The appeal and evaluation of the manga "Sarutobi Sasuke": A masterpiece that delves deeply into the world of ninjas

"Manga Sarutobi Sasuke": The appeal of this historical action anime and its background

1. Overview of the Work

Manga Sarutobi Sasuke is an anime series that aired on Tokyo 12 Channel from October 9, 1979 to April 8, 1980. It consisted of 24 episodes and aired in a 30-minute slot every Tuesday from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. This work is an original anime and has no original work. It was directed by Tojo Shohei and produced by Nishino Seiichi (Nac), and was produced jointly by Tokyo 12 Channel and Nac.

2. Story

The story is set in the early 17th century, in Japan, at the beginning of the Edo period. The protagonist, Sarutobi Sasuke, is a young ninja who has trained in Koga ninjutsu and grown to the point of being awarded the secret book of techniques. He comes to serve Sanada Yukimura, the lord of Shinano Province, and in order to protect his lord and the people around him, he engages in fierce ninjutsu battles with the ninja army led by Hattori Hanzo of Iga, together with his companions Miyoshi Seikai Nyudo and Kirigakure Saizō.

3. Commentary

"Manga Sarutobi Sasuke" is a period drama action anime with the fictional ninja Sarutobi Sasuke as the main character. It depicts a ninja vs. ninja battle set in an era when the war between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi clans was about to begin. The story unfolds in a light-hearted way, with good triumphing over evil, and was produced as a highly entertaining anime. The aim of this work is for children to learn about the world of ninjas and their historical background while having fun.

4. Cast

The main cast is as follows:

• Sarutobi Sasuke: Yoko Matsuoka
• Yukimura Sanada: Hisashi Katsuta
• Miyoshi Seikai Nyudo: Nishio Toku
• Saizō Kirigakure: Yoichi Mitsuhashi

5. Main Staff

The production staff is as follows:

• Produced by: Seiichi Nishino (Nac)
• Director: Shohei Tojo
• Producers: Hiroo Kondo (Tokyo 12 Channel), Katsuma Saijo (Nac)
• Screenplay: Tsunehisa Ito
• Character design: Nobuhiro Okasako
• Animation director: Shinnosuke Kon
• Art director: Tadami Shimokawa
• Background: Studio POP
• Painting: Studio Robin
• Photography: Studio Wood
• Music: Junko Mizuno, Yuichi Oshima
• Sound Director: Hiromichi Mogaki
• Color setting: Mayumi Yamamoto
• Developed by Tokyo Developing Laboratory
• Edited by: Sanyo Group Editorial Office
• Sound Production: CineBeam
• Sound: Hiroyuki Murata
• Effects: Takahiko Kanamaru
• Production desk: Hirofumi Toida
• Produced by Tokyo 12 Channel, NAC

6. Main Characters

Details of the main characters are as follows:

• Sarutobi Sasuke : The main character. A young ninja with a monkey-like face, he trained in Koga ninjutsu for three years and became able to use ninjutsu such as Katon and Transformation. He has a kind and righteous heart, and is determined to use ninjutsu to eliminate conflict from the world.
• Yukimura Sanada : The lord of Ueda Castle in Shinano Province, he is an old acquaintance of Tozawa Hakuunsai of Koga. He is a kind-hearted lord who does not want any pointless conflict.
• Miyoshi Seikai Nyudo : One of Sanada Yukimura's retainers. He possesses great strength, wielding a giant iron club, but he has a simple personality and is easily persuaded by flattery.
• Saizō Kirigakure : A handsome young ninja who serves Yukimura. He travels all over Japan to gather information.
• Tozawa Hakuunsai : An old ninja from Koga. Although he is a skilled ninja, he does not use his ninjutsu for personal gain and lives quietly deep in the mountains of Togakushi. He trains Sasuke as a ninja and tells him to serve the popular Sanada Yukimura.

7. Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: Onkirikiri Monkey Jump Appears (1979/10/09)
• Episode 2: Ninjutsu Battle: Giant Snake vs. Giant Toad
• Episode 3: Seikai Nyudo and the Angry Strength of a Hundred Men
• Episode 4: The Secret Weapon of Murder
• Episode 5: Kunoichi Ninjutsu: The Giant Spider Technique
• Episode 6: Aerial Combat - Who is the Flying Ninja?
• Episode 7: The Ghost Ninja with the Janome Umbrella
• Episode 8: Sasuke is tricked by a female ninja
• Episode 9: Capture Sea Creatures Alive
• Episode 10: The Duel on Mount Onikobe
• Episode 11: Tornado Ninjutsu: The Three Flying Brothers
• Episode 12: The Dangerous Battle of Jigokudani
• Episode 13: The Magic Mummy Jar
• Episode 14: The Water-Born Sorcerer
• Episode 15: The Terrifying Vampire Bat
• Episode 16: The Magic Flute Makes the Mouse Run
• Episode 17: The Sorcerer of the Grass Racecourse
• Episode 18: The Terrifying Mirror that Swallows People
• Episode 19: The Art of Copying Ah, There Are Two Sasukes
• Episode 20: The Clown in the Light Trick Troupe is the Devil
• Episode 21: The invisible enemy, the Kasumi Ninja, appears
• Episode 22: The Beauty and the Giant's Magic
• Episode 23: Qinghai, the Hometown of Tears
• Episode 24: Farewell Sasuke, Until Next Time (1980/04/08)

8. Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs are as follows:

• OP1
  • Title: Monkey Jump Appears
  • Lyricist: Tsunehisa Ito
  • Composer: Masayuki Yamamoto
  • Arrangement: Masaaki Jinbo
  • Sung by: Aquarius
• ED1
  • Title: Sasuke Fly
  • Lyricist: Tsunehisa Ito
  • Composer: Masayuki Yamamoto
  • Arrangement: Masaaki Jinbo
  • Sung by: Aquarius

9. Appeal and Evaluation of the Work

"Manga Sarutobi Sasuke" was loved by many viewers as an action anime set against the backdrop of Japan's unique cultural background of period drama and ninja. In particular, the character of the main character, Sarutobi Sasuke, made a strong impression on children and sparked their interest in the world of ninjas. In addition, different ninjutsu and magic techniques appear in each episode, making it easy to keep viewers from getting bored.

The work's reputation lies in its high level of perfection as a period drama anime and its enjoyable entertainment for children. Although the story is simple, it depicts universal themes such as the conflict between good and evil, friendship, and growth, and has been well received by a wide range of people, from children to adults. The quality of the character designs and drawings is also high, and the beautiful images reflect the technical standards of the time.

10. Background and influences of the work

The years 1979 to 1980, when "Manga Sarutobi Sasuke" was broadcast, were the golden age of Japanese television animation. Many masterpieces were born during this period and captured the hearts of viewers. "Manga Sarutobi Sasuke" was one of them, and became a leading work in the period drama anime genre.

This work had a huge influence on subsequent ninja-themed anime and manga. In particular, the ninja character settings and storytelling techniques have been incorporated into many works. The character Sarutobi Sasuke himself has also come to be widely recognized as a symbol of the ninja.

11. Recommendations and Related Works

For viewers who enjoyed "Manga Sarutobi Sasuke," we also recommend the following works:

• "Ninja Hattori-kun" : Another ninja-themed anime that combines humor and action.
• "Cyborg 009" : A work that combines science fiction and action, this anime incorporates ninja elements from a different perspective than period dramas.
• "Fuunji-tachi" : A work set against a historical background, allowing you to enjoy the drama and action of the Warring States period.

Like "Manga Sarutobi Sasuke," these works can be enjoyed as entertainment depicting the world of period drama and ninja. Each work also has a different perspective and theme, and is full of elements that will attract the interest of viewers.

12. Summary

"Manga Sarutobi Sasuke" is a period drama action anime that was broadcast from 1979 to 1980. This work, which depicts the battle between ninjas centered around the main character Sarutobi Sasuke, aims to have children learn about the world of ninjas and their historical background while having fun. Although the story is simple, it depicts universal themes such as the conflict between good and evil, friendship, and growth, and made a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the quality of the character design and drawings is high, and it is characterized by beautiful images that reflect the technical level of the time. This work had a great influence on later ninja-themed anime and manga, and the character Sarutobi Sasuke himself has become widely recognized as a symbol of ninjas. For viewers who enjoyed "Manga Sarutobi Sasuke," we also recommend other works with themes of ninjas and period dramas such as "Ninja Hattori-kun," "Cyborg 009," and "Fuunji-tachi." Each of these works depicts a different perspective and theme, and is full of elements that will attract the viewer's interest. "Manga Sarutobi Sasuke" is a work that combines the high level of perfection of a period drama anime with the fun of children's entertainment, and can be said to be a masterpiece that continues to be loved by audiences.