Kickoff of friendship! ~A thorough analysis of the touching story and the charms of the characters~

Kickoff of Friendship!

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

novel

■ Release date

December 15, 1994 - January 1, 0000

■Frequencies

27 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Makoto Itou

■ Story

■ Background and production secrets of the work

"Kickoff of Friendship!" is a Japanese animated film released in 1994, based on a novel by Ito Makoto. The film is known for its touching story of children's pure friendship and the conflict between them and social prejudice. Director Yamamoto Taiichiro spent a lot of time researching the film to faithfully reproduce the themes of the original. The character designs were done by Takahashi Rumiko, a popular animator at the time, and her unique touch adds depth to the film.

■Character Introduction

• Hitomi - The main character, a goalkeeper on the soccer team. She develops a friendship with Makoto after he transfers to another school.
• Makoto - A transfer student with a talent for soccer. However, he is bullied due to rumors that he comes from a discriminated-against community.
• Kenta - Hitomi's best friend and captain of the soccer team. He tries to keep the team together despite being bullied by Makoto.
• Teacher - Hitomi and her classmates' homeroom teacher. While watching over the children's growth, she shows her determination to confront social issues.

■Story Details

The story begins when a transfer student, Makoto, joins Hitomi's elementary school soccer team. Makoto is a talented soccer player and is expected to be a valuable player on the team. However, rumors spread that Makoto's family comes from a discriminated-against buraku community, and bullying begins among the other students. Hitomi stands up to protect her friendship with Makoto, and together with her teammates, they confront the problem. In the end, the students come to understand Makoto's true value and come together to play in a match, leading to a moving conclusion that demonstrates the power of friendship.

■ Evaluations and awards

"Friendship Kickoff!" was highly praised when it was released and won many film awards. It was especially praised for its realistic portrayal of children's emotions and its courageous portrayal of social issues. Below are some of the major awards it has received.

• Japan Academy Prize - Best Animation Award
• Tokyo Anime Awards - Best Work Award
• Kinema Junpo Best Ten - Top 10 Japanese Films

■The impact and social significance of the work

While teaching children the importance of friendship and the courage to fight prejudice, this work also provided an opportunity for adults to face social issues head on. In particular, by dealing with the issue of discriminated burakumin, many viewers had the opportunity to reexamine their own prejudices. There was also a growing movement to use this work as teaching material in schools, and it had a major impact on children's moral education.

■ Production staff

• Director : Taiichiro Yamamoto
• Screenplay : Makoto Ito
• Character design : Rumiko Takahashi
• Music : Joe Hisaishi
• Production company : Studio Ghibli

■Music and Soundtrack

The music was composed by Joe Hisaishi, whose beautiful melodies liven up the story. In particular, the background music that heightens the tension during the match scenes and the gentle melody that expresses the deepening friendship are impressive. The soundtrack was also released as a CD and was loved by many fans.

■ Animation technology

"Friendship Kickoff!" was produced using Studio Ghibli's latest technology. It was especially praised for the realistic movements in the soccer scenes and the detailed depiction of the characters' facial expressions. The background art is also beautiful, with the elementary school and cityscape where the story takes place being realistically recreated.

■ Viewer reactions and word of mouth

Many viewers commented that they were moved to tears by the touching storyline and character development. Many also commented that they empathized with the children's pure friendship and courageous efforts to tackle social issues. Below are some of the viewers' reviews.

• "I was moved by the friendship between the children. It reminded me of the importance of interacting with people without prejudice."
• "The soccer scenes were very powerful. I was also moved by the character development."
• "I think it's a courageous film that deals with the issue of discriminated burakumin. I hope many people will see it."

■ Related products and merchandise

Following the success of the movie "Friendship Kickoff!", many related products were released. The main products are listed below.

• Soundtrack CD - A CD featuring Joe Hisaishi's beautiful music. Recreates the emotion of the film.
• Character Goods - Character-themed goods such as figures and key chains of Hitomi and Makoto are popular.
• Original Novel - The original novel by Ito Makoto has also been reprinted and has been loved by many readers.
• Picture books - Picture books with simplified stories for children are also available and are used in educational settings.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"Friendship Kickoff!" is a work that can be recommended to a wide range of generations, from children to adults. It is especially a must-see for those who are interested in friendship and social issues. It is available on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as through video streaming services. Please experience this touching story for yourself.

■ Summary

"Friendship Kickoff!" is a moving animated film that depicts the conflict between children's pure friendship and social prejudice. It was loved by many viewers for its story that faithfully reproduced the themes of the original, the realistic character development, and the beautiful music and animation techniques. The courageous content that deals with the issue of discriminated burakumin has great social significance, and it is a work that we hope many people will see. We hope that this film will help you feel the importance of friendship and the courage to fight prejudice.