The appeal and reviews of "The Little Prince: Petit Prince": A thorough explanation of the touching story and beautiful visuals

The Little Prince: Petit Prince - A moving story of journey and friendship

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

novel

■ Broadcast period

July 4, 1978 - March 27, 1979
July 4, 1978 - March 27, 1979 Every Tuesday 19:30-20:00
A total of 39 episodes, each 30 minutes long (39 episodes were produced, but episodes 36-39 were not broadcast at the time of the original broadcast)

■Broadcasting station

Asahi Broadcasting

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 35

■Original Story

Saint-Exupery

■ Director

Chief Director/Takeyuki Kanda

■ Production

Knack

■ Story

The Little Prince, who lives alone on a small asteroid, has neither family nor friends. When a kind bird named Bird tells him about a planet called Earth, where all the inhabitants have friends and share their joys and sorrows, the Little Prince decides to go to Earth and make true friends.

■Explanation

This anime series is based on the children's book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, first published in the United States in 1943. There are several episodes that are original to the anime and not in the original work. It was sponsored by Kikkoman. It was recommended by the Central Child Welfare Council, and won the 3rd Agency for Cultural Affairs Children's Television Excellence Film Award in 1978.

■Cast

・Prince/Tatsuya Matsuno・Bird/Hiroshi Masuoka・Satin/Keiko Yokozawa・General/Kazue Takahashi・Peter/Kaoru Kurosu・Old man/Minoru Yada・Rose/Yoshiko Matsuo・Baobab/Kazuya Tatekabe・Osman/Junpei Takiguchi・Zenbe/Ichiro Nagai・Grandpa/Goro Naya・Frank/Nobuo Tanaka・Anna/Masako Ikeda・Adonis/Minori Matsushima・Mary/Miina Tominaga・Claude/Yuko Maruyama・Opening narration/Masaaki Yajima

■ Main staff

・Planning / Nishino Seiichi, Shimatani Yoichiro ・Producers / Mogaki Hiromichi, Hashioka Yu ・Chief Director / Kanda Takeyuki ・Art Setting / Yoshihara Kazusuke ・Character Design / Tanaka Eiji ・Title Design / Asami Hiroshi ・Video Check / Fujita Shigeru ・Painting / Studio Robin ・Special Effects / Tasaki Masao ・Color Setting / Takashima Naoko ・Art / Hachimura Hiroya ・Cinematography / Tabako Toshinori, Tanaka Takeshi ・Editing / Tsurubuchi Tomoaki, Kotaniike Fumio ・Music / Kono Tsuyoshi, Group TOMO
Effects: Ishida Sound Director: Hiroshi Yamazaki Music Production: Canyon Records Production Desk: Kazuo Harada Recording: Central Recording (Shinji Yamazaki)
・Development: Toyo Developing Laboratory ・Production: NAC, Meitsu Kikaku, Asahi Broadcasting

■ Main Characters

Prince: A boy who lived alone on a very small planet. He travels to Earth to find a true friend, and meets many different people along the way.

■Subtitle

*Episodes 36-39 were not broadcast at the time of the original broadcast. Episode 1: My Hometown, a Small Star (1978/07/04)
Episode 2: Friendship in the desertEpisode 3: The green star of EarthEpisode 4: A morning when life shinesEpisode 5: The light of the heartEpisode 6: The stars still twinkleEpisode 7: A castle floating on the seaEpisode 8: By the lakeEpisode 9: A small promiseEpisode 10: The sound of a flute across the lakeEpisode 11: The dandelion and the girlEpisode 12: The hero from the mountainsEpisode 13: The red rose that ties our heartsEpisode 14: The rose captainEpisode 15: The rainbow, the boy and the thiefEpisode 16: The sea where seagulls flyEpisode 17: Friendship in the great outdoorsEpisode 18: Violets in the atticEpisode 19: Nostalgic telescopeEpisode 20: Stars in the palm of your handEpisode 21: Exhilarating! The Rocking Horse Race・Episode 22: Father and Son in the Storm・Episode 23: Grandpa Simon's Gift・Episode 24: The Man Who Digs Dreams・Episode 25: Fly Balloon! Over the Mountains・Episode 26: The Little Flower of Mount Lowen・Episode 27: Run! The Locomotive・Episode 28: Love's Lullaby Grass・Episode 29: When the Aurora Shines・Episode 30: The Adventures of the Dream - Part 1 -
・Episode 31: The Adventures of the Dream ―Part 2―
・Episode 32/I want to go back to the stars ・Episode 33/Fly Meteor!
・Episode 34: The Village that Disappeared at the Bottom of the Lake ・Episode 35: The Bridge of Friendship (1979/03/27)
・Episode 36: Forest Sculptor (not broadcast at the time of the original broadcast)
・Episode 37: Hero's Hill (not broadcast at the time of the original broadcast)
・Episode 38: A Violin Sings to the Heart (not broadcast at the time of the original broadcast)
・Episode 39: Goodnight Prince (not broadcast at the time of the original broadcast)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・The Little Prince Petit Prince ・Lyrics by Yu Aku ・Music by Takashi Miki ・Arrangement by Daiko Nagato ・Singer by Kenzaburo Suzuki

・ED1
・Star Samba・Lyrics by Yu Aku・Music by Takashi Miki・Arrangement by Daiko Nagato・Singer by Twinkle Sisters

The Little Prince: Petit Prince - A moving story of journey and friendship

"The Little Prince: Petit Prince", which aired from 1978 to 1979, is an animated series based on the classic children's literature by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This work animated the deep themes of the original work and was loved by a wide range of audiences, from children to adults. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal of this anime, the background to its production, and its subsequent influence.

Differences between the original and the anime

The original "The Little Prince" was first published in America in 1943, and has since become a beloved work around the world. The original is a story about the Little Prince's journey from a small planet to Earth, where he encounters various people and creatures and learns about the true value of life and friendship. Meanwhile, the animated version of "The Little Prince: Petit Prince" retains the essence of the original while adding many original episodes. This delves deeper into the themes of the original and provides viewers with new emotions.

Anime original episode

The anime version features many episodes that are not in the original work. For example, episode 15, "The Rainbow, the Boy, and the Thief," depicts a story in which the prince meets a thief and reaffirms the value of friendship. Also, episode 25, "Fly, Balloon! Beyond the Mountains," depicts a scene in which the prince goes on an adventure in a balloon, providing visual enjoyment. These episodes are based on the themes of the original work, but make use of the expressive power that only anime can provide.

Production background and staff

"The Little Prince: Petit★Prince" was a joint production between NAC, Meitsu Kikaku, and Asahi Broadcasting Corporation. Chief director Takeyuki Kanda demonstrated deep insight and creativity in adapting the original theme into an anime. Character designer Eiji Tanaka faithfully reproduced the image of the original while bringing out the anime's unique charm. Music was provided by Tsuyoshi Kono and Group TOMO, whose heartwarming melodies livened up the story.

Broadcast and evaluation

This anime was broadcast every Tuesday from 19:30 to 20:00 from July 4, 1978 to March 27, 1979. A total of 39 episodes were produced, but episodes 36 to 39 were not broadcast during the original broadcast. At the time of broadcast, it was sponsored by Kikkoman and was also selected as a recommended program by the Central Child Welfare Council. It also won the 3rd Agency for Cultural Affairs' Excellent Children's Television Film Award in 1978, and its educational value was highly praised.

Cast and characters

Tatsuya Matsuno, who played the role of the Prince, warmly expressed the pure and kind heart of the Prince. Hiroshi Masuoka, who played Bird, also showed a reliable performance as the Prince's best friend who supports him on his journey. Other characters with unique personalities, such as Satin, played by Keiko Yokozawa, and Rose, played by Yoshiko Matsuo, added color to the story.

Theme song and music

The opening theme, "The Little Prince: Petit Prince," was written by Aku Yu, composed by Miki Takashi, arranged by Nagato Daikou, and sung by Suzuki Kenzaburo, creating a beautiful melody that symbolizes the prince's adventure. Similarly, the ending theme, "Star Samba," was written by Aku Yu, composed by Miki Takashi, arranged by Nagato Daikou, and sung by Twinkle Sisters, deeply moving viewers. These songs became important elements that further deepened the worldview of the anime.

Impact and Evaluation

"The Little Prince: Petit Prince" played an educational role in teaching children about the value of friendship and life by adapting the themes of the original story into an anime. It also provided an opportunity for adults to reaffirm the profound message of the original story. This anime has been loved not only by those who first aired it, but by subsequent generations as well, and is supported by many fans. In particular, episodes 36 to 39, which were never aired, are legendary and have been passed down among fans.

Recommendations and how to watch

"The Little Prince: Petit Prince" is a work recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for anime fans. In particular, there are many episodes that make you think about the value of friendship and life, making it a great choice for watching with the whole family. Currently, it is available on DVD and online distribution services, so please give it a try.

Conclusion

"The Little Prince: Petit Prince" is a wonderful work that animates the deep themes of the original novel, inspiring and inspiring viewers. The passion of the production staff, the wonderful acting of the cast, and the beautiful music all combine to make it a timeless masterpiece. Please experience the story of the Little Prince's journey and friendship through this anime.