The Adventures of Marco Polo: An Animated Travelogue - An in-depth review of a fascinating adventure story

Animated Travelogue The Adventures of Marco Polo - Reviews and Recommendations

Overview

"Animation Travelogue: The Adventures of Marco Polo" is a TV anime series that aired on NHK from 1979 to 1980. The original novel was based on Marco Polo's travelogue "The Travels of Marco Polo," and it tells the story of the adventures of Marco Polo, a young Venetian boy, as he travels along the Silk Road. This anime, with its unique style that combines cel animation and live-action film, provided viewers with the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign lands.

■ Story

Marco Polo is sent on a journey along the Silk Road by his father, Nicolo, and uncle, Matteo. In the desert and foreign land he is seeing for the first time, he gains many experiences and grows both physically and mentally. When he arrives back in his homeland at the age of 20, he wins the trust of the Great Khan, Kublai Khan, and is ordered to inspect various places. Marco's adventures are not over yet.

■Explanation

This anime, which depicts the life of Marco Polo, who traveled to Asian countries in the late 13th century and dictated "The Travels of Marco Polo," is a unique work that combines cel animation and live-action film. By inserting live-action film footage that the program staff had taken on location, it enlightened viewers to the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign countries. In addition, the theme song and insert songs by Ogura Katsura are also memorable, making it a work that will stay in the viewers' hearts.

■Cast

• Marco Polo: Kei Toyama
• Nicolo Polo: Yasuo Hisamatsu
• Matteo Polo: Kosei Tomita

■ Main staff

• Directed by Katsuhiko Fujita and Masaki Mori
• Supervised by: Shinobu Iwamura and Hajime Suzuki
• Composition: Masaki Mori, Masao Maruyama
• Written by: Mitsuru Kaneko
• Character design: Akio Sugino
• Animation Director: Akio Sugino
• Photography: Shinichi Kikuchi, Masanori Ushio
• Art: Yukio Honda, Setsuko Ishizu, Isao Takada
• Edited by: Yoshiyuki Miyazaki
• Animation: Madhouse, MK
• Music: Katsura Ogura, Kosuke Onozaki
• Narrator: Asao Koike
• Technology: Toyohiro Shibata
• Effects: Kei Haraguchi
• Illustration: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
• Produced by: Yasuhiko Tan

■ Main Characters

• Marco Polo
• Nicolo Polo
• Matteo Polo

■Subtitle

• 1. A long journey
• 2. In search of holy oil
• 3. Two Monks
• 4. Farewell, Star of Nefud
• 5. Devil's Fire
• 6. Karaunas, the Desert Bandit
• 7. Golden Paiza
• 8. Baghdad Illusion
• 9. The Boy Who Disappeared in Caspian
• 10. Valley of the Assassins
• 11. Hot Winds of Hormuz
• 12. Love Hidden in the Carpet
• 13. Zoroastrian Friendship
• 14. Rebellion
• 15. Phantom Valley
• 16. The Color of Life
• 17. Chapandu the Phantom Knight
• 18. Terror beyond the Pamirs
• 19. The Girl Who Disappeared in the Tianshan Mountains
• 20. The Desert of Evil Spirits
• 21. Burning Conspiracy
• 22. The Mysterious Flag Flying Through the Sky
• 23. Kublai Khan, King of Kings
• 24. Secret orders given
• 25. Karazhan Serpent
• 26. News from the Hundred Wild Geese
• 27. Secret Weapon: Cannon
• 28. Secrets of the Royal Tombs
• 29. The Yangtze River bursts its banks
• 30. Zipangu's Treasure
• 31. Defeat Zipangu
• 32. The End of Akhmad
• 33. A new journey
• 34. South Sea Storm
• 35. The Wrath of the Elephant
• 36. Malacca, the Devil's Strait
• 37. Secrets of the Jungle
• 38. Raja's Legacy
• 39. The Island of Jewels and Intrigue
• 40. Miracle of the Cave Temple
• 41. The bond between father and son
• 42. The Great Journey
• 43. Thoughts Run Eastward

■ Theme songs and music

• OP "Someday, I'll Travel"
  Lyrics: Katsura Ogura Composition: Katsura Ogura Arrangement: Kosuke Onozaki Vocals: Katsura Ogura
• ED1 "If you look from the sky"
  Lyrics: Katsura Ogura Composition: Katsura Ogura Arrangement: Kosuke Onozaki Vocals: Katsura Ogura
• ED2 "Preparing for another trip"
  Lyrics: Katsura Ogura Composition: Katsura Ogura Arrangement: Kosuke Onozaki Vocals: Katsura Ogura
• ED3 "If that's a dream"
  Lyrics: Katsura Ogura Composition: Katsura Ogura Arrangement: Kosuke Onozaki Vocals: Katsura Ogura
• ED4 "Anyone is fine"
  Lyrics: Katsura Ogura Composition: Katsura Ogura Arrangement: Kosuke Onozaki Vocals: Katsura Ogura
• ED5 "Blue Wolf"
  Lyrics: Katsura Ogura Composition: Katsura Ogura Arrangement: Kosuke Onozaki Vocals: Katsura Ogura

*ED1 to 5 are used randomly.

■Review

"Animation Travelogue: The Adventures of Marco Polo" is an anime series that was broadcast on NHK from 1979 to 1980, and its unique style and deep storyline captivated many viewers. By combining cel animation and live-action film, this anime provided viewers with the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign lands. By following Marco Polo's adventures, viewers were able to share in his growth and travels, and deepen their understanding of different cultures.

The story begins with Marco Polo setting out on a journey along the Silk Road accompanied by his father, Niccolo, and uncle, Matteo. Seeing the desert and foreign landscapes for the first time, he gains many experiences and grows both physically and mentally. Arriving back in his homeland at the age of 20, Marco wins the trust of the Great Khan, Kublai Khan, and is ordered to inspect various places. But Marco's adventures are not over yet. This story captured the hearts of viewers by providing them with the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign lands.

The commentary for this anime depicts the life of Marco Polo, who traveled to Asian countries in the late 13th century and dictated "The Travels of Marco Polo." It is a unique work that combines cel animation and live-action film, and by inserting live-action film footage that the program staff had taken on location, it enlightened viewers to the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign countries. In addition, the theme song and insert songs by Ogura Katsura are also memorable, making it a work that will stay in the viewers' hearts.

The cast is made up of a star-studded cast of voice actors, including Kei Toyama as Marco Polo, Yasuo Hisamatsu as Nicolo Polo, and Kosei Tomita as Matteo Polo. Their performances portrayed Marco Polo's adventures in a realistic way, capturing the hearts of viewers.

The main staff includes directors Katsuhiko Fujita and Masaki Mori, supervisors Shinobu Iwamura and Hajime Suzuki, storytellers Masaki Mori and Masao Maruyama, storyteller Mitsuru Kaneko, character designer and animation director Akio Sugino, cinematographers Shinichi Kikuchi and Masaki Ushio, art directors Yukio Honda, Setsuko Ishizu and Isao Takada, editor Yoshiyuki Miyazaki, animation by Madhouse and MK, music by Katsura Ogura and Kosuke Onozaki, narrator Asao Koike, technician Toyohiro Shibata, sound effects by Kei Haraguchi, animation by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and production by Yasuhiko Tani, bringing together many talented people. Thanks to their efforts, this anime has become a work that has captured the hearts of viewers.

The three main characters are Marco Polo, Niccolò Polo and Matteo Polo, whose adventures have captivated viewers, who have been invited to share in their growth and journey.

The show, with subtitles ranging from "A Long Journey" to "Thoughts Run Eastward," depicts the adventures of Marco Polo across 43 episodes. Each episode has a different theme and story, and viewers can deepen their understanding of different cultures by following Marco Polo's adventures.

The theme song and music were six songs by Katsura Ogura: "Someday Traveler," "If I Look From the Sky," "Preparing for a Trip Again," "If That's a Dream," "Anyone I Like," and "Blue Wolf." These songs left a deep impression on viewers and enhanced the atmosphere of the anime.

■Recommendation

"Animation Travelogue: The Adventures of Marco Polo" is a unique anime work that offers the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign lands. By following the adventures of Marco Polo, viewers can deepen their understanding of different cultures. In addition, the theme song and insert songs by Ogura Katsura are also memorable, making it a work that will stay in the viewers' hearts. This anime is highly recommended for viewers who seek the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign lands.

This anime not only gives viewers the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign lands, but also captures the hearts of viewers by sharing Marco Polo's growth and journey. Thanks to the stellar voice cast and talented staff, this anime has become a work that will stay in the viewers' hearts. By following Marco Polo's adventures, viewers can deepen their understanding of different cultures and feel the romance of travel.

The theme song and insert songs by Katsura Ogura are also memorable, making this a work that will stay in the viewers' hearts. These songs enhance the atmosphere of the anime and capture the hearts of the viewers. By listening to these songs, viewers can be drawn into the world of the anime and feel the romance of the journey.

"Animation Travelogue: The Adventures of Marco Polo" is highly recommended for viewers who seek the romance of travel and knowledge of foreign lands. This anime will capture the hearts of viewers and deepen their understanding of different cultures. The theme song and insert songs by Ogura Katsura are also memorable, making it a work that will stay in the viewers' hearts. Viewers can feel the romance of travel by following the adventures of Marco Polo.