Heidi, Girl of the Alps: A masterpiece anime with a touching story and beautiful Alpine scenery

Heidi, Girl of the Alps: The appeal and background of the timeless animated classic

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

novel

■ Release date

March 17, 1979 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toho Towa

■ Eirin Number

19647

■Frequencies

107 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Johanna Spyri

■ Director

Sumiko Nakao

■ Production

Zuiyo Video

■ Story

Heidi, an orphaned eight-year-old girl, is passed around from relatives to relatives and is eventually placed in the care of her grandfather, who lives alone in the Alps. Heidi's cheerfulness, honesty, and kindness as she relaxes in the great outdoors not only warms the hearts of those around her, but also her cranky grandfather. She spends fulfilling days with Peter the shepherd, Snow the baby goat, and Josef the dog, but is taken to Germany to talk to the sickly daughter of a wealthy family.

■Explanation

Based on Johanna Spyri's novel Heidi, the animated TV program Heidi, Girl of the Alps, produced and broadcast in 1974, was reconstructed and re-edited and released as a theatrical film. It was recommended by the National Council of Japan PTA. The film retains the essence of the original work while using the expressive power of animation to richly depict the story. In particular, it is designed to visually convey Heidi's purity, her love for nature, and the depth of her human relationships. It also shows the high level of Japanese animation technology at the time, and moved many viewers.

■Cast

Heidi / Kazuko Sugiyama ・Grandfather / Kohei Miyauchi ・Peter / Yuko Maruyama ・Clara / Keiko Han ・Rottenmeyer / Naoko Kyoda ・Narration / Toshiko Maeda

■ Main staff

・Planning and production: Zuiyo Enterprises ・Producer: Takahashi Shigeto ・Director: Nakao Sumiko ・Story structure: Matsumoto Isao ・Screenplay: Yoshida Yoshiaki, Okawa Hisao, Sasaki Mamoru ・Original work: Johanna Spyri ・Direction: Takahata Isao ・Screen setting: Miyazaki Hayao ・Character design: Kotabe Yoichi ・Music: Watanabe Takeo

■ Main Characters

A girl who lives with her grandfather in a mountain hut in Heidialm. She is cheerful and full of energy, cheering up those around her. At the same time, she is kind and intelligent, able to sense people's joys and sorrows and empathize with them as if they were her own. She lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her maternal aunt Dete until she was five years old.

Grandpa Heidi's paternal grandfather. He lived a self-sufficient life in a mountain hut and kept his interactions with the people in the village at the foot of the mountain to a minimum. He regains his kind heart by living with Heidi.

A goat farmer who lives in the village of Peterdörfli, he gathers all the goats in the village every morning and takes them to a mountain pasture. He loves food and hates studying. He becomes best friends with Heidi.

Grandma Peter's blind grandmother. She looks forward to Heidi coming to see her more than anything.

Clara is the daughter of the wealthy Sesemann family of Frankfurt. She is in a wheelchair due to her frail health and lives confined to her mansion. Her mother has already passed away and her father is often absent, so she is lonely, but when she meets Heidi, she gains a friend.

Rottenmeyer is Clara's tutor and serves the Sesemann family. She has a strict personality and is especially harsh on Heidi, who does not know proper etiquette.

Yuki-chan is a baby goat kept by Strahl of Dörfli Village. She is Heidi's first friend since she came to Alm. She always follows Heidi around.

- Grandpa Josef's pet Saint Barbarian. Heidi's friend who always seems to be napping, but is always there for her when she needs it.

■ Related works

Heidi, Girl of the Alps
TV anime

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Tell me・Lyrics by Eriko Kishida・Music by Takeo Watanabe・Arrangement by Yuji Matsuyama・Singer by Kayoko Iju & Nelly Schwartz

Heidi, Girl of the Alps: The appeal and background of the timeless animated classic

Heidi, Girl of the Alps is a Japanese animated film released in 1979, based on the novel by Johanna Spyri. The film is a re-edited and re-edited version of the TV anime series, and was loved by many people for its beautiful visuals and moving story. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and background of this film.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Heidi, Girl of the Alps" begins with a young girl named Heidi, who has lost her parents, living with her grandfather in a mountain hut in the Alps. Heidi's cheerfulness and purity soothe those around her, especially her cranky grandfather. However, Heidi is taken to Frankfurt to talk to the sickly Clara, where she faces new friendships and difficulties. The story depicts universal themes such as the relationship between nature and humans, friendship, and familial love, deeply moving viewers.

Character Appeal

Heidi is a bright and energetic girl, but also kind and intelligent, and able to empathize with the joys and sorrows of others. Her character gives hope and courage to the viewers. In addition, the characters of her grandfather, Peter, Clara, and others are also unique, enriching the story. In particular, the changes in her grandfather and her friendship with Clara strike a strong chord with the viewers.

The appeal of video and music

The film's visuals are striking, depicting the beautiful nature of the Alps in a realistic way. The music is also an important element in adding excitement to the story, and the theme song "Oshiete" in particular was loved by many people. Takeo Watanabe's composition and Kayoko Iju and Nelly Schwartz's singing express Heidi's purity and love for nature.

Background of the production and the achievements of the staff

"Heidi, Girl of the Alps" was produced by Zuiyo Eizo, directed by Sumiko Nakao, and written by Yoshiaki Yoshida, Hisao Okawa, and Mamoru Sasaki. It also featured Takahata Isao as director, Miyazaki Hayao as screen designer, and Kotabe Yoichi as character designer, bringing together some of the top creators in the Japanese animation industry at the time. The efforts and talents of these staff members made this movie into a masterpiece.

Social impact and evaluation

"Heidi, Girl of the Alps" has been certified as a recommended work by the National Council of Japan PTA and is highly regarded for its educational value. It has also been loved by many viewers and has been enjoyed by generations. This film teaches children the importance of love for nature and friendship, while also providing emotional healing and inspiration to adults. As a result, it has a great social influence and has influenced many people.

Related works and their appeal

"Heidi, Girl of the Alps" was also produced as a TV anime series. This series also depicts Heidi's adventures and growth, and you can enjoy the story from a different perspective than the movie version. The TV series depicts Heidi's daily life and interactions with her friends in more detail, so by watching it together with the movie version, you can gain a deeper understanding of Heidi's world.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Heidi, Girl of the Alps" is a wonderful film that the whole family can enjoy. It is especially a great film for teaching children the importance of love for nature and friendship. Adults can also be touched by Heidi's purity and kindness, which can heal their hearts and move them. This film is available on DVD and streaming services, so be sure to check it out.

summary

"Heidi, Girl of the Alps" is a classic animated film beloved by many people for its beautiful images, moving story, and charming characters. The film depicts universal themes such as the relationship between nature and humans, friendship, and family love, deeply moving viewers. It also demonstrates the high level of Japanese animation technology at the time, and has had a major social impact. Please watch it and experience its charm.