The appeal and reviews of "Bush Babies": A moving story and deep characters

Bush Babies - A moving story of journey and growth

Overview

"The Bushbabies" is a TV anime series that aired in 1992 and is based on the novel "The Bushbabies" by William H. Stevenson. The series is set in the vast African prairies and tells the heartwarming story of adventure and growth of a young girl, Jackie, and her rescued bush baby, Murphy. The series aired on CX (now Fuji TV) from January 12 to December 20, 1992, with a total of 40 episodes every Sunday from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.

story

The story begins when Jackie, a young girl living in the Kenyan plains, accidentally discovers a baby bush baby named Murphy one day. Jackie protects Murphy and they begin living together, but they face various difficulties and adventures along the way. Jackie and Murphy deepen their friendship and family bond while battling poachers and the threats of nature. The film depicts Jackie's growth and her interactions with the people around her, leading to her decision to release Murphy back into the wild.

character

Jackie (voiced by Maya Okamoto)
The main character is a kind-hearted and brave girl. She protects Murphy and goes on adventures with him. Her growth and decisions are at the heart of the story.

Murphy (voiced by Jurota Kosugi)
Jackie rescues a baby bush baby, who develops a bond with her and journeys with her until it is released back into the wild.

Tempo (voice: Junichi Kanamaru)
A friend of Jackie's who supports her on her adventures. She is knowledgeable and gives Jackie various advice.

Andor (voice: Takaya Hashi)
Another of Jackie's friends, a dynamic character who joins Jackie and Murphy on their adventures and helps them overcome difficulties together.

Production Staff

Written by : William H. Stevenson
Production : Nippon Animation, CX
Screenplay : Akira Miyazaki
Director : Takayoshi Suzuki
Character design : Hiromi Kato, Shuichi Seki
Art director : Kazue Ito, Shigeru Morimoto

Episode Guide

Below you'll find the subtitles and air dates for each episode.

• Episode 1: A baby found in the grassland (1992/01/12)
• Episode 2: Don't Die, Murphy (1992/01/19)
• Episode 3: Rose the Trick (1992/01/26)
• Episode 4: Find the Baby Bottle (1992/02/02)
• Episode 5: The Wounded Elephant (1992/02/09)
• Episode 6: Murphy's Illness (1992/02/16)
• Episode 7: Veterinarian Hannah (1992/02/23)
• Episode 8: The Doctor's Plane (1992/03/01)
• Episode 9: Midnight Walk (1992/03/08)
• Episode 10: Dan Moore, the Tinkerer (1992/03/15)
• Episode 11: The Detective Team is Formed! (1992/03/22)
• Episode 12: Mint Candy and the Poacher (1992/04/12)
• Episode 13: Detective Team Plusu (1992/04/26)
• Episode 14: Baboon Attack (1992/05/03)
• Episode 15: Subtitle TBA (1992/05/10)
• Episode 16: The Secret Cave (1992/05/17)
• Episode 17: The Poaching Gang Appears (1992/05/24)
• Episode 18: The Vest Incident (1992/05/31)
• Episode 19: The Beginning of Destiny (1992/06/07)
• Episode 20: Kilimanjaro in the Mist (1992/06/14)
• Episode 21: Goodbye Kate (1992/06/21)
• Episode 22: Murphy's Permit (1992/06/28)
• Episode 23: The Wharf Incident (1992/07/12)
• Episode 24: Alone in Africa (1992/08/02)
• Episode 25: An arrest warrant for Tembo!? (1992/08/16)
• Episode 26: Murphy's Misfortune (1992/08/23)
• Episode 27: The Pursuer and the Pursued (1992/08/30)
• Episode 28: Elephants of the Jungle (1992/09/06)
• Episode 29: Recapture the Wildness!! (1992/09/13)
• Episode 30: The Laws of the Savannah (1992/09/20)
• Episode 31: Poison Arrows and Harmonica (1992/09/27)
• Episode 32: The Kind Warrior Tembo (1992/10/25)
• Episode 33: Run to the Fire! (1992/11/01)
• Episode 34: The Maasai Hut (1992/11/18)
• Episode 35: Jackie Collapses!! (1992/11/15)
• Episode 36: The Leopard and the Two Warriors (1992/11/22)
• Episode 37: Memories of a Rainy Day (1992/11/29)
• Episode 38: The train is washed away!? (1992/12/06)
• Episode 39: Run, Murphy (1992/12/13)
• Episode 40: Murphy's Goodbye (1992/12/20)

Evaluation and Impressions

"Bushbabies" is a moving film that depicts the importance of coexistence with nature, friendship, and family ties. Jackie's growth and her bond with Murphy are at the heart of the story, deeply moving viewers. Another highlight is the beautiful background art that depicts the African wilderness. In particular, the scene where Jackie decides to release Murphy back into the wild brought tears to the eyes of many viewers.

This work is not only a children's cartoon, but also a fun one for the whole family. It has high educational value, including themes of nature conservation and animal welfare. It has excellent character design and storytelling, and is beautifully rendered using animation techniques from 1992.

Recommended points

The importance of coexisting with nature <br> Set in the African plains, this story depicts the importance of coexisting with nature. Through Jackie and Murphy's adventures, you can learn about the importance of nature conservation.

A moving story <br> The touching story of the bond between Jackie and Murphy and her growth will deeply move viewers. In particular, the farewell scene with Murphy in the final episode will be a tearjerker.

Beautiful background art <br> The background art, which beautifully depicts the African wilderness, is full of visual appeal. You will be able to feel the beauty of nature.

Educational value <br> The theme of nature conservation and animal welfare provides educational value for children. The whole family can learn while having fun.

Related information

This work is based on the original novel "The Bushbabies" and faithfully reproduces the world view of the original. Also, like other works produced by Nippon Animation, it is characterized by high quality animation and storytelling. After watching it, it is also recommended to read the original novel.

Furthermore, the fan community for this work is very active, with various information and opinions being shared online. There is also a lot of fan art and fan fiction, which shows the love for the work.

Conclusion

"Bush Baby" is a wonderful work with a touching story, beautiful background art, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. Through the adventures of Jackie and Murphy, viewers can learn about the importance of nature conservation, friendship, and family ties. Be sure to watch this work that the whole family can enjoy.