Happiness!

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Happiness!
はぴねす! (Happiness!)
Genre	Fantasy, Harem, Magical girl, Romance, School life, Seinen
Game: Happiness! (PC) Happiness! Re:Lucks (PC) Happiness! De:Luxe (PS2)
Developer	Windmill
Publisher	Windmill (PC) Marvelous Interactive (PS2)
Genre	ADV, Eroge, Visual novel
Rating	Ages 18 and up (PC) Ages 15 and up (PS2)
Platform	PC, PlayStation 2
Released	October 21, 2005 (PC, Happiness!) July 28, 2006 (PC, Re:Lucks) January 25, 2007 (PS2, De:Luxe)
Light novel
Authored by	Nikaidō Kageyama (1,2) Satoshi Mikado (3)
Artist	Ko~cha
Publisher	Harvest-inc.
Publish date	April 2006
No. of volumes	3
Manga
Authored by	Windmill (story), Rino Fujii (art)
Publisher	Media Factory
Serialized in	Monthly Comic Alive
Original run	June 27, 2006 –
No. of volumes
TV anime
Directed by	Hiroshi Hara
Studio	Artland
Network	Chiba TV, Kids Station, Teletama, TV Aichi, TV Kanagawa, TV Osaka
Original run	October 5, 2006 – December 21, 2006
No. of episodes	12
OVA
Directed by	Hiroshi Hara
Studio	Artland
No. of episodes	1
Released	January 25, 2007
Runtime	24 minutes

Happiness! (はぴねす!, Hapinesu!^?) is the title of a Japanese adult visual novel video game originally for the PC by Windmill first released on October 21, 2005, and follwed by the release of a fan-disk sequel Happiness! Re:Lucks on July 28, 2006. Both games were developed, produced, and published by Windmill. Later, a manga illustrated by Rino Fujii based on the games was created and first serialized in the first issue of the manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive on June 27, 2006. A light novel was first published by Harvest Shuppan in April 2006, and so far three volumes have been released. An anime based on the games began airing in Japan on October 5, 2006, with all the hentai removed. Happiness! was also ported to the PS2 as Happiness! De:Luxe on January 25, 2007 with the hentai removed; a special OVA episode of the Happiness! anime was released with the limited edition of this game. The PS2 port will be published by Marvelous Interactive. The series has the tagline: It's a happy & heartful school life.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Characters 3 Adaptations 3.1 Visual novel 3.1.1 Theme songs 3.2 Light novel 3.3 Manga 3.4 Anime 3.4.1 Episodes 3.4.2 OVA 3.4.3 Theme songs 4 External links

[edit] Plot

Happiness! centers around Yūma Kohinata, who is high school student attending Mizuhosaka Academy's regular section of the school, along with his close friends Jun Watarase and Hachisuke Takamizo. The other section, aptly named the magic section, was founded in order to train mages in the art of using magic.

The story begins with Valentine's Day coming up in just a few days and there's a rush for all the girls to get the chocolate they want in order to give it to the boys they like, in accordance with Japanese custom. Haruhi Kamisaka, a mage in training, is out with her friend Anri Hiiragi, also a mage in training, in order to do just this. While walking outside in the park, after buying the chocolate she wanted to give to a boy she met when she was a child, Haruhi meets Yūma, who stops some younger boys bullying a young girl, and Haruhi thinks that he may be the boy she's been searching for all this time. The next day is Valentine's Day and at school, all the girls are giving their gifts to the boys of their choice. Later that day, Anri challenges Haruhi to a magic battle in order to take the chocolate she has by force for the reason that Haruhi wouldn't tell her who she was going to give it to. Before long, Anri loses control of her magic and it is flown outside, almost falling onto Yūma and his friends. Ultimately, Haruhi gives him the chocolate she had bought, and in turn Anri does the same, which was her plan - to give her chocolate to the same boy as Haruhi and see who would win his favor more. The next day there is a gas explosion at the magic section of the school and all the mages in training must transfer over to the normal section for the time being. Coincidentally, Haruhi and Anri are placed within Yūma's class.

Now Haruhi and her friends must adjust to the transfer into the normal section of Mizuhosaka Academy.

[edit] Characters

Yūma Kohinata (小日向雄真, Kohinata Yūma)^?, (Seiyū - Takashi Ōhara (anime))

Yūma is the main protagonist in the story. He has a nice, helping personality and is not afraid to help girls in need. His two close friends are Hachisuke Takamizo, and Jun Watarase, who seems to have a crush on him. When he was younger he was able to do some magic in order to help Haruhi who was being bullied, but now he professes that he cannot use magic. Additionally, he seems to be put off by the notion of using magic whatsoever, even if it is able to help people.

Haruhi Kamisaka (神坂春姫, Kamisaka Haruhi)^?, (Seiyū - Yui Sakakibara (anime & game))

Haruhi is the main heroine in the story. She is a mage in training and is seen as very skilled amongst her peers, who have been known to think of her as a genius when it comes to using magic. When she was younger, Yūma was able to use some magic in order to help her from some bullies which made her want to become a mage herself. Her magic wand is named soprano (ソプラノ, Sopurano^?), which owes its form from a trumpet that Haruhi used to play before she started to study magic.

Anri Hiiragi (柊杏璃, Hiiragi Anri)^?, (Seiyū - Mia Naruse (anime & game))

Anri is Haruhi's close friend and also her a fellow mage in training. She tends to have a very strong-willed type of personality which she uses to try to get the things she wants. It can also make her reckless when it comes to her using magic, due to her being overconfident and underskilled compared to Haruhi. She is left handed according to the seventh anime episode. Her magic wand is named Paella (パエリア, Paeria^?) and was formed from her favorite feathered pen.

Eventually, she begins working for Otoha Kohinata in the school's cafeteria.

Koyuki Takamine (高峰小雪, Takamine Koyuki)^?, (Seiyū - Yura Hinata (anime & game))

Koyuki is a friend of Haruhi and Anri who is one year above them and is also in the magic section. Her magic wand is named sphere Tom (スフィアタム, Sufia Tamu^?) though it is also known to be nicknamed "Tama-chan" (タマちゃん, "Tama-chan"^?). It takes the form of a staff with a small green spehere on the end that floats on the staff. Unlike the other magic wands featured that can speak spiritually, sphere Tom has a face from which to voice its opinions. Koyuki inherited the craft of making "Tama-chan"s and puts a lot of effort not only into their creation but going as far as to remember the order in which she made each one despite them appearing all to be relatively similar in appearance. As this dedication to magic has shown, she seems to be very skilled in her use of magic.

Ibuki Sikimori (式守伊吹, Shikimori Ibuki)^?, (Seiyū - Miru (PC), Oma Ichimura (PS2 & anime))

Ibiki is a young girl and powerful mage who transfers into Sumomo's class. Most of the time, she is very standoffish and will push people away from her either figuratively or literally, so as to be left alone. Her family is known for being well-advanced in terms of magic, and even at such a young age Ibuki has shown herself to be well skilled as she uses her magic wand named Bisaim (ビサイム, Bisaimu^?), which takes the form of an umbrella.

Saya Kamijyo (上条沙耶, Kamijō Saya)^?, (Seiyū - Rina Misaki (PC), Shizuka Itō (PS2 & anime))

Saya is a young girl who transfers into Yūma's class along with her twin brother Shinya, who is also a mage. She was initially mistaken for a ghost by Hachisuke after he met up with her one night by chance at school. Her magic wand is named Sanbach (サンバッハ, Sanbahha^?) and takes the form of a violin bow.

Sumomo Kohinata (小日向すもも, Kohinata Sumomo)^?, (Seiyū - Oto Agumi (PC), Mai Goto (PS2 & anime))

Sumomo is Yūma's younger sister who seems to have an energetic personality. She has known Haruhi since childhood and they used to play together. Due to family circumstances, Sumomo didn't become Yūma's sister until after she had entered elementary school.

Hachisuke Takamizo (高溝八輔, Takamizo Hachisuke)^?, (Seiyū - Kikutaro Numekawa (PC), Takuo Kawamura (PS2 & anime))

Hachisuke, otherwise known simply as Hachi, is one of Yūma's close friends and hangs out with him and Jun Watarase constantly. He seems to be desperate for any affection from girls, as the closest chance he has at getting a girl is with his friend Jun, who, despite his feminine appearance, is in fact male. He is often very perverted as well.

Jun Watarase (渡良瀬準, Watarase Jun)^?, (Seiyū - Fūri Samoto (PC), Michiru Yuimoto (PS2 & anime))

Jun is another of Yūma's close friends. Despite his feminine appearance, he is in fact an androgynous okama boy who crossdresses like a girl. He himself says he does this because the female school uniform suits him better and does make him popular among male students. Also, he has the desire to date Yūma himself, but Yūma being entirely heterosexual strongly refuses. Jun's signature attack, the Patriot Missile Kick, is a flying side kick, normally used as a means to keep Hachi under control.

Otoha Kohinata (小日向音羽, Kohinata Otoha)^?, (Seiyū - Tomomi Misaki (PC), Chizuko Hoshino (PS2 & anime))

Otoha is the unorthodox mother of Yūma and Sumomo. She runs the school cafeteria called Oasis. Otoha often does not act her age, but rather she acts closer to her daughter's age.

Shinya Kamijyo (上条信哉, Kamijō Shinya)^?, (Seiyū - Healthy Tarō (PC), Kentarō Itō (PS2 & anime))

He is the twin brother of Saya Kamijyo. His family has served Shikimori for every generations. He has a wooden, katana-like magic wand though the name is unknown. One of his defining traits is that he has a horrible sense of direction where he even gets lost walking to school with his sister as they manage to get separated constantly. However, if Saya is in any danger, he instantly knows where she is and runs to her in seconds.

Suzuri Minagi (御薙鈴莉, Minagi Suzuri)^?, (Seiyū - Minami Hokuto (PC), Hitomi (PS2 & anime))

[edit] Adaptations

[edit] Visual novel

Happiness! began as a visual novel video game for the PC first released on October 21, 2005. Later, a sequel was made entitled Happiness! Re:Lucks first released on July 28, 2006 in Japan also for the PC. Also, a PS2 game is planned to be released on January 25, 2007. The PC games are developed and published by Windmill. The PS2 port will be published by Marvelous Interactive.

[edit] Theme songs

Opening theme

ZERO by Hiromi Satō (Happiness!)

Happi-day♪ by Yui Sakakibara (Happiness! Re:Lucks)

Hapiness Houteishiki by Yui Sakakibara (Happiness! De:Luxe)

Ending theme

Mezame no Asa by Yui Sakakibara (Happiness!)

with you... by Hiromi Sato (Happiness! Re:Lucks)

Ohayō by Ayumi Murata (Happiness! De:Luxe)

[edit] Light novel

The Happiness! light novel, illustrated by Ko~cha and initially written by Nikaidō Kageyama was first published in April 2006 by Harvest-inc.. While Kageyama wrote the first two novels in the series, the third was written by Satoshi Mikado. The light novel is currently unfinished in Japan.

[edit] Manga

The Happiness! manga illustrated by Rino Fujii was first serialized in Japan in the premiere issue of the manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive on June 27, 2006 published by Media Factory. The first bound volume went on sale on December 31, 2006 in Japan.

[edit] Anime

The Happiness! anime based on the video games that preceded it will first air on Japan television on October 5, 2006 once the fall season begins. It was made by the animation studio Artland and contains twelve episodes in total. On January 25, 2007, an OVA episode was released. This OVA episode was bundled exclusively with the first print limited edition of Happiness! De:Luxe.

[edit] Episodes

Screenshot	Title	Original air date	#
	"Valentine" "Barentain" (バレンタイン)	October 5, 2006	01
	Haruhi Kamisaka is one of the mages in training at Mizuhosaka Academy who on Valentine's Day, runs into Yūma Kohinata, who she believes may be a boy she's been trying to find for years. After the magic section of the academy suffers from a gas explosion, Haruhi and her friends transfer over to the normal section and Haruhi ends up in Yūma's class.
	"Cherry Blossom Viewing" "Ohanami" (お花見)	October 12, 2006	02
	A new school year has begun and the upperclassmen prepare for the entrance ceremony. Of the new students, Sumomo, Yūma's sister, is entering as a first year student. Later, Haruhi and Anri are invited by Yūma and his friends to participate in the cherry blossom veiwing with them occurring the following Sunday.
	"Oasis" "Oashisu" (オアシス)	October 19, 2006	03
	The students aren't coming to the school cafeteria as often as they used to and Anri begins working as a waitress in order to bring in business. However, complications arise.
	"The Vanished Tama-chan" "Kieta Tama-chan" (消えたタマちゃん)	October 26, 2006	04
	Tama-chan, Koyuki's magical wand, starts to feel that he's not very important compared to the other thousand similar Tama-chan's Koyuki has made. Tama-chan leaves Koyuki for a time because he is in doubt of her feelings towards the Tama-chans she has made.
	"The Beautiful Girl at Midnight" "Mayonaka no Bishoujo" (真夜中の美少女)	November 2, 2006	05
	Hachisuke thinks he has found a beautiful female ghost at school and promises to "send her to heaven." Upon revealing this knowledge to his friends, they all go with him to school at night to find out if what he saw really was a ghost and if there's anything they can do about it.
	"The Mysterious Transfer Student" "Nazo no Tenkousei" (謎の転校生)	November 9, 2006	06
	A new female student named Ibuki Shikimori transfers into Sumomo's class, though is cold towards everyone and thus has no friends. Sumomo, feeling bad for her, tries very hard to become her friend.
	"The Plan to Convert Ibuki into a Friend" "Ibuki Tomodachi-ka Keikaku" (伊吹友達化計画)	November 16, 2006	07
	"Summer Expectations" "Natsu no Omowaku" (夏の思惑)	November 23, 2006	08
	"School Festival" "Gakuen-sai" (学園祭)	November 30, 2006	09
	"The Past" "Kako" (過去)	December 7, 2006	10
	"The Shikimori Treasure" "Shikimori no Hihou" (式守の秘宝)	December 14, 2006	11
	"The Magic of Happiness" "Shiawase no Mahou" (幸せの魔法)	December 21, 2006	12

[edit] OVA

Screenshot	Title	Original air date	#
	"The Brilliant Day of Jun Watarase" "Watarase Jun no Kareinaru Ichinichi" (渡良瀬準の華麗なる一日)	January 25, 2007	01
	Via a mixing of several different magic spells, Jun Watarase is turned into an actual girl and starts to experience an unusual spike in popularity from the guys at school.

[edit] Theme songs

Opening theme

Happiness! by Ayumi Murata

Ending theme

Magical★Generation by Yui Sakakibara

The Happiness! original soundtrack was released on November 22, 2006 in Japan, published by Media Factory.

[edit] External links

• Windmill's official site for Happiness! (Japanese)
• Windmill's official site for Happiness! Re:Lucks (Japanese)
• Official anime website (Japanese)
• Happiness! at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia