Angels in the Court | |
cover of Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi game |
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コートの中の天使達 (Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi) |
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Genre | Harem, Erotica |
Game | |
Developer | Pinpai |
Publisher | Pink Pineapple |
Genre | Visual novel |
Rating | 18+ |
Platform | Microsoft Windows 95 or later[1] |
Released | Septebmer 22, 1999 |
Original video animation | |
Directed by | Satoru Sumisaki |
Produced by | Saburo Omiya |
Written by | Muto Yasuyuki |
Music by | Mari Adachi Mie Sonozaki |
Studio | Pink Pineapple |
Licensed by | NuTech Digital |
Released | October 27 – December 15, 2000 |
Runtime | 30 minutes |
Episodes | 2 |
Original video animation | |
Kaette Kita Court no Naka no Tenshitachi | |
Directed by | Kenrana Namisato[2] |
Music by | Kahoru Sasajima Kimiko Koyama Mari Adachi Anda Zakimie |
Studio | Pink Pineapple |
Released | October 26, 2001 – January 25, 2002 |
Runtime | 30 minutes |
Episodes | 2 |
Novel | |
Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi: Ano Hitomi Niaitakute | |
Written by | Muto Yasuyuki |
Published by | KSS Books |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | August 30, 2001 – July 30, 2002 |
Volumes | 2 |
Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi (コートの中の天使達 Koto no Naka no Tenshi tachi ) is a Japanese erotic visual novel developed by Pinpai and published by Pink Pineapple, released on September 22, 1999[3] for Windows. It was adapted into a four-episode animated series by the company from October 27, 2000 to January 25, 2002;[4][5] the first two of which were localized in North America as Angels in the Court by NuTech Digital.
Contents |
Being a visual novel, Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi has characteristically minimal gameplay; it does however incorporate elements similar to a simulation game.
Each girl is equipped with four stats: fitness, technique, tactics and combination.[6] Periodically between scenes, the player is given the chance to coach a specific girl; the offer can, however, be declined. One-on-one coaching increases a specific character's stats while, usually at the end of certain scenes, the player trains the entire team at once.[7]
Scenes are composed of sequential story and character interactions which flow consecutively until the player is presented with actions or responses to choose from. As choices are intricately linked to alternating routes of plot, the direction of the story is changed, leading to erotic scenes between characters and ultimately one of various endings. In order for the player to watch all the possible endings in this regard, he or she will have to effectively replay through the game several times, all the while making different selections.
Ou Motoura is a Japanese, former national men's volleyball player and celebrity, single, independent, and employed at the fictional Aota Academy as a coach for the boy's volleyball team. When a member is expelled for fighting, the group dissolves, leaving Motoura to transfer to the girl's team instead. The exchange a sullen, unwanted one, with his reputation as a sportsman on the line, Motoura swallows his pride and takes up their training.[8] It is only afterward, however, that he begins to develop feelings for them.
Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi was adapted into a four-episode, direct-to-video animated series by Pink Pineapple, parent of Pinpai, from October 27, 2000 to January 25, 2002. NuTech Digital acquired the licenses for the first pair of episodes around May 2001,[10] publishing them under the name Angels in the Court as separate VHS and DVD releases until when they were bundled into a DVD box set from November 2001[11] onward. Notably, the English dubs featured the voices of Brooke Haven and Shayla LaVeaux. Additionally, Banzaï, a French redistributor, published an iteration of the series under the name Vestiaire Olympique.[12] The concluding two episodes, titled Kaette Kita Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi (帰ってきたコートの中の天使達 Kaette Kita Court no Naka no Tenshi tachi ) were released to DVD on October 26, 2001[13] and January 25, 2002,[14] but were never localized outside Japan.
The original two episodes of Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi did not contain an opening animation and thus, no opening theme. The ending credits were however, accompanied by the song Koi no Super Ace (恋のスーパーエース Koi no Supa Esu ),[15] performed by Mari Adachi and Mie Sonozaki. The second pair of episodes were opened with Kimihe no Victory (キミへのVictory ), performed by Kahoru Sasajima and Kimiko Koyama,[16][17] and closed with the song Watashi ha Ball (私はボール Watashi ha Boru ), performed by Mari Adachi and Anda Zakimie.[15]
The anime received generally positive reviews. Industry aggregator Mania.com gave the box set a B, calling the visuals "solidly done" with "good animation, pretty girls, and [has] some seriously funny scenes".[11]
Besides its adaption into an animated series, Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi was published into a two volume serial novel by now-defunct KSS Books, written by Muto Yasuyuki and based on his screenplay for the anime. Retitled Court no Naka no Tenshi-tachi: Ano Hitomi Niaitakute (コートの中の天使達 あの瞳に逢いたくて Koto no Naka no Tenshi-tachi: Ano Hitomi Niaitakute ), the books were published on August 30, 2001 and July 20, 2002 respectively.[18]