The appeal and reviews of "Time Stranger": Experience an emotional journey

"Time Stranger": An adventure that transcends time and space, and the intersection of history

■Overview of the work

Time Stranger is a 1986 Japanese animated film based on the novel The Captured School Bus by Taku Mayumura. The film skillfully blends the science fiction element of time travel with Japanese history to create a story that draws viewers in. It was directed by Masaki Mamoru and produced by Kadokawa Haruki Corporation and Kadokawa Shoten, with Project Team Argos and Madhouse. It was distributed by Toho and has an Eirin number of 112123. It was released for a limited time from December 20, 1986 to January 1, 1987, and was 91 minutes long.

■ Story

Tetsuko Hayasaka, a 17-year-old high school girl, was on a location minibus to accompany her brother, a photographer, on a shoot. While her brother was away from the car, a strange boy ran into the driver's seat, set up a device he had on the bus, and turned it on. Tetsuko's classmates Nobuo, Shinichi, and teacher Kita, who happened to be there, also got on the bus and traveled back in time. They arrived in the middle of the Great Tokyo Air Raid of 1945. Tetsuko was fascinated by the young man in school uniform who had saved her during the war. The bus again flew into hyperspace, and the boy introduced himself as Agino Jiro, a man from the future who had become disgusted with the future he lived in and fled to the past. Moreover, he said that the time machine he had installed on the bus could only go to the past, and could never go back. At that moment, the bus ran out of energy and made an emergency landing at the end of the Edo period. Just as they were relieved to have refueled, they were suddenly attacked by Kutajima Toshito, a fugitive hunter who had been pursuing Jiro from the future. After finally shaking off Toshito, they warped to the middle of the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. There, they met Sedo Jin, a close aide to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Jiro recognized him as a Time Management Bureau employee from the future. Jin told them that among the assassins was a man from the future who had planned to kill Ieyasu and change history, and then he got on the time machine and disappeared. The surviving assassin, Hirano Heizo, joined them, and the bus arrived at Azuchi Castle in 1582. It was five days before the Honnoji Incident. The group was welcomed by Oda Nobunaga and stayed at Azuchi Castle. Tetsuko saw in Nobunaga's close aide, Mori Ranmaru, the image of the boy she met during the Great Tokyo Air Raid. Before they knew it, the two of them had become close. On the day of Nobunaga's dispatch of forces, Hyozo kills Akechi Mitsuhide, who was trying to rebel against Nobunaga. History changed right before the Honnoji Incident. However, Jin arrives and warps to the day Mitsuhide was assassinated. He witnesses Toshito manipulating Hyozo's mind to kill Mitsuhide. Jin kills Hyozo and prevents Mitsuhide from being assassinated. It was all a plot by Toshito to trap Jiro and make him escape, and to use his Hunter privileges to change history. A battle breaks out over Honnoji, and Jiro shoots Toshito. Toshito is an android who was a victim of the nuclear war. That's why he wanted to change history. Tetsuko and the others return to the present with Toshito and the machine, but their memories of the trip to the past have been erased.

■Explanation

The film is based on the novel "The Captured School Bus" by Taku Mayumura, which was renamed to the same title as the animated film and published by Kadokawa Bunko to coincide with its release. The story skillfully combines the science fiction element of time travel with Japanese history, making it a fascinating read that draws viewers in. The film was directed by Masaki Mamoru and produced by Kadokawa Haruki Corporation and Kadokawa Shoten, with Project Team Argos and Madhouse. It was distributed by Toho and has an Eirin number of 112123. It was released for a limited time from December 20, 1986 to January 1, 1987, and was 91 minutes long.

■Cast

• Agino Jiro: Keiko Toda
• Tetsuko Hayasaka: Hiromi Murata
• Shinichi Hasegawa: Mitsuo Iwata
• Nobuo Yamazaki: Seiji Kumagai
• Kitaben: Takeshi Aono
• Sedo Jin: Masatane Tsukayama
• Toshito Kutajima: Makio Inoue
• Mitsuhide Akechi: Yoshio Kanauchi
• Ranmaru Mori: Ryo Horikawa
• Wartime Boy: Ryo Horikawa
• Hyozo Hirano: Osamu Saka
• Bomaru: Katsumi Toriumi
• Reizo Nomoto: Grandmother
• Ikemizu Michihiro: Shima Sakon
• Oda Nobunaga: Tadashi Yokouchi

■ Main staff

• Director: Mamoru Masaki
• Screenplay: Yamatoya Chikara, Masaki Mamoru, Takeuchi Hiroo
• Original author: Taku Mayumura
• Produced by: Haruki Kadokawa
• Producers: Rintaro, Masao Maruyama, Yasuteru Iwase
• Produced by: Project Team Argos, Madhouse
• Character design: Moto Hagio
• Animation Director: Takuo Noda
• Director of photography: Kinichi Ishikawa
• Art director: Kazuo Oga
• Music Director: Ryoichi Kuniyoshi
• Music producer: Hikaru Ishikawa
• Sound: Susumu Aketagawa
• Technical Advisor: Iwa Yamaki

■ Main Characters

• Agino Jiro: A 17-year-old boy living in NEO Tokyo in the year 392 of the new calendar. After learning about the "horrible past" of the old calendar (Gregorian calendar), he flees when the authorities try to erase his memory. He steals a time adjustment device and travels back in time to see the history of the old calendar with his own eyes, and gets Tetsuko and her friends involved when he meets them along the way. At first, he is on bad terms with Tetsuko and her friends, but they become closer as they travel back in time.
• Hayasaka Tetsuko: A high school sophomore living in Tokyo in 1986, she is called "Teko" by Shinichi and Nobuo. Nobunaga calls her "Tenyo" (heavenly maiden) because of her beauty. While riding in her brother's minibus, she gets caught up in Agino Jiro's time slip. In the time-slip destination of 1945, she is saved from danger by Yamamoto, and to repay his kindness, she heads to Honnoji Temple to save Ranmaru, who Tetsuko believes has been reborn as Yamamoto. Nobuo has feelings for her, but she is completely unaware of it. She has feelings for Ranmaru.
• Hasegawa Shinichi: A high school sophomore in 1986. A friend of Tetsuko's and a member of the computer club. He has a playful side, such as teasing Nobuo. He is good with machines and is in charge of operating the time adjustment device.
• Nobuo Yamazaki: A high school sophomore in 1986. He is a friend of Tetsuko's and is a member of the rugby club. Tetsuko and Shinichi call him "Nobucho." He has feelings for Tetsuko, but is unable to express them. He has a brave personality, and challenges Kutajima Toshito and Hirano Heizo to fights to protect everyone.
• Kita Ben: A teacher in 1986. He is a teacher at the high school that Tetsuko and her friends attend, and is called "Hokuben Sensei" by Tetsuko and her friends. He gets caught up in a time slip while trying to warn Agino Jiro, who bumps into him. He experienced the Great Tokyo Air Raid as a child, and made everyone realize that they had traveled back in time. He is captured by Kutajima Toshito in 1868, but is rescued by Nobuo and Hirano Heizo during the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.
• Sedoudo Jin: A Time Management Bureau employee in the year 392 of the new calendar. He is hiding out in the Sengoku period as a ninja under Ieyasu and a tea master for Nobunaga. He is pursuing Kutajima Toshito, who is plotting to change history.
• Toshito Kutajima: A Time Management Bureau employee in the year 392 of the new calendar. He pursues Agino Jiro, who has escaped to the old calendar era, but his true intention is to use the pursuit as an excuse to travel back in time to the old calendar era and change history, and to prevent the Honnoji Incident so that Nobunaga can take over the country.
• Wartime Boy: A male student attending First Junior High School in 1945. He saves Tetsuko and her friends who are caught up in an air raid.
• Ranmaru Mori: A military commander in 1582. He serves Nobunaga as a page and treats Tetsuko and the others with hospitality. He heads to Honnoji Temple with Nobunaga and is betrayed by Mitsuhide. He has feelings for Tetsuko.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: A military commander in 1582. He was ordered by Nobunaga to entertain and welcomed Tetsuko and her companions. He was in conflict with Nobunaga over relations with the Imperial Court, and started a rebellion against Nobunaga, who was disrespecting the Imperial Court.
• Hirano Hyozo: A military commander in 1582. He calls himself an "Omi Ronin" and is called "Hyo-san" by Tetsuko and the others. He participated in the Battle of Sekigahara as a member of the Western Army and attempted to assassinate Ieyasu with Shima Sakon, but was thwarted by Sedo Jin and failed. During the retreat, he rescued Tetsuko and the others who were being attacked by Kutajima Toshito, and together they traveled back in time to 1582.
• Oda Nobunaga: A military commander in 1582. He is called the "King of the Warring States" by Kutajima Toshito. He welcomes Tetsuko and her friends, who call themselves "residents of Mirai Country," to Azuchi Castle, and together they head to Honnoji Temple. He is portrayed as a kind person who cares for Kita Tsutomu, who becomes nervous around him, but at the same time, he is also portrayed as having a growing distrust for his senior vassals Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song "Time Traveler" was written and composed by Mariya Takeuchi, arranged by Tatsuro Yamashita, and sung by Mariya Takeuchi. This song has a beautiful melody and lyrics that symbolize the theme of the movie, and will resonate deeply with viewers.

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Time Stranger" is a story that skillfully combines the science fiction element of time travel with Japanese history, making it a fascinating series that draws viewers in. In particular, the adventures set in various eras, from the Great Tokyo Air Raid of 1945 to the Honnoji Incident in 1582, will give viewers fresh surprises and excitement. Also not to be missed are the growth of the characters and the changes in their relationships. The subtleties of emotions, such as the relationship between Agino Jiro and Hayasaka Tetsuko and Nobuo's feelings for Tetsuko, are carefully depicted.

Director Mamoru Masaki has succeeded in portraying the weight of history and human drama while making the most of the time travel setting. In particular, his portrayals of historical figures such as Oda Nobunaga and Akechi Mitsuhide are based on historical fact but with his own unique interpretation, providing viewers with a new perspective. Additionally, the beautiful visuals by character designer Moto Hagio also add to the appeal of the work.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the film. The theme song "Time Traveler" by Mariya Takeuchi has a beautiful melody and lyrics that symbolize the theme of the film, and resonates deeply with the viewers. In addition, the background music by music director Ryoichi Kuniyoshi also skillfully expresses the emotions of each scene.

■ Recommendation points

"Time Stranger" is a story that skillfully combines the science fiction element of time travel with Japanese history, making it a fascinating series that draws viewers in. In particular, the adventures set in various eras, from the Great Tokyo Air Raid of 1945 to the Honnoji Incident in 1582, will give viewers fresh surprises and excitement. Also not to be missed are the growth of the characters and the changes in their relationships. The subtleties of emotions, such as the relationship between Agino Jiro and Hayasaka Tetsuko and Nobuo's feelings for Tetsuko, are carefully depicted.

This work is especially recommended for those who like time travel and historical stories, as well as those who enjoy beautiful visuals and music. Furthermore, it will deeply move those who are interested in character development and changes in relationships.

■ Related works

Other works related to "Time Stranger" include the animated film "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time," which also has a time travel theme, and the historical animated film "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind." These works also skillfully depict the themes of time travel and history, and are definitely worth watching for fans of "Time Stranger."

■ Summary

"Time Stranger" is a story that skillfully combines the science fiction element of time travel with Japanese history, and has a charm that draws viewers in. In particular, the adventures set in various eras, from the Great Tokyo Air Raid of 1945 to the Honnoji Incident in 1582, will give viewers fresh surprises and impressions. In addition, the growth of the characters and the changes in relationships are also points not to be missed. The subtleties of emotions, such as the relationship between Agino Jiro and Hayasaka Tetsuko and Nobuo's feelings for Tetsuko, are carefully depicted. This work is especially recommended for those who like time travel and historical stories. It is also satisfying for those who want to enjoy beautiful visuals and music. Furthermore, it will deeply move those who are interested in the growth of characters and changes in relationships. Please give it a watch once.