Mysterious Girlfriend X: Nazo no Natsu Matsuri

Mysterious Girlfriend X: Nazo no Natsu Matsuri was produced by Hoods Entertainment and released in 2012 as an original video animation accompanying the eighth volume of Riichi Ueshiba's manga series. It serves as an extension of the television anime adaptation, maintaining the surrealist and idiosyncratic tone established by director Ayumu Watanabe. The production was intended to deepen the bizarre, saliva-centric relationship dynamics between Akira Tsubaki and Urabe Mikoto, capturing the series' unique blend of psychological exploration and offbeat romantic tension.

The character designs for the animation were handled by Kenichi Konishi, who sought to translate Ueshiba’s distinctive, retro-inspired art style into a fluid animated format. By prioritizing expressive, slightly unconventional facial features and a dreamlike visual palette, the design team aimed to preserve the manga’s specific aesthetic atmosphere. Upon release, the OVA was well-received by fans of the source material for successfully capturing the uncanny and intimate nature of the original work.