"The Little Train": A thorough review of this moving animated film based on a famous song from NHK's "Minna no Uta"!

"The Little Train": NHK's classic songs revived in animation

"The Little Train," which aired on NHK Educational TV (now NHK E-Tele) in February 1973, is a short animated film produced as part of the popular NHK program "Minna no Uta." In just two minutes, this work visually expresses a classic song beloved by children, and its appeal is still loved by many people today.

Overview

As you can tell from the fact that the original media for "The Little Train" is listed as "other," it does not have a specific story or characters, but is a work that simply expresses lyrics and melodies through animation. It was broadcast on NHK Educational TV in February 1973, and has a simple structure of only one episode. It was produced by Atsushi Mori, who was in charge of 3D manipulation, and the copyright is owned by NHK.

Story and animation

The story of "The Little Train" unfolds in line with the lyrics. The lyrics describe the scene of a little train running, and the scene is recreated through animation. The animation succeeded in creating a three-dimensional effect by making full use of the technology available at the time, and the movement of the train and the changes in the scenery are particularly realistic. Mori Atsushi's three-dimensional animation is characterized by its warm expression from the perspective of children, giving viewers a sense of security and joy.

Music and lyrics

The music for "The Little Train" is one of the most beloved songs in the NHK "Minna no Uta" series. The composer is unknown, but the lyrics describe a train journey from the perspective of children, and are characterized by a simple yet striking melody and rhythm. The lyrics express the sound of the train running and the changing scenery with onomatopoeia and mimetic words, making them easy to remember and children can naturally hum along to.

Background and significance of the production

The year 1973, when "The Little Train" was produced, was a time when NHK was actively working to convey the appeal of music and animation to children through its "Minna no Uta" series. This work not only conveys the joy of train travel to children, but also seeks educational benefits by combining music and animation. In particular, the 3D animation had expressive powers that exceeded the technological standards of the time, and played an important role in stimulating children's imaginations.

Evaluation and impact

"The Little Train" has been loved by children since it was first broadcast, and has been highly praised by many viewers. In particular, the animation, which realistically depicts the movement of the train and the changing scenery, captured the hearts of children and inspired them to dream of traveling by train. The educational effect of the fusion of music and animation has also been praised, and the show is considered a particularly important work in the NHK "Minna no Uta" series.

The influence of this work continued even after the broadcast ended, and it inspired many children to dream of traveling by train. The 3D animation also had a major impact on later animation production, and was a catalyst for promoting technological advances. Furthermore, the educational effect of the fusion of music and animation played an important role in stimulating children's imagination and fostering creativity.

Recommendations and how to watch

"The Little Train" is a work that not only conveys the joy of train travel to children, but also seeks to have an educational effect by combining music and animation. In particular, the animation using three-dimensional manipulation played an important role in stimulating children's imagination and fostering their creativity. This work can be enjoyed not only by children but also by adults, so it is recommended that families watch it together.

You can watch it on NHK's official website or video streaming services. Packaged software such as DVDs and Blu-rays are also available, making it easy to watch. Furthermore, by watching it together with other works in the NHK "Minna no Uta" series, you can gain a deeper understanding of the appeal of music and animation.

summary

"The Little Train" is one of the most beloved works in the NHK "Minna no Uta" series, and not only does it convey the joy of train travel to children, but it also seeks to have an educational effect by combining music and animation. The animation using three-dimensional manipulation played an important role in stimulating children's imagination and fostering their creativity. This work can be enjoyed not only by children but also by adults, so we recommend watching it with the whole family. It can be viewed on the NHK official website, video distribution services, and packaged software such as DVDs and Blu-rays. We hope you will rediscover the charm of music and animation through this work.