"Botchan" Review: A moving animated version of Natsume Soseki's classic novel

"Botchan": A masterpiece animated adaptation of Natsume Soseki's classic

The anime "Botchan" is a TV special based on Natsume Soseki's masterpiece novel "Botchan" and aired on Fuji TV on June 13, 1980. Set in Meiji-era Japan, the story follows the protagonist, who graduates from a physics school in Tokyo and works as a mathematics teacher at a junior high school in Matsuyama. In just 72 minutes, the film is packed with the essence of the original work.

story

After graduating from a physics school in Tokyo, Japan during the Meiji period, Botchan is posted to Matsuyama as a junior high school mathematics teacher. There, he gives the principal nicknames such as "Tanuki" (raccoon dog), the vice principal "Red Shirt" and the English teacher "Uranari". While he becomes good friends with the passionate mathematics teacher "Yamaarashi", he is teased by the students and spends his days in chaos. In the midst of all this, he meets and falls in love with a beautiful woman called "Madonna", but she has promised to marry "Uranari" because of her poor family. Through Botchan's relationships and love affairs, this story satirizes the educational field and society of the Meiji period.

cast

The film has a stellar cast, with Saijo Hideki playing the main character, Botchan. His passionate performance adds depth to the film. Other veteran voice actors who play supporting roles include Naya Goro as Yamaarashi, Nagai Ichiro as Tanuki, Nozawa Masako as Chibi, Asou Miyoko as Kiyoshi, Yanami Joji as Akashatsu, Tanonaka Isamu as Nodaiko, Yamada Yasuo as Uranari, and Kume Akira as the narrator. The fact that all these actors have come together in one place has raised the quality of the film even further.

Main Staff

The production of this work was handled by Yutaka Fujioka, with the script by Yoshiyuki Fukuda and music by Takeo Watanabe. The character designs are by Monkey Punch, the supervision by Osamu Dezaki, the setting by Masao Maruyama, the animation director by Akio Sugino, the art director by Shichiro Kobayashi, the sound director by Mitsuhiro Sakon and the director by Hiroo Takeuchi. These staff members worked together to faithfully recreate the worldview of the original work while adding expressions unique to anime.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Suiuta" sung by the Duke Aces, with lyrics by Shimazaki Toson and music by Watanabe Takeo. The ending theme is "Tozai Nanboku" also sung by the Duke Aces, with lyrics by Shimazaki Toson and music by Watanabe Takeo. An insert song is "Kojo no Tsuki" sung by Saijo Hideki, with lyrics by Doi Bansui and music by Taki Rentaro. These songs add to the atmosphere of the story and leave a lasting impression on the viewers.

Appeal of the work

"Botchan" is a work that faithfully reproduces Natsume Soseki's original work while incorporating expressions unique to anime. It is packed with the essence of the original work, which depicts the educational field and social satire of the Meiji era, and the story unfolds in a short time of 72 minutes. It is filled with deep themes that make the viewer think through the human relationships and romance of the main character, Botchan. In addition, the quality of the work is further improved by the gathering of a luxurious cast and staff. The opening, ending, and insert songs also liven up the atmosphere of the story and will leave a deep impression on the viewer.

Recommended points

"Botchan" is an anime based on Natsume Soseki's masterpiece novel, and its appeal lies in the story set in Japan during the Meiji period. It is a satire of the educational field and society through the protagonist Botchan's relationships and romance, and contains deep themes that make viewers think. In addition, the quality of the work is further improved by the gathering of a luxurious cast and staff. The opening, ending, and insert songs also add to the atmosphere of the story and will leave a deep impression on viewers. Please give it a watch.