"Small Calendar": Looking back at the great songs from NHK's "Minna no Uta"

"Little Calendar": The appeal of NHK's historical short animation

"Little Calendar" is a two-minute short anime that was broadcast on NHK Educational TV (now NHK E-Tele) in October 1965. This work was produced as part of NHK's long-running program "Minna no Uta" and was animated by Makoto Wada. Below, we will take a closer look at this historical anime and explore its appeal and value.

Overview

"Little Calendar" is a one-episode short anime that was broadcast in October 1965. Although it was only two minutes long, its content was deep and left a strong impression on viewers. The original work is listed as "Other," which indicates that it is an original work produced independently by NHK. The copyright is held by NHK, and it features the unique animation style of Makoto Wada.

Background

"Little Calendar" was produced as part of the NHK educational program "Minna no Uta." "Minna no Uta" is a children's music program that began broadcasting in 1961, and introduces new songs and animations every month. "Little Calendar" was broadcast as part of this program in October 1965, and was produced as a piece that would allow viewers to feel the change of seasons.

Makoto Wada is a multitalented artist known as a graphic designer, illustrator, and film director. His unique touch and sense of color are fully displayed in "Small Calendar," resulting in a work that combines visual beauty with poetic expression.

Story and Themes

"Little Calendar" is a work with the theme of the changing of the seasons. The story begins in January, the beginning of the year, and depicts the characteristic scenery and events of each month through to December. The animation is drawn in Makoto Wada's unique style, and features colorful and beautiful visuals.

Specifically, each month's iconic scenes are depicted one after another: snowy scenery in January, Setsubun in February, graduation ceremony in March, the new school term in April, carp streamers in May, the rainy season in June, fireworks in July, summer vacation in August, sports day in September, Halloween in October, autumn leaves in November, and Christmas in December. These scenes allow the viewer to feel the change of seasons, and also form a heartwarming story by depicting the growth of children and family bonds.

Animation Features

Makoto Wada's animations are characterized by his unique touch and sense of color. His style is fully displayed in "Small Calendar," a work that combines visual beauty with poetic expression. In particular, the use of color in depicting the scenery and events of each month leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

For example, the snowy scenery in January is painted in cool tones of blue and white, making the viewer feel the cold of winter, while the fireworks in July are painted in warm colors such as red and yellow, expressing the heat of summer. The use of these colors allows the viewer to visually feel the change of seasons and emphasizes the theme of the work.

Music and lyrics

The music for "Little Calendar" was written by composer Yoshinao Nakata. Nakata is a composer who has worked in a wide range of genres, from classical music to pop, and his music deeply moves viewers. In particular, the melody of "Little Calendar" captures the hearts of viewers with its beautiful melody that evokes the changing of the seasons.

The lyrics were written by poet and lyricist Michio Yamagami. Yamagami's poems not only depict the changing of the seasons, but also the growth of children and family ties, deeply moving the viewer. In particular, the lyrics, which depict symbolic scenes from each month, allow the viewer to feel the changing of the seasons, emphasizing the theme of the work.

Viewers' reactions

"Little Calendar" has been loved by many viewers since it was first broadcast. In particular, children have learned about the changing of the seasons and about growth and family ties through this show. Adults have also been moved by the show's beautiful visuals and poetic expressions, and the response from viewers has been overwhelming.

Even now, "Little Calendar" can be viewed on NHK's official YouTube channel and is loved by many viewers. In particular, Makoto Wada's unique animation style and Yoshinao Nakata's beautiful music continue to deeply move viewers.

Evaluation and impact

"Little Calendar" is highly regarded as a historical short anime by NHK. In particular, Makoto Wada's unique animation style and Yoshinao Nakata's beautiful music deeply move the viewer and enhance the value of the work. In addition, Michio Yamagami's poetic lyrics allow the viewer to feel the change of the seasons and emphasize the theme of the work.

This work was produced as part of the NHK educational program "Minna no Uta," but its influence spread beyond the scope of educational programming. In particular, Makoto Wada's unique animation style had a major influence on later animation works, demonstrating the importance of visual beauty and poetic expression. Yoshinao Nakata's beautiful music also deeply moved viewers, proving the power of music to enhance visual expression.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Little Calendar" is a heartwarming work that depicts the growth of children and family bonds while making viewers feel the change of seasons. In particular, Makoto Wada's unique animation style and Yoshinao Nakata's beautiful music deeply move viewers. Through this work, viewers can feel the change of seasons and learn about growth and family bonds.

You can watch this work on NHK's official YouTube channel or on the NHK official website. It is also available in packaged software such as DVD and Blu-ray, so viewers can enjoy the work through these media. In particular, the packaged software is recommended for viewers who want to enjoy Makoto Wada's unique animation style and Yoshinao Nakata's beautiful music in high quality.

summary

"Little Calendar" is a two-minute short anime that was broadcast on NHK Educational TV in October 1965. It was produced as part of NHK's long-running program "Minna no Uta" and animated by Makoto Wada. The work, which has a theme of the changing of the seasons, deeply touches viewers and is highly acclaimed for its fusion of visual beauty and poetic expression.

In particular, Makoto Wada's unique animation style and Yoshinao Nakata's beautiful music deeply move the viewer and enhance the value of the work. In addition, Michio Yamagami's poetic lyrics allow the viewer to feel the change of seasons and emphasize the theme of the work. This work was produced as part of the NHK educational program "Minna no Uta", but its influence spread beyond the scope of educational programs and had a major influence on later animation works.

Through this work, viewers can feel the change of seasons and learn about growth and family ties. In particular, viewers who want to enjoy Makoto Wada's unique animation style and Yoshinao Nakata's beautiful music in high quality are recommended to purchase the packaged software. "Little Calendar" is a heartwarming work that continues to be loved by many viewers as a fusion of visual beauty and poetic expression.