The appeal and evaluation of "Komporakid": A must-read review for anime fans

"Komporakid": A hilarious comedy anime about the mechatronics era of the future

■Overview of the work

"Komporakid" is a TV anime series that aired in 1985, based on a manga by Masahide Motohashi. It aired from June 3 to December 23, 1985, with a total of 26 episodes airing on ANB every Monday from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. This comedy anime is set in the future mechatronics era, and features an 8-year-old boy named Daigoro Harumi JR as the main character.

■ Story

The story is set in the future, in the midst of the age of mechatronics. An 8-year-old boy, Harumi Daigoro (JR), is a home economics teacher for 5th graders at an elementary school. The school floats 2,000 to 3,000 meters above Tokyo. Their home is a flying object (called a Bowus) that doubles as a residence, so they are free to move around. In other words, having no fixed address is a status symbol in this era. It is normal for each person to have their own flying mecha as a means of transportation. This is a hilarious comedy anime about fantastical mechanics that unfolds at school, at home, and in outer space!!

■ Characters

・JR/Matsushima Minori
JR is the protagonist of this work, an unusual boy who is 8 years old and a 5th grade home economics teacher. His name is "Harumi Daigoro JR" and he is a character who symbolizes the mechatronics society of the future. JR is curious and has a talent for using various mechanics. Minori Matsushima, who voices him, does a great job of expressing JR's energetic and cheerful character.

Daigoro (Dad) / Shigeru Chiba
JR's father, his name is Daigoro. This character is a testament to Shigeru Chiba's experience and talent as a voice actor, and his humorous acting adds color to the work. Daigoro supports JR on his adventures, and sometimes helps him solve problems using mechanics.

・Machiko (mother) / Yukiko Nashiba
JR's mother, Machiko, is played by Yukiko Nashiba, whose warm voice conveys the bond between family members. While Machiko supports the family, she also actively participates in JR's adventures.

Jirocho / Noriko Uemura Jirocho is JR's friend and a character who accompanies him on his adventures. Noriko Uemura's voice acting brings out Jirocho's personality. Jirocho uses various mechanics together with JR, providing many hilarious scenes.

・Vice Principal Shinryu / Banjo Ginga Vice Principal Shinryu is the school's vice principal and a strict character. Banjo Ginga's powerful voice makes him seem dignified. He monitors JR's behavior and sometimes gives strict guidance, but deep down he wants JR to grow.

Arimi Ion / So Mayumi Arimi Ion is a friendly character who is a classmate of JR. So Mayumi's voice acting brings out the charm of Arimi Ion. She enjoys adventures with JR and grows together as they help each other out.

Yo/Ryo Horikawa Yo is JR's friend and accompanies him on his adventures. Ryo Horikawa's voice acting brings out Yo's personality. Yo uses various mechanics together with JR, providing many hilarious scenes.

Ran / Michitaka Kobayashi Ran is JR's friend and accompanies him on his adventures. Michitaka Kobayashi's voice acting brings out the personality of Ran. Together with JR, Ran masters various mechanics and provides many hilarious scenes.

・Trio/Hiroshi Otake Trio are JR's friends who accompany him on his adventures. Hiroshi Otake's voice acting brings out the individuality of the trio. Together with JR, the trio use various mechanics to provide many hilarious scenes.

■ Staff

・Original Story by Masahi Motohashi Masahi Motohashi is the original author of this work. His unique worldview and humor enhance the appeal of "Kompora Kid".

・Planning/Yasuo Yamaguchi, Kazuo Yokoyama, Moritetsu Kato Yasuo Yamaguchi, Kazuo Yokoyama, and Moritetsu Kato were in charge of planning this work. Their ideas and vision contributed greatly to the success of "Komporakid".

・Production Manager: Hiro Takeda Hiro Takeda was in charge of production for this film. His management skills and leadership skills played a key role in ensuring the smooth production of the film.

・Screenplay: Takao Koyama, Shigeru Yanagawa, Norifumi Terada The screenplay was written by Takao Koyama, Shigeru Yanagawa, and Norifumi Terada. Their creativity and storytelling skills make "Komporakid" so entertaining.

Series Director / Kozo Morishita Kozo Morishita was the series director for this work. His experience and talent as a director have improved the overall quality of the work.

・Direction: Yuji Ikeda, Yuji Endo, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, and others Many directors, including Yuji Ikeda, Yuji Endo, and Shigeyasu Yamauchi, participated in this production. Their directing techniques enhance the appeal of each episode.

・Character design/Yasuhiro YamaguchiYasuhiro Yamaguchi was in charge of character design for this work. His design sense brings out the individuality of the characters.

Art Design: Yuji Ikeda Yuji Ikeda was in charge of the art design for this work. His artistic sense portrays the mechatronic society of the future in a realistic way.

・Music by Kohei Tanaka Kohei Tanaka was in charge of the music for this work. His music really adds to the atmosphere of the work.

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
"Kompora Kid"
Lyrics: Yoshiaki Yoshida Composition: Yoshiaki Yoshida Arrangement: Takanori Arisawa Vocals: Waffle The opening theme is "Compola Kid", written and composed by Yoshiaki Yoshida, and arranged by Takanori Arisawa. The song is sung by Waffle, and it is a song that adds to the atmosphere of the work.

・ED
"Future Academy TORAD"
Lyrics: Yoshiaki Furuta Composition: Yoshiaki Furuta Arrangement: Takanori Arisawa Vocals: Waffle The ending theme is "Mirai Gakuen TORAD", written and composed by Yoshiaki Furuta and arranged by Takanori Arisawa. The song is sung by Waffle, and it is a song that adds to the atmosphere of the work.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Komporakid" is a comedy anime set in the future mechatronic era, and was loved by many viewers. The appeal of the work can be summarized in the following points.

1. **Unique worldview**
The story is set in a future mechatronic era. The surreal setting, with a school floating in the sky and a house being a flying object, enhances the appeal of the work. This unique worldview stimulates the imagination of the viewer and is an enjoyable element.

2. **Humorous Gags**
"Komporakid" is full of hilarious gags using mechanics. The bizarre adventures of JR and his friends will have viewers in a whirlwind of laughter. The quality and quantity of the gags are what make the show so entertaining.

3. **Unique characters**
Each character in this work is unique and charming. JR's lively and bright character, Daigoro's humorous acting, Machiko's warm voice, and other characters' charms liven up the work. In addition, many characters such as Jirocho, Vice Principal Shinryu, Arimi Kino, Yo, Ran, and the Trio add color to the work.

4. **The Appeal of Music**
Tanaka Kohei's music adds to the atmosphere of the series. The opening theme "Komporakid" and the ending theme "Mirai Gakuen TORAD" capture the hearts of viewers along with Waffle's singing voice. The background music for each episode is also an important element in creating the atmosphere of the series.

5. **Staff Talent**
The talents of the staff, including Masahide Motohashi's original work, Kozo Morishita's direction, Takao Koyama, Shigeru Yanagawa, and Norifumi Terada's screenplays, Yasuhiro Yamaguchi's character design, and Yuji Ikeda's art design, all contribute greatly to the success of "Komporakid." Their creativity and skills are a major factor in the success of "Komporakid."

■ Responses from viewers

"Komporakid" has been loved by many viewers since it was first broadcast. It has been especially well received by children, and its gags using mechanics and unique worldview have become a hot topic. The individuality of the characters and the appeal of the music have also been highly praised by viewers.

Even after the show ended, there were many requests from fans to air it again or to make it into a DVD. Even now, there is a fan community for "Komporakid" on the Internet, where people can talk about the appeal of the show.

■ Influence of the work

"Kompora Kid" is a comedy anime that depicts a future mechatronic age, and has influenced many later anime works. In particular, the comedy using mechanics and the unique worldview have been incorporated into many works. The individuality of the characters and the appeal of the music have also influenced later anime works.

Furthermore, "Kompora Kid" also helped to spark children's interest in science and technology. The jokes using mechanics and the unique worldview stimulated children's imaginations and increased their interest in science and technology.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"Kompora Kid" was loved by many viewers as a comedy anime depicting a future mechatronic age. It was especially well received by children, and the comedy using mechanics and unique world view became a hot topic. The individuality of the characters and the charm of the music also won high praise from viewers.

Currently, "Konporakid" is available on DVD and can be viewed by purchasing it. It is also available online, so you can use that. Please enjoy the unique world view and humorous gags of "Konporakid".

■ Summary

"Komporakid" was loved by many viewers as a comedy anime set in the future mechatronics era. The charm of the work, such as its unique world view, humorous gags, unique characters, charming music, and the talent of the staff, captured the hearts of viewers. Even after the broadcast ended, there were many requests from fans for a re-broadcast and a DVD release. Even now, there is a fan community for "Komporakid" on the Internet, which serves as a place to discuss the charm of the work. Please enjoy the unique world view and humorous gags of "Komporakid".