Bouken, all Orphan releases.
- Kawamura Maria (Miyazaki Ryoko) played Naga the Serpent in the Slayers franchise, the title role in Fujiko Fujio A no Mumako, Eluza in the Gall Force OVAs, Interpreter in the Compiler OVAs, Luna and Tiger Lily in Peter Pan no Bouken, Sakura in Genji, Part 1, Kate in Hitomi no Naka no Shounen: 15 Shounen Hyouryuuki, Shirin in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 2 (a repeat of her role in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de: Hachyoushou), and Houjou Masako in Haruka Naru Toki no Nake de 3. The last four are Orphan releases.
- Kikuchi Masami (Yukino Hiro, Ryoko's wannabe boyfriend) starred as the male leads in the Tenchi Muyo, Aa! Megami-sama!, and Comic Party franchises. He played Terayama Suekichi in Asatte Dance, Makoto in Doukyuusei 2, and Taira no Kiyomori the younger in Genji, Part 1, and he appeared in Fukuyama Gekijou, all Orphan releases.
- Iwanaga Tetsuya (Sasamoto Kazuhiro, a classmate) played the male lead, Mizuhara, in the El Hazard franchise, as well as Aida in the Evangelion franchise. He appeared in Yamato 2520 and Tezuka Osamu's Tales of the Old Testament, both Orphan releases.
- Hiramatsu Akiko (Tano Keiko) played Nene Romanova in Bubblegum Crisis and Bubblegum Crash, Mekira in Ninku, Tom Kusanagi in Mikan Enikki, Konoe (the security maid) in Hanaukyo Maid Tai, and Miyuki in the You're Under Arrest franchise. She played Ninomiya, the police chief's reckless daughter, in Every Day Is Sunday, an Orphan release.
- Matsumoto Yasunori (Edogawa Junji, another classmate) starred as Akira in Mellow, Johnny in Starship Troopers, Kaname in Singles, and Tooru in Every Day Is Sunday, all Orphan releases. He was in numerous OVAs in the 1990s, including Ziggy Sore Yuke! R&R Band, Seikimatsu: Humane Society, Fukuyama Gekijou: Natsu no Himitsu, and Al Caral no Isan, also Orphan releases. Among his other notable roles were Wataru Akiyama in Initial D, Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, Gourry Gabriev in Slayers, Ryou in Sonic Soldier Borgman, and a personal favorite, Dick Saucer in Dragon Half.
- Orikasa Ai (Hanamura) made her debut in Shoukoushi Cedie. She played the title role in Romeo no Aoi Sora, Fee in Planetes, Seguchi Touma (the record company president) in Gravitation, Quatre in Gundam Wing, and Ryouko in the Tenchi Muyo franchise. She also played Hibino Aya in Asatte Dance, Enrico in Dioxin no Natsu, Carrie in Ziggy Sore Yuke! R&R Band, Sara in Eien no Filena, Toryune in Al Caral no Isan, Katchan's mother in Tako ni Natta Okaasan, the narrator in Boku no Boukuugou, Made, Ayuuru's sister, in B.B. Fish, and young Mars in Fire Emblem, all Orphan releases.
- Ono Kenichi (Anamizu) appeared in Akuemon, Bavi Stock, Botchan, Elf 17, Ipponbouchou Mantarou, Wolf Guy, Ziggy Sore Yuke! R&R Band, and Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, all Orphan releases.
The director, Murayama Kiroshi, also directed Jinji and Kirara, as well as individual episodes of many series.
DOMO subbed the show more than a decade ago, using a translation from Conan Twitter. (Tomodachi also subbed it back in the VHS fansub era.) When a laserdisc surfaced in Japan, a new version seemed warranted. Perevodildo translation checked and timed the original subs, which were pretty good, and added the numerous songs, based on official sources. I edited and typeset. Uchuu and Nemesis QCed. The raw is a Domesday Duplicator rip of a Japanese laserdisc, encoded by an anonymous team member. The laserdisc master has a lot of film burn at scene changes.
So here's a new version of Houkago no Tinker Bell. I can't sum it up better than Justin Sevakis did: "There is little going on in After School: Tinker Bell that wouldn't charitably be described as pablum, but it's a fun little OAV nonetheless." You can get the show from the usual torrent site or from IRC bot Orphan|Arutha in channels #nibl or #news on irc.rizon.net.
