Tanuki-san Big Hit - A deep review of the fascinating story and characters

"Tanuki-san Daiatari": The appeal and background of a classic Showa anime film

Released on June 20, 1959, "Tanuki-san Daiatari" is an animated film produced by Toei Animation (now Toei Animation), and is still loved as one of the iconic works of the Showa era. The film features a humorous story with a raccoon dog as the main character and animation that made full use of the technology of the time, and was accepted by a wide range of people from children to adults. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the appeal and background of "Tanuki-san Daiatari," as well as introduce its evaluation and recommended points from a modern perspective.

Overview

Tanuki-san Daiatari is a rare theatrical release based on an original anime. It was released for a limited time from June 20, 1959 to January 1, 1960, and distributed by Toei. It only had one episode, and was directed by George M. Reed and Masao Kumakawa. It was produced by Toei Animation, and the main staff included Sanae Yamamoto (planning), Noriyuki Sakura (cinematography), Koichi Hattori (music), Takeshi Mori (sound recording), and the cast included Kokatsu Misouya, Ryu Fujiyama, Shoken Sawa, Kenji Todoroki, Goro Fukuchi, Midori Yamamoto, and Tomoko Tanaka.

story

The story of "Tanuki-san Daiatari" is a humorous tale of a raccoon dog named Tanuki-san who gets into all sorts of adventures and troubles. One day, Tanuki-san comes across a large sum of money by chance, and tries to use it to make his various dreams come true. However, in the process, he gets into trouble one after another and ultimately loses his money, but the story has a touching ending in which he discovers new values ​​through the bonds and friendships he makes with the people around him. The story reflects the values ​​and lifestyles of Japanese society at the time, and while it gives children dreams and hope, it also offers life lessons to adults.

Animation Technology

"Tanuki-san Daiatari" is a work that brings together the best of Japanese animation technology from the late 1950s, and its quality was very high for its time. In particular, the depiction of the raccoon dog's movements and expressions is very realistic, creating a strong visual impact. The background art is also detailed, faithfully recreating the Japanese scenery and culture of the time. These technical elements play a role in further enhancing the appeal of the work.

Music and Sound

The music was composed by Hattori Koichi, whose compositions incorporate popular songs and jazz from the time to liven up the entire work. In particular, the light-hearted melody in the scene where Tanuki-san gets his hands on a large sum of money and the tense music in the scene where he gets into trouble skillfully bring out the emotions of the viewer. In addition, the techniques of Moritake, who was in charge of sound recording, realistically reproduce the voices of the characters and sound effects, enhancing the sense of realism of the work.

character

The characters in "Tanuki-san Daiatari" are unique, starting with Mr. Tanuki. Mr. Tanuki has a humorous and slightly cunning personality, but he also has a kind heart. He is surrounded by friends, family, and villains who cause all kinds of trouble, each of whom adds to the storyline. In particular, the characters of Mr. Tanuki's friend, the fox Kitsune-san, and the policeman who chases Mr. Tanuki, leave a strong impression on viewers.

Social background and influence

The year 1959, when "Tanuki-san Daiatari" was released, was the early days of Japan's high economic growth, and society as a whole was full of vitality. Against this backdrop, the story of a raccoon dog coming into possession of a large sum of money and using it to make his dreams come true reflects the dreams and hopes of people at the time. Furthermore, the fact that the film was accepted by a wide range of people, from children to adults, can be said to symbolize the values ​​and lifestyles of Japanese society at the time.

Furthermore, this work had a major impact on the development of Japan's animation industry. "Tanuki-san Daiatari," produced by Toei Animation, was the forerunner of later anime masterpieces such as "Astro Boy" and "The Jungle Emperor," and promoted the evolution of Japanese animation technology and storytelling. It was also highly acclaimed overseas, and was one of the catalysts that helped Japanese animation to spread around the world.

A modern perspective

From a modern perspective, "Tanuki-san Daiatari" is highly acclaimed as a masterpiece anime film of the Showa era. In particular, the humorous character of Tanuki-san and the animation that made full use of the technology of the time make it feel fresh even when viewed today. In addition, the universal themes and messages of the story resonate with and move modern audiences.

On the other hand, some parts of the film reflect the social background and values ​​of the time, which may seem a bit outdated to modern viewers. For example, the scene where Tanuki-san gets a lot of money and the scene where he gets into trouble may seem a bit exaggerated from a modern perspective. However, even with these elements, this is a work that has the appeal of being a classic Showa-era anime film.

Recommended points

The reasons why we recommend "Tanuki-san Daiatari" are as follows:

• Humorous characters and story : Mr. Tanuki's humorous character and the various troubles he causes can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. In addition, the universal themes and messages of the story will move viewers.
• Animation made full use of the technology of the time : This work brings together the best of Japanese animation technology from the late 1950s, and its quality still feels fresh even when viewed today. In particular, the depiction of the raccoon's movements and facial expressions is extremely realistic, creating a visual impact.
• Music and Sound : Hattori Koichi's music and Mori Takeshi's sound effects bring excitement to the film and skillfully bring out the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the light-hearted melody in the scene where Tanuki-san gets his hands on a large sum of money and the tense music in the scene where he gets into trouble leave a strong impression on the viewer.
• Social background and influence : "Tanuki-san Daiatari" was released in 1959, at the beginning of Japan's period of rapid economic growth, and reflects the social background and values ​​of the time. This work also had a major impact on the development of the Japanese animation industry, becoming a pioneer of later classic anime.

summary

"Tanuki-san Daiatari" is a classic anime film from the Showa era that continues to be loved to this day. The humorous raccoon dog character, the animation that makes full use of the technology of the time, and the universal themes and messages of the story move viewers. The music, sound, and social background and influences also add to the film's appeal. Some parts may seem a little dated to modern viewers, but even with these elements, it is a work that can be appreciated as a classic anime film from the Showa era. Please give it a watch.