Review of "Taro the Dragon Boy": A legendary tale of adventure and growth

"Taro the Dragon Boy": The appeal of an animated film that combines legend and adventure

■Overview of the work

"Taro the Dragon Boy" is an anime film produced by Toei Animation and released in 1979. It is based on a children's book by Miyoko Matsutani, the folk tales "Koizumi Kotaro" and "Izumi Kotaro" from Ueda and Matsumoto in Shinshu. This work was screened as part of the "Toei Manga Festival" and captivated audiences with its deep story and beautiful visuals, despite being a short 75-minute film.

■ Story

Long ago, in a poor village, there was a boy named Taro, a dragon child. Taro was lazy, but one day, a Tengu (god of longing) bestowed upon him the ability to exert incredible strength for the sake of others. Taro heard from his grandmother the story of his mother who was transformed into a dragon at a distant lake, and decided to go on a journey to meet his mother. Although he encountered many monsters and difficulties along the way, Taro eventually reached the lake. Through this journey, Taro grew up and came to face his own mission.

■Explanation

"Taro the Dragon Boy" is based on a children's book by Miyoko Matsutani. The book is based on the folk tales of "Koizumi Kotaro" from Ueda, Shinshu, and "Izumi Kotaro" from Matsumoto. These folk tales depict the relationship between nature and humans, as well as stories of courage and growth, which are faithfully reproduced in the animated film. The screening at the "Toei Manga Festival" in 1979 touched many children and is still recognized for its value today.

■Cast

・Taro: Junya Kato・Aya: Mina Tominaga・Red demon: Kazuo Kumakura・Black demon: Kazuo Kitamura・Chicken millionaire: Ayako Kuroda・Taro's grandmother: Hisako Yabuki・Mountain hag: Kirin Kiki・White snake: Tsuneo Sanada・Tengu: Toian Suimeitei・Dragon: Sayuri Yoshinaga (special appearance)
・Narrator: Ayako Kuroda

■ Main staff

・Screenplay: Kiriro Urayama, Takashi Mitsui ・Director: Kiriro Urayama ・Animation direction: Osamu Kasai ・Character design and animation directors: Yoichi Kotabe, Reiko Okuyama ・Art director: Isamu Tsuchida ・Music: Riichiro Manabe ・Planning producer: Yasuo Yamaguchi ・Production: Toei Animation

・Theme song "The Dragon Boy Taro's Song"
Sung by Junya Kato and Ichiro Mizuki Lyrics by Ichiro Wakabayashi and Kiriro Urayama Music and Arrangement by Riichiro Manabe

■ Main Characters

Taro is a boy who lives with his grandmother in a poor village. He is lazy, but is given the ability by a Tengu to exert the strength of a hundred men only for the benefit of others.

Aya is a girl who lives upstream of Taro's village. She is a very beautiful girl and is good at playing the flute. She is attacked by red and black demons but is saved by Taro, and sets out on a journey after him.

・A demon who lives at the top of Akaoniyama. His hobby is to collect animals by beating a drum. He attacks Aya who plays the flute because he thinks she is a nuisance, but is defeated by Taro who comes to his rescue. After that, he is forced to help defeat the black demon.

・Black Demon A bad demon who stole gold, silver, treasures, and rice from the villagers. He captured Aya, but was defeated by Taro and turned into a rock.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Taro, the Dragon Boy" has attracted many audiences with its beautiful visuals and deep story. In particular, the process of Taro's growth and journey gives courage and hope to children, and has universal themes that are inspiring to adults as well. In addition, the story, based on a folk tale, conveys respect for traditional Japanese culture and nature, leaving a deep impression on the audience.

The acting of the cast was also superb, especially the voice of Junya Kato as Taro, who realistically expressed the growth and suffering of the protagonist. Also, Sayuri Yoshinaga's special appearance as the voice of Ryu added depth and mystique to the work. The technical skills of the staff were also highly praised, and the work of the character designers and art directors enriched the worldview of the work.

The music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of the work, and Manabe Riichiro's music stirs emotions as the story unfolds. In particular, the theme song "Taro's Song" is sung by Junya Kato and Ichiro Mizuki's powerful voices, symbolizing the theme of the story.

■ Recommendation points

"Taro the Dragon Boy" is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. In particular, the following points are the reasons why we recommend it.

1. **Deep story and themes**
Taro's journey is not just a story of adventure, but a story of growth and self-discovery. It contains profound themes that will give courage and hope to children, while also making adults ponder the meaning of life.

2. **Beautiful visuals and music**
The visuals, which highlight Toei Animation's technical capabilities, and the music by Riichiro Manabe richly portray the worldview of the work. In particular, the scenes that evoke the beauty and mysticism of nature are a must-see.

3. **Japanese traditions and culture**
The story, based on Shinshu folk tales, will give you a sense of respect for traditional Japanese culture and nature, and will also be a great opportunity to learn about Japanese traditions.

4. **Inspiring Cast Performances**
The performances of the cast, including Junya Kato and Sayuri Yoshinaga, add depth and emotion to the story. In particular, Junya Kato's voice, which realistically expresses Taro's growth, is a must-listen.

Related information

Since its screening at the Toei Manga Festival in 1979, "Taro the Dragon Boy" has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. The original children's literature can still be read today, providing background and details about the work. Furthermore, it is possible to deepen one's understanding of the work by exploring the folk tales of Ueda and Matsumoto in Shinshu.

This film has a profound theme that gives courage and hope to children and makes adults think about the meaning of life. With a combination of beautiful visuals and music, Japanese traditions and culture, and moving performances from the cast, "Taro the Dragon Boy" is definitely worth a watch.