The appeal and reviews of PiPi: The moving story and depth of the characters

"PiPi the Firefly" - A heartwarming story and its charm

■Overview of the work

"PiPi The Firefly That Can't Fly" is a theatrical animation released on March 23, 1996. It is based on a fairy tale by Ozawa Akimi, "The Firefly That Can't Fly," and is also directed by Ozawa Akimi. This is a touching story about the growth and friendship of Pipi, a firefly whose wings have shrunk and she cannot fly. The production committee includes the "PiPi The Firefly That Can't Fly" Production Committee, Nippon Columbia, Tokyo Development Laboratory, Office CHK, Success Road, and Mushi Production, and the copyright belongs to the "PiPi The Firefly That Can't Fly" Production Committee.

■ Story

Pipi is a firefly whose wings have shrunk and he cannot fly. He is bullied by the violent Shou and the selfish Mimi, leading a sad life. However, one incident causes him to make friends with other fireflies, and he rejoices that he is not alone. But just as he has made new friends, he is suddenly hit by a storm. What will become of Pipi and his friends as they set off on a journey in search of a safe place to live? This is a moving story that depicts friendship, courage, and respect for nature.

■Explanation

The original story is a children's story that was published after an elementary school teacher wrote in the school newspaper about how he wanted to "eliminate bullying from his students and the classroom." The mysterious charm of the original story led to an increase in support for its animation, resulting in a work that conveys a kind message and rich images. The ingenious expression of the firefly's light and the water effects are unique to Mushi Production, and the story is colored by music composed by Kida Taro and the theme song by Matsutoya Yumi.

■Cast

Many talented voice actors participated in this work. The performances of these voice actors give depth and emotion to the story. They are Yoshiko Fujita as Pipi, Yasunori Matsumoto as Shou, Kappei Yamaguchi as Mimi, Mitsuo Iwata as Ran, Satomi Koorogi as Lulu, Kikuko Inoue as Ai, Ai Orikasa as Kira, Kae Araki as Yuu, Akira Kume as the stag beetle elder, Midori Isomura as the narrator, and Jun Hamamura as the story.

■ Main staff

The film is based on Akimi Ozawa's "The Firefly That Doesn't Fly" (published by Heart Publishing) and directed by Shinichi Nakata. It is produced by Masaharu Takayama, Koichi Igarashi, Nagisa Hagiwara, Shinichi Nakata, and Akira Ito, with the screenplay by Hiromi Kato, music by Taro Kida, and theme song by Yumi Matsutoya. The storyboard and direction are by Masaharu Okuwaki, character design and animation director is Takaya Ono, art director is Mitsuki Nakamura, color settings are by Yuko Takada, director of photography is Hiroshi Isakawa, editor is Harutoshi Ogata, sound director is Susumu Aketagawa, sound and music are handled by Ken Isobe, producer is Toshiyuki Morii, and planning cooperation is by Mitsuru Mizuno and Yasuharu Shinohara. The film is produced by the "PiPi The Firefly That Can't Fly" Production Committee, Nippon Columbia, Tokyo Development Laboratory, Office CHK, Success Road, and Mushi Production.

■ Main Characters

At first, Pipi was worried about not being able to fly, but after being accepted by her peers, she began to help everyone with her calm judgment. Ai is a firefly with a beautiful pink light, and everyone admires her, but she can no longer shine due to a storm. Mimi is always selfish and acts like a queen, but she is not popular, but she doesn't care about that. Ran is a cheerful firefly who can make music and sing about anything, but she also has a lonely side. Lulu is like a caring mother, who can't help but worry about others, even if people call her a busybody. Shou is the strongest of her peers, loves to fight, and is a delinquent type of firefly who quickly resorts to violence. Kira is a firefly who is full of courage and a sense of justice, who cares about her friends, and is the type of class representative who is trusted by everyone. Yu is a bright, positive, and kind person who gets between the quarrelsome Shou and Kira and lightens the mood with humor. The elder stag beetle is like a teacher, teaching the fireflies about the world of insects and nature.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song "Weaver of Love~ORIHIME" was composed by Kida Taro, with lyrics by Minamida Midori, arranged by Nakagawa Masaru, and sung by Matsutoya Yumi. The insert song "Welcome! New Friends" was composed by Kida Taro, with lyrics by Minamida Midori, arranged by Nakagawa Masaru, and sung by the Duke Aces. These songs add depth to the story and draw the viewers in.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"PiPi the Firefly That Can't Fly" is a work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. In particular, the story of PiPi's growth and friendship will surely touch the hearts of many viewers. The beautiful visuals that are unique to Mushi Production, the music by Kida Taro, and the theme song by Matsutoya Yumi further enhance the story. This is a moving story that depicts friendship, courage, and respect for nature, and is loved by many people.

■ Recommendation points

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• A moving story : Phi Phi's tale of growth and friendship will warm the hearts of viewers.
• Beautiful visuals : The depiction of firefly light and water, unique to Mushi Production, is stunning.
• Great Music : The story is enriched by the music of Taro Kida and the theme song by Yumi Matsutoya.
• Talented voice actors : The performances of talented voice actors, including Yoshiko Fujita, add depth to the story.
• Educational value : Stories about friendship, courage and respect for nature can teach children a lot.

Related information

This work has an Eirin number of 114619, is 90 minutes long and consists of one episode. It was released in theaters and the original media is a fairy tale. It was released on March 23, 1996, and is still loved by many fans today.

Conclusion

"PiPi The Firefly That Can't Be" is a wonderful work that combines a touching story with beautiful visuals, great music, and the performances of talented voice actors. This story, which depicts friendship, courage, and respect for nature, is a work that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and is a work that I would like to recommend to many people. Please give it a watch.