Tokyo Marble Chocolate

Chizuru, a cheerful girl with a history of unsuccessful romance, is planning to break up with her boyfriend, Yuudai, since he never seems to reciprocate her feelings. However, as she arrives at what she plans to be their final date, Yuudai presents her with a gift that turns out to be an energetic and troublesome mini donkey. While Yuudai was hoping that today would be the day he could finally summon enough confidence to let Chizuru know the depth of his feelings, a series of misunderstandings threaten to tear the couple apart forever. With a rambunctious mini donkey doing its best to mend their relationship, Chizuru and Yuudai each wonder if they are capable of loving and being loved in return.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Chizuru Main

Mizuki, Nana Japanese

Yuudai Main

Sakurai, Takahiro Japanese

Miniroba Supporting

Iwata, Mitsuo Japanese

Miki Supporting

Inoue, Marina Japanese

Chizuru's Ex-Boyfriend Supporting

Yamada Supporting

Nakamura, Yuuichi Japanese

Wada, Jouji Producer

Nakatake, Tetsuya Producer

Shiotani, Naoyoshi Director, Layout

Ebina, Yasunori Sound Director

Reviews

Apr 23, 2008

Ranivus

Recommended

This is one of the most unique anime experiences I have ever encountered. This should way of story telling should be done more often. Especially for love stories like this one. Tokyo Marble is basically a two episode ova about two I'll unlucky lovers who never seem to catch a break. One episode tells the girlfriends point of view and the other episode tells the boyfriend's point of view. But heres what makes this so great: both episodes are interchangeable. You can watch one and notice little details that the other OVA purposely leaves in or out. It's such a great mind trip because you ... actually feel like your experiencing what they're dealing with. Its almost really sad but the whole experience is just amazing that one has to watch it to truly understand how amazing just watching two episodes can be.

The romance story would have been perfect in my opinion with the exception of one thing... a MINI DONKEY im not going to spoil the purpose of why its in the story but suffice to say it would have been just fine using a cat or a dog or even a friggin monkey. The story was so good that one could even overlook the "unique" style of the show and how they like to draw the main characters with monkey like features (you'll see what i mean when you watch it). I may not agree with what they decided on how the characters look like, but the artwork does give out that warm love story feeling. Most of the background is lightly penciled in and touched up with light or warm colored water colors. Everything looks like where it should be (except for the donkey).

I know some anime series have done this method for a couple episodes but it didn't feel the same as how Tokyo Marble executed it. I cant stress enough how great this show was... I've watched it both episodes 3 times already. Excellent storytelling and a wonderful anime to watch with a loved one, but please lose the donkey.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Dec 10, 2008

Retro8bit

Recommended

Tokyo Marble Chocolate is your basic tried and true romance story about a young couple simply trying to confess their feelings for one another. Both have had terrible pasts with relationships, and hope that their present one will bear fruit. But confessing to one another is easier said than done for these two.......

Story: 10/10
Wonderful!!! Everything about it was so cute and heartwarming that I can’t express enough how it touched me. It does stay true to the whole "romance" theme, all the while adding in unique twists and misunderstandings that come with it. What really stood out for me the most was the fact that ... you get to experience it from both the male and female’s view point of the story. So while you get to see what one of them was doing during that day, you then get to see it from the others point of view on the next episode, and this is important as the overall plot and misunderstands can’t be understood until you have done so. Truly you can feel the pain and the love that these two share, and can't help but be drawn in by them, as they get put in most inconvenient of situations which stall their confessions for one another. While it does keep everything realistic for the most part, it also includes this somewhat exaggerated miniature Donkey character that may seem a bit out of place with the overall concept of the otherwise down to earth storyline. (which in truth....yeah it was, and just seems down right silly. Though I won't ruin the role he plays for you) Surprisingly though it worked out great, and he only adds to the entertainment of it. Its an overall calm title (at least the parts that don’t include the Donkey) and really draws you in the moment it starts. As the character’s start talking about their pasts, and right at that point you know what to expect. Though I feel I should warn some out there, that the storyline is very discrete, so if your wanting a more gushy style of love story (the characters never even kiss) you certainly won’t find it here. My only real complaint with the story was, you never really learn just why this was called "Tokyo Marble Chocolate" until the very very end. (as in the last few seconds of episode two's credits. Which seemed kind of odd to me.

There is really no offensive material in this, with the exception of one scene where the main female is dressing at the beginning. So you get to see a short view of her underwear from the back. Nothing too much, but just be aware that it’s there.

Artwork: 7/10
It works well enough, and I did like the soft textured art that came with it, which indeed give the characters a more lite comic book style of art. I know that’s what they were shooting for when they made this, and feel they succeed well with it. Unfortunately it also gives the picture a somewhat bland look to it, this is especially true with the backgrounds. As there are some occasions where they barley detail any of the city. Kind of hit and miss, sometimes they detail it and well other times they don’t. The characters do move fluidly enough, and expect to see quite a bit of running to take place. The artwork does work out if you can appreciate it’s direction in art, but it’s nothing really too special from a technical stand point.

Soundtrack: 7/10
Very very suttle, its basically different soft piano tracks that play throughout most of it. It’s good to fit the lite downtown romance beat and all, I just couldn’t really find a track that stood out for me amongst the others. Though you do get a more uppity beat that plays in the end of the story ark, sung by a male vocalist. The voice acting I must was was spot on, though you only get a minimal variety of voice actors in this, most of which come from the two main leads, they both fit quite well with their personalities and I feel they really did mesh well with them. But again, quite minimal.

Characters: 9/10
They are so believable in their roles that you just can’t help but root for them the whole way through. They really give off a good appeal to the audience and never come off as exaggerated. Even the some what clumsy male never got on my nerves. Which says a lot for me, as a majority tend to do. The couple just give you that certain appeal of what it’s like when a relationship may take a 180 from where you would otherwise want it to be. Again I should mention that you sadly only get a small cast in this, and all other characters are only on screen for a minute or two.

Bottom Line: 8/10
I really enjoyed this title, much more than I actually thought I would. If watching a gently love anime doesn’t really sound that appealing, then you probably should just scratch Tokyo Marble Chocolate off your list. Since it stays true to the lite romance formula and may be too discrete for some. However, if your looking for one of the more memorable ones out there, then this title was made for you!

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jul 8, 2010

Lorelei

Recommended

Spend a day or two with the weirdest creature you will see, all in the midst of your boyfriend/girlfriend problems. Anyone?

Tokyo Marble Chocolate is a two-part OVA that tells the story of Chizuru and Yuudai - unlike any other. It is their love story, seen through different eyes; first from the girl, then from the guy. Still, you can watch it any way you want: the episodes are interchangeable!

The two sides of this couple both got issues. Every single one of Chizuru's previous relationships were a failure, and she begins to question some of her insecurities. Yuudai is no better. Heck, one of his past ... girlfriends had more manly guts than he will ever have. Even so, they try to be in love again, and try, and try, and try some more - all the while burdened by their past mistakes.

When they both decide one day that they'd individually do something that will bring a lot of changes on their lives, something enters the picture - wait, what the hell? A nappy-wearing, punk-looking, mischievous mini-donkey? Wow, then begins a touching run of love, understanding and hope.

If you're more of a reality-based romance fan, don't be put off by the 'fantasy' aspect you will see in this. The only fantasy-based thing in this show is the mini-donkey, for the fact that you won't see multi-colored animals roaming around the city wearing diapers in real life. Anyway, he/she's there for a reason; I suggest you not to look at him/her literally. I think he represents a feeling that we always seek - runs away, sometimes protective, always unpredictable, the feeling that could never hide the truth. And, yeap, it starts with the letter L.

Both episodes tell the same story, from different perspectives, and people tend to pick one over the other. I am personally fond of Chizuru's part more, mainly because her ending was more well-executed: the song was awesome. With that, I can tell you that the music of this anime was good, and it worked. Yuudai's half of the OVA can stand its ground. Also, I liked the designs of the show; how the characters showed emotion, the sketchy background, bravo.

About half the time you will spend watching this, you'll see them running, especially true for Yuudai. Run away from something, run towards something. Yes, they're young, and the future isn't happily custom-made for them, but they push through, in spite of uncertainty, which is more than I can say for some older people.

Don't be afraid to chase. After all, isn't love worth chasing for?

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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	Poll: Tokyo Marble Chocolate Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 ) cyruz - Jan 14, 2008	53 replies	by DeonX »» Sep 14, 2022 8:23 AM
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	Poll: MINI DONKEY!!!! spudnick2010 - Oct 4, 2010	0 replies	by spudnick2010 »» Oct 4, 2010 11:41 PM