櫻花莊的寵物女孩
Basic Work Information
- Title
- The Pet Girl of Sakurasou
- Original Story
- Hajime Kamoshida (Illustration: Kēji Mizoguchi／Dengeki Bunko)
- Publication period
- January 2010 – March 2014
- Number of volumes
- 13 volumes (10 main volumes + 3 short story collections: 5.5／7.5／10.5)
- Genre
- Youth・Romantic Comedy・Ensemble Drama
- Anime broadcast
- October 9, 2012 – March 26, 2013
- Number of episodes
- 24 episodes
- Animation Production
- J.C.STAFF
- Director
- Atsuko Ishizuka (Ishizuka Atsuko)
- Series Composition
- Mari Okada
- Character Design
- Masahiro Fujii
- Music
- Yuzo Hayashi／Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
- Natsumi Takamori
- Misaki Kamikusa(One of the main cast)
- Manga
- Art by Houki Kusano, 8 volumes (Kadokawa Taiwan)
- Game
- PS Vita／PSP, February 14, 2013 (Kadokawa Games)
- Total circulation
- Approximately 1.8 million copies (October 2013)
Work Overview
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou is a light novel written by Hajime Kamoshida and illustrated by Kēji Mizoguchi, published by Dengeki Bunko from 2010, 13 volumes in total (10 main volumes + 3 short story collections); the Traditional Chinese edition is published in Taiwan by Kadokawa Taiwan.
The protagonist, Sorata Kanda, is kicked out of the dormitory by the principal for secretly keeping an abandoned cat in the regular dorm, and is forced to move into the old dormitory where problem students gather, “Sakurasou.” The following spring, world-class genius painter Mashiro Shiina transfers in from England, and Sorata is appointed as her “Mashiro duty” caretaker — and so begins a youth ensemble drama between a genius and an ordinary person, about talent and dreams.
Sakurasou is home to all kinds of "oddballs": a genius who makes his own animationMisaki Kamikusa, Jin Mitaka who aims to become a screenwriter, genius programmer Ryunosuke Akasaka, Nanami Aoyama who aspires to be a voice actress, and the dorm manager Chihiro Sengoku who claims to be 29. While living together with them, Sorata pursues what he wants to do while facing the cruel question of the “gap in talent.”
The work depicts dormitory life in a light comedic style while seriously tackling the heavy proposition of whether effort can truly surpass talent, and is regarded as one of the representative youth ensemble light novels of the 2010s.
Series Works
Related media developments for this work:
📕 Original light novel
Hajime Kamoshida／Kēji Mizoguchi｜Dengeki Bunko 2010-01 – 2014-03｜13 volumes (10 main + 3 short story collections)
📺 TV anime
2012-10-09 – 2013-03-26｜24 episodes｜J.C.STAFF
📙 Manga Version
Art by Hoki Kusano | Dengeki G's magazine 2011-04 – 2014-05 | All 8 volumes
🎮 Game Version
PS Vita／PSP｜2013-02-14｜Kadokawa Games｜Game Development Simulation × Romance Adventure
📻 Web Radio
《Sakurasou's Pet Radio》｜2012-09-29 – 2013-03-23｜Host：Ai Kayano・Ms. Natsumi Takamori
📚 4-Koma Official Anthology
《4-Koma Official Anthology: The Pet Girl of Sakurasou》2013-02-27
Timeline
- 2010-01-10 Original light novel volume 1 released (Dengeki Bunko)
- 2011-04 Manga adaptation began serialization in Dengeki G’s magazine
- 2012-06-28 Drama CD《Shiina Mashiro's First Time Taking Care》Released
- 2012-09-29 Web Radio《Sakurasou's Pet Radio》Starts Broadcasting
- 2012-10-09 TV Anime Begins Airing (24 Episodes Total)
- 2013-02-14 PS Vita／PSP Game Version Released
- 2013-03-26 TV anime broadcast ended
- 2013-06 Original Work Volumes 1–9 Cumulative Circulation: 1.68 Million Copies
- 2013-10 Series Cumulative Circulation: Approx. 1.8 Million Copies
- 2014-03-10 Original Work Volume 13 (Final Volume) Released
Data
(Main story 10 + short story collection 3)
(approx.)
Production Staff
- Original Work: Hajime Kamoshida (Dengeki Bunko / KADOKAWA)
- Illustration: Kēji Mizoguchi
- Director: Atsuko Ishizuka (Ishizuka Atsuko)
- Series Composition: Mari Okada
- Character Design: Masahiro Fujii
- Music: Yuzo Hayashi | Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
- Animation Production: J.C.STAFF
- Production: Sakura-sou Production Committee
- 【Game Edition】Development: 熱中日和 / Release: Kadokawa Games
- 【Radio】Host: Ai Kayano & Ms. Natsumi Takamori
Theme Song
Plot (spoilers)
The following is organized by volume of the original work and by anime story arc, including key turning points and each character's ending. The original volumes have no official subtitles; the volume contents are summaries organized according to the story's progression.
① The Beginning of the Story (Original Work Volume 1)
Sorata Kanda was kicked out by the principal for secretly keeping an abandoned cat in the regular dormitory, and was forced to move into the old dormitory "Sakurasou" where problem students gather.
The following spring, world-class genius painter Mashiro Shiina transfers from England to the art department of Suimei University of the Arts Affiliated High School and moves into Room 202 of Sakura-so; Sorata is appointed as 'Mashiro Duty' and put in charge of looking after her, who has zero common sense about daily life.
Seeing Mashiro's purity in 'only wanting to draw,' Sorata, who originally had no goal, begins to seriously think about what he wants to do—and resolves to become a game designer.
② Original volumes 2–4: The cultural festival and Rita's visit to Japan
The members of Sakura-so each have their own aspirations:MisakiA self-made animation, with Jin writing the script, Ryunosuke programming, and Nanami aiming to become a voice actress.
At the school festival, Mashiro's artwork andMisakithe self-made animation become the focus; Mashiro's roommate in England, Rita Ainsworth, comes to Japan to take her back to England.
⚠️Spoiler: Rita admits that Mashiro has nothing left to paint in England, and that she came to Japan to search for something new she "wants to draw"; Mashiro decides to stay at Sakurasou and vows to become a manga artist.
③ Original novel volumes 5–6: The voice actor audition, the proposal, and the demolition crisis
Aoyama Nanami takes part in the voice actor audition and gives it her all; her feelings for Sorata gradually become clear.
⚠️Spoiler: At the end of volume 5, Mitaka Jin to his childhood friendMisaki KamikusaProposal; End of Volume 6MisakiThey submitted their marriage registration that same day, and the two became husband and wife.
Sakurasou simultaneously faces a demolition crisis, and the members run around to protect the dormitory.
④ Original work Volumes 7–10: New members and the final arc
New members join: Iori Himemiya (Saori's younger brother) moves into Room 103, and newcomer writer Kanna Hase moves into Room 201.
The latter part of the story focuses on the school trip and graduation, and Sorata must choose between Nanami Aoyama and Mashiro Shiina.
⚠️Spoiler: Sorata rejects Nanami and chooses Mashiro; the two kiss in a church in Hakodate and officially start dating.
⑤ Anime 24-episode adaptation breakdown
Episodes 1–4 (Original work Volume 1): Mashiro moves in, Sorata awakens.
Episodes 5–10 (Original work Volumes 2–3): Nanami moves in, the school festival, Rita comes to Japan.
Episodes 11–14 (Original work Volume 4): The school festival and Christmas Eve.
Episodes 15–18 (Original work Volume 5): Nanami's voice actress audition, Valentine's Day,Misakifirst love.
Episodes 19–24 (original volumes 5.5–6 + partially original): the demolition crisis, Jin andMisaki's graduation and marriage, and the graduation ceremony.
⑥ ⚠️ The fates of each main character
⚠️Spoiler: Kanda Sorata turns down Aoyama Nanami during the school trip and chooses Shiina Mashiro; the two share a kiss in a church in Hakodate and officially begin dating.
⚠️Spoiler: Mitaka Jin andMisaki Kamikusamarry;Misakibefore graduation he buys the vacant lot next door and builds a house there, becoming a neighbor of Sakurasou.
⚠️Spoiler: Akasaka Ryuunosuke and Rita Ainsworth never officially date, but they regard each other as important presences.
Characters
Sorata Kanda Kanda Sorata
The protagonist of this work. He was kicked out by the principal for secretly keeping an abandoned cat in the regular dormitory, and moved into Room 101 of Sakurasou. Originally having no goal for the future, he aspired to become a game designer after meeting Mashiro. He is straightforward and a worrywart, the 'sensible one' and tsukkomi of Sakurasou, and the one who tries hardest to face the 'talent gap'.
Mashiro Shiina Mashiro Shiina
Heroine. A world-class genius painter who grew up in England and transferred to the art department of Suimei University of Art Affiliated High School in search of something new she wants to draw. Her painting skill is extraordinary, but she has zero common sense in daily life and needs Sorata to look after her (the "Mashiro duty"). She speaks little and her expressions rarely change, but she is extremely pure and devoted when it comes to drawing.
Misaki Kamikusa Kamiigusa Misaki (after marriage: MitakaMisaki）
Sakurasou Room 201, third-year student in the art department. The only genius in ten years to earn special scholarship art student status (later stripped of it for being obsessed with anime), her self-made anime is highly acclaimed and earns her a hefty income. Her personality is super high-energy and her drive is astonishing, often leaving the people around her unable to keep up, which is why Sorata calls her an "alien." She aggressively pursues her childhood friend Jin Mitaka, and is the most energetic presence in Sakurasou. ⚠️Spoilers: At the end of Volume 5, Jin proposes to her; at the end of Volume 6, she submits their marriage registration that very day, and the two become husband and wife; before graduating, she buys the empty lot next door and builds a house, becoming Sakurasou's neighbor.
Jin Mitaka Mitaka Jin
Sakura Dormitory Room 103, General Studies course, aspiring to become a scriptwriter.Misaki's childhood friend, whose long-time first love is actuallyMisaki's older sister Fuuka,MisakiTreat as a stand-in. ⚠️ Spoiler: In order to be worthy ofMisakiAfter going to Osaka to hone his skills, he eventuallyMisakigot married.
Akasaka Ryunosuke Akasaka Ryunosuke
Sakura Dormitory Room 102, General Studies, a genius programmer. He has gynophobia and hardly ever leaves his room, keeping in touch with the outside world through the internet. He developed the AI "Maid-chan".
Aoyama Nanami Nanami Aoyama
Sakurasou, Room 203, General Course, aiming to become a voice actress; to that end, she left home to live on her own and works hard at part-time jobs. From Osaka, she is serious and hardworking, and is the person around Sorata who best understands that "effort doesn't necessarily pay off." She secretly has a crush on Sorata.
Chihiro Sengoku Chihiro Sengoku
The dorm manager of Sakurasou and an art teacher, Mashiro's older cousin. She claims to be 29 years old, loves drinking, and lives sloppily, but she always gives students a push when it matters.
Key Characters (Spoilers)
The following characters are involved in this work's romantic direction and the truth of the past. If you haven't finished it, please do not expand.
⚠️ Expand to view: Characters involved in romance and the truth of the past (major spoilers)
Misaki Kamikusa Kamiigusa Misaki
⚠️Spoiler:MisakiFor years she aggressively pursued her childhood friend Mitaka Jin, but her real hang-up lies in 'talent'—she is a genius at creating her own animation, yet because of that she was stripped of her status as an arts department special scholarship student. At the end of Volume 5, Jin proposes to her, and at the end of Volume 6, she submits their marriage registration that same day; the two become husband and wife.
Jin Mitaka Mitaka Jin
⚠️Spoiler: 仁's long-time first love isMisaki's older sister Fuka, always treatedMisakias a substitute. In order to be worthy ofMisaki, he went to Osaka to train, and ultimately withMisakigot married.
Mashiro Shiina Mashiro Shiina
⚠️Spoiler: Mashiro had nothing left she could draw while in England, and came to Japan in search of a new “thing she wanted to draw.” In the end, she chose to stay at Sakurasou, set her sights on becoming a manga artist, and officially began dating Sorata Kanda.
Media Expansion
Besides the original light novel, this work has also been developed into manga, TV anime, games, radio, and more.
- Original light novel
- Written by Hajime Kamoshida / Illustrated by Keji Mizoguchi, Dengeki Bunko 2010-01-10 – 2014-03-10, 13 volumes in total (10 main volumes + short story collections 5.5/7.5/10.5). Licensed in Taiwan by Kadokawa Taiwan.
- Manga Version
- Art by Hoki Kusano, Dengeki G’s magazine April 2011 issue – May 2014 issue, continued in Dengeki G’s Comic June 2014 issue – March 2016 issue, 8 volumes in total.
- Official 4-koma anthology
- 《4-Koma Official Anthology: The Pet Girl of Sakurasou》 2013-02-27, an anthology by multiple authors.
- TV anime
- 2012-10-09 – 2013-03-26, all 24 episodes, produced by J.C.STAFF.
- Game version
- 《さくら荘のペットな彼女》PS Vita／PSP，2013-02-14，角川遊戲發售、熱中日和開發，類型為「遊戲製作模擬×戀愛冒險」，有原創角色中野乙羽、品川孝一。
- Web radio
- "Sakurasou's Pet Radio", 2012-09-29 – 2013-03-23, broadcast on 超!A&G+ and Animate TV, hosted by: Ai Kayano (Shiina Mashiro), Ms. Natsumi Takamori (Misaki Kamikusa）。
- Drama CD
- Shiina Mashiro's First Babysitting, 2012-06-28; TV anime drama CD volumes 1–3 (2013-01-30/02-27/04-24).
- Character Songs・Singles
- The Starter CD BOX (2012-08-29) includes Shiina Mashiro's character song; the OP single 《You Brought a Dream》, etc. There is no standalone character song album.
- Cooperation
- YomeColle (2013, Mashiro Shiina, Nanami Aoyama,Misaki Kamikusa voice card); Dengeki Bunko FIGHTING CLIMAX (launched 2014-03-18, with Shiina Mashiro as a support character).
Natsumi Takamori and This Work
In this work, Ms. Natsumi Takamori playsMisaki Kamikusa—the genius girl of Room 201 at Sakurasou who makes her own anime, and one of the main characters.
MisakiShe has a super-high-energy personality and astounding drive, often leaving the people around her unable to keep up, which is why Sorata calls her an "alien"; she aggressively pursues her childhood friend Jin Mitaka, and is the most lively presence at Sakurasou.
她同時是電視動畫第一期片頭曲《君が夢を連れてきた》的演唱者之一（與茅野愛衣、中津真莉子組成「ペットな彼女たち」），並與茅野愛衣共同主持 Web 廣播《さくら荘のペットなラジオ》。
About the original work and author Hajime Kamoshida
原作由鴨志田一執筆、溝口ケージ插畫，2010 年 1 月起於電撃文庫（ASCII Media Works／KADOKAWA）刊行，2014 年 3 月完結，全 13 卷。台灣由台灣角川代理出版繁體中文版。
鴨志田一的另一部代表作《青春豬頭少年》系列與本作共享世界觀，設定在其時間線之後；原作小說中有角色互相客串（動畫版沒有）：Misaki Kamikusa與三鷹仁在《青春豬頭少年不會夢到邏輯魔女》、赤坂龍之介與麗塔在《…小惡魔後輩》、姬宮伊織在《…兔女郎學姊》、姬宮沙織與館林總一郎在《…妹控偶像》登場。
此外，長谷栞奈（筆名「由比ヶ浜かんな」）的著作在《青春豬頭少年》系列中頻繁出現；梓川家的三花貓與空太的貓同名。
Reception
Sales：原作輕小說 1–9 卷累計發行 168 萬本（2013 年 6 月）；系列累計約 180 萬部（2013 年 10 月）。
Awards and rankings：《這本輕小說真厲害！》2011 年版第 16 位；「みんなで選ぶベストラノベ 2011」感想部門第 6 位；「電子書籍アワード 2013」輕小說部門第 10 位；遊戲版《Fami通》交叉評測 31 分（銀殿堂）。
Position：以輕快喜劇筆調描寫宿舍生活，同時認真處理「努力是否真能超越才能」的命題，是 2010 年代輕小說青春群像劇的代表作之一。
other：動畫第 6 話將原作中的「粥」改成「蔘雞湯」曾引發討論；動畫版評價的具體出處未確認。
「天才與凡人同住在一個屋簷下——它用喜劇的筆，寫『才能』這件殘酷的事。」
— Overall Assessment
