The appeal and reviews of "Chibikko Kaiju Yadamon": A fantasy anime that can be enjoyed by both children and adults

Little Monster Yadamon - The charm of nostalgic black-and-white animation

"Little Monster Yadamon," broadcast from 1967 to 1968, is a black-and-white animation that symbolizes the Showa era. This work depicts the comedy of the young monster Yadamon and the siblings of the Oyada family, and was loved by children at the time. In this article, we will take a closer look at the appeal and background of "Little Monster Yadamon," as well as its subsequent influence.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

October 2, 1967 - March 25, 1968
October 2, 1967 - March 25, 1968 Every Monday 19:00 - 19:30
52 videos, 2x 30 min

■Broadcasting station

Fuji Television

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

Ushio Cleaning

■ Production

P Production

■ Story

Yadamon is a small monster, 80cm tall, who lives with the Oyada family. Even though he is still a small monster, Yadamon is always throwing tantrums, much to the dismay of the Oyada family's siblings, Taro and Chomeko. However, Yadamon sometimes challenges the mischievous groups in the neighborhood.

■Explanation

A comedy anime with a young monster as the main character. It is in black and white. The main character, a little monster named Yadamon, was used as a mascot character for P Productions until the 1980s. Also, Go Nagai, who had just made his debut as a manga artist, serialized the comic adaptation in a boys' manga magazine.

■Cast

・Yadamon/Sonomi Nakajima ・Taro/Masako Sugaya, Sawako Yuya (time of change unknown)
・Chomeko/Nobue Ichitani ・Dad/Shiro Kitamachi ・Mother/Haruko Kitahama

■ Main staff

・Original story/Ushio Souji ・Direction/Ushio Souji ・Script/Fujikawa Keisuke, Ikuta Daisaku, Wakabayashi Togo ・Music/Uno Seiichiro

・Theme song・Opening theme
・"Yadamon"
Lyrics: Seiichiro Uno Composition: Seiichiro Uno Arrangement: Seiichiro Uno Singer: Sonomi Nakajima, Young Fresh

■ Main Characters

・Yadamon The main character. A little monster with supernatural powers. He has a bit of a foolish personality and is a bit spoiled. He often throws tantrums.

Taro: A child of the Oyada family. Chomeko's older brother.

Chomeko: A child of the Oyada family. Taro's younger sister.

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・"Yadamon"
Lyrics: Seiichiro Uno Composition: Seiichiro Uno Arrangement: Seiichiro Uno Singer: Sonomi Nakajima, Young Fresh

・ED2
・"Oh no, I don't want to"
Lyrics: Seiichiro Uno; Composition: Seiichiro Uno; Arrangement: Seiichiro Uno; Singer: Young Fresh
(※The OP and ED will be switched during the program)

■The appeal of the work

"Little Monster Yadamon" is a comedy set in the Showa era, depicting the adventures of a young monster named Yadamon and the brothers and sisters of the Oyada family. Although Yadamon is a small monster only 80cm tall, he has supernatural powers. However, he is a bit of a fool and a spoiled brat. His frequent tantrums resonated with children at the time.

The charm of this work lies above all in the character of Yadamon. Although Yadamon is set as a monster, he is portrayed with realistic childlike behavior and emotions, making him easy for viewers to relate to. Additionally, the interactions between the Oyada siblings, Taro and Chomeko, also convey the warmth and bond of a family, and there are many heartwarming episodes.

Furthermore, the scene where Yadamon confronts a group of mischievous boys in the neighborhood also stimulates children's sense of adventure and courage. The combination of these elements has made "Little Monster Yadamon" a work beloved by children.

■Production Background

"Little Monster Yadamon" was produced by P Productions. P Productions played an important role in the anime industry at the time, and produced many works. "Little Monster Yadamon" was one of them, and was loved for a long time as the mascot character of P Productions.

Ushio Souji, who was in charge of the original concept and direction, was a creator who was active in the anime industry at the time, and his unique perspective and sensibility are reflected in this work. In addition, the three screenwriters, Fujikawa Keisuke, Ikuta Daisaku, and Wakabayashi Togo, each made use of their own individuality in developing the story, enhancing the appeal of the work.

Seiichiro Uno, who was in charge of the music, composed the theme songs "Yadamon" and "Oh No Yadamon," which enhanced the atmosphere of the show. These songs were widely loved by children at the time and became a symbol of the show.

■Character Introduction

・Yadamon The main character is a little monster. He is 80cm tall and has supernatural powers. He is a bit of a goofy kid and a bit of a spoiled brat. He is known for throwing tantrums often. Yadamon lives with the siblings of the Oyada family and gets involved in various adventures and troubles. His appearance has made him a beloved character that children can sympathize with.

Taro: A child of the Oyada family and Chomeko's older brother. He lives with Yadamon and is sometimes annoyed by Yadamon's tantrums, but he supports her as her older brother. Taro's character was well-received by viewers, as he exuded a sense of responsibility and kindness as an older brother.

・Chomeko A child of the Oyada family and Taro's younger sister. She lives with Yadamon and, although she is often at the mercy of Yadamon's spoiled personality, she shows her affection as a younger sister. Chomeko's character exudes the cuteness and purity of a younger sister, making her easy to relate to for viewers.

■ Influence of the work

"Little Monster Yadamon" was loved by children at the time and had a great influence. In particular, the Yadamon character was used as the mascot character for P Productions until the 1980s and was well-known for a long time. In addition, Go Nagai, who had just made his debut as a manga artist, serialized a comic version of the work in a boys' manga magazine, so the work's influence was great.

Furthermore, even though "Little Monster Yadamon" was broadcast in the form of a black-and-white animation, its charm has not faded and it is still loved by many fans today. In particular, as a work set in the Showa era, there are many elements that evoke nostalgia and deeply moved viewers.

■Reasons for recommendation

"Little Monster Yadamon" is a nostalgic black-and-white animation set in the Showa era, yet its charm has not faded and it is loved by many fans today. In particular, Yadamon's character is realistically depicted with childlike behavior and emotions, making him easy for viewers to relate to. There are also many heartwarming episodes, such as his interactions with the Oyada siblings and his confrontation with the neighborhood's mischievous groups, that convey the warmth and bond of a family.

Furthermore, the character has been loved for a long time as the mascot character for P Productions, and has even been adapted into a comic book by Go Nagai, so the influence of the work is great. The combination of these elements has made "Chibikko Kaiju Yadamon" a work that symbolizes the Showa era and continues to be loved by many viewers.

For this reason, I highly recommend "Chibikko Kaiju Yadamon" to anyone who wants to enjoy a nostalgic anime set in the Showa era, anyone who wants to feel the warmth and bond of family, and anyone who wants to feel close to the character of Yadamon. Please watch this work and experience the charm of Yadamon while feeling the Showa era.