The appeal and evaluation of "Vampire": New possibilities for vampire anime

"Vampire": Tezuka Osamu's unique work where fantasy and reality intersect

Broadcast from 1968 to 1969, "Vampire" is a TV anime series based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka, and is still loved by many fans for its unique direction and profound themes. The work was produced by Mushi Productions and aired on Fuji TV. It consists of 26 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and is a work filled with Osamu Tezuka's creativity and experimental spirit.

■Overview of the work

"Vampire" tells the story of Tachibana Tokuhei (commonly known as Toppei), a vampire with the ability to transform into the shape of a beast. Toppei is a werewolf who transforms into a wolf when emotionally excited on moonlit nights, and the story depicts his adventures and suffering. After meeting Professor Atami, a researcher of paranormal phenomena, through an introduction by Tezuka Osamu, Toppei is used as a research subject, but is killed in an accident in a fight with the professor. Rock, a ruthless genius who witnessed this incident, tries to use Toppei to realize his ambitions.

■ Production background and direction

"Vampire" is an anime series based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka, which was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Sunday." After the serialization ended, it was resumed as a second part in "Shonen Book" to coincide with the broadcast of the anime. The most distinctive feature of this work is the monochrome presentation that combines live action and animation. Scenes such as the live action protagonist transforming into a wolf are expressed through animation, making a great visual impact. In addition, the original author, Osamu Tezuka, himself appears in the work under his real name, showing his deep love and involvement in the work.

■ Main characters

Toppei <br> A young man who came to Tokyo to become an animator, Toppei has a strong sense of justice and a friendly personality. However, due to the nature of his vampire clan, when he transforms into a wolf he becomes violent and reveals his wild instincts. He hopes that vampires and humans can coexist.

Chippei <br> Toppei's younger brother, he has a carefree personality. Whenever he sees something round, he transforms into a little wolf.

Rock (Makube Midoriro)
He is a ruthless man with a brilliant mind. He murders his benefactor, steals his wealth to accumulate power, and even takes advantage of the vampires who are trying to build their own world, in an attempt to take control of the world.

Reporter Morimura <br> A reporter from the Mainichi Times's cultural affairs department who meets Toppei and becomes his ally. He dies after a showdown with Rock.

Professor Atami <br> An ambitious man who knows the secret of vampires. He was thought to have died after fighting with Toppei, but in fact he is still alive. He is a mad scientist who uses science for evil purposes, developing a drug that turns humans into hominids and teaming up with Rock.

■Story development

The story of "Vampire" centers around Toppei's suffering as a werewolf and the conflicts and cooperation between him and the various characters that surround him. Each episode unfolds a different incident or mystery, depicting Toppei's growth and the depths of the vampire world. Below are the subtitles for each episode.

• Episode 1: The Wolf Boy Appears
• Episode 2: Locke's Trap
• Episode 3: Diamond X Project
• Episode 4: The Cursed Prophecy
• Episode 5: The End of the Old Vampire
• Episode 6: The Fearsome Pursuit
• Episode 7: The Vampire Committee
• Episode 8: Escape from the Secret Meeting
• Episode 9: The Secret of Madpar
• Episode 10: Rock vs. Ruriko
• Episode 11: Scream of Madness
• Episode 12: The Land of Dreams is the Land of Demons
• Episode 13: The Vanished Princess
• Episode 14: Stand Up, Toppei
• Episode 15: Duel in the Red Full Moon
• Episode 16: Human Hunt
• Episode 17: Punk Machine Operation
• Episode 18: Beyond Hatred
• Episode 19: Rock Never Dies
• Episode 20: Fight, Toppei
• Episode 21: The Mammoth Man Appears
• Episode 22: Operation Human S
• Episode 23: Dr. Beppu in Danger
• Episode 24: The Third Trap
• Episode 25: The Fearsome Mad PA
• Episode 26: The Vanishing Devil

■Cast and crew

Cast : Toppei, Yutaka Mizutani, Chippei, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Rock (Makube Midoriro), Hiroshi Sato, Inspector Shimoda, Hiroshi Iwashita, Reporter Morimura, Fumio Watanabe, Professor Atami, Rokuhiro Tonoura, Gozo Onishi, Yoshijiro Ueda, Mika Onishi, Kahoru Kiryu (written as Kaoru Kiryu up until episode 13)
・Iwaneyama Ruriko/Kadena Kiyomi ・Tezuka Osamu/Tezuka Osamu *This is a live action role, not a voice role.

Main staff : Original author/Tezuka Osamu; Producer/Imai Yoshiaki; Script supervisor/Fukuda Yoshiyuki; Animation director/Kinoshita Renzo; Cinematographer/Sasaki Yuji; Art director/Yamashita Hiroshi; Lighting/Nakamura Eiichi; Composite cinematographer/Yamaura Eiji; Sound director/Shichiro; Effects/SBS Studio; Music/Hayashi Hikaru; Film development/Toyo Film Development Studio; Director/Yamada Ken; Kikuchi Yasushi; Mafune Tei (Mafune Tei); Matsuda Hiroo; Nishijima Takatsune; Togi Keihachi; Production/Mushi Production Co., Ltd.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Vampire" is a work that is appealing for its unique direction and profound theme. The black-and-white images, a combination of live-action and animation, have a strong visual impact and the power to draw viewers in. Furthermore, the story of Toppei's suffering as a werewolf and the coexistence of vampires and humans deeply moves and evokes empathy in the viewers.

Furthermore, Osamu Tezuka's original work and his appearance in the live-action version show his deep love and involvement in the work, making it a special place for fans. The portrayal of characters such as Rock and Professor Atami is also deep and leaves a strong impression on viewers.

■ Recommendations and related works

"Vampire" is highly recommended for fans of Tezuka Osamu and viewers who enjoy unique direction and profound themes. It is also recommended for those who like werewolf and vampire stories. As for related works, please also check out other works by Tezuka Osamu, "Astro Boy" and "Black Jack". These works are also masterpieces filled with Tezuka Osamu's creativity and profound themes.

■ Summary

"Vampire" is a TV anime series based on the original work by Osamu Tezuka, and is still loved by many fans for its unique direction and profound themes. The story of Toppei's suffering as a werewolf and the coexistence of vampires and humans gives viewers deep emotion and empathy. Highly recommended for fans of Osamu Tezuka and viewers who want to enjoy unique direction and profound themes.