Slow Step

 is a romantic comedy boxing and softball manga by Mitsuru Adachi. It was serialized by Shogakukan in the shōjo manga magazine "Ciao" from September 1986 through March 1991, and collected in seven tankōbon volumes. In 1991, it was adapted as a five-episode OVA. The anime version has some differences from the manga, including the ending.
The story follows Minatsu, a popular high-school girl, as she deals with the unwanted romantic attentions of multiple boys and a teacher. Her plans for evading their pursuit grow increasingly convoluted, even involving taking on alternate identities.
Plot.
"Slow Step" is a romantic comedy boxing and softball manga by Mitsuru Adachi. It follows Minatsu Nakazato, a popular high-school girl, as she deals with the unwanted romantic attentions of multiple boys and a teacher. Her plans for evading their pursuits of her grow increasingly convoluted, even involving taking on alternate identities.
Releases.
Manga.
"Slow Step" was serialized by Shogakukan in the shōjo manga magazine "Ciao" from September 1986 through March 1991, and collected in seven tankōbon volumes.
Tankōbon
Bunkoban
Anime.
In 1991, "Slow Step" was adapted into a five-episode OVA series by Youmex and distributed by Toho. The anime version has some differences from the manga, including the ending. It was released on five VHS tapes and five laserdiscs by Toho.
The episodes were directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, with scripts by Toshimichi Saeki and character designs by Tokuhiro Matsubara. The soundtrack was by Hiroya Watanabe
Songs.
The opening theme song for "Slow Step" was , with vocals by Nobuhide Saki, who also composed the song. The lyrics were written by Gorō Matsui, and the music was arranged by Takeshi Fujii and Yoshiyuki Sahashi. The ending theme, "Only for You", was composed and was sung by Saki. Matsui wrote the lyrics and the music was arranged by Fujii and Sahashi.
Soundtrack.
A soundtrack CD (TYCY-5157) was released on 27 March 1991.
Reception.
In 1995 "Slow Step" was released in the United Kingdom on VHS with English subtitles by the video company "Western Connection". However, it was commercially unsuccessful.
Helen McCarthy in "500 Essential Anime Movies" calls Mitsuru Adachi "the king of high school romance" and states that the anime "deserves a much bigger audience."