King Kong: A fusion of powerful visuals and deep story

King Kong - King Kong

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

live-action

■ Broadcast period

April 5, 1967 - October 4, 1967

■Broadcasting station

Nippon Television

■Frequencies

10 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

Yoshifumi Hatano

■ Production

Toei Animation, Videocraft

■Works

©Yoshifumi Hatano, Toei Animation, Videocraft/NET

■ Story

Professor Bond, his son Bobby, and his daughter Susan live on a remote island in the Java Sea. Bobby meets a giant gorilla, King Kong, on the island and develops a friendship with him. Then, they confront Doctor Who, who is trying to capture King Kong alive.

■Explanation

This is a Japanese-American animated film that was broadcast in the same time slot as "001/7 Tom Thumb." The story and setting are very different from the original live-action film, but it also features a scene where the characters climb the Empire State Building, which is also famous in the original. It was broadcast on the ABC network in the United States and became a popular work.

■Cast

・Bobby/Toshiko Fujita ・Susan/Ayako Hori ・Professor Bond/Gorou Naya

■ Main staff

・Original story and concept: Yoshifumi Hatano ・Producers: Arthur Rankin, Toru Hara, Minoru Yamanashi ・Planning: Yoshifumi Hatano ・Art: Hideo Chiba ・Music: Asei Kobayashi ・Production: Toei Animation, Videocraft

■ Main Characters

・Bobby A boy with a strong sense of justice. He shares a heartfelt bond with King Kong and they fight against villains together.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: "Invasion of the African Bees," "The World's Shock," and "King Kong is Kidnapped"
Episode 2: "The Conspiracy of Rocket Island," "I'm Not Food," and "The Mysterious Volcanic Empire"
Episode 3: "Undersea Exploration", "Operation Chandelier", "Crisis on Mondo Island"
Episode 4: "The terror of the laser gun," "The story of turning into a little bird and chirping," "The flying saucer appears"
Episode 5: "The Terror of the Sphinx", "Calm and Quiet", "Bobby's Mistake"
Episode 6: "Robot Kong", "The Mechanical Granny", "The Mirror of Terror"
Episode 7: "The Mystery of the Great Flood", "The Guest from Space", "The Golden Temple"
Episode 8: "The Atomic Current Trap", "The Blast of New York", "Doctor Who's Conspiracy"
Episode 9: "A Terrifying Exploration Trip," "Beware of Female Spies," and "The Resurrected Tiger"
Episode 10: "The Giant Sloth", "The Great Gurgle", "The Desert Bandit"
Episode 11: "The Mysterious Doctor Skull", "The Volume That Melts and Flows Away", "The Mystery of the Yeti"
Episode 12: "The Loch Ness Monster," "MAD TV," and "Kong's Concert"
Episode 13: "Rescue the Submarine," "Time Machine Pursuit," "Kong the Bad Actor"
Episode 14: "The Magic King's Trap", "MAD and other things before breakfast", "Dangerous Dolphin"
Episode 15: "The Trojan Horse", "The Disguise is a Match", "Professor Bond is Missing"
Episode 16: "Caribbean Rebellion", "Hello! Dolly", "Find the Undersea Missile"
Episode 17: "The Mysterious Sunspot," "The Western Partner," and "Maiko of the Jungle"
Episode 18: "The Giant in My Dreams," "Jack and the Beanstalk," and "Captain Kong"
Episode 19: "The Amazon Statue of Liberty", "The Fluffy Fuss", "Pandora's Box"
Episode 20: "The Giant Monster Attacks Paris," "Tom Becomes a Monster," "The Golden City in the Desert"
Episode 21: "King Kong vs. the Eagle", "The Mysterious Incident on London Bridge", "The Tropical Conspiracy"
Episode 22: "The Deadly Maze," "The Pacific Ocean Has Disappeared," and "The One-Eyed Titan"
Episode 23: "The Mysterious Dragon in the Mist," "Protect the Mammoth Dam," and "The Great White Whale"
Episode 24: "King Kong's Diamond", "Robot Bees: Dance in the Sky", "The Weapon is an Anchor"
・Episode 25: "Our King Kong (Part 1)" "Our King Kong (Part 2)"
・Episode 26: "King Kong of New York (Part 1)" "King Kong of New York (Part 2)"

King Kong - Detailed review and recommendation of King Kong

■ Background and production of the work

"King Kong" was broadcast in 1967 as a Japanese-American animated film. The original story was written by Yoshifumi Hatano, and was jointly produced by Toei Animation and Videocraft. The film is based on the 1933 live-action film "King Kong," but the story and setting are very different. In particular, the famous scene from the original film where the hero climbs the Empire State Building is featured in the animated film.

The production staff included Arthur Rankin, Toru Hara, and Minoru Yamanashi as producers, and Asei Kobayashi was in charge of music. Hideo Chiba was in charge of art, and supported the visual aspects of the entire work. As a Japanese-American co-production, the work blends the cultures and technologies of both countries, which creates a unique appeal.

■ Story and Characters

The story revolves around Professor Bond and his family, his son Bobby and daughter Susan, who live on a remote island in the Java Sea. Bobby meets King Kong on the island, and as they develop a friendship, they come face to face with Doctor Who, who is trying to capture King Kong alive. Bobby's righteous actions and friendship with King Kong are at the heart of the story, and they move the audience.

Bobby is portrayed as a boy with a strong sense of justice, and grows up by connecting with King Kong. King Kong is a giant gorilla, but he is portrayed as a human character through his friendship with Bobby. Doctor Who adds tension to the story as a villain who tries to use King Kong.

■Animation and Music

The animation was produced using the animation techniques of the 1960s. Although some of King Kong's movements and expressions were difficult to capture with the technology of the time, the overall visuals are impressive. In particular, the scene where King Kong climbs the Empire State Building is a memorable homage to the original film.

The music was composed by Asei Kobayashi and plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the entire film. The music expresses adventure, friendship, and tension, and has the effect of enhancing the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the music in the scene depicting the friendship between King Kong and Bobby is heartwarming.

■ Broadcasting and reception

"King Kong" was broadcast on Nippon Television from April 5 to October 4, 1967. Although it was a short series of 26 episodes, each lasting just 10 minutes, it left a strong impression on viewers. In the United States, it was broadcast on the ABC network and became a popular series. Through broadcasts in both Japan and the United States, the character of King Kong became widely known.

The response from the audience was very positive, especially from children. The story of friendship and adventure between King Kong and Bobby captured the hearts of children and created many fans. In addition, the scene where they climb the Empire State Building, which was depicted as a homage to the original film, made a strong impression on the audience.

■Influence and evaluation of the work

"King Kong" was a highly acclaimed animated film from the 1960s. As a Japanese-American collaboration, the film blends the cultures and technologies of both countries, which gives it a unique appeal. In particular, the story of the friendship and adventures between King Kong and Bobby touched viewers' hearts and created many fans.

The work had a huge impact, influencing subsequent animated works. The King Kong character has appeared many times in subsequent works, demonstrating his presence. The Japanese-American collaborative format was also adopted in subsequent animated works, becoming a pioneer of international collaborations.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"King Kong" is a highly acclaimed animated film from the 1960s that leaves a deep impression on viewers. The story of friendship and adventure between King Kong and Bobby can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. In particular, the scene where they climb the Empire State Building, which is a homage to the original film, leaves a strong impression on viewers.

You can watch this work by purchasing the DVD or Blu-ray, or by streaming services. Streaming services are particularly convenient because you can watch all episodes of the work at once. You can also enjoy sharing information about the work through fan communities and social media.

"King Kong" is a highly acclaimed animated film from the 1960s that leaves a deep impression on viewers. The story of friendship and adventure between King Kong and Bobby can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. In particular, the scene where they climb the Empire State Building, which is a homage to the original film, leaves a strong impression on viewers. By watching this film, you will be able to rediscover the charm of 1960s animation.