Goku's Great Adventure: A thorough review of the legendary anime

Goku's Great Adventure

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

January 7, 1967 - September 30, 1967

■Frequencies

23 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 39

■Original Story

Osamu Tezuka

■ Director

Sugii Gisaburo

■ Story

■Explanation

■ Main staff

■ Theme songs and music

Goku's Great Adventure - Detailed Review

"Goku's Great Adventure," broadcast in 1967, is a TV anime series based on the original work by Tezuka Osamu, and captivated viewers with its unique worldview and innovative methods of expression. This work is known as an experimental work that maximized the possibilities of TV anime, bringing together young talents including Sugii Gisaburo. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and background of this work, as well as its subsequent influences.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Goku's Great Adventure" centers around Goku the Stone Monkey, a violent man born from a stone. He is a bold character who leads a band of mountain monkey thieves to attack humans, masters the art of sages, and even rebels against the Emperor of Heaven. However, his actions go too far and he finds himself in a pinch when he is sealed away by the Buddha. He is saved from this pinch by a weak character named Tripitaka. Goku sets out on a journey with Tripitaka to India, but his companions are a diverse bunch with unique personalities, including the miserly Sha Gojyo, the gluttonous Hakkai, and the tomboyish Ryuko. Viewers are drawn to the plot as the group faces one monster attack after another and other crises, with no end in sight.

The story is based on Journey to the West, but has been boldly adapted by Tezuka Osamu. In particular, the character of Goku is portrayed as more free-spirited and unconventional than the original Son Goku. The individuality of his companions is also emphasized, and the flaws and quirks of each character enrich the story. The combination of these elements will allow viewers to empathize with the group's adventure and experience both joy and sorrow as the story unfolds.

Production background and staff

"Goku's Great Adventure" was produced by Mushi Productions and is based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka. The general director was Gisaburo Sugii, and other masters who would later lead the anime industry, such as Osamu Dezaki, Ryosuke Takahashi, Sadao Miyamoto, and Sadao Tsukioka, participated in the project. This work was born as a result of these young talents coming together to pursue new possibilities for television anime.

Mushi Productions had cultivated know-how in TV animation through such works as "Astro Boy" and "Jungle Emperor." In particular, their visual expression, taking full advantage of the benefits of color broadcasting, succeeded in creating a visual impact. However, "Goku's Great Adventure" was an experimental attempt to break away from that existing know-how. By placing more importance on surprise rather than story consistency, adopting cutting-edge pop art art design, and depicting sharp, destructive action, the series provided viewers with a fresh surprise.

In addition, by emphasizing the characters' flaws and quirks, new possibilities were opened up for the characters. These attempts, combined with the excellent performances of the top voice actors, left a strong impression on the audience. In particular, the voice actor who played Goku perfectly portrayed the free-spirited character and captured the hearts of the audience.

Theme song and music

The theme song for "Goku's Great Adventure" is "Goku's Great Adventure March," with lyrics by Osamu Yoshioka and music by Seiichiro Uno. This theme song is a bright and lively song that expresses the excitement and fun of adventure, lifting the spirits of the viewers. In addition, various pieces of music are used throughout the film, and music is used effectively to match the development of the story. These pieces of music help the viewer to become immersed in the story, enhancing the appeal of the entire work.

Impact and Evaluation

"Goku's Great Adventure" was praised for its innovative methods of expression and experimental attempts, and was seen as a work that showed new possibilities for television animation. In particular, the unexpectedness of the story, the pop art visual design, and the destructive action had a major influence on later anime works. In addition, the technique of emphasizing the characters' flaws and quirks had the effect of making it easier for viewers to empathize with the characters, and was often adopted in later anime works.

This work provided fresh surprises to viewers and was highly praised as an experimental work that explored the possibilities of television animation. In particular, the fact that it brought together young talent and attempted to break away from existing know-how had a major impact on the anime industry. Furthermore, the excellent performances by the top voice actors left a strong impression on viewers and enhanced the appeal of the work.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Goku's Great Adventure" is a work that will captivate viewers with its unique worldview and innovative expression techniques. It is highly recommended for those who love adventure and those who want to explore new possibilities in anime. It is also recommended for fans of Osamu Tezuka, as it is based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka.

This work is available on DVD and Blu-ray, and may also be available on streaming services, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out. When watching, pay attention to the unexpectedness of the story, the pop art visual design, the destructive action, and enjoy the characters' flaws and quirks. Doing so will help you get the most out of this work.

Conclusion

"Goku's Great Adventure" is a TV anime series based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka, and its unique worldview and innovative expression techniques have captivated viewers. It is known as an experimental work that maximized the potential of TV anime, bringing together young talents including Gisaburo Sugii. The unexpectedness of the story, pop art art design, destructive action, and the technique of emphasizing the flaws and quirks of the characters had a major influence on later anime works. It is highly praised as an experimental work that provides fresh surprises to viewers and explores the possibilities of TV anime. It is highly recommended for those who like adventure, those who want to explore new possibilities in anime, and fans of Osamu Tezuka. It is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and streaming services, so be sure to check it out.