Zetsuai 1989

About Zetsuai 1989

Meet Zetsuai 1989 (絶愛ー1989ー), a drama, music and romance anime by MADHOUSE (1992). Here is the premise in a nutshell. In short: Koji Nanjo, a young rock star, falls in love with soccer player Takuto Izumi. Koji eventually learns that Izumi's mother killed his father out of severe and intense love.

Another thread: Izumi took all the guilt for his father's murder and refuses to go pro because of fear that his past will be discovered by the media. Izumi detests Koji's company and encouragement and severely dislikes the attention from the press, but Koji cannot stay away for he soon realizes that his love for Izumi is very similar to the love that Izumi's mother felt for.

In a drama series like this, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Takuto Izumi (Takehito Koyasu) and Kouji Nanjou (Shou Hayami) are two of the characters you will meet early. Think of it as a pick for viewers who prefer story and feelings over flashy action. With 1 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

Animation is handled by MADHOUSE, so the studio's house style defines how Zetsuai 1989 looks and moves on screen. Because it leans on drama, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Its 5.4/10 score suggests opinions are split, so it suits viewers who already like the genre. On the casting side, Takehito Koyasu voicing Takuto Izumi gives the lead role a recognizable voice. Released in 1992, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.