The appeal and evaluation of the mischievous god story Korokoro Poron: A must-read review for fans

Ochame Kami Monogatari Korokoro Poron - Looking back on nostalgic comedy anime

Among the many masterpieces born in the world of Japanese animation in the 1980s, one that particularly captured the hearts of children was "Ochame Kami Monogatari Korokoro Poron." Based on the original work by Azuma Hideo, this TV anime series aired on Fuji TV from May 8, 1982 to March 26, 1983. With a total of 46 episodes, each 30 minutes long, it provided many laughs and emotions to children at the time. In this article, we will take a deeper look at this nostalgic comedy anime, introducing its appeal and background in detail.

■Overview of the work

"Korokoro Poron: The Story of the Mischievous Gods" is a comedy anime set in Greek mythology. The main character is Poron, the daughter of the sun god Apollo. She is a bit of a clumsy and mischievous girl, and the story depicts her struggle to become a full-fledged goddess. While Poron helps people in trouble, she also causes all sorts of trouble in Olympus. Her actions have resonated with children and earned her many fans.

■ History of the original work and its anime adaptation

The original work is the manga "Olympus no Poron" by Hideo Azuma. This manga was serialized in "Monthly Princess" (Akita Publishing) and was already completed. However, when it was made into an anime, the title was changed and it started anew as "Ochame Kami Monogatari Korokoro Poron." At the same time as the anime began airing, the manga of the same name was also serialized in "100 Ten Comic" (Futabasha), and both the original work and the anime became popular.

This anime was the first production by Kokusai Eigasha after it established its own studio, and was characterized by its musical-style structure with many inserted songs. It was directed by Takao Yotsuji, produced by Kokusai Eigasha and Fuji Television, and the copyright is held by Hideo Azuma and Kokusai Eigasha.

■ Story

Pollone is the only daughter of the sun god Apollo, and a mischievous half-goddess. She works hard every day to become a full-fledged goddess, but contrary to her bright and cheerful personality, she also has a clumsy side. Pollone goes on various adventures in Olympus with his friend Eros, the god of love. Eros is self-conscious about his ugly face, and tries to stop Pollone's rampage, but always fails. Pollone's father, Apollo, is a big drinker who always oversleeps, but is depicted showering his love on his beloved daughter Pollone with all his might.

■Cast and crew

The voice actor for Polon was Masako Miura, the voice actor for Eros was Keiko Yamamoto, and the voice actor for Apollon was Akio Nojima (Chiba Shigeru for episodes 13-24). The main staff included original author Hideo Azuma, producer Juzo Tsubota, planning director Yukimasa Ohno, series composer Masaru Yamamoto, music composer Masayuki Yamamoto, sound director Nobuhiro Komatsu, art director Tsutomu Fujita, character designer Toshio Takagi, general director Takao Yotsuji, producers Shigeo Tsubota, Kazumasa Fujiya, and Yukimasa Ohno, and production manager Kazuyuki Kawanishi. The series was produced by Kokusai Eigasha and Fuji Television.

The theme songs are "Olympus no Polon" (lyrics, composition, and arrangement: Masayuki Yamamoto, sung by Yoshie Hara) for the opening, and "Feeling like a Goddess" (lyrics: Yu Yamamoto, composition and arrangement: Masayuki Yamamoto, sung by Yoshie Hara) for the ending. The inserted song is "Ne ga akari ondo" (lyrics: Takao Yotsutsuji, composition and arrangement: Masayuki Yamamoto, sung by Mina no Shu (Masako Miura, Keiko Yamamoto, Akio Nojima, Masashi Amemori, Yoko Kawanami)).

■Main Characters

Pollone is the only daughter of the sun god Apollo, and a mischievous, half-baked goddess. She works hard every day to become a full-fledged goddess, but despite her bright and cheerful personality, she also has a clumsy side. Eros is the god of love and Pollone's friend, and is self-conscious about his ugly face. He tries to stop Pollone's rampage, but always fails. Apollo is the sun god and Pollone's father, and although he likes to drink and always oversleep, he is depicted as showering his daughter Pollone with love.

■ Episode

The 46 episodes in the series are based on Greek mythology. Here are some excerpts:

• Episode 1: I want to be a goddess
• Episode 2 "Icarus' Wings"
• Episode 3 "Dad's Lover"
• Episode 4 "The Metamorphosis of Narcissus"
• Episode 5: I am the goddess of love
• Episode 6: "The Story of Beautiful Girl Io and the Cow"
• Episode 7 "The Unicorn's Horn"
• Episode 8 "Pygmalion's Beautiful Girl"
• Episode 9: The Seven Trials
• Episode 10: The Flute of Pan
• Episode 11: Mysterious Piron
• Episode 12 "Beautiful Medusa"
• Episode 13 "Golden Apple"
• Episode 14: Coward Achilles
• Episode 15 "Orpheus' Lyre"
• Episode 16 "Selene, the Moon Goddess"
• Episode 17: The Prophet Cassandra
• Episode 18 "Myrla's Baby"
• Episode 19: Swim! Poseidon
• Episode 20: Eros' Love
• Episode 21: Cygnus of Cygnus
• Episode 22: The Minotaur!
• Episode 23: Departure! Jingoro Expedition
• Episode 24: Find the Golden Pig's Tail!
• Episode 25: Mischievous Tantalus
• Episode 26: The Boy Who Rid Pegasus
• Episode 27: "Rain, Rain, Demon Extermination"
• Episode 28: Hungry Elixir
• Episode 29: Dreaming Alcyone
• Episode 30: The King Has Donkey Ears
• Episode 31: Masculine Atlanta
• Episode 32: The Great Flood of Dewpon
• Episode 33: Dad's in big trouble!
• Episode 34 "Dyonyssus's Liquor"
• Episode 35: The Tears of the Demon Chimera
• Episode 36 "Arachne's Fabric"
• Episode 37 "Twin Brothers"
• Episode 38: Dido the Traveling Actress
• Episode 39: Broken Heart?! Tragic Love?! A Poem of Love
• Episode 40: "Hurrah for Women, Amazoness!"
• Episode 41: Orestes' Revenge
• Episode 42: The Boy Who Became a Mermaid
• Episode 43: The Space God Comes Down
• Episode 44 "The Flame of Prometheus"
• Episode 45: The Nine-Headed Hydra
• Episode 46 "Lunlun, the Goddess of Hope"

■The appeal of the work

The greatest appeal of "Ochame Kami Monogatari Korokoro Poron" is its humor and the appeal of its characters. Poron's clumsy and mischievous personality resonates with children and provides laughter. The story is based on Greek mythology, which makes the world of mythology feel familiar to children and also contains educational elements. Furthermore, the musical-style structure, which makes extensive use of inserted songs, keeps viewers from getting bored and doubles the enjoyment.

This was also the first film that Kokusai Eigasha produced after establishing their own studio, and you can really feel their enthusiasm for the film. Thanks to the efforts of director Takao Yotsuji and the rest of the staff, a high-quality anime was completed. The voice actors were all popular voice actors of the time, including Masako Miura, Keiko Yamamoto, Akio Nojima, and Shigeru Chiba, and they brought out the best in the characters.

■ Influence of the work

"Korokoro Poron, the Mischievous God Story" had a major impact on children in the 1980s. When it was broadcast, Poron became very popular among children, and many related goods were sold. In addition, the story, based on Greek mythology, made children feel closer to the world of mythology, and also had an educational effect. Furthermore, this work attracted attention within the industry as it marked a new start for Kokusai Eigasha.

Even today, this work is loved by many fans as a nostalgic comedy anime. Its appeal is being shared with new generations through the release of DVDs and Blu-rays, as well as through online distribution. The character of Poron has also been featured in various media, and her clumsy and mischievous behavior continues to bring laughter to many people.

■ Recommendations and ratings

"Ochame Kami Monogatari Korokoro Poron" is a comedy anime that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Poron's clumsy and mischievous personality resonates with children and provides laughter. The story, based on Greek mythology, also contains educational elements, making the world of mythology more familiar to children. Furthermore, the musical-style structure, which makes extensive use of inserted songs, keeps viewers from getting bored and doubles the enjoyment.

This work had a major impact on children in the 1980s and is still loved by many fans today. Its appeal is being shared with new generations through the release of DVDs and Blu-rays, as well as through online distribution. The character of Poron has been featured in a variety of media, and her clumsy and mischievous behavior continues to bring laughter to many people.

Therefore, I highly recommend "Ochame Kami Monogatari Korokoro Poron" as a comedy anime that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. You'll be able to laugh at Poron's clumsy and mischievous behavior, experience the world of Greek mythology, and have a great time.