The appeal and reviews of "Who's Behind Me?": The perfect balance of mystery solving and laughter

"Who's Behind Me?": A moving story about the Showa era war and a young girl's growth

■ Public Information

"Who's Behind Me?" is an animated film that was released in theaters on March 9, 1991. It was distributed by Space Eizo, has an Eirin rating of 113393, a total running time of 90 minutes, and one episode. The film is based on Ebina Kayoko's novel "Who's Behind Me?" and is directed by Arihara Seiji. It was produced jointly by TV Tokyo, Space Eizo, Nikkatsu Children's Films, Alpha Design, and Mushi Production, and the copyright belongs to Ebina Kayoko and the "Who's Behind Me?" Production Committee.

■ Story

Set against the backdrop of Japan's entry into the Pacific War on December 8, 1941, this story depicts the growth of eight-year-old Nakane Kayoko and the effects of the war. Kayoko grows up happily surrounded by warm love in a large family called "Sanchū," a fishing rod maker that has been in business for five generations. However, as the war intensifies, Kayoko is evacuated to her aunt's house in Numazu. On March 10, 1945, when Kayoko sees the Tokyo sky burning red over the mountains of Hakone, the horror of war and her feelings for her family are engraved in her heart. This story movingly depicts the misery of war, the familial bonds, and the growth of a young girl.

■Explanation

"Who's Behind Me?" is based on a novel written for children by Ebina Kayoko, wife of the late Rakugo master Hayashiya Sanpei and active as an essayist, about her experiences as a young girl. The art direction is by Kobayashi Shichiro, who worked on "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro," and the cast is full of impressive voice actors, including Miwa Katsue, who played Perman No. 1 in "Perman," Ikeda Masako, who played Maetel in "Galaxy Express 999," and Nozawa Masako, who played Goku in "Dragon Ball." Ebina's son, Hayashiya Shozo IX, also stars in the film. This work portrays the feelings of people who survived times of war in a realistic way, moving many viewers.

■Cast

• Kayoko Nakane: Katsue Miwa
• Yoshi Nakane: Masako Ikeda
• Kisaburo Nakane: Masako Nozawa
• Tadayoshi Nakane: Norio Wakamoto
• Grandma: Terue Numanami
• Takejiro Nakane: Nozomu Sasaki
• Tadakichi Nakane: Yasutaka Ebina

■ Main staff

• Original work: Kayoko Ebina "Who's in front of me?"
• Director: Seiji Arihara
• Art director: Shichiro Kobayashi
• Produced by: Tokumaru Kokubo, Yoshiaki Seto, Toyoji Nishimura, Tamotsu Hashimoto, Akira Ito
• Planning: Eiji Toriyama, Tetsuo Terashima, Seiji Arihara
• Screenplay: Toshiaki Imaizumi, Seiji Arihara
• Animation Director: Takaya Ono
• Director of photography: Hiroshi Isakawa
• Music: Reijiro Koroku
• Sound Director: Susumu Aketagawa
• Edited by: Harutoshi Ogata

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song "Love is Always" was written by Taisuke Ebina, with additional music by Emiko Shiratori, and composed by Reijiro Koroku, and sung by Emiko Shiratori. This song sings of love for family even in the harshness of war, and plays a role in further deepening the moving story.

■ Evaluation and impressions

Although "Who's Behind Me?" deals with the heavy theme of war, it is told from the perspective of a young girl, which has inspired and moved many viewers. In particular, the scene in which Kayoko looks out over the Tokyo skyline is highly regarded as a famous scene that symbolizes the horror of war and her feelings for her family. The performances of the stellar voice actors also enhanced the story and touched the hearts of viewers. Art director Shichiro Kobayashi's beautiful background paintings also realistically recreate the Showa era, enhancing the quality of the work.

■ Recommendation points

This film is valuable not only for learning about the history of war, but also as a story of family ties and growth. It also has high educational value, in particular for conveying to children the horrors of war and the preciousness of peace. It is also useful as a resource for learning about the background and culture of the Showa period. It is also an excellent animated film, with a moving story and beautiful images to enjoy. It is recommended to watch it with the whole family.

Related information

The original novel and related books for "Who's Behind Me?" have also been published, and can be used as resources to gain a deeper understanding of the work. Also, by viewing Kaori Ebina's other works and war-themed animated films, you can think about war and peace from a broader perspective.

Conclusion

"Who's Behind Me?" is a moving animated film that depicts the growth of a girl who survives wartime and the ties of her family. The gorgeous cast, beautiful art, and moving story capture the hearts of viewers and convey the horror of war and the preciousness of peace. We recommend watching it with your family as an opportunity to reaffirm the history of war and the importance of peace.