Jarinko Chie: What is the appeal of this classic anime that depicts the heart of Osaka?

"Jarinko Chie": A culmination of Osaka's working-class atmosphere and human drama

■Overview of the work

Jarinko Chie is an anime film based on the manga of the same name by Etsumi Haruki, released in April 1981. Directed by Isao Takahata and produced by Toho and TMS Entertainment, it features many comedians from Yoshimoto Kogyo and is known for its realistic portrayal of the atmosphere of downtown Osaka. The 110-minute film depicts the daily life of a young girl named Chie, who lives in a town overlooking Tsutenkaku Tower, along with her family and friends.

■ Story

Chie, a young girl who lives in a town overlooking Tsutenkaku Tower in downtown Osaka, runs a grilled offal restaurant with her father, Tetsu. Tetsu is a gambler and leaves the management of the restaurant entirely to Chie. Meanwhile, Chie lives her days full of energy and gets caught up in various events with the unique people around her. Through Chie's interactions with her family and friends, a heartwarming story of Osaka unfolds.

■Explanation

"Jarinko Chie" is an animated film adaptation of the original manga by Haruki Etsumi, which was serialized in Futabasha's "Weekly Manga Action". In order to faithfully recreate the atmosphere of Osaka's downtown area as depicted in the original, director Takahata Isao cast comedians affiliated with Yoshimoto Kogyo. The acting of the comedians, especially Nishikawa Norio who played Tetsu, became a hot topic and the film was well received. Furthermore, art director Yamamoto Nizo's depiction of the Osaka cityscape was also superb, leaving a strong impression on audiences.

■Cast

• Takemoto Chie: Chinatsu Nakayama
• Takemoto Tetsu: Nishikawa Norio
• Yoshie Takemoto: Kyoko Mibayashi
• Kiku Takemoto: Kyo Utako
• Old man: Keisuke Otori
• Mitsuzo Yurine: Gannosuke Ashiya
• Hanai Kenkotsu: Shofutei Ninturu
• Masaru Kobayashi: Shinsuke Shimada
• Kotetsu: Kiyoshi Nishikawa
• Antonio: Yasushi Yokoyama

■ Main staff

• Produced by: Hidenori Taga, Tetsuo Katayama
• Production manager: Sengoku Shizuhiko
• Production desk: Koji Takeuchi
• Screenplay: Noboru Shiroyama, Isao Takahata
• Animation director: Yoichi Kotabe, Yasuo Otsuka
• Art director: Yamamoto Nizo
• Director of photography: Takahashi Hiroto
• Music: Hoshikatsu
• Assistant Director: Yasumi Mikamoto
• Director: Isao Takahata

Theme song

Opening theme "I caught the sun in a bucket"

• Lyricist: Etsumi Haruki
• Composer: Yasunori Soryo and Hiroji Hayakawa
• Arrangement: Yasunori Soryo
• Sung by: Chinatsu Nakayama and Susumu Ohno

Ending theme "Juu Juu Juu"

• Lyricist: Etsumi Haruki
• Composition and Arrangement: Yasunori Soryo
• Vocals: Chinatsu Nakayama

■ Main Characters

Takemoto Chie

A fifth-grader whose catchphrase is "I'm the best girl in Japan." She's good at math and PE, and is particularly fast at running races. She's full of vitality and also manages an offal store. On the other hand, she sometimes laments her own misfortune, getting caught up in all sorts of trouble. Chie's character plays the most important role in the film, and her growth and relationships with the people around her are central to the story.

Takemoto Tetsu

Tetsu is Chie's father. He runs a horumon restaurant, but he is a useless father who spends all his time gambling and fighting, leaving the management of the restaurant to Chie. He dotes on his daughter Chie. Although he has a violent image, he does not smoke or drink alcohol. Tetsu's character leaves a strong impression on the audience with his comical interactions with Chie and the kindness he occasionally shows.

Takemoto Yoshie

Yoshie is Chie's mother and Tetsu's wife. She has a quiet and gentle personality. She has been running away from home since Tetsu told her to "get out," but she has a good relationship with Chie and Tetsu's mother, Takemoto Kiku. Yoshie's character symbolizes the bond between family members, and her presence has a great impact on Chie's growth.

Yurine Mitsuzo

He is the boss of a gambling parlor. After his gambling hall is vandalized by Tetsu and his beloved cat dies, he changes jobs to work at an okonomiyaki restaurant. He is usually gentle, but after drinking a sho of sake, his personality changes completely and he becomes so violent that no one can get close to him. Mitsuzo's character provides some comical scenes in the film, but he also portrays a deep humanity.

Hanai Fist

He was Tetsu's elementary school teacher and also the matchmaker between Tetsu and Yoshie. He was a member of the sumo club when he was a student. He was also a top researcher, but he left the university after an incident. After retiring from teaching, he became a writer. Kenkotsu's character adds depth to the story through his past relationship with Tetsu.

Masaru Kobayashi

Masaru is the class representative of Chie's class. At school, he pretends to be an honor student and teases Chie and her friends, but when he is subjected to violence, he immediately bursts into tears. He writes down all the bad things he says about Chie in a "notebook." Masaru's character, contrasted with Chie, depicts the relationships and growth of children.

Small iron

Kotetsu is Chie's pet cat. His trademark is the crescent-shaped scar on his forehead. He was adopted by Chie at a sweet shop she visited and became a member of the Takemoto family. When he was a stray dog, he had many heroic tales, and is the strongest character in the story, human or animal. Kotetsu's character symbolizes the bond between Chie and Kotetsu, and adds warmth to the story.

■ Related works

The original Jarinko Chie manga was serialized in Futabasha's Weekly Manga Action magazine from 1978 to 1997. It was also adapted into an anime TV series that aired from 1981 to 1983. The anime TV series features different episodes from the film version, and delves deeper into the daily lives of Chie, her family and friends.

■ Evaluation and impact

"Jarinko Chie" was highly praised when it was released, especially for its realistic portrayal of the atmosphere of Osaka's downtown. In order to faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the original work, director Takahata Isao cast entertainers belonging to Yoshimoto Kogyo, and their realistic acting contributed greatly to the success of the film. Additionally, art director Yamamoto Nizo's depiction of the Osaka cityscape was also superb, leaving a strong impression on audiences.

The film depicts a heartwarming story of Osaka through the human drama of Chie and her family and friends. It explores a variety of themes, including Chie's growth, family ties, and interactions with friends, and deeply moved audiences. The success of the film also further increased the popularity of the original manga, leading to the production of a TV anime version.

■ Recommendation points

"Jarinko Chie" is loved by many fans as an anime film that realistically recreates the atmosphere of downtown Osaka. In particular, the human drama of Chie and her family and friends deeply moves the audience. In addition, the realistic acting of the comedians belonging to Yoshimoto Kogyo and the depiction of the Osaka cityscape by art director Nizo Yamamoto are also superb, further enhancing the appeal of the film.

This film depicts the importance of bonds between family and friends, and is a heartwarming and moving work for the audience. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in the atmosphere of Osaka's downtown and human drama. Also, by enjoying the original manga and TV anime version, you can gain a deeper understanding of the story of Chie and her family and friends.

Conclusion

"Jarinko Chie" is a film that can be said to be the culmination of Osaka's working-class atmosphere and human drama. Through the daily lives of Chie and her family and friends, it portrays the importance of family ties and friendship, deeply moving the audience. The realistic portrayal by director Takahata Isao and art director Yamamoto Nizo is also superb, further enhancing the appeal of the film. Please watch this film and experience the world of Osaka's working-class atmosphere and human drama.