The appeal and reputation of Wansa-kun: Rediscovering a nostalgic anime classic

Wansa-kun: Osamu Tezuka's Story of Love and Adventure

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 2, 1973 - September 24, 1973

■Broadcasting station

Kansai Television

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

Osamu Tezuka

■ Director

Eiichi Yamamoto

■ Production

Kansai Television, Mushi Production

■Works

■ Story

Wansa, a stray mixed breed dog, happens to come across a town where he is picked up by a boy named Kota and is taken in by him. As a pet, Wansa spends busy but fun days getting into trouble with fellow dogs he meets in town and fighting territorial wars with rival cat clans. At the same time, he dreams of one day meeting his mother...

■Explanation

Wansa, the main character of this work, was originally designed by Tezuka Osamu as a mascot character for Sanwa Bank (now Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank). The entire film is played out in a musical style, and human performances were filmed and traced to anthropomorphize the dog's movements, making it a groundbreaking work in both production and technology. In contrast to the comical opening, the ending is full of tragedy, but the metafictional punchline that the whole thing was a play was also very innovative.

■Cast

・Wansa/Noriko Obara ・Kota/Masako Nozawa ・Megane/Ichiro Nagai ・Herahera/Hiroshi Otake ・Wansa's mother/Sachiko Chijimatsu

■ Main staff

・Original story by Tezuka Osamu・Planning by Nishizaki Yoshinobu, Zuiyo Enterprises・Screenplay by Fujikawa Keisuke, Tamura Maru, Yamamoto Eiichi, Hidaka Jin, Ikeno Fumio・Music by Miyagawa Yasushi・Director by Yamamoto Eiichi・Chief animation directors by Ashida Toyoo, Shindo Mitsuo, Anime Room・Key animation by Ashida Toyoo, Yasuhiko Yoshikazu, Okasako Nobuhiro, Kanayama Akihiro, Ebisawa Yukio, Anime Room, Tama Productions・Direction by Ishiguro Noboru, Asa Minami, Yoshikawa Souji, Hata Masami, Yazawa Norio, Tanaka Minoru・Producer by Nishizaki Yoshinobu・Character design by Nagashima Shinji・Production by Shibayama Tatsuo (Mushi Production), Michihiro Shujiro (Kansai TV), Harada Masuji (episodes 1-8), Sato Hiroshi (episodes 1-8)
・Setting Production: Masuji Harada (Episode 9 onwards)
・Illustration by Hiromitsu Morita ・Art by Katsumi Hando ・Sound by Susumu Aketagawa (Group TAC)
Effects: Mitsuru Kashiwabara Sound: Tokyo Studio Center Development: Tokyo Development Laboratory Production: Kansai Television, Mushi Production

・Theme song
OP1
"Wansaka Wansaka-kun"
Lyrics by Eiichi Yamamoto, Music by Taika Miyagawa, Singer by Royal Knights and Singers Three

OP2
"I want to see Mommy"
Lyrics by Hidaka Jin, music by Miyagawa Taika, and Horn Yuki

OP3
"Don't die, Mommy."
Lyrics by Hidaka Jin, Music by Miyagawa Taika, Song by Tenchi Fusako, Obara Noriko

ED1
"Pinkora Ondo"
Lyrics by Keisuke Fujikawa, Music by Taisuke Miyagawa, Song by Royal Knights, Singers Three

ED2
"Midori-chan"
Lyrics by Akari Yamaguchi, Music by Tai Miyagawa, Vocals by Yuki Horn

■ Main Characters

・Wansa is a mixed breed dog with pure white fur. He has a carefree personality and while he longs to meet his mother, he spends his time living a fun and interesting life with his friends.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: A strange dog has arrived Episode 2: Let's get married!! Catherine Episode 3: Fly!! Peeing mission Episode 4: Your favorite Benjamin Episode 5: The taste of mommy left in my nose Episode 6: Dig here, Woof Woof Woof Sa-kun Episode 7: Don't throw away Midori-chan Episode 8: A fool can only be cured if he dies (Part 1) Episode 9: A fool can only be cured if he dies Part 2・Episode 10/I'll tell you how a dog dies・Episode 11/It's hard being popular in Bhutan・Episode 12/Pin from Pippin with a Hundred Bones・Episode 13/When the moon rises, the blood rises・Episode 14/Wangsa-kun's Musical Special・Episode 15/Mimi's Kimono Sumida River・Episode 16/The dog is sold and where does it go?・Episode 17/When I fall in love, I can't stop・Episode 18/Sorry for not wearing pants・Episode 19/Wangsa who dances and Wangsa who doesn't dance・Episode 20/I'm a Stray Dog Champion・Episode 21/Wangsa-kun's Musical Special・Episode 22/I want to see my mom!! Part 1
・Episode 23/I want to see my mom!! Part 2
・Episode 24/I want to see my mom!! Part 3
・Episode 25: Don't Die!! Mom Part 1
・Episode 26: Don't Die!! Mom Part 2

The appeal and reputation of Wansa-kun

Among Tezuka Osamu's works, "Wansa-kun" holds a particularly unique position as a TV anime series that was broadcast in 1973. This work depicts the adventures and growth of Wansa, the protagonist, who Tezuka Osamu designed as a mascot character for Sanwa Bank. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and reputation of Wansa-kun.

The appeal of the story

The story of Wansa-kun begins when a stray dog named Wansa is picked up by a boy named Kota and begins a new life as a pet dog. Wansa lives a happy life, despite getting caught up in trouble with fellow dogs and rival cat clans he meets in town. However, he still dreams of meeting his mother. The story, which intertwines these two elements, will provide viewers with both laughter and emotion at the same time.

Particularly memorable are the episodes where Wansa's humorous scenes with his friends intersect with his earnest desire to see his mother. For example, in episode 5, "The Taste of Mommy Remains in My Nose," Wansa is depicted chasing after his mother's scent, moving the viewer's heart. Also, in the series "I Want to See Mommy!!" from episodes 22 to 26, Wansa's feelings for his mother reach a climax, leading to a touching conclusion.

Innovation in production and technology

Wangsa was a highly innovative production in terms of direction and technology. The entire film was presented in musical style, which was very innovative at the time. Also, in order to anthropomorphize the dog's movements, human performances were filmed and traced, which made the movements of Wangsa and other characters more realistic and dynamic.

Furthermore, the transition from the comical opening to the tragic final scene was brilliant. The metafictional punchline that the whole thing was a play surprised and moved the audience. This kind of innovative direction and technology makes Wansa-kun a special piece among Osamu Tezuka's works.

Character Appeal

Wansa's character is charming with his carefree and bright personality. His pure white fur and adorable expression capture the hearts of viewers. As the story depicts Wansa's adventures and growth, the friendship with his friends and his feelings for his mother are deeply depicted, evoking sympathy from viewers.

In addition, the supporting characters such as Kota, Megane, and Herahera are also unique and attractive. In particular, the voice acting of Sachiko Chijimatsu, who played Wansa's mother, touched the hearts of viewers deeply. The story woven by these characters will provide viewers with laughter and tears.

The appeal of music

Wansa-kun's music is distinctive, composed by Yasuo Miyagawa. It includes many songs that liven up the atmosphere of each episode, such as the opening theme "Wansaka Wansa-kun," "I Want to See Mom," and "Don't Die, Mom." The ending themes "Pinkora Ondo" and "Midori-chan" are also memorable and will remain in the viewers' memories.

These songs enrich the story of Wangsa-kun and are important elements that stimulate the emotions of the viewers. In particular, music plays a very important role in this work, which has many musical-like developments.

Ratings and Recommendations

Wansa-kun is one of the most highly acclaimed works by Osamu Tezuka. It has been highly praised for many elements, including the appeal of the story, the innovative direction and technology, the appeal of the characters, and the appeal of the music. It has also received very positive feedback from viewers, and has a large fan base.

The reasons why I recommend this work are as follows:

You can enjoy Tezuka Osamu's unique worldview and storytelling.
The musical-style development and innovative direction are appealing
Characters like Wansa and Kota are adorable.
Miyagawa Tai's music adds excitement to the story
The balance between comical and emotional scenes is perfect.

Wansa-kun is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. It is especially recommended for fans of Tezuka Osamu and anime fans. It is also recommended to watch it with the whole family. You will be able to share laughter and emotions through Wansa's adventures and growth.

More information about Wansa-kun

Broadcast information

Wansa-kun was broadcast on Kansai TV from April 2nd to September 24th, 1973. It consisted of 26 episodes, each 30 minutes long. It aired every Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 18:30.

Production Staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of Wansa-kun. The original story was written by Tezuka Osamu, the director was Yamamoto Eiichi, and the production was handled by Kansai TV and Mushi Productions. The screenplay was written by Fujikawa Keisuke, Tamura Maru, Yamamoto Eiichi, Hidaka Jin, and Ikeno Fumio, and the music was by Miyagawa Yasushi. The animation directors were Ashida Toyoo, Shindo Mitsuo, and Anime Room, and the key animation was by Ashida Toyoo, Yasuhiko Yoshikazu, Okasako Nobuhiro, Kanayama Akihiro, Ebisawa Yukio, Anime Room, and Tama Productions. The directors were Ishiguro Noboru, Asa Minami, Yoshikawa Souji, Hata Masami, Yazawa Norio, and Tanaka Minoru, and the producer was Nishizaki Yoshinobu. Character design was by Nagashima Shinji, production was by Shibayama Tatsuo (Mushi Production), Michihiro Shujiro (Kansai TV), Harada Masuji (episodes 1-8), and Sato Hiroshi (episodes 1-8). Set production was by Harada Masuji (episodes 9 onwards), animation by Morita Hiromitsu, art by Hando Katsumi, sound by Aketagawa Susumu (Group Tuck), sound effects by Kashiwabara Mitsuru, sound by Tokyo Studio Center, and development by Tokyo Development Laboratory.

Theme song

The theme songs for Wansa-kun are as follows:

OP1 "Wansaka Wansaku-kun"
Lyrics: Eiichi Yamamoto Composition: Tai Miyagawa Vocals: Royal Knights, Singers Three
OP2 "I want to see you, Mommy"
Lyrics: Hidaka Jin Composition: Miyagawa Tai Vocals: Horn Yuki
OP3 "Don't die, Mommy"
Lyrics: Hidaka Jin Composition: Miyagawa Tai Vocals: Tenchi Fusako, Obara Noriko
ED1 "Pinkora Ondo"
Lyrics: Keisuke Fujikawa Music: Tai Miyagawa Vocals: Royal Knights, Singers Three
ED2 "Midori-chan"
Lyrics: Akari Yamaguchi Composition: Tai Miyagawa Vocals: Horn Yuki

cast

The cast of Wansa-kun is as follows:

Wansa: Noriko Ohara
Kota: Masako Nozawa
Glasses: Ichiro Nagai
Grinning: Hiroshi Otake
Wansa's Mother: Sachiko Chijimatsu

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of Wansa-kun are as follows.

Episode 1: A strange dog arrives
Episode 2: Let's get married!! Catherine
Episode 3: Fly!! Peeing Strategy
Episode 4: Your Choice of Benjamin
Episode 5: The Taste of Mom in My Nose
Episode 6: Dig Here, Woof Woof Woof!
Episode 7: Don't Throw Away Midori-chan
Episode 8: A fool can only be cured by death. Part 1
Episode 9: A fool can only be cured by death, part 2
Episode 10: How a dog dies
Episode 11: It's hard being popular in Bhutan
Episode 12: Pippin's Pin with a Hundred Bones
Episode 13: When the moon rises, the blood boils
Episode 14: Wansa-kun's Musical Special
Episode 15: Mimi's Kimono and the Sumida River
Episode 16: The dog was sold and where did it go?
Episode 17: Once you fall in love, you can't stop
Episode 18: The Pantsless Rude
Episode 19: The Dancing Wansa and the Non-Dancing Wansa
Episode 20: I'm a Stray Dog Champion
Episode 21: Wansa-kun's Musical Special
Episode 22: I want to see my mom!! Part 1
Episode 23: I want to see my mom!! Part 2
Episode 24: I want to see my mom!! Part 3
Episode 25: Don't Die!! Mom Part 1
Episode 26: Don't Die!! Mom Part 2

Historical background of Wansa-kun

The year 1973, when Wansa-kun was broadcast, was the golden age of Japanese television animation. Many popular anime were broadcast at that time, and anime culture had become widespread. In particular, the works of Osamu Tezuka were loved by many viewers as pioneers of anime.

Wansa-kun is a work that features Wansa, a mascot character designed by Osamu Tezuka as the main character of the Sanwa Bank. This character reflects Osamu Tezuka's unique worldview and humor, and was widely accepted by audiences. In addition, the musical-like development and innovative direction gave a fresh surprise to the audiences of the time.

Furthermore, Wangsa-kun also reflects the social context. In the 1970s, Japan was in the midst of transitioning from a period of rapid economic growth to a period of stable growth, and family ties and human relationships became more important. Wangsa-kun's story also resonated deeply with viewers by depicting family love and friendship.

Impact and Evaluation of Wansa-kun

"Wansa-kun" is one of the most influential works of Osamu Tezuka. This work provided laughter and emotion to the audience, and created many fans. In addition, the musical-like development and innovative direction had a great influence on later anime works.

In particular, the storytelling and character appeal of Wangsa-kun was loved by many viewers. Through Wangsa's adventures and growth, viewers shared laughter and tears, and were reminded of the importance of family and friendship. In addition, Yasuo Miyagawa's music also enhanced the story and brought out the emotions of the viewers.