The appeal and evaluation of Chimpui: Review of Episode 1

"Chimpui": Fujiko F. Fujio's cosmic fantasy and everyday life intersect

"Chimpui" is a TV anime series based on the original work by Fujiko F. Fujio, which was broadcast on TV Asahi from November 2, 1989 to April 18, 1991. A total of 112 episodes were produced, with 56 episodes in total, two of which were 30 minutes long. In addition, a TV special was broadcast on December 29, 1989, also consisting of two episodes, each 30 minutes long. This work was co-produced by Shin-Ei Animation, TV Asahi, and ASATSU, and the copyright belongs to Fujiko Productions and Shin-Ei.

story

The story of "Chimpui" begins with the daily life of Kasuga Eri, a sixth-grade elementary school girl. One day, two aliens, Wandayu and Chimpui, suddenly appear before Eri. They congratulate her, saying that she has been chosen as the bride of the Crown Prince of Planet Marl. However, to Eri, they look like stuffed animals and she cannot believe such a story. Eri firmly refuses and sends them away. However, Wandayu wants to make Eri the Crown Prince no matter what, so he leaves Chimpui with Eri.

Chimpui is a being who grants Eri's wishes with his cute appearance and magical powers. Eri is attracted to Chimpui's charm and agrees to live with him as a friend. Thus, they begin living together at the Kasuga household, but Eri's daily life is constantly thrown into chaos by Chimpui's powers. Eri's daily life is full of ups and downs, including helping out her mother, visitors from Marl Planet, a faint crush on her classmate Uchiki-kun, and a passionate love letter from Crown Prince Lululov.

character

The main characters of "Chimpui" are as follows:

• Chimpui (voiced by Ayako Hori) - An alien from the planet Marl and Eri's friend. He can use science to make Eri's wishes come true.
• Eri Kasuga (voiced by Megumi Hayashibara) - The main character, a sixth-grade girl. She becomes friends with Chimpui and embarks on various adventures.
• Mama (voiced by Hiroko Suzuki) - Eri's mother. Although she is confused by Chimpui's presence, she accepts him as a member of the family.
• Papa (voiced by Takashi Tsumura) - Eri's father. He is a kind father who cares for his family despite his busy schedule.
• Uchiki (voiced by Sasaki Nozomu) - Eri's classmate, a boy she has a crush on. He transforms in various ways using Chimpui's magic.
• Wandayuu (voice: Joji Yanami) - An alien from the planet Marl and Chimpui's partner. He uses various strategies to make Eri the crown princess.
• Oeyama (voiced by Nakamura Taiki) - A boy who is Eri's classmate and often teases her.
• Komasa (voiced by Junichi Kanemaru) - Eri's classmate and a friend of Oeyama.
• Sunemi (voiced by Yukiko Nashiba) - Eri's classmate, a slightly mean girl.
• Hotaru (voiced by Sanae Miyuki) - Eri's friend and a good friend of hers.
• Sayaka (voiced by Miki Ito) - Eri's friend who often joins her on her adventures.
• Hino-sensei (voiced by Kiyokawa Motomu) - Eri's homeroom teacher. A kind teacher who watches over the growth of her students.

staff

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of "Chimpui." Below is a list of the main staff members.

• Original author : Fujiko F. Fujio
• Chief Director - Mitsuru Hongo
• Animation director : Noriyuki Tsutsumi, Sadayoshi Tominaga
• Series Composition : Akira Okeya
• Art Director : Ken Kawai
• Recording Director : Yasuo Urakami
• Music : Kohei Tanaka
• Screenplay : Akira Okeya, Ryo Motohira, Koichi Mizuide, Noboru Shiroyama, Masako Nishimura, Taho Shimura, Masaru Yamamoto
• Director of Photography - Akio Saito

episode

"Chimpui" consists of 56 episodes, each with a different subtitle. Below are the subtitles and broadcast dates for each episode.

• Episode 1 - Congratulations, Eri-sama/Toys Eat Ramen Too (1989/11/02)
• Episode 2 - Eri-sama, Like a Flower/Was your ancestor the King of Japan? (1989/11/09)
• Episode 3 - Chimpui is tired / Eri the Science Master (1989/11/16)
• Episode 4 - Wandayu's Conspiracy/See-Through Seal (1989/11/23)
• Episode 5 - Golden Legend/Eri-sama Bakery (1989/11/30)
• Episode 6 - Stuffed Toys and Computers/Eri-sama is the Star! (1989/12/14)
• Episode 7 - Eli Runs Away/A Strange Christmas (1989/12/21)
• Episode 8 - Wish-granting ticket/Whose scarf is it? (1990/01/11)
• Episode 9 - How to Use 3D Images/See You in a Dream (1990/01/18)
• Episode 10 - The Genius Painter Eri-sama/Majiro's Counterattack? (1990/01/25)
• Episode 11 - I Want to Be a Boy/A Terrifying Medical Check-up (1990/02/01)
• Episode 12 - Eli-sama's Tour/Please Forgive Me Eli-sama (1990/02/08)
• Episode 13 - Ultra Gal/Welcome to the Rival (1990/02/15)
• Episode 14 - Danger! Time Travel (Part 1) / Danger! Time Travel (Part 2) (1990/02/22)
• Episode 15 - Is Wandayu a fortune teller? / Eli-sama is a beautiful girl (1990/03/01)
• Episode 16 - Science and Law Skiing Mission/Puppy House (1990/03/08)
• Episode 17 - Brave Lepi and Brave Eli/I'll ​​give up (1990/03/15)
• Episode 18 - Mysterious Hot Spring Trip (Part 1) / Mysterious Hot Spring Trip (Part 2) (1990/03/22)
• Episode 19 - Eli-sama's first recording (first half) / Eli-sama's first recording (second half) (1990/04/19)
• Episode 20 - Become a Star with the Lucky Pendant/Admiral Bururu's Challenge (1990/04/26)
• Episode 21 - A New Building Plan for a Wonderful Planet? / Auntie Eli from Paris (1990/05/03)
• Episode 22 - Honorary President of the Piyo Piyo Fundraiser/No Way Out (1990/05/10)
• Episode 23 - Eli-sama Hates Carrots/Science Law Go Home Strategy (1990/05/17)
• Episode 24 - Eri & Chimpui Company/We filmed underwater (1990/05/24)
• Episode 25 - Pacifier Detective Eri/The Wedding I Saw (1990/05/31)
• Episode 26 - Who is that girl? / Cinderella's Shoes (1990/06/07)
• Episode 27 - Cherishing with the Greenhouse Beam (Part 1) / Cherishing with the Greenhouse Beam (Part 2) (1990/06/21)
• Episode 28 - Secret base for aliens discovered!? / Jarashi has arrived (1990/06/28)
• Episode 29 - Marl is scared of things/Eli-sama Holelujah (1990/07/12)
• Episode 30 - Don't Lose to His Highness/What We Found During Stargazing (1990/07/26)
• Episode 31 - Michael Jackson's Home Concert/Get the Photo Chance! (1990/08/02)
• Episode 32 - Jarashi Comes Again/Hotaru, the Princess Candidate (1990/08/09)
• Episode 33 - Who is Holoron? / Babysitter Eri-chan (1990/08/16)
• Episode 34 - Planet Simulator (Part 1) / Planet Simulator (Part 2) (1990/08/23)
• Episode 35 - Search for the Mysterious Beautiful Girl/Sengoku Expedition Team (1990/09/06)
• Episode 36 - Black Secret Bodyguard/Eri-sama Garden (1990/09/20)
• Episode 37 - Make me sick with the law!! / Eli-sama is on a trip (1990/10/18)
• Episode 38 - The Billionaire with a Pocket Money Shortage/Order to Strengthen Rivals (1990/11/01)
• Episode 39 - Receive a Present/Surprising Marriage Fortune Telling (1990/11/08)
• Episode 40 - Promise-making Mike/Big Sister Has Arrived (1990/11/15)
• Episode 41 - Dad's Long-Awaited Driver's License/Go for the Scoop! (1990/11/22)
• Episode 42 - Uchiki-kun's Big Transformation/What does His Highness's Face Look Like? (1990/11/29)
• Episode 43 - A Quick Scheduler/Oeyama's Evil Plan (1990/12/13)
• Episode 44 - What Did You Come For? / After the Party (1990/12/20)
• Episode 45 - The Secret Treasure of Children's Songs (Part 1) / The Secret Treasure of Children's Songs (Part 2) (1991/01/10)
• Episode 46 - Transparent Cap/Lots of Eli-sama (1991/01/24)
• Episode 47 - Wanda Yu's Personnel Transfers/How about a Villa Planet? (1991/01/31)
• Episode 48 - Time-Space Transfer! Comet SOS (Part 1) / Time-Space Transfer! Comet SOS (Part 2) (1991/02/07)
• Episode 49 - Law Fasting Festival/A Wonderful Valentine's Day (1991/02/14)
• Episode 50 - The Secret of Eli's Birth/I Don't Want to Say Goodbye (1991/02/21)
• Episode 51 - Majiro's Counterattack Again/Please Make It a Best Seller (1991/02/28)
• Episode 52 - Go-Go Fake Mission/Revisiting Match (1991/03/07)
• Episode 53 - Strange Gorilla Search Tour/I Can Hear the Song of Babu-Babu (1991/03/14)
• Episode 54 - Lost in Space / Sayaka and Uchiki are united (1991/03/21)
• Episode 55 - Masterpiece Acquisition Strategy/How to Use Marl Planet's Fortune (1991/04/11)
• Episode 56 - Let's Go Galaxy Race/Nice to meet you, I'm Lululov (1991/04/18)
• Special Program - The Universe's Top Designer/Is Eri Kyobo? (1989/12/29)

Evaluation and impact

"Chimpui" is highly regarded as a work filled with Fujiko F. Fujio's unique worldview and humor. The friendship between Eri and Chimpui and the story that intertwines everyday life and fantasy have been loved by a wide range of people, from children to adults. In addition, the various gags and episodes based on Chimpui's science law have provided viewers with laughter and emotion.

Like Fujiko F. Fujio's other works, this work gives children dreams and hope, while also depicting the importance of family ties and friendship. Through Eri's growth, her relationship with her family, and her interactions with her friends, viewers are given the opportunity to reexamine their own lives.

Recommendation

"Chimpui" is a story that combines fantasy and everyday life, and features humorous characters. It is especially recommended for fans of Fujiko F. Fujio and those who want to enjoy children's anime. You can also share laughs and emotions by watching it with your family.

This work is available on DVD and streaming services, so please give it a watch. The adventures of Eri and Chimpui are sure to bring a breath of fresh air to your daily life.