Kaibutsu-kun Episode 3 Review: What is the appeal of the second season?

"Kaibutsu-kun": The world view and appeal of Fujiko Fujio A

Introduction

In the world of Japanese animation in the 1980s, Fujiko Fujio A's works have captivated many fans with their unique worldview and humor. Among them, "Kaibutsu-kun" was especially loved by children as a story of adventure and growth of Kaibutsu Taro, the prince of Monster Land, in the human world. In this article, we will delve deeper into the appeal and background of "Kaibutsu-kun" and the details of the work.

Overview

Kaibutsu-kun is a TV anime series based on the manga by Fujiko Fujio A, which aired on TV Asahi from September 2, 1980 to September 28, 1982. It has 94 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and was produced by Shin-Ei Animation. It was written by Fujiko Fujio A, directed by Fukutomi Hiroshi, and has music by Tsutsui Hiroshi.

story

Kaibutsu Taro (Kaibutsu-kun), the prince of Monster Land (Monster World), is ordered by his father, the King of the Monsters, to undergo training in the human world due to his selfish and naive personality. Kaibutsu-kun, who lives in a monster mansion accompanied by Dracula, the Wolfman, and Franken, becomes friends with a boy named Hiroshi who lives next door, and while taking care of the monsters living in the human world, he fights against the Demonish, a secret organization of demons plotting to take over the whole world. In the process, Kaibutsu-kun grows through his life in the human world.

Character Introduction

Kaibutsu-kun (Kaibutsu Taro)

Voice actor: Masako Nozawa

He is the prince of Monster Land, and has a selfish and naive personality. However, he gradually grows as he lives in the human world. He is a caring character who cares for his friends and has a strong sense of justice.

Dracula

Voice actor: Kaneta Kimotsuki

He is Kaibutsu-kun's loyal subordinate and a vampire. He supports Kaibutsu-kun's training and plays an active role in various situations. He also has a humorous side, making him a character loved by viewers.

Wolfman

Voice actor: Takuzo Kamiyama

He is a werewolf who is a subordinate of Kaibutsu-kun. He is a powerful character and shows his strength in battle scenes. He plays an active role as a good partner of Kaibutsu-kun.

Franken

Voice actors: Taro Sagami, Shingo Kanemoto

He is a subordinate of Kaibutsu-kun and is Frankenstein's monster. He is strong and plays an active role as Kaibutsu-kun's powerful supporter. He is known for his quiet and serious personality.

Hiroshi

Voice actor: Katsue Miwa

A boy who lives next door to Kaibutsu-kun and is his good friend. He supports Kaibutsu-kun's life in the human world and enjoys adventures with him. He is a bright and energetic character.

Older sister

Voice actor: Chiyoko Kawashima

Hiroshi's older sister and a good friend of Kaibutsu-kun. She is kind and warmly watches over Kaibutsu-kun as he grows up.

Mysterious Child

Voice actor: Eiko Masuyama

A childhood friend of Kaibutsu-kun, she is a girl from Monster Land. She accompanies Kaibutsu-kun on his adventures and plays an active role in various situations. She is a lively and cheerful character.

Ako-chan

Voice actor: Keiko Han

A friend of Hiroshi's, she also becomes good friends with Kaibutsu-kun. She is a bright and lively character, and sometimes joins in adventures.

Kizao

Voice actor: Hase Sanji

Hiroshi's friend, he has a slightly playful personality. He joins Kaibutsu-kun's adventures and provides humorous moments.

Banno

Voice actors: Keisuke Yamashita and Kiyonobu Suzuki

A member of Kaibutsu-kun's enemy organization, "Demonish." He is in conflict with Kaibutsu-kun and plots various evil deeds. He appears as a powerful enemy.

Production Staff

original work

Fujiko Fujio A

Fujiko Fujio A was a manga artist who worked under the pen name Fujiko Fujio and produced many masterpieces, including "Kaibutsu-kun," a unique worldview that combines humor and fantasy.

director

Hiroshi Fukutomi

Hiroshi Fukutomi has worked on numerous productions as an animation director. With "Kaibutsu-kun," he faithfully recreated the worldview of the original work while also putting in a lot of effort to ensure that viewers could enjoy the show.

Animation Director

Toshiyuki Honda, Shinichi Suzuki, and Masashi Kigami

The animation directors were Toshiyuki Honda, Shinichi Suzuki, and Masashi Kigami. Their work allowed the characters' movements and expressions to be drawn in detail, conveying realistic emotions to the viewers.

Art Director

Ken Kawai

Ken Kawai was in charge of the background and colors of the work as art director. He played an important role in visually expressing the world of "Kaibutsu-kun" and conveying its appeal to viewers.

Art setting

Seihei Kawamoto

Seihei Kawamoto was in charge of the art setting and visually constructed the worldview of the work. He realistically depicted the scenery of Monster Land and the human world, drawing the viewer into the world of the story.

Basic Settings

Tsutomu Shibayama

Tsutomu Shibayama was in charge of the basic settings and decided the overall direction of the work. He oversaw the character settings and story development, and played a role in improving the quality of the work.

Literature

Seiji Matsuoka

Seiji Matsuoka was in charge of the literary side of things, and assisted with the writing of the script and the development of the story. He worked hard to bring out the best in the original work and ensure that the viewers would enjoy it.

Director of Photography

Nobuo Koyama and Jin Kaneko

Nobuo Koyama and Jin Kaneko served as cinematographers, pursuing the film's visual beauty. By adjusting the camerawork and lighting, they provided the audience with a realistic visual experience.

music

Hiroshi Tsutsui

Hiroshi Tsutsui was in charge of the music, enhancing the atmosphere of the work. Through the soundtrack and theme song, he played an important role in evoking the emotions of the viewer.

Recording Director

Yasuo Uragami

Yasuo Urakami supported the voice actors as the sound director, playing an important role in conveying the emotions of the characters to the audience through their voices.

Production

Shinei Animation, TV Asahi

Shin-Ei Animation and TV Asahi worked together to produce the film, with Shin-Ei Animation in charge of animation production and TV Asahi broadcasting the film to viewers.

Appeal of the work

A mix of humor and fantasy

The greatest appeal of "Kaibutsu-kun" is its fusion of humor and fantasy. The adventures of Kaibutsu-kun, the prince of Monster Land, in the human world are full of humorous scenes and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. In addition, there are plenty of fantasy elements, such as the exploits of monsters and battles with Demonish, which have the power to draw viewers in.

Character Development

The story of Kaibutsu-kun's growth is also one of the charms of the series. The way Kaibutsu-kun, who was once selfish and ignorant of the world, gradually grows through life in the human world is inspiring to viewers. In addition, characters such as Kaibutsu-kun's friends Hiroshi, his older sister, and Kaiko-chan also grow up along with Kaibutsu-kun, evoking sympathy from viewers.

Social and educational factors

Kaibutsu-kun contains humor and fantasy, but also contains social and educational elements. There are many scenes in which Kaibutsu-kun teaches children important values, such as what he learns in the human world, friendships, and a sense of justice. In addition, the story contains content that makes you think about social issues and human relationships through the battles with Demonish and the lives of monsters.

Evaluation and influence of the work

Viewers' reactions

"Kaibutsu-kun" has been extremely popular with children since it was first broadcast. It has gained many fans thanks to its humorous storyline, appealing characters, and educational elements. It has also been rebroadcast and released on DVD, and is still loved by many viewers today.

Impact on the animation industry

"Kaibutsu-kun" also had a major impact on the animation industry. Fujiko Fujio A's unique worldview and humor influenced subsequent anime works and inspired many creators. Shin-Ei Animation's production techniques and the talents of its staff were also highly praised and were utilized in subsequent works.

Recommendations and related works

Recommendation

"Kaibutsu-kun" is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. It is full of various charms, such as the fusion of humor and fantasy, character growth, social and educational elements, etc. It is especially recommended for fans of Fujiko Fujio A and those who want to enjoy humorous anime. Also, watching it with the family can be an opportunity to teach important values ​​to children.

Related Titles

The original work of "Kaibutsu-kun" is a manga by Fujiko Fujio A, so please read it. Other works by Fujiko Fujio A that are also recommended are "Ninja Hattori-kun" and "Professional Golfer Saru." These works also have fascinating stories that combine humor and fantasy, and will entertain the audience.

Conclusion

"Kaibutsu-kun" is a fascinating work filled with Fujiko Fujio A's unique worldview and humor. It offers viewers a lot of inspiration and learning, including the growth story of Kaibutsu-kun, humorous scenes, social and educational elements, and more. Please watch this work and experience its charm.