Game Center Storm: Reevaluating Nostalgic Classics

"Game Center Arashi": A classic anime that symbolizes the gaming culture of the 80s

■Overview of the work

Game Center Arashi is a 1982 anime TV series broadcast on Nippon Television and based on the manga of the same name by Mitsuru Sugaya. The 26-episode series follows the adventures of Ishino Arashi, a young boy with a passion for video games, and reflects the gaming boom of the time. It was co-produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Nippon Television and was directed by Tameo Kohana.

■ Story

The protagonist, Arashi Ishino, is a boring boy, but when he gets in front of a game console, his natural talents begin to blossom. He competes against unique rivals and wins by making full use of a variety of special moves. The story unfolds in a humorous and serious way, depicting friendship and growth through games.

■ Characters

・Arashi Ishino (voiced by Satomi Mashima)
The main character. A boy who is usually dull, but shows incredible talent when playing games. He overwhelms his rivals with special moves such as the "Fire Top" and "Moon Flip".
・Tsukikage Ippeita (voiced by Kenichi Ogata)
A boy who is both Arashi's rival and friend. He is known for his calm and calculating play style.
Satoru Oomonji (voiced by Eiko Yamada)
Arashi's best friend, he has great talent for games, but can also be a bit clumsy.
Chairman Nando (voiced by Ichiro Nagai)
He is the owner of the arcade and is looking forward to watching Arashi and his friends compete in games.
・Erika Noto (voiced by Masaru Takashima)
A beautiful girl whom Arashi secretly has feelings for. She is also a top-notch gamer.

■ Production staff

Original story : Mitsuru Sugaya Chief Director : Tameo Kohana Screenplay : Toyohiro Ando, ​​Haruya Yamazaki, Soji Yoshikawa, Akira Nakahara Animation Director : Nobuhiro Okasako Art Director : Masamichi Takano Director of Photography : Jin Kaneko Sound Director : Yasuo Uragami Music : Koji Makaino Production : Nippon Television Network, Shin-Ei Animation

■ Episode

Each episode revolves around a game battle, depicting various special moves and showdowns with rivals. The main episodes are introduced below.
Episode 1: Defeat the Big Computer! (April 5, 1982)
This is the episode where Arashi first makes an impact at the arcade. He challenges the Big Computer and emerges victorious.
Episode 2: "Super Special Move!! Flame Top" (1982/04/12)
In this episode, Arashi shows off his new special move, the "Fire Top," and overwhelms his rival.
Episode 3: "Here it comes!! The deadly moonsault" (1982/04/19)
An episode in which Arashi uses a "moon flip" to defeat a formidable opponent.
Episode 4: "Love's Heart Burns in the Game" (1982/04/26)
In this episode, Arashi takes on the game with his feelings for Erika in mind.
Episode 5: "The Scary Birthday Party" (1982/05/03)
In this episode, Arashi hosts a birthday party with his friends, where a gaming competition begins.
Episode 6: "The Fearsome Blue Train" (1982/05/10)
In this episode, Arashi boards the Blue Train and engages in a gaming competition.
Episode 7: "Severe Pain!! Alien Tooth Decay" (1982/05/17)
In this episode, Arashi challenges himself to a game despite suffering from tooth decay.
Episode 8: "A Man's Challenge!! Sai no Megawara" (1982/05/24)
An episode in which Arashi faces off against his rival in a dice game.
Episode 9: "Short-legged Invader Ginpachi Sensei" (1982/05/31)
An episode in which Arashi faces off against his teacher in an Invaders game.
Episode 10: Dracula Returns (1982/06/07)
An episode in which Arashi takes on a game to defeat Dracula.
Episode 11: "We Did It!! Vacuum Hurricane Shoot" (1982/06/14)
In this episode, Arashi uses his new special move, the "Vacuum Hurricane," to achieve victory.
Episode 12: "Follow the Mysterious Chocolate" (1982/06/21)
An episode in which Arashi takes part in a game involving chocolate.
Episode 13: "The Super Busty Girl I'm Interested in for Some Reason" (1982/06/28)
In this episode, Arashi continues to play the game while being distracted by Erika's breasts.
Episode 14: The Monster of Scab Valley (1982/07/05)
An episode in which Arashi confronts a monster in Scab Valley.
Episode 15: "Escape from the Black Hole!!" (1982/07/12)
An episode in which Arashi attempts a game to escape from a black hole.
Episode 16: "Arashi's bucktooth falls out!!" (1982/07/19)
An episode in which Arashi has his bucktooth removed and takes on a game.
Episode 17: "The Birth of Tongarashi!!" (1982/07/26)
This is the episode in which Arashi creates a new character, "Tongarasi."
Episode 18: "The Big Turnaround!! Surfing Game" (1982/08/02)
An episode in which Arashi makes a major comeback in a surfing game.
Episode 19: "Enough Hamburgers" (August 9, 1982)
In this episode, Arashi eats too many hamburgers and challenges himself to a game.
Episode 20: "Mystery! The Cursed Room" (1982/08/16)
An episode in which Arashi encounters mysterious phenomena but still challenges himself to the game.
Episode 21: "Summer! Games! Training Camp!" (1982/08/23)
An episode in which Arashi holds a gaming camp with his friends.
Episode 22: "Satoru the Genius Targeted" (1982/08/30)
An episode in which Satoru is targeted by a rival and Arashi saves him.
Episode 23: "Save the Pepper!!" (1982/09/06)
An episode in which Arashi challenges a game to save Tongarashi.
・Episode 24 "SOS from Heaven Part 1" (1982/09/13)
In this episode, Arashi receives an SOS from heaven and challenges himself to a game.
・Episode 25 "SOS from Heaven Part 2" (1982/09/20)
In this episode, Arashi responds to an SOS from heaven and challenges himself to a game.
Episode 26: "The Storm's Enemy is the Storm?!" (1982/09/27)
This is the episode where Arashi confronts himself. It's the final episode and builds to a climax.

■ Evaluation and impact

"Game Center Arashi" was produced against the backdrop of the gaming boom of the 1980s, and is a symbol of the gaming culture of that era. In particular, the story of friendship and growth through games touched many viewers. In addition, the special moves and strong personalities of the characters made it extremely popular among children.
This work played a role in widely communicating the appeal and potential of games at a time when games were still a new form of entertainment. Furthermore, the depiction of game centers as places of communication also reflects the social situation at the time.
In addition, the special moves and game battles depicted in the work had a major impact on later game anime and game culture. In particular, special moves such as the "Fire Top" and "Moon Flip" left a strong impression on viewers and became symbols of the fun and excitement of games.

■ Recommendation points

・A must-see for game lovers <br> The story is based on games, and the fun and excitement of games is depicted realistically. The scenes of special moves and game battles are particularly worth watching.
・80s nostalgia
The series is set against the backdrop of the 80s gaming boom, and viewers can experience the atmosphere and culture of that era. Many viewers will likely feel nostalgic.
・A story of friendship and growth <br> The story of friendship and growth depicted throughout the game will move viewers. In particular, the growth of the main character Arashi and his friendship with his rival are not to be missed.
・Unique characters <br> The characters, including Arashi, are full of personality and draw the viewers in. Their special moves and game battles are especially worth watching.
Special moves such as the "Fire Top" and "Moon Flip" leave a strong impression on viewers. These special moves symbolize the fun and excitement of the game.

■ Summary

"Game Center Arashi" is a masterpiece anime created against the backdrop of the gaming boom of the 80s. The story of friendship and growth through games, the unique characters, and the numerous special moves moved and excited viewers. This work played a role in widely conveying the appeal and potential of games, and had a major impact on later game anime and game culture. This is a work that we highly recommend to game lovers and viewers who want to feel nostalgic for the 80s.