True Tears (stylized as true tears) is a Japanese anime television series produced by P.A. Works and directed by Junji Nishimura. It aired in Japan on tvk between January 6, 2008, and March 30, 2008, containing thirteen episodes. The series shares almost nothing in common with the visual novel of the same name that preceded it, using an entirely different story with different characters, and a different art style. An Internet radio show hosted by three voice actresses from the series was also produced to promote it. A Blu-ray box set released in Japan contained an extra three-minute epilogue. Bandai Entertainment initially released the series in North America, but the license was later transferred to Discotek Media.

Plot

True Tears revolves around a high school student named Shin'ichirō Nakagami with a high artistic ability. He lives with his mother, father, and fellow high school student Hiromi Yuasa who moved into his house after her father died. Her father had been a close friend of the family, so it was natural for Hiromi to come stay with the Nakagami family; one year has passed since she came to live in their home. Shin'ichirō has known Hiromi for years, but before he had always treasured her smile, though now she acts coldly when at home and he cannot bring up the nerve to talk with her either. When she is at school, Hiromi is popular, always smiles, and is talented in sports, but Shin'ichirō knows she must be hiding things inside her. At school, he meets a strange girl named Noe Isurugi who wishes him misfortune after Shin'ichirō teases her. After a bit of bad luck, he reconciles with Noe by crafting a chicken out of a tissue box, and he finds out from her that she "gave her tears away". Shin'ichirō also likes to spend time with his childhood friends Miyokichi Nobuse and Aiko Endō at the Imagawayaki shop Aiko's family owns, and she helps out at the shop too. Shin'ichirō juggles all of these problems on a day-to-day basis as he learns about love and the sadness of those around him. The opening video of the anime contains shots of the Tateyama mountain range in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, and is where the series is set. Incidentally, the animation studio which produced the anime, P.A. Works, is located in Nanto, Toyama, and places in the series are modeled after that town. However, the town in True Tears faces the sea, and in reality Nanto is inland. The seaside was modeled after Himi, Toyama, the shopping center from Toyama, Toyama, and Aiko's shop and the fountain in the park were modeled from Takaoka, Toyama. Furthermore, three surnames used in the series—Isurugi, Kurobe, and Takaoka—are place names in Toyama Prefecture.

Characters

Production

The animated television series True Tears is directed by Junji Nishimura and produced by P.A. Works, Lantis, and Bandai Visual, with the animation and music produced by P.A. Works and Lantis respectively. The anime shares its title with the visual novel True Tears by La'cryma, but uses an entirely different story with different characters, and a different art style. The series aired between January 6, 2008, and March 30, 2008, on TV Kanagawa in Japan, although a special preview of the first episode was shown on January 4, 2008, on BS11 Digital. The anime also aired at later dates on Chiba TV, Kansai TV, Kids Station, Tōkai TV, TV Saitama, and BS11 Digital. Thirteen episodes aired on the aforementioned networks. A DVD compilation, containing the first episode of the anime, was released on March 25, 2008, in Japan. A Blu-ray box set released in Japan contains an extra three-minute epilogue to the series unveiling the future of the main characters after the anime's conclusion. The anime was licensed by Bandai Visual in North America, but the release was delayed. After Bandai Visual USA folded into Bandai Entertainment, the True Tears anime was released in a two-disc DVD box set on August 18, 2009, with English subtitles. Later, Discotek Media released the anime in a two-disc DVD box set on August 30, 2016, then on Blu-ray on October 31, 2017. Three pieces of theme music are used for the anime; one opening theme, one ending theme, and one insert song. The opening theme is "Reflectier" (リフレクティア) by Eufonius, the ending theme is Aira Yūki's "Sekai no Namida" (セカイノナミダ), and the insert song, used in episode ten, is "Sono Mama no Boku de" (そのままの僕で) by Eufonius. A single for "Reflectier" was released on January 23, 2008, and a single for "Sekai no Namida" was released on February 6, 2008. The anime's original soundtrack was released on February 27, 2008, and an image song album entitled Tears...for truth containing the insert song was released on April 16, 2008.

Internet radio show

An Internet radio show called True Tears Kochira Tulip Hōsōkyoku (true tears こちらチューリップ放送局), hosted by Charradio, was broadcast between December 7, 2007, and December 28, 2007, containing four episodes. The following week, the show was transferred over to Beat Net Radio!, and began weekly broadcasts every Friday starting on January 4, 2008. It has three hosts — Ayahi Takagaki, Kaori Nazuka, and Yuka Iguchi, who played Noe Isurugi, Hiromi Yuasa, and Aiko Endō in the anime respectively — and was produced by Bandai Visual and Lantis. There are three corners on the show, which is used mainly to promote the anime version. Makoto Ishii, who played Shin'ichirō in the anime, appeared on the show as a guest for the seventh and eighth broadcasts, and the anime's director Junji Nishimura was a guest for the ninth episode.