Hi Score Girl (ハイスコアガール, Hai Sukoa Gāru) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rensuke Oshikiri that ran from October 2010 to September 2018. The story revolves around the life of gamer Haruo Yaguchi, the arcade game scene of the 1990s (particularly fighting games), and his relationship with quiet gamer Akira Ono, as we follow the characters from about age 12 to about age 17. Known as a 1990s arcade romantic comedy, the series is notable for its unique art style, and very precise depictions of the multitude of gaming software and hardware featured. An anime television series adaptation by J.C.Staff and SMDE aired from July to September 2018.[3] A second season aired from October to December 2019.[4]
Various video game characters were credited for redubbing for the television series, except for Phobos/Huitzil, Driver, Hell Chaos, EDI.E, Holmes, Watson, and Geese.
Oshikiri launched the manga in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan on October 25, 2010, and ended its serialization on September 25, 2018 in the tenth 2018 issue of the magazine.[13] The series has been published in ten tankōbon volumes, with the first volume released on February 25, 2012,[14] and the tenth and final volume released on March 25, 2019.[15]
Square Enix Manga & Books licensed the manga in English, with the first volume released on February 25, 2020, and the last on January 17, 2023.[16][17]
The December 2019 issue of Monthly Big Gangan announced that a spinoff manga titled Hi Score Girl DASH focusing on Koharu Hidaka, now a middle school teacher, would be in the magazine's next issue on December 25.[18]
Monthly Big Gangan announced in December 2013 that an anime adaptation was green-lit.[44] In March 2018, the anime adaptation was confirmed to be a television series animated by SMDE,[2] with production by J.C. Staff. It aired from July 13 to September 28, 2018.[8] It is directed by Yoshiki Yamakawa and written by Tatsuhiko Urahata, featuring character designs by Michiru Kuwabata, and music by Yoko Shimomura.[45] The series runs at 60fps (mainly for the game footage, due to having a 60hz rate) in selected scenes, as opposed to 24fps (although it was encoded at 30fps). The series' opening theme song "New Stranger" was performed by Sora tob sakana, while the series' ending theme song "Hōkago Distraction" was performed by Etsuko Yakushimaru.[46] Netflix streamed the anime on December 24, 2018, with an English dub.[47][48] The series received 3 OVA episodes titled Extra Stage that premiered on March 20, 2019.[49][11]
A second, nine episode long season aired from October 25 to December 20, 2019, with the staff and cast reprising their roles.[50] The second season's opening theme song "Flash" was performed by Sora tob sakana, while the second season's ending theme song "Unknown World Map" was performed by Etsuko Yakushimaru.[51][52] Season 2 premiered on Netflix on April 9, 2020 outside of Japan and China.[53]
Hi Score Girl won the Tokyo News Services' TV Bros magazine Bros. Comic Award 2012.[54] It was number two on the 2013 Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Top 20 Manga for Male Readers survey.[55] It was also nominated for the 6th Manga Taishō[56] and the 17th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.[57] It was number nine in the 2013 Comic Natalie Grand Prize.[58]
As of December 30, 2012, volume 3 has sold 59,016 copies[59] and as of July 7, 2013, volume 4 has sold 103,734 copies.[60]
On August 5, 2014, Osaka District Police searched the offices of Square Enix, the publishers of Hi Score Girl, acting on an IP violation claim by SNK Playmore stating that the manga allegedly features over 100 instances of characters from The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, and other fighting games.[61] In response, Square Enix voluntarily recalled all printed volumes and temporarily suspended publication of future volumes and digital sales. However, the manga continued its run in Monthly Big Gangan.[62]
In August 2015, it was reported that Square Enix and SNK Playmore had reached a settlement, cancelling the lawsuit and enabling the manga to be sold again in different formats.[63][64]
