The appeal and evaluation of Dororon Enma-kun: Reevaluating the good old anime

Dororon Enma-kun: Nagai Go's worldview and its influence

The TV anime series "Dororon Enma-kun," which aired from 1973 to 1974, was based on the original work by Go Nagai, and its unique worldview and characters left a strong impression on viewers. Unlike the original manga, which had a strong comedy element, this work was characterized by hard-hitting episodes that emphasized the bizarre, providing new surprises to viewers. In this article, we will explore the detailed information and appeal of "Dororon Enma-kun," and consider why this work has maintained its enduring popularity even after more than 30 years.

Overview

"Dororon Enma-kun" was broadcast on Fuji TV from October 4, 1973 to March 28, 1974, every Thursday from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. It is a series of 25 episodes, each 30 minutes long. It was produced by Fuji TV and Toei (Toei Animation), and the copyright belongs to Nagai Go/Dynamic Planning/Toei Animation.

story

As the human world begins to become polluted, monsters from hell begin to appear. Enma-kun comes to Japan to protect humans from these evil monsters. There, he meets a boy named Tsutomu, and together with his friends, they solve the strange incidents that occur around him. Through Enma-kun's adventures, the story depicts the relationship between humans and monsters, and the conflict between good and evil.

Commentary

"Dororon Enma-kun," based on Nagai Go's original work, is characterized by its hard-hitting episodes that emphasize the bizarre aspects, unlike the comedy elements of the original manga. While it scares and surprises viewers, it also features many unique and original monsters that were unique to the show, making it fun for younger viewers. More than 30 years after the series ended, it continues to be popular, with a spin-off and a new series produced in 2011. This is proof that Nagai Go's unique worldview and the appeal of his characters have left a deep impression on viewers.

cast

The main cast includes:

• Demon-kun: Masako Nozawa
• Chapeau: Junpei Takiguchi
• Princess Yukiko: Sumie Sakai
• Kapael: Kaneta Kimotsuki
• Tsutomu: Takako Kondo
• Darakula: Takuzo Kamiyama
• King Enma: Hidekatsu Shibata
• Harumi: Reiko Katsura

These voice actors brought excitement to the show with their performances that made the most of the individuality of the characters. In particular, Masako Nozawa, who played Enma-kun, left a strong impression on viewers with the strength and expressiveness of her voice.

Main Staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Dororon Enma-kun". Below is a list of the main staff members:

• Planning: Koji Bessho, Yoshifumi Hatano
• Production Manager: Kiyoshi Ohno
• Original author: Go Nagai
• Music: Hiroshi Tsutsui
• Chief Director: Kimiro Yabuki
• Illustrations: Kazuhide Tomonaga, Kazuo Hayashi, Yutaka Kawabushi, Machiko Hino, Hiroshi Oka, Kyoko Mita, Kazuo Hayashi, Jun Yanai, Misao Arai, Kazuo Tashiro, Yoshiteru Kobayashi, Teruo Ikeda, Yuko Narukawa, Kazue Nanba, Mariko Oka, Teruo Ikeda
• Background: Sun Art Studio, Katsuyoshi Hozumi, Atelier Roku, Art Pair, Tadami Shimokawa
• Photography: Takao Sato, Nobuyuki Sugaya, Michiyo Terao, Hideo Sugaya
• Finishing: Takayuki Murasaki, Masatoshi Nishi, Miwako Tadokoro, Michiko Michishita, Toyohiko Hiraga, Bunichi Kimura, Yuriko Sato
• Edited by Yutaka Senkura
• Sound: Hiromi Kanbara
• Effects: Kenichi Mori
• Sound director: Nobuhiro Komatsu
• Production Assistants: Shoichiro Ide, Shuji Iuchi
• Developed by: Toei Chemicals
• Produced by: Fuji Television, Toei (Toei Animation)

These staff members worked together to create a rich visual and auditory worldview for "Dororon Enma-kun." In particular, the background music by Hiroshi Tsutsui, who was in charge of the music, played an important role in enhancing the spooky atmosphere. The diverse expressiveness of the animation staff also left a strong impression on viewers.

Main Characters

The main characters of "Dororon Enma-kun" are:

• Enma-kun: The nephew of King Enma, who rules over Hell, he is appointed captain of the Yokai patrol squad that exterminates Yokai that target humans.
• Chapeau: Enma-kun's supervisor and a reliable source of wisdom. As the name suggests, he wears a hat and is always on Enma-kun's head.
• Princess Yukiko: A snow girl and Enma-kun's girlfriend. Her special skill is the freezing ray that comes from her hands.
• Kappael: Enma-kun's childhood friend, half kappa and half frog.

Each of these characters had different personalities and abilities, and played an important role in adding excitement to the story. In particular, Enma-kun's bravery and sense of justice, Chapo's wisdom and humor, Princess Yukiko's beauty and strength, and Kapaeru's friendship and loyalty made a strong impression on viewers.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "Dororon Enma-kun" are as follows:

• Episode 1: The Guys from Hell
• Episode 2: The Terrifying Monster Apartment Complex
• Episode 3: The Great Spook of the Rotten River
• Episode 4: Yokai Tatamigaeshi
• Episode 5: Every beautiful rose has its thorns
• Episode 6: Sending the monster to hell
• Episode 7: The Asunaro Boy
• Episode 8: Yokai Ear-Picking
• Episode 9: The Day of the Great Japanese Explosion
• Episode 10: The Demon's Tears
• Episode 11: The Rain Demon
• Episode 12: The Demon Fire Old Man
• Episode 13: The Three Kamaitachi Monster Brothers
• Episode 14: Eruption! Tsunami! Tokyo in danger
• Episode 15: Challenge! King Enma
• Episode 16: The Giant Monster Eagle
• Episode 17: The Great Monster of Mount Narukami
• Episode 18: Revenge of the Yokai Iyomanto
• Episode 19: The Yokai Drowsy Sleep
• Episode 20: The Kogarashi Boy
• Episode 21: The Demon Ship Dororon
• Episode 22: Yokai Hell Villa
• Episode 23: Monster Dad
• Episode 24: The Crazy Dragon Fish Monster
• Episode 25: Great Yokai Battle

As you can see from these subtitles, each episode of "Dororon Enma-kun" featured a different monster or incident, providing viewers with new surprises and excitement. In particular, episode 25, "The Great Monster Showdown," moved many viewers as the climax of the series.

Related Titles

The following works are related to "Dororon Enma-kun":

• "Demon Prince Flame Demon"
• "Dororon Enma-kun Meera Meera"

These works continue the worldview of "Dororon Enma-kun" while developing new stories and characters. In particular, "Dororon Enma-kun Me-ramera" is a new series that was broadcast in 2011, and is an important work that conveys the appeal of Go Nagai to modern audiences.

The appeal and influence of the work

The appeal of "Dororon Enma-kun" lies in its unique worldview and characters. Based on the original work by Go Nagai, this work provided viewers with new surprises and excitement through its intense episodes that emphasized the supernatural elements and the appearance of unique original monsters. In addition, the personalities and growth of the main characters, including Enma-kun, deeply moved viewers.

The influence of this work is evident from the fact that it continues to be popular more than 30 years after its broadcast ended. The world and characters of "Dororon Enma-kun" continue to be loved by many fans, with the production of spin-offs and new series, and the release of related merchandise. This is proof that the appeal of Go Nagai's unique world and characters has left a deep impression on viewers.

Recommendation

"Dororon Enma-kun" is recommended for those who like mystical elements and unique fictional monsters. It is also recommended for those who are interested in works based on Nagai Go's original work and those who want to enjoy the growth of the main characters, including Enma-kun. Furthermore, this work has maintained its strong popularity more than 30 years after the broadcast ended, so it is recommended for those who want to feel nostalgic and those who are looking for new surprises and excitement.

When watching "Dororon Enma-kun", please pay attention to the following points:

• The emergence of mysterious elements and unique imaginative monsters
• The personalities and growth of the main characters, including Enma-kun
• Go Nagai's unique worldview and influence

By paying attention to these points, you will be able to understand the appeal and influence of "Dororon Enma-kun" more deeply. Also, by watching the related works "Demon Prince Enma" and "Dororon Enma-kun Me-ramera", you can enjoy Nagai Go's worldview even more.

"Dororon Enma-kun" is a work filled with Go Nagai's unique worldview and the charm of his characters, providing viewers with new surprises and excitement. More than 30 years after the series ended, the work has maintained its enduring popularity and continues to be loved by many fans. Please watch "Dororon Enma-kun" and experience its charm and influence.