CHERRY AND VIRGIN

This “universal love story,” told through the lens of modern subculture, follows an adult manga artist who continues to struggle creatively and a fujoshi who, having given up on her dream of becoming a professional writer, feels uncomfortable around real men. The two—both in their early 30s and having never experienced a real romantic relationship—meet by chance and, while feeling bewildered, gradually come to understand the “pain” and “tenderness” of living in connection with others. Produced using “rotoscoping”—a technique that animates over live-action footage—the series goes beyond the boundaries of traditional animation. While rooted in animation, it incorporates elements of live-action and manga, allowing the diverse designs and worldviews of the creators involved to coexist within a single scene, resulting in a uniquely original visual style that is one of the series’ key attractions.