Ginban Kaleidoscope (銀盤カレイドスコープ) is a Japanese light novel series written by Rei Kaibara and illustrated by Hiro Suzuhira. A manga adaptation authored by Jun Hasegawa was serialized in Margaret from 2005 to 2006. An anime adaptation of the first arc of the novels aired on TV Tokyo from October 8, 2005 to December 24, 2005. The series won the 2nd Super Dash Novel Rookie of the Year Award Grand Prize.

Plot

The story revolves around Tazusa Sakurano, a Japanese Olympic figure skating candidate, and Pete Pumps, a Canadian stunt pilot. During a qualifying round in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Tazusa falls in the middle of a Triple Lutz and loses consciousness. At the same time, Pete dies mid-performance when his stunt plane crashes due to mechanical trouble. Unfortunately for Tazusa, Pete ends up involuntarily inhabiting her body for 100 days. During this time, Tazusa begins to develop romantic feelings for Pete, and falls in love with him.

Media

Light novel

The series was written by Rei Kaihara and illustrated by Hiro Suzuhira. The series was published by Shueisha under the Super Dash Bunko imprint. The series won the Grand Prize in the 2nd Super Dash Novel Rookie of the Year Award. A total of 9 volumes were published. (銀盤カレイドスコープ vol.1: ショート・プログラム: Road to dream) Ginban Kaleidoscope Short Program: Road to dream (ISBN 4-08-630132-6) (銀盤カレイドスコープ vol．2: フリー・プログラム: Winner takes all?) Ginban Kaleidoscope Free Program: Winner takes all? (ISBN 4-08-630133-4) (銀盤カレイドスコープ vol．3: ペア・プログラム: So shy too-too princess) Ginban Kaleidoscope Pair Program: So shy too-too princess (ISBN 4-08-630167-9) (銀盤カレイドスコープ vol．4: リトル・プログラム: Big sister but sister) Ginban Kaleidoscope Little Program: Big sister but sister (ISBN 4-08-630224-1) (銀盤カレイドスコープ vol．5: ルーキー・プログラム: Candy candy all my rules) Ginban Kaleidoscope Rookie Program: Candy candy all my rules (ISBN 4-08-630255-1) (銀盤カレイドスコープ vol．6: ダブル・プログラム: A long, wrong time ago) Ginban Kaleidoscope Double Program: A long, wrong time ago (ISBN 4-08-630267-5) (銀盤カレイドスコープ vol．7: リリカル・プログラム: Be in love with your miracle) Ginban Kaleidoscope Lyrical Program: Be in love with your miracle (ISBN 4-08-630302-7) (銀銀盤カレイドスコープ vol．8: コズミック・プログラム: Big time again!) Ginban Kaleidoscope Cosmic Program: Big time again! (ISBN 4-08-630326-4) (銀盤カレイドスコープ vol．9: シンデレラ・プログラム: Say it ain't so) Ginban Kaleidoscope Cinderella Program: Say it ain't so (ISBN 4-08-630331-0)

Manga

A manga adaptation by Jun Hasegawa was serialized in Margaret between the 18th issue of 2005 and the 10th issue of 2006. The individual chapters were later collected and published in two tankōbon volumes.

Anime

A 12-episode anime television series adaptation of Ginban Kaleidoscope produced by Actas aired in Japan between October 8, 2005 and December 24, 2005 on TV Tokyo. The series was directed by Shinji Takamatsu while the series composition done by Akatsuki Yamatoya. The 12 episodes were later released into 6 separate DVD volumes with each volume containing 2 episodes. All the DVD volumes have both limited and normal editions. The covers for all the limited editions were drawn by series illustrator Hiro Suzuhira. The anime's opening theme is "Dual" by Yellow Generation while the ending theme is "Energy" by Marina Inoue.

Reception

Melissa D. Johnson of T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews gave the series 5 out of 5 stars, saying that "Ginban Kaleidoscope is a beautiful coming of age story. It manages to pull off a complete story in only twelve episodes, yet somehow manages to create memorable characters where other titles twice or thrice as long keep serving up the cookie cut-outs."