A thorough review of the treasure hunt of the wizard and the great pirate in Kaiketsu Zorori! "Kaiketsu Zorori" series, movie version #1

"The Great Pirate's Treasure Hunt" - The appeal and evaluation of the animated film

■Overview of the work

Zorori the Wizard/The Great Pirate's Treasure Hunt is the first animated short film based on the popular picture book series Zorori the Wizard by Hara Yutaka. It was released on July 17, 1993 and distributed by Shochiku Fuji. It was given an Eirin rating of 25932 and was made as a 30-minute short film. It was directed by Takeuchi Hiroo, written by Nakamura Osamu and Hiyoshi Megumi, and produced by Nippon Television Network and Tokyo Movie. The film was shown at the same time as Anpanman: Nossy the Dinosaur's Great Adventure, and is a diptych consisting of two episodes, The Wizard and The Great Pirate's Treasure Hunt.

■ Story

One day, Zorori and his minions Ishishi and Noshishi encounter some mysterious animals. The animals have been combined with other objects by a wizard's prank. Upon hearing this, Zorori believes that if he has a magic wand, he can use magic, so he applies to become the wizard's apprentice. Zorori and his friends also embark on an adventure to find the treasure of a great pirate. Through these two episodes, Zorori's mischievous spirit, friendship, and the fun of adventure are depicted.

■ Characters

The main character of this work is Zorori, a prank-loving fox. His dream is to become the king of pranks, build Zorori Castle, and find a princess. Zorori is quick to fall in love and adores cute girls, and his charming character adds excitement to the story. Zorori's minions, Ishishi and Noshishi, are twin boars who respect Zorori but also have their own unique personalities. Ishishi is a glutton who loves melon bread, while Noshishi is a big eater who loves rice balls, making their characters even more charming.

■Cast and crew

Kamiya Akira plays Zorori, Ogata Kenichi plays Ishishi, and Chiba Shigeru plays Noshishi, breathing life into each character. Aono Takeshi plays the Wizard, Tomita Kousei plays Tiger, and Han Keiko plays Pal. Many staff members have contributed to this work, including director Takeuchi Hiroo, screenwriters Nakamura Osamu and Hiyoshi Megumi, and character designer and animation director Maeda Minoru. The music was produced by Nippon Television Music, and the theme song "Kaiketsu Zorori" is sung by Kamiya Akira.

■The appeal of the work

"Zorori the Wizard/The Great Pirate's Treasure Hunt" is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. It depicts Zorori's mischievous spirit and adventurous spirit, and is full of humor and emotion. In particular, the scene where the animals combine due to the magician's prank, and the adventure scene in search of the great pirate's treasure are full of visually enjoyable elements. In addition, the friendship between Zorori, Ishishi, and Noshishi, and Zorori's attitude of chasing his dreams will give children dreams and hope.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

This work brings out the charm of the original work to the fullest, while adding new appeal with the expressiveness that only animation can provide. In particular, the character of Zorori is portrayed vividly, and has the power to draw the viewer in. Also, although it is a short film, the story is well-constructed, making it a work worth watching. We recommend this not only as an animation for children, but also as a work that the whole family can enjoy.

■ Related works

There are many other works in the "Kaitou Zorori" series. The OVAs include "Kaitou Zorori: Dragon is Important," "Kaitou Zorori: The Scary Place," and "Kaitou Zorori: The Wizard's Death." The TV anime series includes "Kaitou Zorori" and "Seriously Serious Kaitou Zorori." Movies include "Seriously Serious Kaitou Zorori: The Great Mysterious Treasure Plan," "Kaitou Zorori: The Great Adventure!", "Kaitou Zorori: Protect the Dinosaur's Egg," and "Kaitou Zorori: Space Heroes." These works also allow you to fully enjoy Zorori's charm, so be sure to check them out.

■ Summary

"The Great Pirate's Treasure Hunt" is a wonderful work that recreates the charm of the original work in animation. This work, which depicts Zorori's mischievous spirit, adventurous spirit, and friendship, can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Please experience the world of Zorori through this work. There are also many related works, so you can enjoy Zorori's further adventures.