Arctic Moosika - A thorough analysis of the moving story played in the frigid land

Misika of the North Pole - A moving story of journey and growth

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Picture books

■ Release date

July 21, 1979 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Nikkatsu Children's Films

■ Eirin Number

19822

■Frequencies

80 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Tomiko Inui, "Mishka, the North Pole" (Rironsha)

■ Director

Chikao Katsui

■ Production

Produced by Nikkatsu Children's Films, Mushi Productions

■Works

© Nikkatsu Children's Films, Mushi Productions

■ Story

The twin cubs Mooshika and Misika, just born in the Arctic, jump out of their snow cave with their mother in the spring and into the outside world. There, they encounter the harshness and joy of nature. One day, the father bear gives them a "Peace Flute" and entrusts them with the task of informing the animals of the summer festival. Having safely completed their mission, the two leave their parents and set off on their own journey.

■Explanation

This feature-length animated film was jointly produced by Nikkatsu Children's Film Company and Mushi Production Company. It is based on a picture book by Inui Tomiko. It depicts the growth of twin bear cubs against the backdrop of the harsh wilderness of the Arctic. The main characters, including the cubs, and other animals such as seals and swans, all appear as cute characters, making it a family-friendly film that children can easily relate to.

■Cast

・Musica/Masako Sugaya ・Misica/Masako Nozawa ・Aura/Nobuyo Oyama ・Muu/Osamu Kobayashi ・Yuri/Keiko Yokozawa ・Marsica/Yoneko Matsukane

■ Main staff

・Planning and production: Mushi Production Co., Ltd., Nikkatsu Children's Film Co., Ltd. ・Supervision: Tezuka Osamu ・Director: Katsui Chikao ・Producers: Ito Akira, Nishiguchi Takeo ・Original story: Inui Tomiko (Rironsha Publishing)
・Screenplay / Kato Mei・Assistant Director / Yoshida Kenjiro・Cinematography / Yoshizaka Kenichi・Character Design / Tsuji Shinichi・Music / Koroku Reijiro・Art / Miyamoto Seiji・Editor / Ogata Harutoshi・Sound / Kumagai Ryohei・Scripter / Tezuka Osamu・Key Animation / Sakai Shunichi, Kikuta Takekatsu, Ishiguro Noboru, Hikone Norio,
・Production chief: Toru Komori

■ Main Characters

・Musica: The curious older twin bear.

・Mishka: The younger twin bear. He has a mischievous and friendly personality.

・A seal that is a friend of Auramooshika and Misika.

・The swan that saved Yuri Musika.

-Marsika A female polar bear who has lost her parents.

■ Theme songs and music

・Theme song: North Pole Musica, Musica ・Lyrics by Yukinojo Mori
・Composition: Reijiro Koroku
・Song: Cherish

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Background and production secrets of the work

"Mishka, the North Pole" is an animated film released in 1979, co-produced by Nikkatsu Children's Films and Mushi Productions. The original story was a picture book by Tomiko Inui, and her heartwarming story was given new life in the form of animation. The film was directed by Chikao Katsui under the supervision of Osamu Tezuka, and is a fusion of the technical capabilities of Mushi Productions, which has produced many masterpieces, and the know-how of Nikkatsu Children's Films in family entertainment.

During the production process, it was necessary to preserve the atmosphere of the original picture book while making use of the expressive power unique to animation. In particular, to realistically depict the harsh natural environment of the Arctic, the staff gathered many materials and conducted detailed research into the local landscape and animal life. Shinichi Tsuji was in charge of character design, and he created adorable characters beloved by children. Music was also an important element, with Koroku Reijiro's beautiful melodies adding depth to the story.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "Moosika and Mishka in the Arctic" depicts twin bear cubs Moosika and Mishka growing up in the harsh Arctic wilderness. The story begins with the arrival of spring as they emerge from their snowy hole into the outside world. From there, the two grow up while experiencing the harshness and joys of nature. A particularly memorable episode is when Moosika and Mishka are entrusted with a "Peace Flute" by their father bear and fulfill the task of informing the animals of the summer festival. Through this episode, Moosika and Mishka learn the importance of responsibility and friendship.

The climax of the story depicts the two animals leaving their parents to embark on a journey on their own. This scene teaches children the importance of growth and independence, and at the same time is a touching scene that conveys the love between parent and child and the sadness of parting. Overall, the story of Mooshika and Meesika's adventures and growth is deeply moving for adults as well as children.

■Charm of the characters

Mooshika and Mishka are twin brothers, but each has a different personality. Mooshika is curious and shows leadership skills, while Mishka is mischievous and friendly. The way these two characters grow while complementing each other leaves a strong impression on the audience. Their friends, Aura the seal and Yuri the swan, are also important characters who add color to the story. In particular, Aura's humorous personality and Yuri's kindness are elements that endear them to children.

The presence of Marsika, a polar bear girl who lost her parents, is also important. Her sad past and her strength to overcome it deepen the growth of Mooshika and Misika. The individuality and growth of each character enriches the story as a whole and is one of the reasons why it touches the audience.

■ Animation techniques and expressions

"Mushika: Misika in the Arctic" is a work that fully demonstrates Mushi Production's technical capabilities. In particular, the background art, which realistically depicts the natural environment of the Arctic, and the character design and animation, which naturally express the movements of the animals, have been highly praised. Seiji Miyamoto's art simultaneously expresses the harshness and beauty of the Arctic, drawing the audience into the world of the story. Shinichi Tsuji's character design balances the cuteness and realism of the animals, creating characters that are easy for children to relate to.

In terms of animation technique, the talents of key animators such as Shunichi Sakai, Takekatsu Kikuta, Noboru Ishiguro, and Norio Hikone shine. Their drawings of movement realistically portray the adventures of Mooshika and Meesika, moving the audience. Kenichi Yoshizaka's cinematography is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. Throughout, the animation techniques and expressions support the story and are one of the factors that deeply move the audience.

■ The appeal of music

The music for "Mousika Mishka of the North Pole" was composed by Koroku Reijiro. His beautiful melodies make the story even more moving. In particular, the theme song "Mousika Mishka of the North Pole," with lyrics by Mori Yukinojo and sung by Cherish, is a beautiful song that symbolizes the theme of the story. This song symbolizes the adventure and growth of Mousika and Mishka, and deeply moves the audience. The music in the play is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, and Koroku Reijiro's music supports the story throughout.

■ Recommendations and ratings

"Mishka in the North Pole" is a family-friendly animated film that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. In particular, the touching story that teaches children the importance of growth and independence while also depicting the importance of parent-child love and friendship has deeply touched many audiences. In addition, the animation technique and expression, as well as the beauty of the music, have been praised, making it a high-quality work throughout.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• A touching story that teaches children the importance of growth and independence
• A profound theme depicting the importance of parent-child love and friendship
• An animation that fully demonstrates Mushi Production's technical capabilities
• Beautiful music and theme song by Koroku Reijiro
• Family-friendly entertainment for kids and adults alike

"Mishka in the North Pole" is a film that is perfect for the whole family to watch together. It is a touching story that teaches children the importance of growth and independence while also depicting the importance of love and friendship between parents and children, deeply touching many audience members. It has also been praised for its animation technique and expression, as well as the beauty of its music, making it a high-quality film throughout. Please enjoy this film with your family.