Oyoneko Boonyan - A thorough review of the charming cat characters and the depth of the story

Oyoneko Boonyan - Looking back on nostalgic comedy anime

Among the many masterpieces born in the world of Japanese animation in the 1980s, one that had a particularly unique presence was "Oyoneko Boonyan." Based on the original manga by Ichikawa Misako, the 31-episode TV anime series was broadcast from April 3, 1984 to March 19, 1985. It was broadcast by ANB (now TV Asahi) and produced by Shin-Ei Animation. Let's take a closer look at this 30-minute comedy anime that had viewers in stitches every week.

Overview

"Oyoneko Boonyan" is a comedy anime starring Boonyan, a fat cat with yellow fur. Boonyan is a stray cat who suddenly becomes a pet and ends up living in Yudeta's house. However, his attitude is brazen, lazy and mean, which is hard to believe for a cat. The story depicts the chaos caused by Boonyan and Yudeta's eldest daughter Tamago and her friends. According to Shin-Ei Animation, Boonyan's character, "intelligent enough to talk to people, but brazen, lazy and mean," made a strong impression on viewers.

Production background and staff

"Oyoneko Boonyan" is based on the manga of the same name by Ichikawa Misako, a manga artist active in the 1970s and 1980s whose unique humor and character designs are the foundation of this anime. The general director was Sasagawa Hiroshi, the animation director was Suzuki Shinichi, the art director was Nagafusa Shinichi, the cinematographer was Takahashi Akihiko, the sound director was Urakami Yasuo, and the music was by Watanabe Takeo. It goes without saying that the quality of the work was kept high thanks to the collaboration between Shin-Ei Animation and ANB.

Main characters and cast

The role of Boonyan was played by Kamiya Akira, who brought the character to life with his unique voice and acting. The eldest daughter of the Yudeta family, Tamago, was played by Kawashima Chiyoko, the second daughter Uzura by Yokozawa Keiko, the mother by Sugiyama Kazuko, and the father Kimio by Keaton Yamada. The work was supported by a stellar cast of voice actors, including Mizushima Yutaka as Yukiyama Mont Blanc, Shinohara Sanae as Hanano Hinagiku, Yamada Eiko as Kurinokoji Maron, Tanonaka Isamu as Kuroko, Nojima Akio as Obanyaki Umao, Yoshida Rihoko as Arere, Kamiyama Takuzo as Lemon Tea, and Tanaka Mayumi as Shippure Tail Mouse.

Episodes and stories

"Oyoneko Boonyan" is a series of 31 episodes, each with a different comedy episode. Below are some of the episodes.

• Episode 1 "Pig?! Cat?! Monster?! / Is this still a pet? / Is school a good place?" (Aired April 3, 1984): An episode in which Boonyan barges into a boiled house and lives there as a pet. Boonyan's family and friends are confused as to what Boonyan's true identity is.
• Episode 2, "Eviction Operation/Rat Attack/How a Cat Should Be" (aired on April 10, 1984): This episode depicts the family's struggle to evict Boonyan from the house and their confrontation with the rats.
• Episode 3 "Essay: My Pet/Osatsu, Become a Potato/Rival Hinagiku" (aired on April 17, 1984): Tamago has to write about Boonyan in his school essay, and Boonyan goes up against his rival, Hinagiku.
• Episode 4 "Transform into a Calico Cat / Don't Go Anywhere / I Want to Sleep, I Can't Sleep" (aired April 24, 1984): Boonyan transforms into a Calico Cat, surprising his family. It also shows Boonyan having a sleepless night.
• Episode 5 "Eat! Carp Streamer/Cute Transformation/Goodbye Carp" (broadcast on May 1, 1984): An episode in which Boonyan tries to eat a carp streamer. In addition, Boonyan transforms into a cute character, surprising his family.

Thus, each episode is centered on Boonyan's unique behavior and humorous interactions with his family and friends. Viewers can laugh at Boonyan's brazenness and meanness, and sometimes sympathize with him.

Music and Soundtrack

The music for "Oyoneko Boonyan" was written by Watanabe Takeo. Watanabe Takeo is a composer who has worked on the music for many classic anime, and his music played an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The opening theme, "Oyoneko Boonyan's Theme," is known as a song that leaves a strong impression on viewers. The ending theme, "Boonyan's Dream," is a song that symbolizes the character of Boonyan and was loved by viewers.

Audience reactions and impact

"Oyoneko Boonyan" was loved by many viewers when it was first broadcast, and was especially popular among children. Boonyan's unique character and the comedy episodes in each episode entertained viewers. Furthermore, Boonyan's brazenness and nastiness resonated with viewers and provided laughs. Even after the show ended, it has remained popular with many fans through reruns and DVD releases.

Work evaluation and recommendation

"Oyoneko Boonyan" was a highly acclaimed comedy anime from the 1980s. Boonyan's character design and the humor in each episode left a strong impression on viewers. In particular, Boonyan's brazenness and nastiness were praised for evoking sympathy and providing laughter in viewers' eyes. The stellar voice cast and music by Watanabe Takeo were also factors that contributed to the quality of the work.

The reasons why I recommend this work are as follows:

• Unique character : Boonyan's brazenness and nastiness leave a strong impression on viewers. He is especially praised as a character that children can sympathize with and make them laugh.
• Humorous Episodes : Each episode features a different gag to entertain the audience. In particular, Boonyan's behavior and interactions with his family and friends are humorous and provide laughs to the audience.
• A stellar cast of voice actors : A stellar cast of voice actors, including Akira Kamiya, bring the characters to life. Kamiya's performance as Boonyan has been particularly praised.
• Takeo Watanabe's music : Takeo Watanabe's music plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the opening theme "Oyoneko Boonyan's Theme" and the ending theme "Booonyan's Dream" are highly regarded as songs that leave a strong impression on viewers.

As mentioned above, "Oyoneko Boonyan" was highly praised as a comedy anime from the 1980s, and left a strong impression on viewers. In particular, Boonyan's character design and the humor in each episode were praised for resonating with viewers and providing laughter. The stellar voice cast and music by Watanabe Takeo were also factors that elevated the quality of the work, and it is a work that is highly recommended for viewers.