Review of "Bagi, the Demon Beast of Nature": Approaching the Amazing Ecology and Charm

"Bagi, the Beast of Nature": Tezuka Osamu's real-time suspense

■Overview of the work

"Bagi: The Beast of Nature" is a special anime created for Nippon Television's "24 Hour Television" in 1984. Each episode is 90 minutes long and self-contained. Tezuka Osamu was responsible for the original story, composition, and illustrations, and it was jointly produced by Tezuka Productions and Nippon Television. Set in the depths of South America, the story depicts the confrontation between Ryo, a Japanese hunter, and the mysterious beast Bagi. The story progresses in real time, syncing with the passage of time in real life, creating a sense of tension for the viewer.

■ Story

Set in the depths of South America, Ryo, a Japanese hunter known as Ryosuke, heads deep into the country on his motorbike to confront Bagi, a beast that the locals fear as possessed by demons. Guided by a local boy named Chico, Ryo arrives at a square with a spring and learns that Bagi appears at this spot every day at 11:40, so he hides under a rock and waits. It is 10:10, an hour and a half until the showdown. Ryo begins to tell Chico Bagi's secret.

■Explanation

"Bagi, the Demon Beast of Nature" is the seventh special anime that Tezuka Osamu produced for "24 Hour TV". Set not in space or the future, but in the present day, the story progresses in sync with the passage of time in reality, enhancing its realism. This technique has been seen in earlier works such as "High Noon" and more recently in "Nick of Time". Tezuka Osamu completely avoided guest appearances by popular characters and instead focused on depicting "a crisis that exists here and now". The crisis in question was "genetic modification experiments". This work was produced in 1984, the year the government officially permitted genetic modification experiments. Tezuka Osamu worked hard in nine roles, including original concept, composition, direction, character design, animation director, key drawings, in-between, and color design. You will be overwhelmed by his enthusiasm.

■Cast

• Baggi: Saeko Shimazu
• Ryosuke Ishigami (Ryo): Kazuhiko Inoue
• Ryosuke Ishigami (as a boy): Akie Yasuda
• Aunt: Tomie Kataoka
• Director of the Super Life Science Center: Kosei Tomita
• Manager: Keaton Yamada
• Colonel Sado: Masaru Ikeda

■ Main staff

• Original concept, composition, and illustrations: Tezuka Osamu
• Planning: Tadahiko Tsuzuki
• Producers: Toru Horikoshi, Takayuki Matsutani
• Music: Kentaro Haneda (Music Director: Seiji Suzuki)
• Produced by Nippon Television Network, Tezuka Productions

■Broadcast information

"Bagi, the Demon Beast of Nature" was broadcast on the Nippon Television Network on August 19, 1984. The broadcast time was 90 minutes, from 10:00 to 11:45 on Sundays.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Bagi: The Demon Beast of Nature" is a work that brings together the many talents of Tezuka Osamu, and its real-time progression method creates a strong sense of tension in the viewer. The story is set in the present day, and is also praised for addressing the real-life issue of genetic modification experiments. Tezuka Osamu's passion for the production, in which he played nine different roles, can be felt throughout the work. The cast is also impressive, with the performances of Shimazu Saeko as Bagi and Inoue Kazuhiko as Ryo receiving particularly high praise.

■ Recommendation points

This work is recommended not only for fans of Tezuka Osamu, but also for those who want to enjoy real-time suspense and those who are interested in the theme of genetic engineering experiments. It is also a must-see for those who want to know about Tezuka Osamu's many talents. After watching this work, you can gain a deeper understanding by watching other works by Tezuka Osamu and documentaries about genetic engineering experiments.

■ Related works

Other famous works by Tezuka Osamu include "Astro Boy," "Black Jack," and "Jungle Emperor." These works also show his versatile talent. Other works that deal with genetic engineering experiments include the movie "Jurassic Park" and the documentary "The Truth About Genetically Modified Foods." These works can be viewed together with "Bagi: The Beast of Nature" to gain a deeper understanding.

■ Summary

"Bagi: The Beast of Nature" is a real-time suspense anime that brings together the many talents of Tezuka Osamu. Set in the present day, it deals with the real-life issue of genetic modification experiments, creating a strong sense of tension in the viewer. This work is recommended not only for fans of Tezuka Osamu, but also for those who want to enjoy real-time suspense and those interested in the theme of genetic modification experiments. We recommend that you also watch other works by Tezuka Osamu and related documentaries to gain a deeper understanding.