The appeal and reviews of "Fuurai Cloud": A complete look at this must-see anime masterpiece

"Fuurai Gumo": A masterpiece anime film depicting humanity and charisma in the late Edo period

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

April 24, 1982 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toei

■ Eirin Number

110535

■Frequencies

91 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

George Akiyama

■ Director

Masaki Mamoru

■ Production

Produced by Toei Animation

■Works

© George Akiyama/Shogakukan, Toei Animation

■ Story

The story is set in the late Edo period. It tells the story of Kumo, a wholesaler in Shinagawa, and his family. Kumo neglects his work and spends all his time playing around with women, but he also has a strong charisma. With Kumo at the center, historical figures such as Ryoma Sakamoto also appear, and the story portrays the human feelings of the common people of the late Edo period.

■Explanation

This is an anime film adaptation of the manga of the same name by George Akiyama, which has been serialized in Big Comic Original since 1973. It was released at the same time as the anime film "Sengoku Majin GoShogun." "Fuurai Cloud" has also been made into two TV dramas starring Tetsuya Watari and Beat Takeshi.

■Cast

Cloud/Shingo Yamashiro, Turtle/Mami Kumagai, Shinnosuke/Yoshitaka Kase, Flower/Fuyumi Shiraishi, Professor Shibusawa/Joji Yanami, Ryoma Sakamoto/Makio Inoue

■ Main staff

Director: Mamoru Masaki, Animation Director: Kazuo Tomizawa, Screenplay: Tsutomu Yamatoya, Music: Seiji Yokoyama, Production Cooperation: Madhouse

■ Main Characters

・Kumo Originally a samurai, he now runs a wholesale store called "Yumeya". He wears women's kimonos and lives a playboy lifestyle, but he has a flexible way of thinking and a strong mind. He is also a skilled swordsman and has a charismatic personality that draws people in.

Kamegumo's wife. She supports the people who work at the wholesaler with her naturally cheerful personality and compassion.

・Shinnosuke
Kumo's 11-year-old son. Perhaps because he has taken his father as a bad example, he is very serious.

- Ohana is Kumo's 8-year-old daughter. She is also more serious than Kumo, but she can also be a bit of a tomboy.

・Yokujiro The head clerk of Yumeya who loves Kumo and his family very much. He doesn't rely on his boss Kumo for work at all and essentially runs the wholesale store by himself. Because he takes good care of his colleagues, he is affectionately called "Totsan."

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Background and historical significance of the work

"Fuurai Cloud" is an anime film released in 1982 based on the manga of the same name by George Akiyama. The original work began serialization in Big Comic Original in 1973 and was a beloved long-running series. This anime film was produced on the back of the popularity of the original work, and made a strong impression on audiences at the time. It was particularly praised for its portrayal of the lives and human feelings of ordinary people, set in the turbulent era of the late Edo period. Furthermore, together with "Sengoku Majin GoShogun," which was released at the same time, it received support from a wide range of people.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "Fuurai Kumo" revolves around Kumo, who runs a wholesale store in Shinagawa-shuku, and his family. Kumo neglects his work and spends all his time chasing women, but his charisma and humanity attract those around him. Through the interactions between Kumo's family and friends, the story depicts the lives and human feelings of ordinary people at the end of the Edo period. In particular, the appearance of historical figures such as Sakamoto Ryoma deeply ties the story to the historical background, giving viewers a sense of realism. There are also many scenes in which Kumo's flexible thinking and strong willpower help him overcome difficult situations, and the series is full of moving episodes.

■Charm of the characters

Each character in "Fuurai Kumo" is unique and charming. The protagonist, Kumo, lives as a playboy wearing a woman's kimono, but he also has strong charisma and is a skilled swordsman. His wife, Kame, supports his family and friends with her cheerful personality and kindness. In contrast to their father, Kumo, his son, Shinnosuke, and daughter, Ohana, are earnest and convey the strong family bond. Furthermore, the store manager, Yotsujiro, is a reliable man who does not rely on Kumo's work and runs the wholesale store on his own; he is affectionately referred to as "Totsan." The relationships and growth of these characters enrich the story.

■Animation and Music

The animation for "Fuurai Cloud" was produced making full use of Toei Animation's technical capabilities. In particular, the realistic portrayal of the scenery and lives of ordinary people at the end of the Edo period draws the viewer into the world of the story. Under the direction of animation director Tomizawa Kazuo, the characters' expressions and movements are expressed in detail, conveying the subtleties of emotion. Yokoyama Seiji was in charge of the music, which is memorable for its songs that enhance the atmosphere of the period drama and melodies that enhance the moving scenes. The music and images work together to bring out the charm of the story to the fullest.

■ Achievements of the director and staff

Director Masaki Mamoru directed the film with meticulous attention to detail in order to bring out the best in the original work of "Fuurai Cloud." In particular, in scenes depicting Cloud's charisma and the ties of his family, he used ingenious viewpoint changes and camerawork to stir the emotions of the audience. Screenwriter Yamatoya Tsutomu built an original story for the film while making use of the essence of the original work. Madhouse, which cooperated with the production, also made a major contribution in terms of the technical aspects, raising the quality of the film.

■ Cast performances

The cast of "Fuurai Cloud" brought excitement to the story with performances that made the most of each character's individuality. Yamashiro Shingo, who played Cloud, captivated viewers with his charismatic and human performance. Kumagai Mami, who played Kame, expressed a supportive presence in the family with her performance that combined brightness and kindness. Kase Yoshitaka, who played Shinnosuke, and Shiraishi Fuyumi, who played Ohana, realistically portrayed earnest, growing children, eliciting sympathy from viewers. Yanami Joji, who played Yotsujiro, showed presence as a reliable storekeeper and delivered a familiar performance. Inoue Makio, who played Sakamoto Ryoma, added depth to the story with his performance that combined the dignity of a historical figure with humanity.

■Influence and evaluation of the work

"Fuurai Cloud" was highly praised from the time of its release. Fans of the original work especially praised the film for its faithful reproduction of the worldview of the original work. General audiences also praised the storyline depicting the lives and human feelings of ordinary people at the end of the Edo period, the unique characters, and the beautiful animation and music, which earned the film wide support. Furthermore, the film was made into a TV drama starring Tetsuya Watari and Beat Takeshi, which further increased the popularity of the original work. "Fuurai Cloud" is a masterpiece of period anime and continues to be loved by many fans even today.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"Fuurai Cloud" is recommended for those who want to enjoy a moving story depicting the historical background of the end of the Edo period and the lives of ordinary people. It is also recommended for those who are interested in unique characters and their relationships. The beauty of the animation and music is also not to be missed, making it a work that will satisfy both visually and aurally. DVDs and Blu-rays are available, so you can enjoy it by purchasing or renting. It is also available on some video streaming services, so we recommend using those.

■ Related works and their appeal

"Fuurai Cloud" is based on the manga of the same name by George Akiyama, which was serialized for a long time in Big Comic Original. The original work portrayed the lives and human feelings of ordinary people at the end of the Edo period through the story of Cloud and his family, and was loved by many readers. It was also made into a TV drama starring Watari Tetsuya and Beat Takeshi, allowing readers to enjoy the world of the original in a different way. In particular, Watari Tetsuya's version is impressive for his performance that emphasizes Cloud's charisma, while Beat Takeshi's version is characterized by its humorous direction. We recommend that you watch these related works to gain a deeper understanding of the appeal of "Fuurai Cloud".

■ Summary

"Fuurai Cloud" is a masterpiece anime film that combines a moving story depicting the backdrop of the end of the Edo period and the lives of ordinary people, unique characters and their relationships, and beautiful animation and music. This work has been highly praised not only by fans of the original work but also by general audiences, and continues to be loved by many fans today as a monumental work of period anime. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.