The Appeal and Evaluation of "Tom Thumb": The Story of a Little Giant

001/7 Tom Thumb - Zero Zero Seven Tom Thumb

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

live-action

■ Broadcast period

April 5, 1967 - October 4, 1967 Every Wednesday 19:30-20:00

Broadcast within the "King Kong 001/7 Tom Thumb" slot

■Broadcasting station

NET

■Frequencies

10 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 24

■Original Story

Yoshifumi Hatano

■ Production

Toei Animation, Videocraft

■ Story

One day, Tom, a private detective, and his assistant Jack are hit by the Dwarf Ray and become dwarfs. Using this dwarf status, the two solve difficult cases that normal people cannot solve one after another.

■Explanation

This is a Japanese-American anime TV series produced by the American company Videocraft and the Japanese company Toei Animation. It was broadcast in the same time slot as the "King Kong" anime, and was aired between the two "King Kong" films. The script and direction were handled by American staff, while the animation and art were handled by Japanese staff. In the US, it was broadcast on the ABC network.

■Cast

・Tom/Shinsuke Chikaishi ・Jack/Shun Yashiro ・Jeff Bridges/Makoto Terada

■ Main staff

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

・Theme song
OP
"001/7 Tom Thumb"
Lyrics and composition: Kobayashi Asei/Four Singers

■ Main Characters

Tom used to work as a private detective, but after being exposed to a mysterious ray, his height shrinks to one-seventh of what it was before. However, he doesn't let this put him down and continues to fight against evil organizations.

- An Asian man who serves as Jack Tom's assistant and is skilled in karate.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1/The whole world is in a pinch・Episode 2/I'm not food after all・Episode 3/Operation Chandelier・Episode 4/Becoming a little bird and chirping・Episode 5/Don't panic, don't make a fuss, just do it・Episode 6/The mechanical grandma・Episode 7/The guest from space・Episode 8/New York is on the verge of exploding・Episode 9/Beware of female spies・Episode 10/A big, rumbling success・Episode 11/That melting, flowing mess・Episode 12/The MAD TV station・Episode 13: Time Machine PursuitEpisode 14: MAD and More Before BreakfastEpisode 15: Disguise is RevealedEpisode 16: Hello! Dolly the DollEpisode 17: Western PartnersEpisode 18: Jack and the Beanstalk OperationEpisode 19: The Big Tinkle TinkleTinkleEpisode 20: Tom Becomes a MonsterEpisode 21: The Mysterious Incident on London BridgeEpisode 22: The Pacific Ocean Has DisappearedEpisode 23: Protect the Mammoth DamEpisode 24: It's a Robot Bee, Dance It!

001/7 Tom Thumb - Detailed review and recommendation of 001/7 Tom Thumb

■ Background and production process of the work

In the late 1960s, television animation was still a new medium, and there was active exploration of its possibilities. In particular, Japanese-American collaborations attracted attention as an attempt to fuse technology and culture. "001/7 Tom Thumb" is one example of this, produced by American Videocraft and Japanese Toei Animation, bringing together staff from different cultural backgrounds.

The original work was written by Yoshifumi Hatano, whose unique imagination and humor are the foundation of the work. The script and direction were handled by American staff, while the drawings and art were handled by Japanese staff. This division of labor gives the work a unique atmosphere. It was broadcast on the ABC network in America, and on NET (now TV Asahi) in Japan.

■ Story and Characters

The story of "001/7 Tom Thumb" is about a private detective named Tom and his assistant Jack who are dwarfed by the dwarf ray and use their dwarf state to solve difficult cases. This setting gave viewers a fresh surprise and stimulated children's imaginations.

Tom is a brave detective who never gives up even though he has shrunk to one-seventh of his height, and his attitude inspires viewers. Jack is an Asian man who supports Tom using his karate skills. The two work together to solve the case, teaching us the importance of friendship and teamwork.

The subtitles of each episode are humorous and catch the interest of the viewers. For example, titles that children can enjoy, such as "The whole world is in a pinch" and "I'm not food", are chosen. These episodes show Tom and Jack taking on various difficult cases and solving them, sometimes with comical scenes.

■Animation and Art

The animation of "001/7 Tom Thumb" fully demonstrates Toei Animation's technical capabilities. In particular, the movements of the dwarf Tom and Jack are drawn with great attention to detail, making for a highly visually appealing animation. Furthermore, Hideo Chiba's designs add color to the film's art. His unique sense of color and design enhance the overall atmosphere of the film.

Due to the nature of the show being a Japanese-American collaboration, the drawing and art styles show influences from both countries. The dynamic American production and the delicate Japanese details combine to create a visually rich work. It's an example of the potential of TV anime at the time.

■Music and theme songs

The music was composed by Asei Kobayashi, whose unique melody and rhythm add depth to the work. In particular, the opening theme "001/7 Tom Thumb" is sung by the Four Singers, making it a memorable song for viewers. This theme song symbolizes the theme of the work and is an important element in livening up the adventures of Tom and Jack.

Kobayashi Asei's music also plays a role in enhancing the atmosphere of each episode. Light music is used for comical scenes, and heavy music is used for tense scenes, skillfully drawing out the emotions of the viewer. This can be said to have enhanced the completeness of the work as a whole.

■ Broadcasting and reception

"001/7 Tom Thumb" was broadcast every Wednesday from April 5 to October 4, 1967. The broadcast time was a 30-minute slot from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m., and 10-minute episodes were broadcast within that time slot. The fact that it was broadcast in the same time slot as the "King Kong" cartoons gave viewers a fresh surprise.

In Japan, the show was broadcast on NET and was very popular among children. The exploits of Tom and Jack in particular gave viewers courage and hope. Meanwhile, in America, the show was broadcast on the ABC network and also enjoyed a certain level of popularity. Broadcasting in both Japan and the United States was one of the factors that increased the show's international reputation.

■Influence and evaluation of the work

"001/7 Tom Thumb" attracted attention as a new attempt at a Japanese-American collaboration, and influenced subsequent TV anime productions. In particular, the method of creating a work through collaboration between staff from different cultural backgrounds can be said to have had a major impact on subsequent anime productions.

The show was well-received, especially among children. The friendship and adventures of Tom and Jack touched the hearts of viewers and created many fans. The humorous story and characters also brought smiles to viewers' faces and soothed their hearts.

However, the series' broadcast period was short, ending with 24 episodes. This is thought to be due to changes in the TV anime production environment and audience tastes at the time. Nevertheless, "001/7 Tom Thumb" influenced subsequent anime productions and is remembered as a work beloved by many viewers.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"001/7 Tom Thumb" is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, and the story of friendship and adventure is particularly moving. Tom and Jack's adventures give courage and hope to the audience, and the humorous scenes bring a smile to your face. The music and art are also excellent, making it a work that can be enjoyed both visually and aurally.

Today, it is available to watch on DVD and through internet distribution services. I would especially recommend this film to children. Through the adventures of Tom and Jack, you can learn about the importance of friendship and the courage to face difficulties. It will also bring back nostalgia for adults, providing an opportunity to rediscover the charm of TV animation from that time.

Furthermore, this work is interesting in that it is a Japanese-American co-production, and you can feel the value of a work created by staff from different cultural backgrounds working together. This is a work that anime and movie fans alike cannot miss.

■ Summary

"001/7 Tom Thumb" is a Japanese-American animated television series that aired in 1967, depicting the adventures of Tom and Jack. The humorous story and characters, excellent animation and art, and moving music all combined to bring joy and smiles to viewers. Although it was only on the air for a short time, it influenced subsequent anime productions and is remembered as a work beloved by many viewers. It is still available to watch today, and we recommend it as a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.