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

"Jarinko Chie": The story of an indomitable girl from downtown Osaka

Jarinko Chie is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Etsumi Haruki, which was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System from October 3, 1981 to March 25, 1983. The series, which has 65 episodes of 30 minutes each, was produced by Mainichi Broadcasting System and Tokyo Movie Shinsha, and the copyright belongs to Etsumi Haruki, Ketai Kogyosha, and TMS.

story

"I'm the most unfortunate girl in Japan."

The story is set in a downtown area of ​​Osaka. The main character, Takemoto Chie, is a lively girl who is only in the fifth grade of elementary school and runs her family's grilled offal restaurant all by herself. She's not good at studying, but she's very good at fighting, and she lives a tough life with her free-spirited father Tetsu and her mother Yoshie, from whom she is completely separated, along with her cat Kotetsu and the sound of his trademark geta.

Chie's daily life is depicted through her interactions with her family and friends. A group of unique characters who also live in the downtown area gather around her, and episodes filled with laughter and tears unfold. This work, which depicts Chie's strength, kindness, and love for her family, continues to be loved by many viewers.

cast

Chie is played by Chinatsu Nakayama, whose voice perfectly expresses her cheerful and bright character. The cast is full of great voice actors, including Norio Nishikawa as her father Tetsu, Yoshio Kamigata as her friend Mitsuru Maruyama, Toshiko Ayukawa as her grandmother, Michio Denpo as her grandfather, Akemi Yamaguchi as her mother Yoshie, Ichiro Nagai as the cat Kotetsu, Mariko Yamanouchi (up to #20) and Yoshiko Ota (from #22) as Antonio Jr., Katsue Miwa as Hirame, Norimasa Irie as Masaru, and Katsuhiko Sunaga as Hanai Kenkotsu.

Main Staff

The film was produced by a team of professionals from various fields, including chief director Takahata Isao, producer Sengoku Shizuhiko, art director Saotome Mitsuru, character designer Kotabe Yoichi, sound director Kato Satoshi, cinematographer Misawa Katsuji, screenwriters Shiroyama Noboru, Shinozaki Yoshi, Miyamoto Masataka, Takayashiki Hideo, music by Kazeto Shinsuke, music director Suzuki Seiji, editor Kakesu Shuichi, literary director Yamazaki Takayuki, and production manager Ozaki Yasumichi.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme, "I Caught the Sun in a Bucket," is sung by Susumu Ohno and Chinatsu Nakayama, with lyrics by Etsumi Haruki, music by Yasunori Soryo, Isao Takahata, and Karaku Fucho, and arrangement by Yasunori Soryo. The ending themes, "Juu Juu Juu" (#1-31, 39-65) and "I Caught the Sun in a Bucket" (#32-38), the former sung by Chinatsu Nakayama and the latter by Chinatsu Nakayama and Susumu Ohno. Both were written by Etsumi Haruki, and music and arrangement by Yasunori Soryo.

Evaluation and impact

Jarinko Chie was loved by many viewers for its unique Osaka dialect, downtown Osaka scenery, and Chie's strong way of life. In particular, Chie's line, "I'm the most unfortunate girl in Japan," is widely known as a symbol of her strength and humor. Takahata Isao's direction and the unique portrayal of the characters were also highly praised, and the show has been loved since it first aired until now.

The work has universal themes of family love and friendship, and the harshness and kindness of life, and has resonated with many people of all ages. In particular, the human drama depicted through Chie's relationships with her family and interactions with her friends has deeply moved viewers.

Recommended points

"Jarinko Chie" can be recommended for the following reasons.

• Realistic depiction of Osaka's downtown area : The scenery and people's lives of Osaka's downtown area are depicted realistically, drawing viewers into the unique atmosphere.
• Chie's resilient way of life : Chie's strength, kindness, and love for her family are depicted, giving viewers courage and inspiration.
• Unique characters : Each character, including Chie, has their own unique personality that will entertain the viewers.
• Takahata Isao's direction : Takahata Isao's direction brings out the best in the work and is visually enjoyable as well.
• Universal themes : The film depicts universal themes such as family love and friendship, and the harshness and kindness of life, resonating with many people.

Related works and information

Jarinko Chie has been adapted not only as an original manga, but also as a film and a stage play. In particular, the 1981 film Jarinko Chie, directed by Takahata Isao, is highly regarded as a work that delves even deeper into the worldview of the original work. A stage version was also performed in 2010, and Chie's story was loved by many people in a new form.

Furthermore, a new anime series, Jarinko Chie: Atashinchi no Chie, was broadcast in 2020, depicting Chie's new adventures. This series depicts Chie's growth and new relationships with her family, making it enjoyable for both fans of the original work and new viewers.

summary

"Jarinko Chie" is the story of an indomitable girl named Chie, set in the downtown area of ​​Osaka. The work depicts her resilient way of life, her love for her family, and her friendships, and gives viewers deep emotion and courage. Takahata Isao's direction and unique characters are also part of the charm of the show, which has continued to be loved since it was first broadcast to the present day. Please try to experience the world of Chie through this work.