Review of "Angry Pencils": The story of angry pencils and its appeal

Angry Pencils: A 60s educational cartoon masterpiece

"Angry Pencils," released in 1962, is an educational animation produced by Gakken. This work was shown in theaters and succeeded in conveying an important message to children in its short 16-minute run. This original animation can be said to be a pioneer of educational animation at the time.

story

The story of "Angry Pencils" begins when the pencils suddenly become angry one day and start questioning the meaning of their existence. Frustrated that the children do not value them, the pencils run away from school. However, along the way, the pencils realize the importance of their role again and decide to return to the children. Through a familiar piece of stationery called a pencil, this story teaches children to value things and the meaning of learning.

character

This work features a variety of characters, centered around the Pencils. The main characters, the Pencils, each have different personalities and each have their own opinions. In particular, the leader, Pencil, has the power to bring his friends together. The characters of the children are also important, and how they interact with the Pencils is key to the story.

animation

Considering the animation technology of 1962, the visuals in "Angry Pencils" are of very high quality. The movements of the pencils are smooth and expressive. The backgrounds and colors would have been appealing to children at the time. In particular, the scene where the pencils run out of the school and the scene where they finally return to the children are very visually impressive.

Music and Sound

Music and sound are also important elements that enhance the appeal of this work. The music, which expresses the anger and joy of the pencils, has the power to appeal to children's emotions. In addition, the sounds of the pencils moving and the children's voices are also reproduced realistically, enhancing the realism of the story.

Educational value

"Angry Pencils" has great value as an educational anime. Its content, which teaches children to value things and the meaning of learning, was highly praised by educators at the time. It also provides an opportunity for children to reflect on their own behavior through a familiar stationery item like a pencil. Even now, more than 60 years later, this work has not lost its educational value.

Historical background

The year 1962 was the height of Japan's period of rapid economic growth. During this time, the educational environment for children was also changing dramatically, and the demand for educational animation was on the rise. Angry Pencils was created against this backdrop, and it reflects the social situation at the time. This work was also Gakken's first full-scale educational animation, and it had a major impact on the subsequent development of educational animation.

Evaluation and impact

"Angry Pencils" was highly praised when it was released. It was supported not only by children, but also by educators and parents, and was screened in many schools. This work also had a major influence on later anime production, showing the potential of educational animation. In particular, the technique of anthropomorphizing objects to develop the story became commonly seen in later anime works.

Recommendation

Even after more than 60 years, "Angry Pencils" has not lost its value. The content, which teaches children to value things and the meaning of learning, is still relevant today. This work is also important for understanding the history of educational anime. It is a must-see not only for anime fans and educators, but also for parents with children.

Related Titles

There are many other educational anime like "Angry Pencils". For example, "Learning Anime Series" also produced by Gakken and "Okaasan to Issho" by NHK are also known as anime that provide educational content to children. By watching these works together with "Angry Pencils", you can gain a deeper understanding of the appeal of educational anime.

summary

"Angry Pencils" is a masterpiece of educational animation that was released in 1962. In just 16 minutes, the content teaches children to value things and the meaning of learning, and has not lost its value even after more than 60 years. This work is important for understanding the history of educational animation, and is a must-see not only for children, but also for animation fans and those involved in education. Watching it together with related works will give you a deeper understanding of the appeal of educational animation.