The appeal and evaluation of "The Original Genius Bakabon": A masterpiece anime that brings the laughter of the good old days to the present

"The Original Genius Bakabon": In pursuit of eternal laughter

On March 13, 1976, moviegoers were thrown into a frenzy of laughter by one film: "The Original Genius Bakabon." Based on the manga of the same name by Akatsuka Fujio, the film was produced by Tokyo Movie and distributed by Toho. Although it only had a short run of one episode, its impact was enormous, and it continues to be loved by many fans to this day. In this article, we would like to delve deeper into the appeal and background of "The Original Genius Bakabon."

History of the original work and anime adaptation

"Tensai Bakabon" was first serialized in "Weekly Shonen Magazine" by Fujio Akatsuka in 1967. With its distinctive humor and distinctive characters, the work quickly gained popularity and was made into a TV anime in 1971. A film version, "The Original Tensai Bakabon," was released in 1976. This film version was a challenging attempt to maximize the essence of the original work while creating a new kind of comedy.

Story and Characters

The story of "The Original Genius Bakabon" depicts the daily life of the genius Bakabon family. The Bakabon family consists of the father, Bakabon's Papa, the mother, Bakabon's Mama, the main character Bakabon, and his younger brother Hajime. The daily life of this family is full of unconventional actions and remarks that draw the audience into a whirlwind of laughter.

Particularly memorable is the phrase "This is fine!" uttered by Bakabon's father. This phrase symbolizes his attitude of affirming himself and overcoming any situation with a smile. Bakabon himself also often surprises and makes those around him laugh with his genius ideas. Hajime's innocence and his mother's warmth also add to the charm of this work.

Animation and performance

The animation for "The Original Genius Bakabon" was created by Tokyo Movie. It faithfully reproduces the unique touch of the original work while adding the dynamic direction that only a film can offer. In particular, the movements and expressions of the Bakabon family are carefully designed to bring out the humor of the original work to the fullest. The backgrounds and colors are also skillfully used to bring out the laughs.

In terms of directing, director Eiichi Yamamoto's unique sense shines through. The timing of the comedy scenes, the camera work, and the use of music are all calculated to draw laughs. In particular, the music, by composer Asei Kobayashi, is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the film.

Social impact and evaluation

"The Original Genius Bakabon" was highly praised when it was released. In particular, its unique humor and the appeal of its characters have been accepted by a wide range of people, from children to adults. The film also contains a profound message of questioning social norms and values ​​through laughter. Bakabon's father's line, "This is fine!" conveys the message of affirming oneself and respecting others.

This work also played an important role in expanding the possibilities of animation. Its attempt to recreate the unique touch of the original work and create new humor can be said to have had a major influence on later animated works.

Fan reactions and stories

Even now, more than 40 years after its release, "The Original Genius Bakabon" is loved by many fans. The reason for this is undoubtedly the power of laughter. Fans have commented that "I laugh every time I watch it," and "I enjoyed watching it with my family." In addition, on social media, the phrase "This is fine!" has become a catchphrase, and many people use it to affirm themselves.

This work has also been garnering a lot of fan-created derivative works, and continues to be loved in various forms, such as cosplay, fan art, and fan fiction, with fans expressing the charm of the Bakabon family in their own ways.

Related works and recommendations

For those who enjoyed "The Original Genius Bakabon," we also recommend the following related works.

• "Tensai Bakabon" TV anime series : A TV anime series that aired from 1971 to 1972. It has a different charm from the movie version.
• "New Genius Bakabon" : A TV anime series that aired from 1976 to 1977. This work was produced following the success of the film version, and offers even more humor.
• "Heisei Genius Bakabon" : A TV anime series that aired from 1990 to 1991. You can enjoy a new story of the Bakabon family told from a modern perspective.
• "Tensai Bakabon" manga series : the original manga by Fujio Akatsuka. This work is the origin of the film and TV anime series, and is full of humor unique to the original work.

For those looking for a laugh, I would also recommend the following films:

• "Sazae-san" : One of Japan's most long-running anime series. Filled with family warmth and humor, it offers a different kind of laughter than the Bakabon family.
• "Doraemon" : An anime that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. It is a work that combines scientific ideas with humor, and has something in common with the genius ideas of the Bakabon family.
• "Crayon Shin-chan" : A comedy anime depicting the daily life of the Nohara family. Like the Bakabon family, it depicts family ties and humor.

Conclusion

Although the movie version of "The Original Genius Bakabon" was released in 1976, its power to make people laugh has not faded and it continues to be loved by many fans. The challenge of bringing out the unique humor and charm of the characters of the original work to the fullest and creating new laughs can be said to have had a major influence on later animation works. The work also contains a deep message of questioning social norms and values ​​through laughter, making the viewer think about many things. If you have not yet seen "The Original Genius Bakabon", you should definitely give it a watch. I'm sure you too will smile and think, "This is good!"