The appeal and reputation of Wanwan Sanjuushi: Rediscovering a classic anime

Wanwan Three Musketeers - Looking back on classic anime

"Wanwan Sanjuushi", which aired from 1981 to 1982, is an animal animation based on Alexandre Dumas' masterpiece "The Three Musketeers". This animation was broadcast on the Mainichi Broadcasting System (TBS) in a 30-minute time slot from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, with a total of 26 episodes. The broadcast period was from October 9, 1981 to March 26, 1982, and it was very popular with children at the time.

story

The story of "The Three Musketeers" begins when D'Artagnan, who is away on training, meets the Three Musketeers, the elite of the Royal Musketeers, in Paris and develops a friendship with them. D'Artagnan is a curious and quarrelsome young man who wants to join the Royal Musketeers, but cannot do so due to age restrictions. However, he meets the Three Musketeers Athos, Aramis, and Porthos, and together they confront the various schemes that arise among the royal families and nobles.

The story is based on the original story, with scenes such as D'Artagnan falling in love with a maid named Juliette and struggling to protect her, and confronting the conspiracy of Chancellor Richelieu, but it also contains humor and adventure unique to animal characters. In particular, you can't miss the scene where a cat character named Milady appears and challenges D'Artagnan and his friends as a female spy for Richelieu.

character

The main characters of "The Musketeers" are D'Artagnan, Athos, Aramis, Porthos, Juliet, Richelieu, Milady, etc. The characteristics of each character are introduced below.

• D'Artagnan : A curious and quarrelsome young man. He wanted to join the Musketeers, but was held up by the age limit. His voice actor was Satomi Mashima.
• Athos : Intelligent and calm, but a top-class swordsman, he is the oldest of the Three Musketeers. His voice actor is Akio Nojima.
• Aramis : One of the Musketeers who is kind to women, speaks in a gentle tone, and is friendly. His voice actor is Kanehito Shiozawa.
• Porthos : One of the Musketeers who boasts of his superhuman strength, but is also caring towards his comrades and unassuming. He has a weakness for beautiful women. His voice actor is Tesshō Genda.
• Juliette : A maid trusted by the Queen. She seems quiet but reliable. D'Artagnan admires her. Her voice actor is Keiko Han.
• Richelieu : Prime Minister of Louis XIII. He does not like Queen Anne and tries to use Milady to bring her down. His voice actor is Makoto Terada.
• Milady : Richelieu's female spy. Voiced by Eiko Masuyama.

Production Staff

"Wanwan Sanjuushi" was produced by Nippon Animation. It was directed by Shigeo Koshi and the character design was by Shuichi Seki. Shuichi Seki is known for his character design for the classic series, and in this work he also creates charming portrayals of anthropomorphized animal characters.

The music was composed by Katsuyuki Hattori, and the opening theme "Wanwan Sanjuushi" and the ending theme "So Souu O-O-Wa?" were sung by Maron Kusaka and the Suginami Children's Choir. Both songs were written by Yoshiko Kayama, composed and arranged by Katsuyuki Hattori, and were loved by children at the time.

episode

"Wanwan Three Musketeers" consists of 26 episodes. Below are the subtitles of each episode.

• 01: The Naughty D'Artagnan Appears!! (1981/10/09)
• 02: The Mysterious Blackbeard Swordsman (1981/10/16)
• 03: Hungry Paris (1981/10/23)
• 04: The Invincible Three Musketeers Appear (1981/10/30)
• 05: Musketeer Captain Treville (1981/11/06)
• 06: Duel with the Three Musketeers? Dhanutarnyan is highly promoted (13/11/1981)
• 07: Reunion with beloved horse Lohdi!! (1981/11/20)
• 08: I Love Juliet!! The Secret of a Date (1981/11/27)
• 09: Juliet is Kidnapped!! Chase! Chase! The Big Chase! (1981/12/05)
• 10: The Great Escape! Help D'Artagnan!! (12/12/1981)
• 11: Milady and D'Artagnan (unaired)
• 12: The Final Battle!! Fort Gaillard (unaired)
• 13: A champion of justice? First appearance of Chu-Friend Pom-kun (1981/12/19)
• 14: D'Artagnan's 100% Unrequited Love (1981/12/26)
• 15: Yes! D'Artagnan's first success (1982/01/08)
• 16: The Woman Who Stole the Dagger (1982/01/15)
• 17: D'Artagnan Crosses the Sea (1982/01/22)
• 18: Hurry before the waltz begins (1982/01/29)
• 19: Musketeer's Star (1982/02/05)
• 20: The Secret Behind the Mirror (1982/02/12)
• 21: What is the mysterious ghost ship? (1982/02/19)
• 22: D'Artagnan and the Treasure Island (1982/02/26)
• 23: Don't ring the bells of Notre Dame!! (1982/03/05)
• 24: The False Count of Athos (1982/03/12)
• 25: Milady's Paralysis Medicine (1982/03/19)
• 26: Congratulations Musketeer D'Artagnan (1982/03/26)

Evaluation and impact

"Wanwan the Three Musketeers" faithfully reproduced the story of the original "The Three Musketeers," but was characterized by its humorous presentation using animal characters. It was very popular with children at the time, and even after it ended its broadcast, it was rebroadcast and released on video. There are also testimonies that additional episodes were produced for the overseas market, and it has received a certain degree of international acclaim.

This work has been loved by a wide range of generations for its well-balanced mix of humor and adventure, while teaching children the importance of friendship, justice, and courage. In particular, the friendship between D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers, his love for Juliette, and his confrontation with the conspiracy of Chancellor Richelieu moved viewers.

Recommended points

"Wanwan Three Musketeers" can be recommended for the following reasons:

• Faithful reproduction of the original : While faithfully recreating Alexandre Dumas's "The Three Musketeers," the play is notable for its humorous use of animal characters.
• Fascinating Characters : A diverse cast of characters including D'Artagnan, Athos, Aramis, Porthos, Juliet, Richelieu, and Milady.
• A story of friendship and adventure : This story teaches the importance of friendship, justice, and courage, while also incorporating elements of humor and adventure.
• Nostalgic Classics : The opening theme "Wanwan Sanjuushi" and the ending theme "So So, What Are You?" were beloved by children at the time.

summary

"Woof-Woof the Three Musketeers" is a classic animated film that aired from 1981 to 1982. Based on Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Three Musketeers," it is characterized by its humorous use of animal characters and was extremely popular among children at the time. Viewers were deeply moved by the friendship between D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers, his love for Juliette, and his confrontation with Chancellor Richelieu's plot. This work is still loved by many people as a story of friendship and adventure.