The appeal and reviews of the first season of "Ataro the Extraordinary": Rediscovering the good old comedy anime

Extraordinary Ataro: Fujio Akatsuka's masterpiece of comedy anime

Broadcast from 1969 to 1970, "Ataro the Great" is a comedy anime based on the original work by Fujio Akatsuka, and its unique humor and the charm of its characters captivated many viewers. This anime expanded the world view of the original manga and was developed as a TV anime series for 90 episodes. Here, we will take a deeper look at its appeal and details.

■Overview of the work

"Extraordinary Ataro" begins with the death of ×goro, the owner of a downtown greengrocer called "Yao × (Batsu)." As a single parent family, Ataro, the only son, is left all alone in the world, but he works hard to run the store left behind by his father, along with his younger brother Dekohachi, who adores him. Ataro is surrounded by strange characters and animals, making his days one after another quite hectic. In the second half of the series, the main focus is on powerful nonsense comedy episodes featuring supporting characters such as Nyarome.

■Broadcast information

"Extra Ataro" was broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from April 4, 1969 to December 25, 1970. It consisted of 90 episodes, the first 77 of which were in black and white, and the remaining 13 in color. Each episode was 30 minutes long and entertained the audience.

■Production Background

The original is a comedy manga that Fujio Akatsuka began serializing in rival magazine Weekly Shonen Sunday after the huge success of Tensai Bakabon. Characters from Tensai Bakabon and Osomatsu-kun also appear, and many original anime stories have been created that further enhance the comedy taste of the original manga. Toei Animation (now Toei Animation) was in charge of production up to episode 13, after which Toei and NET co-produced it.

■ Main characters

Ataro: A boy with the Edokko temperament who is kind-hearted and helps the weak and defeats the strong. His mother died shortly after his birth, and after his father's death, he took over the greengrocer's shop, Yaoyaku.
Dekotachi: Ataro's younger brother, characterized by his protruding forehead and chestnut-shaped head. He has a straightforward personality and at first he bullies Ataro, but he is impressed by Ataro's determination to continue the store left by his father, and starts working at Yaoya.
Goro × (Batsu) : The owner of Yao × and Ataro's father. He dies in an accident caused by a delinquent, but due to a mistake by the Heavenly City Hall, he returns to the mortal world and watches over his son. He is invisible to anyone other than Ataro.
Butamatsu: A former yakuza boss who lives with pigs and adores Dekohachi. He has a pig tattoo on his back.
Kami: An old man from heaven who can use various magic. He is close friends with Taro and often comes to visit him on earth.
Nyarome: A stray cat who lives with the caterpillar Kemunpas and the frog Nobeshi. He is always pursuing human women, saying, "Marry me, Nyarome!"
Kokoro's Boss: A gang boss who looks just like a raccoon dog and even has a tail. He dotes on the chick Piyoko and calls himself Pokun.

■Cast and crew

The cast includes Keiko Yamamoto as Ataro, Midori Kato as Dekotachi, Ichiro Nagai as ×Goro, Koichi Tomita as Butamatsu, Takuzo Kamiyama as Kamisama, Hiroshi Otake as Nyarome, and Joji Yanami as Kokoro's boss. The staff includes Fujio Akatsuka, the original author, Katsuyuki Onuma, Takashi Iijima, and Toru Hara, Masaharu Eto as producer, Masaki Tsuji, Shunichi Yukimuro, and Hiroshi Ozawa as screenwriters, Yasuo Yamaguchi, Isao Takahata, and Nobutaka Nishizawa, Saburo Yokoi, Tadami Shimokawa, and Katsuyoshi Hozumi as art directors, Hiroshi Suzuki, Masaaki Hanai, Yutaka Senkura, and Hitoshi Komura as editors, Hiromi Kanbara, Isao Hatano, Fumio Arakawa, Yukio Ishii, Susumu Konishi, and Kenji Ninomiya as sound engineers, Taku Izumi as music engineer, Toei Chemicals as developer, and NET and Toei Animation as producers.

■ Episodes and stories

"Extraordinary Ataro" has 90 episodes, each with its own jokes and storyline. The early episodes focused on Ataro and Dekopachi's struggles and the exploits of ×Gorou as a ghost. In the later episodes, minor characters such as Nyarome and Kokoro's boss took center stage, delivering nonsensical gags. Below are some episodes.

• Episode 1, "The Super-Enthusiastic Son and the Lazy Dad" and "The Super-Enthusiastic Woof-Woof Rampage": This episode depicts the relationship between Ataro and ×Gorou, as well as the daily life of Yao×.
• Episode 10, "The Extraordinary Mother Has Arrived" and "Butamatsu's Extraordinary Bride": Ataro's mother appears, and the family bond is depicted.
• Episode 23 "The Super Boss, Her Name is Kokoro" and "The Super Cute Piyoko-chan": The relationship between Kokoro, the boss, and Piyoko is depicted.
• Episode 45 "Nyarome's Forbidden Love" and "Nyarome's Revenge for His Passion": Nyarome's love life is depicted.
• Episode 76 "Marry Me Nyarome" and "My Dear Nyarome": Nyarome's desire to get married is depicted.

■ Related works

Two theatrical versions of "Ataro the Extraordinary" were released. "Ataro the Extraordinary" was released on July 20, 1969, and "Ataro the Extraordinary: Nyarome's Lullaby" was released on July 19, 1970. A sequel, "Ataro the Extraordinary" (the second film), was also produced. These films also retain the comedy taste of the original, but develop new stories and characters.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs for "Moeretsu Ataro" are the opening theme "Moeretsu Ataro" and the ending theme "Edokko no Scat". Both songs were written by Kawachi Hiroshi and composed by Izumi Taku, with the opening theme performed by Katsura Kyoko and the ending theme performed by Honey Knights. Also used in the film are "Moeretsu Ondo" and "Nyarome no Uta", which also had lyrics by Kawachi Hiroshi and music composed by Izumi Taku, and were performed by Kato Midori and Honey Knights, and Otake Hiroshi. These songs are important elements in creating the atmosphere of the anime.

■ Evaluation and impact

"Extraordinary Ataro" was highly praised as Fujio Akatsuka's comedy anime. In particular, the characters' personalities and the tempo of the comedy left a strong impression on viewers. The change in production from black and white to color also became a hot topic. This work had a major influence on later comedy anime, further increasing the fame of Fujio Akatsuka.

■ Recommendation points

"Ataro the Movie" is loved by many fans as a monumental comedy anime. The following points in particular are recommended:

• Character Personalities: There are many unique characters, such as Ataro, Dekopachi, and Nyarome, and each has their own distinct charm.
• Gag tempo: Nonsensical gags are deployed one after another, keeping the viewer from getting bored.
• Music: The theme songs and songs from the series add to the atmosphere of the anime and enrich the viewing experience.
• Production Transition: The production transition from black and white to color is visible, providing a visual treat.

■ Summary

"Ataro the Extraordinary" is a comedy anime by Fujio Akatsuka that captivated many viewers with its unique humor and the charm of its characters. The 90 episodes featured a variety of stories, from the family ties and struggles in the early episodes to the nonsensical gags in the latter half. Thanks to the efforts of the cast and staff, the work was highly praised and had a major influence on later comedy anime. The theme song and songs in the story also enhanced the atmosphere of the anime and enriched the viewing experience. "Ataro the Extraordinary" is a monumental comedy anime that will continue to be loved by many fans for a long time to come.