Kanokon
Plot. "Kanokon"'s story revolves around Kouta Oyamada, an extremely innocent young first-year high school student who moves from the country to the city and thus transfers to Kunpō High School. On his first day at his new school, he meets a beautiful second-year female student named Chizuru Minamoto. Chizuru asks him to meet her alone in the music room. When he arrives, she tells him that she is in love with him and accidentally reveals to him that she is in fact a fox spirit. Chizuru constantly and openly flirts with Kouta, even in front of  others, embarrassing him greatly. Soon after the story begins, a wolf spirit named Nozomu Ezomori transfers into Kouta's school and class. From day one, she is all over Kouta, serving to embarrass him more and causing Chizuru to become annoyed at her new competition for Kouta's affection. Media. Light novels. "Kanokon" began as a series of light novels written by Katsumi Nishino and illustrated by Koin. The series started under the title when the first novel was submitted to Media Factory's annual literary contest MF Bunko J Light Novel Rookie of the Year Award held in 2005 . The novel placed as a "good piece of work" with two other titles, which was more or less third place. The first novel was published on October 25, 2005, and the fifteenth volume was published on December 24, 2010 under Media Factory's MF Bunko J label. The series is currently on an indefinite hiatus, with no word from the authors as to when the series will be resumed. The novels were licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment when they debuted their light novel imprint, but has since been dissolved. Manga. A manga adaptation was serialized in Media  Factory's seinen manga magazine "Monthly Comic Alive" between the August 2006 and August 2010 issues. The manga takes its story from the light novels that preceded it, and is illustrated by Rin Yamaki. Nine "tankōbon" volumes were released in Japan between January 31, 2007 and August 23, 2010. The manga is licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment, who will release the series in four omnibus volumes. Anime. A twelve-episode anime adaptation produced by Xebec aired in Japan between April 5 and June 21, 2008 on AT-X. Six DVD volumes were released by Media Factory between  June 25 and November 21, 2008, There are also six specials spread out over three DVDs. A box set was later released on January 22, 2010. The anime is licensed in North America by Media Blasters under the title "Kanokon: The Girl Who Cried Fox", and released the first volume on May 25, 2010. Media Blasters later announced that they will not release volumes 2 and 3 of the series, and instead released a box set on March 22, 2011. A two-part OVA, entitled , was announced. The first episode aired on AT-X on October 4, 2009, and the  second on October 11, 2009. Both episodes were released on DVD between November 25 and December 22, 2009 by Media Factory. The OVA is licensed in North America by Media Blasters, as with the anime, and released the series on DVD on June 21, 2011. The anime's opening theme is "Phosphor" by Ui Miyazaki, while the ending theme is sung by Yui Sakakibara. The opening theme for the OVA is by Yui Sakakibara, and the ending theme is by Ui Miyazaki. Visual novel. A visual novel developed for the PlayStation 2 entitled was released on July 31, 2008 and  developed by 5pb. in limited and regular editions. The limited edition came bundled with an audio CD containing an image song and an original drama. The song, , is sung by Mamiko Noto, Ayako Kawasumi, and Miyū Takeuchi, the voice actresses of Kouta, Chizuru, and Nozomu, respectively. The audio drama is entitled . The game is described by the development team as a . The game's opening theme is "Happy Succession" sung by Ui Miyazaki, and the single containing the song was released on August 27, 2008. The ending theme is by Yui Sakakibara. Other. A drama CD based on the series  was released on March 28, 2007 by Media Factory. The drama's theme song was by Marina Kuroki. Another drama CD was sold on June 25, 2008. An Internet radio show produced by Media Factory called began airing on March 21, 2007. One episode is broadcast every other week on Friday. The show is hosted by Mamiko Noto (the voice of Kouta in the anime), and Ayako Kawasumi (the voice of Chizuru in the anime). There are four corners, or parts, to each episode. The shows starts with a short radio drama, which moves on to general news about the  Kanokon anime and series in general. Listeners can send in comments about the show up on the air. The show's opening theme is "Strategy" by Ui Miyazaki, and the ending theme is "Sweet Time" by Yui Sakakibara. Reception. The first DVD of "Kanokon" was ranked tenth on the Tohan charts between June 26 and July 2, 2008, ranked eighth between July 10 and 16, 2008. The third DVD of "Kanokon" was ranked sixth on the Tohan charts between August 21 and 27, 2008. The fourth DVD of "Kanokon" was ranked 21st on the Tohan charts between September 23 and  29, 2008. The fifth DVD of "Kanokon" was ranked 28th on the Tohan charts between October 21 and 28, 2008. The sixth DVD of "Kanokon" was ranked 14th on the Tohan charts between November 19 and 25, 2008. The characters have received both praise and criticism from publications dedicated to anime and manga. Kouta's character was criticized by THEM anime reviews for the artwork in the anime adaptation. His facial appearance was described as being featureless, and unlike the manga too young looking. Theron Martin from Anime News Network said that Kouta's youthful appearance in the anime makes  Chizuru's advances appear like borderline shotacon. Chizuru's character was ranked #10 in a list of top 10 sexiest female anime/manga characters for her affection towards Kouta in public. Like Kouta however, her appearance was criticized by THEM Anime reviews for lacking facial features in the anime adaptation. Travis Bruno from Capsule Computers gave Chizuru's manga appearance a good review, saying that she is designed well with "clear cut differences" between her human and fox forms. Nozomu's appearance in the anime was mentioned in a review by Chris Beveridge from the Fandom Post. He stated that  the addition of Nozomu without a doubt adds more competition to things, going on to say that unlike Chizuru Nozomu competes with Chizuru on more of a quiet side which adds to her appeal.