Black Jack Karte VI Snowy Night Story, Koihime - A thorough analysis of the moving story and deep themes

Black Jack Chart Ⅵ Snowy Night Tale, Koihime - Tale of the Deep Night and the Trail of Love

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

March 21, 1995

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original work: Osamu Tezuka

■ Director

・Director: Osamu Dezaki

■ Production

Tezuka Productions BJ Production Executive Committee

■Works

© Tezuka Productions, Akita Shoten, Nippon Columbia (episodes 1-7)
© Tezuka Productions, Akita Shoten, Bandai Visual (episodes 8-10)

■ Story

An original story that has no direct connection to the original "Snowy Night Story." Black Jack receives a package that was mailed two years ago. Inside is a letter asking for the life of a wife who is in a dire situation, and a large amount of banknotes. As Black Jack rushes to the client's house, he is met by the ghost of a military commander from the Kamakura period.

■Explanation

This original video animation series is based on the popular manga of the same name by Tezuka Osamu, but uses the original setting to create new works. Each work is a new story inspired by each episode of the original manga. The characters are not drawn by Tezuka Osamu, but are designed by Akio Sugino.

■Cast

・Black Jack/Akio Otsuka
・Pinoco/Yuko Mizutani
・Crossword by Norio Otsuka
Ernest/Yoshimasa Sakaguchi
・Dr. Kiriko/Kazuhiro Yamaji
・Leslie/Toru Furuya
・Saburozaemon Taneda/Wheat man
・Shirabyō/Yū Mizushima
Lawrence/Miki Nagasawa
・Koichiro/Hideyuki Hori
・Tsukiko/Fumiko Orihara

■ Main staff

・Original work: Osamu Tezuka
・Director: Osamu Dezaki
・Chief animation director: Akio Sugino
Music: Osamu Tokai (Charts 1-5), Eiji Kawamura (Chart 6)
・ Medical Supervision/Akira Nagai
・Planning: Takayuki Matsutani, Yoshihiro Shimizu
・Character design: Akio Sugino
Art Director: Kazuo Okada (Charts 1-5), Masami Saito (Charts 1-3, 6)
Edited by Seiji Morita (Morita Editorial Office)
Director of photography: Hirotaka Takahashi (Charts 1-6), Hajime Noguchi (Charts 5-6)
・Sound Director: Etsuji Yamada (Chart 1-5), Tomoaki Yamada (Chart 6)
Medical cooperation: Toshitaka Takeshita (medical records 1-3, 5), Yasumasa Shiratori (medical record 5)
Producers: Minoru Kubota, Sumio Udagawa
・Music Director: Seiji Suzuki
・Music producer/Kumada Kazuo

■Detailed story and character analysis

"Black Jack Karte VI: Snowy Night Story, Koihime" is one of the OVA series based on Tezuka Osamu's masterpiece "Black Jack" and is an original story that has no direct connection to the original work. In this episode, Black Jack receives a package that was mailed two years ago and finds a request to rescue the client's wife and a large amount of money inside. Black Jack rushes to the client's location, but the ghost of a military commander from the Kamakura period awaits him there. This setting depicts a unique worldview where Black Jack's medical skills intersect with supernatural elements.

Otsuka Akio, who plays Black Jack, exquisitely expresses the character's calmness and passion, leaving a deep impression on viewers. Mizutani Yuko, who plays Pinoko, Black Jack's partner, plays an important role in highlighting his humanity. Mugihito, who plays the ghost of a military commander from the Kamakura period, delivers a powerful performance in a scene where the historical background and modern medical care intersect.

■ Production background and roles of staff

Director Osamu Dezaki took on the difficult task of creating a new story while respecting the worldview of the original work. Animation director Akio Sugino has drawn Black Jack's character in an appealing way while straying from Tezuka Osamu's original designs. Music was provided by Osamu Tojibayashi, who was in charge of the music for Chart 1-5, but was replaced by Eiji Kawamura for Chart 6, creating a new atmosphere. Medical supervisor Akira Nagai played an important role in enhancing the realism of Black Jack's medical scenes.

■ Visual and audio arts

Art directors Kazuo Okada and Masami Saito paid close attention to the background art to realistically portray scenes featuring the ghosts of Kamakura-era warlords. Editor Seiji Morita used skillful cuts to heighten the tension of the story, drawing the viewer's interest. Cinematographers Hirotaka Takahashi and Hajime Noguchi devised ingenious lighting and camerawork to maximize the beauty and movement of the images. Sound directors Etsuji Yamada and Tomoaki Yamada effectively use music and sound effects to enhance the atmosphere of the story.

■ The fusion of medicine and the supernatural

This episode, which combines Black Jack's medical skills with the supernatural element of the ghost of a warlord from the Kamakura period, offers viewers a new perspective. Black Jack's struggle to save his client's wife illustrates the limits and possibilities of medicine. Meanwhile, the presence of the ghost creates a mysterious worldview where history and the present intersect. This fusion is sure to move viewers deeply and provoke thought.

■ Character growth and humanity

Through this episode, Black Jack reaffirms his sense of mission as a doctor and his passion as a human being. His calm judgment and passionate actions deeply move the viewers. Pinoko's presence also plays an important role in highlighting Black Jack's humanity. The scenes where her purity intersects with Black Jack's strictness deeply move the viewers.

■ Viewer reactions and ratings

"Black Jack Karte VI: Snowy Night Story, Koihime" has been highly praised by viewers. In particular, the story, which combines Black Jack's medical technology with supernatural elements, offers viewers a new perspective and deeply moves them. In addition, the scenes that depict the character's growth and humanity evoke deep empathy in viewers. Furthermore, the production staff's meticulous attention and ingenuity have elevated the visual and audio arts, attracting viewers' interest.

■ Recommendations and related works

After watching "Black Jack Karte VI: Snowy Night Story, Koihime," be sure to check out other works by Tezuka Osamu and other episodes of the Black Jack series. In particular, "Black Jack Karte I-V" is a wonderful work that depicts Black Jack's medical technology and humanity, while also being an original story. In addition, other masterpieces by Tezuka Osamu, "Astro Boy" and "Jungle Emperor Leo," are also wonderful works that deeply move the viewer and provoke thought. Through these works, you will be able to understand Tezuka Osamu's worldview and message even more deeply.

Conclusion

"Black Jack Karte VI: Snowy Night Story, Koihime" is a wonderful work that depicts a unique worldview where Black Jack's medical technology intersects with supernatural elements. Viewers are deeply moved and prompted to think through Black Jack's calm judgment and passionate actions, Pinoko's purity, and the presence of the ghost of a military commander from the Kamakura period. The production staff's meticulous attention and ingenuity enhance the visual and audio art, catching the viewer's interest. By watching this work, you will gain a deeper understanding of Tezuka Osamu's worldview and message. Please give it a watch.