Bonobono: A fascinating exploration of the world of healing and profound themes

Bonobono - Bonobono - Movie Reviews and Recommendations

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

November 13, 1993 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Gaga Communications

■Frequencies

103 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original work: Mikio Igarashi

■ Director

・Director: Mikio Igarashi

■ Production

・Animation Production: Group Tac

■Works

©1993 Mikio Igarashi / "Bonobono" Film Production Committee

■ Story

Bonobono is a curious, honest and innocent baby sea otter. Chipmunk-kun is a boy who gets bullied. Raccoon-kun is a bully. A huge creature never seen before is coming to the forest where they live. Raccoon-kun hears this strange news and goes around telling the animals in the forest, causing an uproar throughout the forest. Annoyed at Bonobono and Chipmunk-kun, who can't imagine such a big creature and can't be surprised, Raccoon-kun takes them out to look for the big creature. Meanwhile, the adults in the forest are remembering the time when the creature once came to the forest. "When he comes, something changes..." Despite everyone's worries, a big creature comes with a "boom, boom" sound of footsteps. What will happen to everyone in the forest?

■Cast

Bonobono / Yoshiko Fujita Chipmunk / Sumie Baba Raccoon / Yusaku Yara Raccoon's father / Norio Otsuka Wolverine's father / Kazuo Kumakura Wolverine / Sakiko Amane Brown bear / Yuko Sasaki Little brown bear / Mayumi Kumagai Bonobono's father / Mikio Igarashi Big sister Show / Mayumi Tanaka Big sister Dai / Manami Sasaki General of the Brown Bears / Tessho Genda Fishing cat / Yoshitada Otsuka

■ Main staff

・Original story, director, and scriptwriter: Mikio Igarashi ("Bonobono" published by Takeshobo)
Producer: Atsumi Tashiro Animation Director: Yuji Muto Character Design, Animation Director: Michishiro Yamada Music: Gontiti (Soundtrack Epic/Sony Records)
Produced by: "Bonobono" Film Production Committee (Takeshobo, Amuse Video, Bandai Visual, Nippon Shuppan Hanbai, Imagica, Group TAC)

■ Theme songs and music

・ED
・First Love・Lyrics by Kanata Asami・Music by Yoshiyuki Osawa・Singer by Yoshiyuki Osawa・Epic/Sony Records

Film Review

The 1993 film "Bonobono" is based on the manga of the same name by Mikio Igarashi, and was also directed by Mikio Igarashi. The film depicts a story of forest animals facing an unknown presence, with the pure hearts of children and the anxieties of adults intertwined. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and highlights of the film, as well as recommended points.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Bonobono" depicts the daily lives of animals living in the forest, but also revolves around the sudden appearance of an unknown "huge creature." The identity of this "huge creature" is not revealed until the end of the film, and the mystery draws the audience in. The contrast between the children's curiosity and the adults' anxiety also depicts the differences between generations and the difficulty of understanding. In particular, the pure hearts of Bonobono and Chipmunk-kun are at the heart of the story, and the world seen from their perspective gives the audience a fresh, moving experience.

Character Appeal

The main character of the film, Bonobono, is a curious and honest baby sea otter. His purity and kindness resonate with the audience. The film also depicts the pain of Mr. Chipmunk as a victim of bullying, and Mr. Raccoon as a bully, and each character's background is explored in depth. In particular, Mr. Raccoon's growth is an important element of the story, and it is moving to see how he changes as he comes face to face with the giant creatures.

The appeal of video and music

The visuals of "Bonobono" stand out thanks to the animation produced by Group TAC. The beautiful forest scenery and the expressions of the animals are depicted in detail, drawing the audience into the world of the story. The music by Gontiti also adds to the atmosphere of the film, and the ending theme "Hatsukoi" (First Love) is particularly moving, with the singing voice of Osawa Yoshiyuki. The fusion of music and visuals further deepens the impact of the film.

Recommended points

"Bonobono" is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Children can learn about the pure hearts of Bonobono and Chipmunk-kun and the importance of friendship. Meanwhile, for adults, it contains deep themes that make them think about anxiety about the unknown and the difficulty of understanding between generations. Another attraction is the beautiful images and moving music, making it a perfect movie to watch with the family. Furthermore, for fans of the original work, it is a valuable work that allows them to enjoy Igarashi Mikio's worldview in animation.

More information and recommendations

About the original work

"Bonobono" is a Japanese manga by Igarashi Mikio that began serialization in 1986 in Takeshobo's magazine "Manga Life Original." The original is known for dealing with philosophical themes while depicting the daily lives of animals living in the forest. The film is based on episodes from the original, but also adds its own original story development, making it a fresh experience even for fans of the original.

About the Director

Mikio Igarashi is the original author of "Bonobono" and also serves as the director of the film. His unique worldview and philosophical perspective are reflected in the film, faithfully recreating the atmosphere of the original. He also makes use of his experience as a director to pay particular attention to the visual expression and character portrayal.

About the cast

The film's cast includes veteran voice actors, including Yoshiko Fujita as Bonobono. In particular, Yoshiko Fujita's performance, which expresses Bonobono's pure heart, deeply moves the audience. Yusaku Yara as the raccoon and Sumie Baba as the chipmunk also deliver performances that bring out the individuality of their respective characters, and the acting ability of the entire cast adds to the film's appeal.

About our staff

Group TAC, the studio in charge of the animation production of "Bonobono", is a studio that has worked on many classic anime. In particular, the detailed depictions of Michishiro Yamada, who was in charge of character design and animation direction, support the beautiful images of the film. In addition, the moving melodies of Gontiti, who was in charge of the music, are also an important element in livening up the atmosphere of the film.

About the theme song

The ending theme, "First Love," is a moving song written, composed and sung by Yoshiyuki Osawa. This song plays an important role in decorating the finale of the movie, and leaves a deep impression on the audience. The soundtrack, released by Epic/Sony Records, is also an essential piece for recreating the atmosphere of the movie.

Recommendation

"Bonobono" is a great movie to watch with the whole family. Children can learn about the pure hearts of Bonobono and Chipmunk-kun and the importance of friendship. Meanwhile, for adults, it contains deep themes that make them think about anxiety about the unknown and the difficulty of understanding between generations. Another attraction is the beautiful images and moving music, making it a great movie to watch with the whole family. Furthermore, for fans of the original work, it is a valuable work that allows them to enjoy Igarashi Mikio's worldview in animation.

Related Titles

The original "Bonobono" manga has been published in many volumes by Takeshobo. In addition to the film, a TV anime and an OVA have also been produced, so it can be enjoyed in a variety of media. The TV anime in particular was broadcast from 1995 to 1996, depicting different episodes from the film. Furthermore, a new TV anime series was broadcast in 2016, allowing readers to rediscover the appeal of "Bonobono" from a modern perspective.

summary

The movie "Bonobono" is a moving work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The film has many charms, including a story that depicts the importance of pure hearts and friendship, detailed visual expression, and moving music. It is a perfect movie to watch with the family, and a valuable work for fans of the original work. Please watch this movie and experience the world of Bonobono.